DFO GN39: PERSONAL LETTERS!--No.1
--Letters to Mama and Her Replies!
Comp.12/94
INTRO FROM MAMA!
(Before Dad's homegoing:)
Dear Family,
9/94
1. DAD AND I RECEIVE MANY PERSONAL LETTERS from DO and TRF Supporter members alike in which you pour out your hearts about your situation, or about questions you have. To us, each one of these letters is very precious, and your burdens become our burdens; your heartache becomes our heartache.--And we pray for you and wonder if there is anything we can do to help you.
2. We're very sorry that we can't answer most of you personally. We would love to. With each of your letters, we would like to sit down and talk with you intimately, putting our arms around you and holding your hand and stroking your hair, and wiping away your tears, and comforting you with His Word. For those of you who are asking questions, we would like to sit with you and counsel and pray together, and get some answers from Him. For you who are simply expressing your love for us, we'd love to thank you face-to-face for your encouragement and prayers, and tell you how much you mean to us. Each of you is special to us! Please believe this. Don't ever doubt it.
3. Again, thank you so much for your letters over the past months, Regina, Sharon, Rebecca, Brian, Claire, Amor, Kezia, Anaik, Angelina, Karenyna, Joao, Anna Lisa, Anthony, Cedar, Art, Tiago, Raquel, Elaine, Dawn, Seek, Arthur, Mary, Benjamin Phillip, Nathanael, Martin, Arrow, Bethel, Jane, Kathy, Genai, Brisa, Ruth, Caleb, Francis, Allen, Loraine, Caryn, Harvest, Becky, Catherine, Lamb, Adria, Charity, Eliza, Clair, Abigail, Ahlai, Amanda, John, Clarinha, Eman, Apollos, Christina, Sapphire, Lisa, Daniel, Jo, Angela, Daniella, Natasha, David, Amy, Davina, Joshua, Stephen, Andrew, Davida, Judy, Reina, Elisabeth, Victoria, Abner, Bethy, Softy, Cedro, Emmanuel, Jay, Estie, Christian, Faithy, Havilah, Fran, Gabe, Carl, Jubilee, Knight, Gary, Lucas, Gideon, Simon, Kristy, Katherine, Clare, Ginny, Gloria, Hannah, Blessing, Carmela, Matt, Heaven, Jason, Isaac, Jared, Sammy, Solo, Dulcinea, James, Anne, Joanna, Kris, John Paul, Promise, Matthew, Jose, Simeon, Lance, Michelle, Jondy, Peace, Cherish, Joseph, Sara, Victory, Day, Josue, Eden, Karin, Joy, Joni, Carmen, Crystal, Julie, Justin, Heidi, Katrina, Kristine, Pedro, Livia, Maria, Clara, Meekness, Solly, Laura, Naarah, Gentleness, Cathy, Nehemiah, Nina Christina, Pablo, Josh, Paloma, Chris, Paul, Free, Joanie, Paula, Liz, Timothy, Chepe, Gabriel, Sam, Peter, Stefan, Phillip, Mariane, Trust, Phoebe, Anisa, Teresa, Julia, Richard, Esther, Praise, Celeste, Tirzah, Michael, Ready, Josiah, Love, Renee, Cassandra, Rosa, Marie, Ruthie, Jessica, Miguel, Sarina, Servant, Pearl, Faith, Amira, Solomon, Lauren, Aaron, Steven, Theresa, Jasper, Marie Joy, Karen, Valentina, Rachel, Rose, Vine, Windy, Cielo, Tim, Dan, Ann, Debbie, Etoile, Stevie, Marianne, Rima, Tom, Willing, Mercy, Mary Jane, Pandita, Carmel, Susanna, Ivan, Happy, Meek, Soraida, Bethany, and so many others of you who have written or will write! (We just can't remember all your names right now, or find all our records, so please forgive us if we didn't name you! And of course we don't forget the many of you who have written us in years past, and whom we love, each one!)
4. We appreciate your openness and honesty. We are thankful for your suggestions, for your questions and for your analyses of various situations. You're a vital part of our Family and we are interested in what you have to say.--And we listen to each of you. Not only are we interested, but we need to know how things are where you live and what you think we can do to make our Family a better place to be. What can improve our service to the Lord? What new methods have you been using that have proven fruitful? What testimonies can you share that would be an encouragement to us and others?
5. Dad and I want you to take this as our special thanks to each one of you who write us--even though we can only personally answer a few of you. However, you can be assured that we consider and pray over each letter. We'd love to spend more time in communication with you personally by individual letters about your particular questions and problems, but the Lord has shown us that our priority must be on our general letters to all of you, as well as the multitude of other publications that help you in your growth in the Lord and your training for your service to Him.
6. However, there are times when the Lord lays a special burden on our hearts to answer a particular personal letter. You may know someone who has received a personal letter from me, or some words of love from Dad on a note that they sent him. We hope you won't be hurt if we have not been able to answer yours individually, but that you will know that we have prayed for you, which is the greatest response we can give you in return.
7. Along with praying for you, we take what you have to say into consideration when praying about the needs of the Family. Of late, a number of you have written to ask questions about how the Homes are operating, suggesting that some alterations be made. Your letters have often been confirmations of the direction the Lord is leading us as we pray about and prepare for some fairly major changes ahead.
8. A number of you have expressed that our Homes are too large, too regimented and too institutionalized to allow you to accomplish all that you believe the Lord wants you to. We are in the process of praying about and formulating some changes which will hopefully alleviate some of these matters. We hope to present these changes during the next Birthday Fast, God willing. Of course, no modifications are going to solve all of our problems, but we believe the Lord is leading us to solutions to many of them. Please pray for us as we work on these changes and the publications which explain them. (The Love Charter!)--And, in the meantime, if you're struggling, please hang on. Don't give up! The Lord can pull you through! "Hold that fast which thou hast, let no man take thy crown!" (Rev.3:11).
9. In this series of GNs we are going to present a few letters that we have responded to personally so that you may also share in our counsel. Since in this GN series we want to highlight the counsel which was given rather than the person to whom it was given, we will not use the names of those who wrote letters to us and who we answered, just initials. In some cases we will either use their entire letter, or excerpts thereof, where it is necessary to understand our response; in other cases we will only include the counsel which we gave. We hope that, by sharing these letters and our responses, we can be helping many others who may have had the same question or problem. Our desire is that these few letters will be representative of many and will be a blessing to you, our precious Family.
Love and prayers,
Mama
FFING MISCONCEPTIONS!
From K. (18), 4/94:
Dear Mama Maria,
10. I REALLY LOVE YOU so much and am so thankful for all that you do for each one of us and all the time that you spend trying to make this a better Family for us to live in. I wanted to write to you about something that has been on my heart recently and something that I wonder about. I work with teens quite a lot and these are things that I have noticed in my interactions with them.
11. Recently I went to the court in England to testify on Pearl's behalf. I was asked some different things about the Family, and the opposition really tried to shock me with things like the Dito book, the dance videos, FFing, etc. I was able to tell them that these things did not shock me, as I understood the concept behind why we did these things.
12. What I am concerned about is the fact that many YAs and teens do not have the right impression of FFing. Whether this is due to the fact that the subject hasn't been directly addressed to the Family teens or whether it is just something that they would rather not understand, I do not know.
13. I was wondering if something could possibly be written to address this subject, directed at the young people in the Family.--Something that would explain FFing, what it cost in personal terms, and why we stopped.
14. It seems to me from talking to different ones that they think the reason we don't say much about FFing any more and the reason that we stopped was because something was wrong with it. This idea is very wrong, but sadly I feel that this is the concept that many young people in the Family have. Many of our teens and YAs have never read the FF Letters. Others have merely skimmed through them, looking at the pictures and the "interesting" stories. This may have added to the fact that they do not fully understand the sacrifices and the amount of love that it took.
15. Most of us haven't always read all of the lessons that were learned through FFing, so we may have the wrong impression. Also I think that a lot of young people mistakenly think that the reason we purged a lot of this kind of lit, Volume 4 for example, was primarily because we wanted to hide the fact that we had ever practiced it. The effect that this wrong thinking has had on many young people is that they feel that this (FFing, etc.) is something that they do not think was the right thing to do.
16. I know that doing it was entirely up to the individual. Whether the teens in the Family today feel that they would have gone to such lengths to win a soul is a personal decision. And it's a hypothetical situation, since we no longer FF. But it is nevertheless very important that we understand why it was done and how this was possibly one of the biggest tests of yieldedness and show of love that anyone could ever make.
17. I hope that this letter is understandable and that it was all right for me to say these things. Although I know that it is not my place to make generalizations about the way things seem, after I thought and prayed about it, I decided that it would be better to mention it and be told that I was out of line rather than to have it continue if what I have written was indeed the case, as it definitely seems to be in the area that I live in.
18. Once again I wanted to say how much I really appreciate you and Dad. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. Thanks so much for your prayers regarding the court case and the proceedings here, I know that I really felt the power of prayer behind me when I was on the stand recently, TTL! I really, really love you!
Much love, K.
Mama's Reply to K., 6/94:
Dear K,
19. I love you. God bless you. Thank you so much for sending us that beautiful letter with your observations of the attitudes that many of our young people have toward FFing. Your views were very well presented and your concerns were those of a good shepherd. I'm proud of you for your discernment, your thoughtful attention and care, and your wanting to do something about it. Several others have also expressed concern about these distorted attitudes, so it seems as though this may be a problem not only in your area, but in other areas as well. The greater the number of folks who write us and let us know about problems of this nature, the better we can get a clear picture of how widespread a problem is and what we need to do to try to correct it.
20. Someone suggested that we could do some video testimonies for the benefit of our younger Family members, featuring interviews with those who FFed, as well as some who were FFed into the Family themselves. This might be very effective, although, of course, it would take some time to work on.
21. Another idea--and one which we have in the works, and which could probably be done more quickly--is to publish several good FFing testimonies in our pubs. As Grandpa has always said, "There is nothing like a personal testimony to `sell you on the product' and to convince you of people's sincerity and their cause."
22. K., your letter has spurred us to want to make it a priority to get these testimonies out to the Family as soon as we can, God willing. It may be several months yet, but we will work on them as quickly as possible. When you receive them, please let us know your reactions and if you think they are helping to change some of the young people's misconceptions about FFing.
23. Thank you again, dear K., for your letter. And thank you especially for your willingness to be one of God's shining witnesses in Pearl's court case. I'm sure it was a scary experience, at least at first, but as you say, you felt the Family's prayers and God's special touch upon you as you witnessed for His cause. The Lord gave you a big job to do for Him and you did it well and wholeheartedly. God bless you!
24. Most of all, we thank you for being faithful to the Lord and His Family and fighting battles daily that are part of our life for Jesus. While they are not so easy to take, each battle nevertheless makes us stronger soldiers and more capable of being used greatly by the Lord in the battles to come.
25. So don't give up! Keep going! Don't let the Devil get you down, nor discourage you with your mistakes or failures. We all make them; it is part of our learning process, and part of the Lord's way of keeping us humble and useable. The Lord also allows us to make mistakes so we'll understand what others go through and be able to "comfort them with the comfort wherewith we have been comforted" (2Cor.1:4).
26. We are counting on you--and our other dear young people--to keep going, to keep shining, and to keep fighting for Jesus and His Family! We love you!
Love, Mama
LETTER FROM A MALE TEACHER!
(From a European shepherdess, 2/94:) I thought it would be interesting for you to get the following letter that I received from one of the male teachers here in Europe. It expresses the thoughts and battles several other male teachers have shared with me during our travels:)
27. (From G.) One thing that's been on my heart off and on for some time is the balance between teaching and childcare. Some years ago my wife and I worked temporarily as area shepherds before moving over to make room for people coming back from the East. At this point I felt called to become a teacher. At the time, it seemed to be almost like a lifesaver for me and gave me a new start. Also, the School Vision Letters were just coming out and the need was obvious.
28. As the years passed by (five so far), the Lord kept calling me to continue to teach, and any hope of change or "promotion" (whether conscious or unconscious) seemed further and further away. I have experienced a lot of joy, fun and challenge in teaching, but also negative feelings of being "stuck with a group," doing what often seemed like "inferior" work.
29. I've battled with many comparing trials toward those who are called to shepherd, work on teamworks, attend delegates meetings, etc. Also, I have worked alongside many in childcare who later became shepherds and were put into more seemingly trusted positions of responsibility, or sent to the EE front lines, "promoted" to teen shepherds and so on. My wife is presently a teamworker, while I remain in childcare helping to teach and provide a (much needed) father figure for some of our children whose fathers aren't with them. In spite of the importance of my job, I still feel as if these things have taken a certain toll on my self-esteem or feeling of self-worth, to the point of almost giving up a few months ago. My shepherds have faithfully shepherded me through these things, and the Lord's shown me many lessons on pride, envy, comparing and so on.
30. But the reason I'm writing you all this is--can we get more mileage out of this situation? Would upcoming senior teens and YA boys want to become like me?--A male teacher that goes to childcare or teachers meetings with mainly women?--Who mainly work under Home moms, some of whom are excellent teachers, while others know less about the teaching side of childcare? Would YA boys be comfortable in forsaking other ministries to stay home with the kids? I'm wondering if Family education may lose potential upcoming teachers, as YA boys I've talked to have expressed many of these feelings.
31. I feel the mothers will always be miles ahead of us men in childcare for obvious reasons. Therefore, would it be an idea to separate childcare and teaching?--To challenge upcoming male adults that they can become recognized teachers and educators of our younger generation. (Maria: Yes, absolutely. I agree!) That it may not mean being "stuck in a group" or heavily involved in the more "motherly" side of childcare.
32. Could we more clearly separate teaching from the overall childcare work? Could this in turn provide more positions of recognition and/or influence for Young Adults that feel called to teach but are afraid to be "stuck in a group," and generate more boys in childcare as teachers (not necessarily childcare workers), plus lift the standard of teaching and ministry training?--To challenge some of these smart and capable YAs to become educators of our children? (Maria: Very needed! Yes!)--To help them to realize that education is a field of its own, where they can even hold positions of influence on a leadership level one day?--A ministry with a "future," and not merely a springboard to being "promoted" into pioneering, shepherding or something else?
33. I know teaching is pretty much a profession all its own in the System. It's quite recognized and seems to be equally represented by men and women at all levels. The other night in a meeting someone accidentally put a man's name under the slot for a childcare area shepherd, and everyone laughed. (Maria: So sad! Our men are needed in childcare!) I believe this little incident somewhat illustrates my feelings. I'm also concerned about what message this sends to our senior teens and YAs.
34. Although my personal battles with pride, unyieldedness and comparing probably can be felt in what I'm writing, I still wanted to pose these questions. Could there be something to this? Do many others feel this way? GBY and thank you so much for all you do for us. I really love you!
Much love, G.
Mama's Reply to G., 2/94:
Dear G.,
35. God bless you! I love you, and want to tell you how proud I am of you for sticking to your calling as a teacher. One of your shepherds passed on to me a letter you had recently written. I am very thankful that you have expressed your feelings about the situation with male teachers, which, after checking further into it, seems to be quite widespread. Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. We want to try to change people's perception of childcare and teaching as just being a woman's job, and we'll be working on this. So please pray that the Family will be willing and able to change their attitudes and perceptions in this respect.
36. Thank you again for your very good input. Please continue to feel free to share any further observations or suggestions that you may have on this subject.
37. You sound like a wonderful, concerned teacher. I wish I'd had you for mine! Keep up the good work. You're in the most important job there is!
Love, Mama
MAMA'S LETTER TO MARK ELDER!
(The following is a letter written to a young man, Mark Elder, who left the Family two years ago at the age of 19.)
July, 1994
To our dear son in the Lord, Mark,
38. GOD BLESS YOU! I love you! After receiving a copy of the letter that you wrote your loved ones in Peru, relating your long, hard experiences after leaving the Family two years ago, I felt burdened to write you. I am so glad you wanted to write in order to share your testimony in the hope that it would speak loudly to our other young people.
39. More than anything you've ever done to positively influence your peers, this one letter that you have written could have the greatest effect and will make everything you have suffered worthwhile. Even if you are not presently a good role model within the Family, you can still be an example to our teens from outside the Family as to what not to do. Even though you did not stay within God's highest will, you can still do a very important work for Him in warning and "instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (2Tim.2:25).
40. In your letter you say to them, "I could say so much more that would convince you that it is not worth it to do what I did." Will you say it? Will you take up this challenge that God is giving you?--This second bus of opportunity? You missed the first one, but there is still another. I think the Lord has great things for your life, and wants to use you right where you are in greater ways than you have imagined.--By writing your testimony and experiences, by witnessing to your workmates, by sharing the Word, etc.
41. I cried as I read your letter, and I prayed for you, that God would reach down and help you to see how much He--and we, your Family--still love you, our wayward son, our prodigal son. You know, Mark, we've all been prodigals at some time or another. We've all strayed far away from the Father's house at some time, if not in body, at least in spirit, and we've all had to eat husks and find them unsatisfying and then return to our Father, who, seeing us afar off has run to greet us, with arms outstretched. He has already been looking for us. He is expecting us to learn our lessons and come back. He waits for us in love until we find that nothing else satisfies and we turn toward Him, and then He can reach out and heal us with His wonderful touch. Like that little chorus:
He touched me, oh, He touched me,
And, oh, the joy that floods my soul.
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
42. I believe that in your letter you have said in spirit, "I will arise and go to my Father."--But you just didn't realize the love and forgiveness with which the Lord--and we --would greet you, nor the joy that He--and we--would feel at your return. You probably felt like all hope was lost and there was no way of getting back. You felt that you had sinned beyond remedy, and that there was no further place of service for you in His Kingdom.
43. You have probably lived under great condemnation for turning your back on God's work and His Family, on the wonderful calling that you had as a special Endtime soldier in His army, knowing that you had forsaken your birthright for a mess of pottage. You have felt sad remorse over those who were stumbled when you didn't value your place.
44. You have probably cried so many tears over lost opportunities and felt you couldn't get through to God because you had failed Him and turned your back on Him. You felt like you were lost and groping and never able to find the way home. But when you take just that one step for Jesus, He'll take two for you.
45. He's been there all the time, Mark, even when you couldn't feel Him, or couldn't hear Him. He's been there waiting patiently while you learned through bitter experience. He's been a disappointed Father weeping, weeping for you, His son (as has been your dear natural father, who has been heartbroken over you and has never ceased to pray for you), pained that you had to do it this way, but caring for you and guiding your steps down the sharp and stony pathway.
46. He still loves you, Mark, and He has never let you go. You're still attached. You've never been disconnected. You've just been on a long leash getting tangled up, but not detached. However, you couldn't feel the tug of the Master's hand because your line was so long and it had gotten all wound up around rocks and trees and barriers, and you couldn't untangle it. But the Father can, and He is waiting on you to call on Him for His help.
47. When praying for you, the Lord reminded me of this passage from "The Helmet" (ML#1058) that Dad wrote a number of years ago, and which I'm sure you will be able to find relatable, especially since you too are now in the armed forces:
"When we're saved He implants a bit of Himself, His Spirit and His love and His spirit helpers, His controllers in our minds and hearts to guide and direct and protect and keep us in control, guided by His direct will and leadings. Once we put that helmet on, we are forever His children, and we can never take it off no matter how hard we try, and some have tried.
"Some have backslidden but found they couldn't even stop witnessing. When I landed in the army I couldn't stop witnessing. I couldn't deny my faith. That helmet was permanently attached. That electrode of God's guidance was buried in my brain, and my primary reactions were always to defend the faith and give God's answers even if I was out of God's will myself, rebelling against His service and trying to take off the helmet of His salvation and don the uniform of the U.S. army.
"Once you're really saved, the helmet is there to stay. And everybody you come in contact with is going to see it and know you're different. Even if you've backslidden and forsaken the field and your plow, you're still saved and one of God's children. You can't hide it, you can't deny it.
"God will not be frustrated. His plan is not going to fail. Though God may let you go back and learn bitter lessons through your backsliding, sooner or later you're also going to learn the benefits, that backsliding is a hell of a hole, and the System is a hell hole and pit. You are going to get sick of the vomit and the husks and the mire and mud of the System and want to run back to the Father's house just as fast as you can go. Even though your feet were stuck in the mud of the pit, your head was stuck in the helmet of Heaven. And obviously, in the case of the prodigal son, the helmet's pull proved stronger.
"It's not worth the price of dying for nothing and in rebellion and in your backslidden condition. If you'll even start God's way and turn toward Him, He'll be out there waiting for you and will receive you with open arms of love and a new garment of righteousness, a beautiful new golden ring of reward that you don't even deserve. And a feast of thanksgiving and celebration.
"Bless them and help them to return, Lord. It's not too late for some of them to come back home and serve faithfully on the farm again, and help with the work and the crop and share the blessing, if they'll come now.
"Help them to forsake their pride and abandon their selfishness and evil ways and come back to the Father's house and fruitful service in the fields for Him. In Jesus' name, amen."
48. There's hope, Mark! He knoweth the way that you take, and when He has tried you, you shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10). The way has been hard, but it has been part of His training course for you, and one which He knew you needed to take. But remember what He says?--"The God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1Pet.5:10).
49. It's a hard road, but if you can take it and bravely face it and learn from it and see what God is doing in your life to strengthen you and humble you and mature you and make you dependent on Him and yielded to His will in your life, it can be a wonderful victory instead of a defeat. If you can see His Romans 8:28 in what has transpired and start seeing the silver lining of the clouds and feeling His love instead of the Devil's condemnation, knowing His forgiveness instead of the Devil's guilt, you can once again find great joy in your salvation, as you rise from remorse and self-pity and look upon the fields so white to harvest, and know that the Lord wants you, who have been given so much, to do your part in the reaping.
50. You've looked around you at the emptiness, the coldness, the fear, the loneliness, the desperation. You have the answers for others. Will you give them? Will you stand up and be counted? Will you put on the whole armor of God and fight His battles? You're still His son, you're still His child, you're still part of His great Family, and you're still part of us.--And your mission is to share Jesus with others. Will you do it? Can you comfort others with the comfort wherewith you are comforted?
51. It sounds like you don't have much free time, but there is always something you can do to witness, even if only to those you work with. If you want to report and tithe and witness, you can be a TRF Supporter and receive new WS mailings regularly, plus we could try to make arrangements for you to fellowship with the Homes nearest you. Incidentally, many of the DO members and TSers are in contact now, unlike when you left. You can also use the posters and tapes to witness, help support the Family, and write more of your testimony. The possibilities are exciting! The potential is limitless! God can use you as much as you want to be used.
52. You can witness right where you are, and maybe start a catacomb ministry! We have catacombers in the U.S. navy in Japan, and also in the past there was quite an active catacomb Home aboard the 6th Fleet! These navy catacombers sailed around the Mediterranean and fellowshipped with the Family when they docked in Spain, Italy and Greece. Many of them tithed or helped the Family financially, as well as witnessed up a storm! A number of these catacombers later joined fulltime after they got out of the service and are still in the Family. So the U.S. navy could prove to be fertile ground for witnessing and winning others to the Lord and as catacombers.
53. Please pray about this and write us, letting us know any other ideas of ministries you could have, and we can pray for you and put you in touch with the Family, wherever you are, who will help you all they can, God willing.
54. Mark, here are some encouraging verses for you which I have paraphrased slightly, because the Lord wants to make this personal for you:
"For I, the Lord thy God, am gracious and merciful and will not turn away My face from you, if you return unto Me. For a small moment have I forsaken you, but with great mercies will I gather you. In a little wrath I have hidden My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you. If thou wilt forsake thine own way and thine own thoughts and return unto the Lord, I will have mercy upon you and I will abundantly pardon. I will not cause My anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful. I will love you freely, for My anger is turned away from you. Therefore also now, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, for I am gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and I will have mercy upon you and ye shall be as though I had not cast thee off; for I am the Lord thy God and will hear thee" (2Chr.30:9; Isa.54:7,8; Isa.55:7; Jer.3:12; Hos.14:4; Joel 2:12,13; Zech.10:6).
55. Also, Mark, I'd like to share with you excerpts of various prophecies which some of our Family members received recently for a young man in their Home who had some of the same problems of pride and rebelliousness and independence. The reason I am sharing these with you is to show you that no matter how far we stray and how badly we hurt Him and others and ourselves, He continues to love and care for us, and never leaves nor forsakes us. I pray these will be an encouragement to you.
Prophecies:
56. "Behold, he is on My radar and I shall never leave him. Cast your burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain you. Cast this burden upon Me. Cast this young man upon Me and I will sustain him. And the days shall come when he shall be in the belly of the whale, like Jonah, and he shall cry out to Me. He shall cry with his whole heart and he shall say, `Behold, salvation is of the Lord!'
57. "I shall never lose him, he is in My hands forever. Behold, this is for a time, this is but an infinitesimal little speck of time. But he must go through it, he must go through this knothole. I can only use broken men and women, no others will do. There are no exceptions to this law of Mine. Ye have done what ye could. Cast this burden upon Me and I will sustain him; and he shall cry unto Me in that day, and it will be a mighty awakening. These are lessons of My love for him. I love him dearly. Behold, now ye mourn, but ye shall rejoice."
* * *
58. "For he is like the prodigal son which saith, `Give me mine inheritance that I may launch out, for it is my right and I would have it now.' He would have all that is his in one instant to spend as he would like, but he will find that it is husks between his teeth, and his teeth will be set on edge as he tries to devour those things which are not of Me.
59. "How much better it would be if he would learn from the Word, from what I have said, from the example and the counsel of others. But he will not. He will say, `I would learn it myself, I would try it myself.' For he will not accept this burden of responsibility. He will not accept the burden of the duty that I have laid on him. But this is true love: To take willingly the yoke that I have put upon him. This is even true freedom, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light. But it is in fighting this yoke that he has such unhappiness and such misery and such darkness.
60. "By this shall a young man cleanse his way, by taking heed thereto according to My Word. For he that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out, but I will sustain him through all things. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that He which hath begun a good work in this young man shall perform it unto the end. For foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the school of hard knocks shall drive it far from him.
61. "He would set his sights on adventure and on romance, knowing not that these are fantasies. His mind is as the mind of the immature, the untested, the untried, of the one who rejoices before putting on his armor and boasts of what he could do. His heart is lifted up in pride, but lo, it shall be brought low. For every high place shall be brought low. And all those that would exalt themselves in their own eyes shall be brought low. For the Lord God dwells only with those that are of a humble and contrite spirit. These He doth love and doth seek to live with, but the proud shall be left with the husks and the ashes of their own ambitions.
62. "Be ye not afraid, for shall I not care for Mine own? And indeed he is Mine own, and I will care for him and I will be with him whithersoever he goeth. My hand shall be upon him and I will cause him to prosper. For he shall yield to Me and he shall come to Me, and shall grow and become the man that I would make him to be. Therefore, be ye not dismayed, for it is but a time and but a testing. All these things are necessary, but be ye not disheartened. For he must learn even as each of you have learned, for he shall grow through experience.
63. "This one shall pass through the Valley of Baca, but from it shall come strength. Trust Me. He is in My hands, and I will lead and care, and I will work in his heart to bring about My will in his life. But ye must pray. He is heavily attacked and he needs your prayers. Reach out, touch him, help him."
* * *
64. "I love thee as a Father, therefore I chasten thee, for I would draw thee closer to Me. I will accomplish My purpose in thy life. I wish to gentle thee, as one gentleth a horse, and to teach thee My ways in a gentle way. But if thou wilt not respond, I will use heavier measures to bring about My purpose. The choice is thine. I will accomplish My will. Whatever thou wilt choose, I will change thee and I will remold thee. If thou shouldst seek the pleasures of sin for a season, thou wilt not receive what thou wilt. For only in seeking My will wilt thou be blest. If thou couldst only see the things which I have in store for thee, and the blessings that I would bless thee with, if thou wouldst believe! But if thou shouldst harden thy heart, My hand will become heavy on thee, because I love thee, and I will draw thee closer to My bosom.
65. "Thou hast a choice--whether thou wilt break quickly and easily, or whether it will be hard and long. Thou must choose, for a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Therefore choose which way I will break thee. But know that I love thee, and I would love to gentle thee, but the decision is thine. I pray that thou wilt make the right choice, for I have prayed for thee. While Satan hath desired to sift thee as wheat, I have prayed that thy faith fail not. Hang on to Me and seek My face and thou shalt win. For there is no other way, there are no other pleasures, there is no other fun. All of it is vanity and all of it is husks. Follow Me and thou shalt have more than thine heart can desire and more than thou canst imagine. Follow Me, I say."
66. (I had a little vision of two roads. One was very long and hard and arduous with lots of scraggly trees and roots along the road; and the other one was short with sunshine, and it seemed like there was just so much joy on that road. But the funny thing was that they ended at the same place--except that one was very long and went way around in a circle, almost 10 times as long as the other, but they ended at the same place.)
67. Mark, one thing that is very helpful for the teens is when they hear examples of how bad the System can really be. For example, how you said that you get five hours of sleep a night and you get yelled at all the time in the navy. In your next letters will you try to include more such specific examples? Also, you could specifically talk about what other backsliders are going through.
68. One of our young men, Jo, who was in Brazil for years, later backslid from a Home in Europe. After a taste of the System, he recently came back to the Family and wrote his testimony of being in the System. One vivid example of the selfishness and lack of compassion in the System that he wrote about was his first day on the job when he and his work mates went for lunch. For some reason Jo hadn't brought any money for his lunch with him, and upon hearing this the other guys told him, "Well, you can just wait here while we eat," leaving him to sit in the hot truck while they went in and bought lunch for themselves, never offering to buy him lunch or share at all, and even flatly refusing to loan him money when he asked if he could borrow enough for lunch, promising to pay them back the next day.
69. Well, we realize that not everybody in the System is like this, but there are enough cases of it to make it really add up and to make you feel like running right back to the Family if you ever get out of there.
70. In your next letter could you please tell us what literature you have with you? What books, etc.? Thanks. Dad and I love you, Mark, and are praying for you.
Love,
Mama
71. P.S. Dad read your letter as well, and at the end he wrote: "God bless you! Thank you! --We love you!--While there's life there's hope!--And Jesus never fails!--He got me out of the army!--Just as bad!"
OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE!
(Letter to a mother who was asked to forsake her ministry as a CRO secretary, a ministry she was very happy in, and take care of her children, who needed her attention.)
From Mama, 4/94:
Dear J.,
72. GOD BLESS YOU! I love you. Thank you for your sweet letter sharing your recent lessons, and thank you, too, for your love, faithfulness and dedication to the Lord and His Family over the past years. You must be a fruitful branch, because the Word says, "Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (Jn.15:2). So the Lord must know that you're going to bring forth even more fruit as a result of these testings and breakings. He also says He dwells with those of a humble and contrite spirit (Isa. 57:15).
73. As you know, one of the most important battles being fought in the Family, and in Europe in particular right now, is for the spiritual lives of our young people, who very much need our love and care, plus the investment of our time and shepherding. So all that you can do to pour into and strengthen your children will reap eternal dividends, for they are our future and the Lord has great things in store for them.
74. Thank you for being yielded and willing to give up your own desires for their sakes, which the Lord will certainly reward and bless. --And for your attitude of faith in trusting Him for your future. "He has begun a good work in you and He's going to complete it to the end. He never fails, and if you truly trust Him, He'll see you through the way He wants you to go" (DM#1, 286).
75. I love you, and am praying for you as you step out by faith to follow Him in this new situation.
Love and prayers,
Mama
Reply from J., 7/94:
Dearest Mama,
76. God bless you! I love you. Thank you so much for all your continued love and care for us all!
For the memory of a kindly word
For long gone by,
The fragrance of a fading flower
Sent lovingly.
The warm pressure of the hand,
The tone of cheer,
The note that only bears a verse
From God's own Word.
Such tiny things we hardly count
As ministry.
But when the heart is overwrought
Oh, who can tell
The power of such tiny things
To make it well.
(--Good Thots, pg.1278, #241)
77. This note is meant as a "thank you" for the encouraging message I received from you some time back when I left my office job to help my two younger children who weren't doing so well. The fact that you'd take your precious time to write me really showed me the Lord's love in the midst of all the changes. God bless you.
78. Now, three months after that move, I can clearly see that "God meant it unto good" (Gen.50:20), which at first was so much by faith. F. (9) and J. (6) have made a lot of progress and are a blessing (though of course still learning lessons), and my oldest, S. (15), just moved to the ministry Home. It's been so inspiring to see the Lord work in each of their lives, and to realize how many lessons and how much experience I personally am gaining through this time. Thank You Jesus.
79. In your note to me you said, "All that you can do to pour into and strengthen your children will reap eternal dividends, for they are our future and the Lord has great things in store for them."--I know this is so true, and the other day the Lord let something happen which was such an encouragement along these lines.
80. I was spending some time with my daughter J. looking through a picture book about India (where she was born), and some pictures of temples and idols led to a talk about Hinduism and its multitude of gods and subsequent confusion and darkness. Then suddenly this little 6-year-old girl started weeping and telling me, "Mommy, we only have a little bit of time and there are so many people who don't know Jesus, and I'm not winning any souls. Mommy, I have to go out and witness!" She could hardly stop crying, but they were tears for others. This led into a talk about witnessing in which we prayed for the Holy Spirit to give her boldness, and read from the Good Thots on Mark 16:15. Then yesterday it worked out for the 4 YCs in this Home to go out on outreach, and they won 80 souls! When J. came home I could hardly get her to bed--she was just bubbling over with testimonies! Thank You Jesus, that's really the payoff! "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3Jn.4).
I love you, Mama. Thank you again for everything!
With much love and prayers,
J.
KEEP FAITHFUL AND BE CONTENT! --DON'T COMPARE!
(The following letter was written to a group of young people attending a leadership training seminar:)
From Mama, 2/94:
Dear YAs and teens,
81. WE LOVE YOU and are thrilled that you are able to attend this leadership meeting. We are proud of you. Each of you is important to the Lord and to us. You may be washing dishes now or doing laundry, or some other "little" task, and you may be looking enviously at others whom you think are doing more "important" things. You may think that some of your peers have gotten ahead of you in training and opportunities and responsibilities, but the Lord doesn't treat us all the same. He doesn't promote all of us at the same time. He has different lessons for each one of us, and a personal timetable just for you. If you'll be faithful, no matter how long it takes, in due time (His time) He will highly exalt you. Don't be discouraged and don't give up. Just keep faithful in the place that He has called you to. He knows that you are there and He hasn't forgotten you, and He has great things in store for you.
82. Remember Sophie the washerwoman, and the little crippled boy, Tommy, dropping messages out of his window. Don't you think their reward from the Lord has been great? Even if they never got a chance to do anything else in this life, what greater thing could they have done, anyway? Man seeth not as God seeth, and to the Lord these little jobs done with your whole heart for Him are just as glorious as the ones which you often consider greater.
83. I truly believe that for each one of you who may now be doing dishes and scrubbing floors and cleaning the house, there is coming a day when there will be other jobs which you will feel more fulfilled in, and in which you will feel your talents are being more greatly used. These future jobs may make you happier and more fulfilled, and the Lord is interested in giving you the desires of your heart. But for Him, your job of washing dishes faithfully and out of love for Him and the Family will count just as much as the greater jobs that He will give you in the future as your reward for being faithful and doing well in what you consider the little ones.
84. So continue to be faithful in whatever the Lord has given you to do. Keep letting your little light shine, and don't let the Devil snuff it out through discontent and envy and impatience for something "better." "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Jam.1:4; Heb.10:35,36).
85. We love you very much and are praying for you, that the Lord will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Love and prayers,
Mama
THANK YOU FOR BEING HIS INSTRUMENT OF LOVE!
86. (Mama's reply to a letter Solomon ["Uncle Jim"] wrote about his trip to England, where he gave testimony in Pearl's case and was involved in helping both our Family teens as well as some of our backslidden teens. The problems he mentions in the local work have now largely been rectified, thank the Lord.)
From Mama, 3/94:
Dear Solomon,
GOD BLESS YOU! I love you! I consider that you've been a great blessing there in England in every way, and only the Lord knows what great effect your loving contact with our backslidden teens will have in their lives. I'm so thankful that these kids have been able to see a good sample in you of God's love and concern for them. Some of them went through some pretty difficult times in the Family and were very disappointed and disillusioned because of some bad examples, so I'm very thankful you've been able to counteract to some extent the bad samples with your good sample. At least those kids will know, through your love, which is the Lord's love, that any bad experiences they had that were caused by unloving or insensitive adults are not representative of the Family as a whole, and they shouldn't blame the entire Family for what they may have experienced at the hands of a few.
88. I don't believe that all of them have such "good excuses." Some of them were in good situations and had great love and care extended to them, and everything possible was done to try to help them. However, we know that some of our teens did get the "raw end of the deal," and need the reassurance that the Family is not in agreement with this kind of behavior. No matter what their reason is for leaving the Family, they still need to know that the Lord is married to the backslider and He loves them and cares for them, and continues to reach out to them. Thank you for being His instrument of love to them.
89. I guess each one of us feels that we never do enough. There is always so much to do and we all wish we could multiply ourselves many times over, but we have to just do what we can do and not let ourselves be condemned for what we can't do.
90. There are so many things we would like you to do too, but you can only do one thing at a time and we have to choose which is top priority. Obviously the Lord chose your present job in England and placed you there not only to testify on the stand, but to bring you in contact with not only our Family teens but our backslidden teens, both of whom you have been able to be a big blessing to.
91. To a certain extent, Solomon, your lack of satisfaction at the extent of your accomplishments may be of the Lord, to help you want to do more. However, if it keeps you in a state of continual condemnation and discontent, I'd say that what may begin as a feeling that the Lord puts in your heart might eventually be used by the Enemy to make you feel down and discouraged. So perhaps it is the wise use of these feelings that the Lord puts in your heart that can make them work for you and not hinder you--not let the Devil grab on to them and try to defeat you through them.
92. I do believe that there are quite a few problems in the Homes in England, in part because they have been fearful of standing up for their convictions, and this, of course, has to be corrected in their hearts and in their attitudes, so they probably don't witness as much as they should. And there may be quite a few other things that they need to rectify. But I believe through the good samples that they see in their leadership, including yourself, this will begin to change. And through the efforts of our dear European shepherds, who are loving, caring shepherds, the weaknesses will be strengthened and the problems will be rectified. The Lord has given beautiful promises of encouragement to them about what He is going to do in Europe as they follow and obey. (Update: Our British Homes are doing much better, thank the Lord!)
93. I love you very much, Solomon. Thanks for keeping in touch. I value any observations you may have, so please keep them coming. Thanks!
Lots of love,
Mama
LETTER TO MICHAEL WHEELCHAIR IN AUSTRALIA!
(Michael, a TRF Supporter, has been in a wheelchair for the last several years after a diving accident, and only has the use of one of his hands. You can read his testimony in "Testimony Tract" T7 - T7d, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way!--With God's Help," as well as DFO Hope #9. Despite his handicap, Michael has been a faithful witness for the Lord--which should be a sample to all of us and convict each of us to do more. God bless him!)
From Mama, 9/94:
Dear Michael,
94. GOD BLESS YOU. We love you! We always look forward to hearing news of the members of our wonderful Family!--And you are no exception! Quite some time ago, after someone had written us mentioning with admiration your faithfulness and love for the Lord in the face of some pretty big obstacles, we too were touched by your dedication and we had a burden to do something extra meaningful for you.
95. We thought the thing that you would value the most would be to hear something special from the Lord for your encouragement and comfort. Therefore, we asked the members of our Home if they would have special prayer for you and ask the Lord what He wanted to say to you personally. He spoke beautifully of His love for you and your love for Him, and the reward He has in store for you.
96. When I found out the other day, to my dismay, that these prophecies had never been passed on to you through "human error" at the time of a move, we wanted to get them off to you right away; and I realized that since "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord," this must be one of those delays which are not denials. I felt very bad at first that these had not been sent to you, because I know what an encouragement they could have been to you all this time. However, perhaps the Lord knows that you need them more now and that this is an even better time for you to receive them.
97. A few days ago we asked some of the Family in Australia how you were doing, and we received word back that the Lord had indeed been good to you and had given you a sweet companion who also loves the Family and who is a real blessing and a help to you--the Lord's wonderful love gift!
98. The reason I am mentioning this is because, months ago, when the Lord gave the prophecies, He promised that if you would "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things would be added unto you" (Mat.6:33)--and along with that verse, the person who got it had the impression that the Lord was going to give you a companion and partner, as you will read below. So to hear that He had fulfilled that promise was thrilling! We are so happy for you--and for her, because she has found a real jewel in you! God bless you, dear Marianne, for loving Michael and helping him in his ministry. We'd love to hear how the Lord led you to each other and how you started working together.
99. Michael, as you know, your testimony was published in a GP Testimony Tract several years ago, and we're sure it has been a blessing to many. Thank you for your sacrifice in writing it. We'd be happy to hear any updates--how the Lord has been working in your life recently, as well as your witnessing adventures and the people you have been reaching with Jesus' love. You may not always see the fruit, but the Lord has said that in Heaven there will be many who will thank you for your faithfulness to share your wonderful Lord with them.
100. We love you, Michael, and you are a great inspiration to us all. Please keep fighting as a good soldier in God's great army, and being a good leader through your sample of endurance, perseverance, patience, sacrifice and love for the lost.
Love,
Mama
P.S. I hope you won't mind if we print this some time for the encouragement of the entire Family. This way, you can continue to be a real role model for them, and have a ministry not only to outsiders, but also to your Family.
Prophecies Received for Michael by the Members of Dad and Mama's Home--10/92.
(Home member prays:)
101. We thank You, Lord, for our faithful brother, Michael. Thank You for all You've done in his life, how he's seen Your hand and it's been Your love and mercy that has rescued him from his former life and given him a new life with You. Thank You so much for his faithfulness. We pray that You will bless him, encourage him and inspire him. Help him to continue to be faithful, to continue to be a witness and to get out Your Words. Continue to use him to lead many to You. We also pray in this time as we unite together in prayer that You will give us special words straight from You that will encourage his heart.
(Prophecies:)
102. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. He truly hath been faithful with the talents that he has, like the wise man with ten talents. Michael hath not buried his talents, but used them and given and let his light shine for others, that they might glorify the Father which is in Heaven. He shall be rewarded for his faithfulness and for his diligence and his love and his sacrifice and dedication.
103. Many have fallen by the wayside, but this one hath persevered and hath continued to fight in spite of hardships and difficulties, and hath been a testimony of My love and My faithfulness. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive a crown of life which I have laid up for all those that love Me, that are faithful to the end, that faint not, neither are weary, but are diligent and continue to fight in spite of persecution, in spite of the faces of their foes, in spite of all odds. Even so, fight on!
* * *
104. This affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.
* * *
105. I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. Thou art beloved of God.
* * *
106. The vessel that was marred in the hand of the Potter, He made it again a better vessel, fit for the Master's use. For though our outward man perish, our inward man is renewed day by day. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. For thou must decrease and I must increase.
107. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which hath tried thee, as though some strange thing hath happened unto thee. But rejoice, inasmuch as thou hast been a partaker of Christ's sufferings. Though He was reviled, He reviled not again; though He suffered, He learned obedience through the things which He suffered. And with the comfort by which thou hast been comforted, comfort others that they may know the comfort that I have given thee.
108. Lovest thou Me? Feed My sheep. Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in. For when they see that thou canst come to Me, they will receive the faith that they can do it too. For it is according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Because thou hast been little in thine own sight, I have highly exalted thee.
* * *
109. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world. For thou hast had a little strength and hast kept My Word and has not denied My name. Thou hast been a faithful servant unto Me and hast done the things which I have commanded thee. Thou hast been a faithful witness. If ye suffer with Me, ye shall also reign with Me. These things which I have let come upon thee in thy life have been for thy good. I will be with thee, even unto the end of the world. I have many things yet in store for thee, so stay close to Me and listen to My Word and be thou faithful, for I have a great reward for thee in Heaven.
* * *
110. Little is much if God is in it. Therefore never belittle the tasks which I have given thee. For thou art My hands, My eyes and My mouth. Therefore let thy light so shine before men, that they may see thy good works and glorify thy Father which is in Heaven. Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Me will last.
111. I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in you. Therefore hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. And when thou hast completed thy work, I shall raise thee up and give thee a glorious heavenly body, and I shall free thee from this handicap. For I am the Lord that healeth thee. Therefore give unto others as I have given unto thee. Do not withhold, for I the Lord thy God love a cheerful giver.
* * *
112. Many shall come and sit before Me in My Kingdom. They shall come from the east and from the west and shall sit before Me and shall look to Me and look to thee and thank thee for all that thou hast done for them. And thou shalt say, "Wherein have I done this, wherein have I done that?" And I shall say to thee, "Because thou hast done it unto the least of all of these, thy new brethren, thou hast done it unto Me; therefore enter into the joy of thy Lord." For many shall come and sit before Me and shall thank Me for thy life, for thy love and thy faithfulness and the joy thou hast made possible for them.
* * *
113. Though thou hast lain among the pots, yet shalt thou be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with gold. Wherefore seeing thou art compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, run with patience the race that is set before thee, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. For thou art a pearl of great price, chosen of Me and precious unto Me.
(Verses and Visions:)
114. I had a little picture of the verse, "The angels in Heaven rejoice when they see a soul saved"--referring to when Michael wins souls. It was as though they were doubly rejoicing because he has to make more of an effort than most, but his reward is great in Heaven.
* * *
115. I got the verse "Despise not the day of small things," and that Michael should not be discouraged thinking that he's not doing or accomplishing much in his ministry. Because it's not a small thing, it's a big thing, and I'm sure the Lord is very pleased with it.
* * *
116. I saw a picture of the Marriage Supper, and there was a big array of people coming and sitting down before the Lord, thanking the Lord. And then they turned to Michael and they thanked him. The Lord was blessing Michael and saying, "They've come to Me and they thank Me for you."
117. I also got, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Also the verse, "It's better for thee that one member be lost than that thy whole body be cast into Hell" (Mat.5:29-30). And the little song, "All that I have, all that I have, I will give Jesus all that I have."
* * *
118. I got that Michael is a jewel of great price, that the Lord has fashioned him with His hand and he was a vessel fit for the Master's use. It came with the poem from "Good Thots" about the earthen vessel the Master used to water His garden. (See "Commitment" #416, pg.559, Good Thots 1.)
* * *
119. I don't know if he has someone to help him, like a girlfriend or someone, but I got the verse, "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory" (Phil.4:19). I felt the Lord is going to bless him for pouring out and maybe give him someone to take care of him.
* * *
120. When I got the verse about "thou hast lain among the pots," I had a picture of his metal wheelchair being like the "pots" that he is bound to physically right now, but he's going to be free like a dove. Now he can be free in the spirit, but when the Lord resurrects him he will fly like a dove. I also got the following poem:
A little bird am I,
Shut in from fields of air;
Yet in my cage I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there;
Well pleased His prisoner to be
Because, my God, it pleaseth Thee.
My cage confines me round;
Abroad I cannot fly;
But though my wing is closely bound,
My heart's at liberty.
My prison walls cannot control,
The flight, the freedom of the soul.
(--By Madam de la Mothe Guyon, "Tests and Trials," #156, pg.1607, Good Thots 2.)
Response from Michael Wheelchair!
Dear Mama Maria,
12/94
121. Hi, God bless you, I really love you! Thank you so much for your letter of encouragement. You just don't know how much it meant to me. When I first looked at it and saw, "Letter from Mama," I just couldn't believe it! And when I read where you said that the Lord had spoken of His love for me, I was overwhelmed with joy. I also felt a sense of unworthiness, and I still don't feel deserving of the beautiful words that the Lord spoke in those prophecies. But I am so thankful to Him for them, and to you for all your prayers and words of encouragement. The Lord already has done so much in my life which I will never be able to repay Him for. He has taught me so much since being a part of the Family. I just don't know where I'd be without Him and the Family. I love you so much! I just pray that He can use me as much as He can and however He sees fit. TYL!
122. You said in your letter that the words that the Family had gotten from the Lord had been misplaced for a while and that "God's delays are not denials," and that the letter might be more of an encouragement to me now. Well, Mama, you were right, for Marianne and I have been in a lot of prayer for quite a while about our living situations and service for the Lord. Your letter came after praying for some confirmation on some real amazing answers to prayer which both Marianne and I would love to share with you. (See testimony in DFO Hope #9.)
123. The Lord has been so good to us and we are so thankful, thank You Jesus!--And thanks to you too, and everyone for all your prayers, support and making it possible for us to have so much of the Word. Please pray for us, as we really want this Home to abide under a good standard with His blessings and to be used for His glory. GBAKY! We really love you and you are always in our prayers.
Love, Michael
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family