May 19, 2013

Words cannot express the impact of love on my life. No greater love than to lay down his own life for another. That love has been displayed and shared to me by the Higher Ground Family. The level of obedience and grace in this experience can only come from the father in heaven. My faith has been renewed, my soul is on fire again and the hunger for wisdom and compassion has been set in motion for greatness. All glory to God the father for instilling his love into each one of you. Your works were not in vain. You have strengthened and increased the body of Christ in unimaginable measure. Surely mercy and grace will follow you all the days of your life.

As we new pioneers set out on our journey, I hope and pray that we will improve our personal relationship with Jesus every day. When hardship and trials meet us, that we will be ready with a joyful spirit to overcome them because Jesus overcome the world. When we fall, that we forgive ourselves and others as God forgives us and when our brothers and sisters fall, that we will be willing able and ready to show them the love of Christ the way we have witnessed on this retreat. We ask for guidance and strength to work out our salvation with a meek spirit and have compassion for others that are doing the same. That we will praise God with all and in all for all we are.

In Jesus Christ name,
Nathan Lewis

Nov. 2010

My weekend at Higher Ground 40 was a much needed, refreshing of the Holy Spirit. God works in ways we can't even imagine, and He's been busy answering prayers that I placed in box that weekend. We are praising the Father for both our daughters' being open to hearing the Word of God. Also Praising HIM for my husband, Brian's health, as my group was praying for him. Brian is better! God has miraculously put Brian in the hands of a Christian dr and staff, they pray for us each appt. and we all know that is the best medicine.

Meeting new Christian friends is always a blessing, and I appreciated the kindness of my table, led by Kim. My roommate was a doll and I am so thankful to have made her friendship too. Thank You to the Father for allowing me to be invited on Wednesday before it started, and Thank You to all of you for loving me, and praying for me and my family! It's working!!!!!!

Cindy Allen

February 15, 2009

I attended a Women's Experience around 5 years ago? I can't remember the number. I attended as Heidi Upton. I was sponsored by Robert Knowles. I used to attend the same church as he and his family .The experience that I had has never left me and I don't think it ever will! I think about it often and the awesome people that God put in my life that weekend.

A lot has happened to me these past few years. I strayed off my path with God. My husband at that time was a meth addict and Satan had me in the bondage of a bad marriage. I was afraid to leave because of the threats. I feared for mine and my daughter's safety. The Lord gave me a way out of that marriage when my husband was arrested and sent to prison. I got divorced and continued with my life, blinded by the world, not seeing God's mercy and grace that he was trying to pour over me.

Then one day He brought a man into my life. I had attended the same Jr. High with him in California. We got re-acquainted and got to know each other through e-mails and long distance phone calls that lasted for hours at a time! We started talking in July of 06. In Oct. of 06 we were married and in November my daughters and I had moved to Washington to start a new life with the man that was sent to us from God. Gregg, my husband was a Christian but had also walked away from the Lord. The early part of our marriage was good for the most part, but there was the regular struggles of a new, blended family. There were trials and turmoil's a-plenty!

In the back of my mind and in my heart, the Higher Ground Experience would once in a while surface and I would think about the Unconditional Love of God that I experienced and the testimonies I heard that weekend and it would comfort me. Eventually my husband and I had decided that we had enough of the world we were living in without God. In October of 08, we recommitted our lives to the Lord our God. We found an awesome church in Puyallup, WA., The Lighthouse Christian Center. You can feel God's love from everyone there and can see His work in progress. We joined The Christian Motorcycle Association and are involved in a Street Ministry for the homeless in the Tacoma area.

I can't begin to tell you how awesome it is to have God back in our lives and to serve the Lord with the man that I love by my side.

I give thanks for all he has provided us. Through Him all things are possible. I learned the hard way that if you just "let go, and let God" that you will find the joy that was missing and the emptiness is filled with His Love. I can go on and on Praising God because life is so good.

It all started with that "Experience on the Hill". It took me awhile to get where I am today but it has all been in God's perfect time. It will also take me awhile to get where I'm going, but with God the Almighty, I will make it!!

Prayers and Blessings to All the Higher Ground Family,
Your Sister,
Heidi

Hi,

I've had a thought- more than one time. It may be something that others are doing but since I don't make it to reunion meetings or not often enough to weekends I miss out on some of the info.

I've wondered if all the H.G. family could wear their crosses on the weekends- whether they are able to attend or not- and wear as a reminder/support of the weekend and a constant to keep in prayer all those who are there as workers or as pilgrims. I've thought of this several times in the past weeks and just not gotten the thought and the computer in the same brain wave.

I'm not going to be able to attend the April women's meeting- will be attending a wedding in Texas. Wanted to add my support to the weekend the warriors.

Love you,
Cathy

Wow. What can I say, but the weekend was tremendous for me. As soon as I got back home I was back into the ministry of my church, but I haven't lost sight of what the Lord did for me at Higher Ground. The ministry there was awesome and it is just what I needed from the Lord. I had two things I was looking for on prayer from the weekend, and both were met there in Arkansas.

My wife and I are having fun again in our marriage, and the other concern is behind me thanks to the Lord and the Communion service. I will not shortly forget my "Experience" and I want to thank everyone again for their love and devotion to the Lord and the ministry of "Higher Ground".

Praise God,
Jim Keil

I came to the weekend "Experience" for two reasons, to spend time with my two friends and rekindle the spirit of the Lord in my life.

When I was a young man, I was on fire for the Lord and was very sensitive to the moving of the Holy Ghost. Through life's trials and tribulations, I lost that to a degree.

The weekend was wonderful, and I have regained that sensitivity to the spirit of the Lord. The weekend has helped my marriage, my walk and my eyes.

I have a vision to start a similar type weekend here close to me in Oklahoma , but I know the timing of the Lord has to happen first. I look forward to being a part of Higher Ground and hope see my wife come in the fall. I have been praying for some time for God to rekindles my marriage, my home and my walk and the Lord met me at Higher Ground and answered my prayer.

Thank you and blessings,
Barry Watson

My name is Leanna Griffin, Higher Ground Experience #11, table of Ruth. Like many, if not all, of you my experience was life changing. I grew up in a Christian home and knew all the right answers, the way things were supposed to be, and how things were supposed to work. I knew of Christ's death on the cross and the forgiveness that was available to me. But by this point in life, I thought that I had disappointed God too much and didn't deserve to ask for anything more. I knew that God had forgiven my sin, but I hadn't managed finding joy and peace in that. It wasn't until my weekend that I realized that I didn't understand how much God loved me. In fact, my whole concept of love was very distorted. But as I heard each speaker, interacted with conference room workers, and was served by so many others I was able to experience the love of God more deeply than I ever knew was possible.

God blessed me richly through the talks, service, fellowship, agape…everything that goes on. Every time I heard "It just keeps getting better," I wandered to myself how that could be possible, but it always did. By the end of the weekend, God placed a desire in my heart to be a part of blessing others the way I had been blessed. The first weekend I worked was exhilarating. To see how everything comes together, to understand the purpose behind the progression of the weekend and to see how God can use every part to meet people where they are and speak to each one in a unique way is nothing short of amazing. Each weekend I learn something new or see something differently, and typically have more than one opportunity to reflect on my own walk, specifically how a particular event impacted me. The exciting thing is "It keeps getting better!!!" God blesses me more every time I am with my Higher Ground Family as new relationships begin and previous ones grow stronger. At the last men's weekend, the experience was compared to Promise Keepers with Higher Ground coming up on top. While I understand it's amazing to hear an arena full of men singing praises to the Lord, I have experienced an arena full of women doing the same (which can be breath-taking), but it doesn't hold a candle to the praises on the breezeway or in the chapel, or in the conference room. The weekends are busy with activity; by the end I am never ready for it to be over and am already anticipating the next walk. Even though I know we can't live on the mountaintop, it is so good to visit!

PRAISE YOU LORD!! YOU did it again!! Before the week end began, you spoke saying, "to those who come expecting and prepared, I will reveal Myself in a new way". Thank you LORD for your promise coming true for so many!

Larry Kirk