Hello everyone, I'm a senior in highschool from Kansas, and this book has totally turned my life around. Well, not around, but back on the right track. I've been a born again Christian for about 2 years right now, and this book is an excellent resource for knowing how to get the very best for yourself. I mean, it's got the best advice for actually finding not only what you need but what you want. There's all the stuff we think we want, like sex, status, and stuff, but then when you end up feeling bad at the end of it all, you wonder what's missing, and that missing "stuff" consists of everything that God wants for you.

It's really changed my thinking. Cause it really used to seem like God just wants to give you all the rules that he does so that he can make you into something that makes him happy and you miserable, bored, and not having any fun or pleasure, and then you, in turn, feel guilty for repeated sin patterns when just following the rules isn't enough for you. But let me tell you, when you realize that God only has intentions for your personal best, your personal happiness, and your personal joy, then it becomes very easy to say no to things like sex, overworking, and overeating. I never thought that it would be EASY to say no to things that the Bible says destroy you and your relationships, because, like Chip says: like fast food, just because it tastes good doesn't mean it is good, so don't be deceived. And I'm done being deceived.

thanks for helping me see that total surrender is a positive thing and not negative like I have thought of in the past. What you said in your book. " God has holy pleasure in our happyness.  I would like to share a story, the week I read this in your book.  As I was leaving walmart  about a week ago, I felt prompted to go and get some exercise shoes at Shopko, thats just where I get my shoes.  I couldn't belevie it, I was only in the shoe section about 5,10 minutes and I found the right size, kind, and my favorite color, of which was the last pair. I remembered what I read that "God finds holy pleasure in my happyness." I was really  happy that Ididn't take a long to get a pair of shoes, I just felt His love at a deeper level and realized He had Holy pleasure in my happyness!! WOW. 

This past week has been a challenge for me.  Something was holding me back from being all in 100% and I could not figure it out.  I spoke with my pastor and we figured out that I had a fear/trust issue with God.  I have been reading the book for two days now and with TRUST ME  I have been able to find out that I was afraid of loosing Every thing if I gave in to God.  I have spent the past two days praying until something happened and fully rely on God. and can say. Praise the Lord I am Free of my fear!   Today 3/11/10 I am all in. thank you Chip and thank You Lord.   Keith R. Charron

God has always been faithful in our lives.  And, we've always lived within our means.  So, sometimes it\'s "hard" to know how to give in faith.  Certainly can't give what we don't have, so as I purchased groceries for our family of 5, a grandmother raising her 4 teenage grandchildren, I looked for deals and bought what I could with what I had.  We decided as a group that we'd each contribute $50.00 for groceries.  $200.00 total.  I didn't really keep track of what I was spending, mostly until I ran out of cash in my purse and that was about $50.00.  Well, yesterday I received a check in the mail for just under $50.00 for my time at the courthouse as a jury was chosen, I was not chosen, but was still there for four days.  Of course I forgot about getting that, but what a surprise from God.  How He loves to delight us.  Then Mark opened his mail, which was a Valentines card from my mom who he'd helped this week and there was a $20 bill.  So, there you have it.  What an awesome, loving and faithful God we serve.  Certainly didn't expect reimbursement, but God did anyway.  Makes me laugh and smile.  How good are His gifts to us.

I wanted to share an experience I had today. I am really excited about the Feed the Need event. I posted a post on my Facebook page asking my friends to get involved. A long time family friend from our previous church responded asking when he could meet with me to give me some items he wanted to donate. I told him that I could meet today and would swing by his home or work to pick up the items. He emailed me this morning and said that I could come by his work at 3 this afternoon. He works at Rite Aid by the church on Meridian & Redmond. While we were walking to his car, he was updating me on his family. He told me that his wife had passed away in September of 2008. I did not know that and told him how sorry I was to hear that. He continued to tell me that he was finally at a place where he was starting to move on with his life. He recently gave away her clothing in which a woman gave him $100.00 for it. (He works hard to help support his 30-year-old son and a nephew and could've used the $100.00 for something else he needed) He has been holding onto it thinking that he would use it to bless someone else. He saw my post last night and decided that Feed the Need was one of the ways he wanted to spend that money. He gave me 2 bags of canned goods and 3 boxes of pasta and soups.

I was speechless at his selfless act and told him how much I appreciated him doing this. I was blessed beyond belief by his actions. He also mentioned that he was looking for a single\'s group to get involved in for fellowship. I invited him to Venture telling him about our single's group. I would love to put him in touch with the person who leads that group.

Serving together,

Jason

We have discovered that several of the men in our group are avid duck hunters. During our discussion last night concerning surrendering to God and being "all in", one of our group members made a wonderful analogy; surrendering to God is like duck hunting!   A duck hunter prepares for his adventure; wakes before dawn, puts on waterproof waders, goes out to the duck blind, loads his guns, uses a duck call to entice the birds; and then he waits, the hunter knows he has done everything in his power to have a successful hunt, now he must wait and trust that the birds will come and his shot will find its target. The hunter may a have a wonderful hunt and he may bag many ducks; the hunter also knows that he may sit for many hours and go home empty handed. If a hunter is focused on what he thinks he wants (only shooting a duck) and does not surrender to the process, he will be miserable if the hunt is not "successful". According to the men in our group, ultimately, it doesn't matter whether or not the hunter shoots a duck (although that is always great!); just the experience of sitting in God's creation and enjoying the beautiful sunrise, with a friend or family member, is amazing. When the hunter surrenders his agenda (shooting a duck), the hunter is rewarded with the pure joy of the experience; spending time with a beloved son or uncle. Surrendering to God and being "all in" means letting go and trusting that God desires only the very best for each of us.  You may not receive what it is that you think you desire (shooting a duck), but the rewards can be even greater (the beauty of the sunrise and time with your family).

I was so blessed by your teaching & I am all in!  I am so ready for this as I still seem to have a hard time letting go of my singleness & desire for a husband.  I know that is limiting my heart in doing God's will & hearing from the Lord. 

Thank you & bless you for your teachings!

Just wanted to thank you for your message. I have been having concerns about

What direction to take with my job. I've been so worried as it will affect the life of my family greatly. I want to sign the bottom of my check and just truly trust that God will take care of my family and me. Please keep me in your prayers! I love listening to your radio program and pray that God continues to greatly bless your ministry!

I'm all in.  I have given it all to God. What a peaceful blessing. Thank you all for being there for me. I am separated and am trying to restore my marriage. My husband says he has already moved on and cannot trust me. I want to talk to him about how awesome God is and how he has changed my life. He has chosen to be involved with another woman. What can I do besides praying for him and giving it over to God? 

Again, thank you so much for being one of Gods messengers. I am truly grateful.