Back Home We Go

It's the final day of the first retreat and we are set to go home and officially begin the summer as a family that has grown more than any of us anticipated. But first, we start the day off with TAWG and a last community circle.

"My whole life is yours
I give it all
surrendered to your name.
And forever I will pray
Have your way
Have your way in me."

As we begin to look ahead, I get the feeling that I'm not as connected with God as I think. I pray for Him to speak clearly to me. I pray to hear His voice. I pray that I may be obedient to whatever He has for my life. I pray that He will guide and direct my paths and close all other doors that are not within His will. And I pray that I can truly believe all these things in my whole mind, body and soul.

We share our goals for the future.

• Increase my passion for Christ.
• Experience the peace of the Holy Spirit in my heart.
• Be open to trust people and God more in my life.
• Get to know His Word better.
• Hear the voice of the Living God.

The retreat comes to a close and as we gather things from our rooms, I remember the verse painted on the wall near my bed.

"As a deer thirsts for water, so my soul thirsts for you oh God."

I want to be where you are
I want to know, Lord, who you are
So when you call my name
I'll say to you "here I am."
I'm listening, Lord, speak to me.

I want to see how you see
Change my heart, Lord, make me Holy
If there's anything in my life
That doesn't honor you tonight
I'm listening, Lord, speak to me.
Speak to me.

The final song played in our community circle is the prayer and cry of my heart for the summer. I know that God has some great things planned for my time here and I want to grow evermore passionately for Him. I desire a burning fire in my heart for the Lord and know that He will be with me through all things. And so, I return to my summer home with my new family. Let the real summer begin...