PERSONAL LETTERS!--No.4
Maria #249
DO 2966
Comp.12/94
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!" Despite his handicap, Michael has been a faithful witness for the Lord--which should be a sample to all of us and convict each one of us to do more. God bless him!)
From Mama, 9/94:
Dear Michael,
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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!
5. 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.
6. 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
(Prophecies:)
7. 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.
8. 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.
* * *
9. 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.
* * *
10. 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.
* * *
11. 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.
12. 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.
* * *
13. 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.
* * *
14. 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:)
15. 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.
* * *
16. 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.
* * *
17. 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
18. 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. 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 awhile about our living situations and service for the Lord. Your letter came after praying for some confirmation on some real amazing answers to prayer! We really love you and you are always in our prayers.
Love, Michael
* * *
Letter to the Young People in Peru!
From Mama, 9/94:
Dear young people in Peru,
19. God bless you! Grandpa and I love you, and are very thankful for each of you.
20. Some of your shepherds were so impressed with your dedication that they recently wrote us about it. They said that all the Homes in Peru are working together exceptionally well on all fronts and are accomplishing much more unitedly--winning more souls and getting out more message--than could have been done by each Home working separately. Praise the Lord! We were impressed to hear of your zeal to witness and win souls, as well as your enthusiasm to get out the tools and raise support for your Homes. God bless you for your love for the Lord and the lost that motivates you to go out into your neighborhoods seeking out His sheep!
21. Grandpa and I are aware of the intensive investigation of the Family that was conducted there some months back, and the inconsiderate and less than loving way the many tests were carried out on you and your younger brothers and sisters, but how you endured and stood firm in defending the faith and continued to witness. You stood strong and wielded the weapon of the Word, publicly defending your beliefs when questioned about your parents and training.
22. We also heard how the Family was under constant bombardment by the TV and press, and how some of you young people were even mocked and called names by others when out witnessing because of it, but you still kept going out witnessing and it bore very good fruit. We greatly admire you for passing the test and courageously defending your faith.
23. We are also proud of those of you who recently came from Argentina for being such strong soldiers and standing strong through all kinds of traumatic experiences, in spite of the evil attacks of our enemies there.
24. We heard how one of you flew to Argentina to help out during the time of the raids, and bravely faced the authorities and demanded the release of your brothers and sisters, then flew back to Peru with them after visiting and encouraging your parents who were in jail. God bless you, Carmen!
25. In their reports, your shepherds have also mentioned that you young people had received correction for some weak areas that you needed to change and grow in, and that you might have been a little discouraged afterward. We know you're not perfect, and we know there are a lot of areas you can improve in, but you've already been told about these.
26. So here in this letter we just want to encourage you about all the good you have done and all the tests you have passed, and all the progress that you've made--how you've been good soldiers and you've endured hardness and you've been survivors. All these things are much more important to the Lord--and to us--than your NWOs and your weaknesses and imperfections and failures. In fact, it's an even greater testimony that the Lord has been able to do such marvelous things, in spite of any of your weaknesses, to show His strength through you! Praise the Lord!
27. So please don't feel discouraged or condemn yourself for your failures!--Just praise Him for all your successes! It's God's plan that we all fail sometimes in order to accomplish His purpose of keeping us humble, desperate and close to Him, and able to partake of His comfort, mercy and forgiveness. Just don't let the Devil, through condemnation, put a negative interpretation on your mistakes and faults to the point that you become discouraged and stop fighting.
28. The very things that the Lord wants to use to make you stronger, the Devil would like to use to defeat you, so don't let him have the satisfaction of seeing any surrender on your part. Don't give in to discouragement for one moment, or let the Devil and his evil imps have any territory. Resist him and he'll flee from you!
29. As long as you are really desiring to do your best for Jesus, your successes will always be greater than your failures, even if you can't see it. No matter how bad you are or think you are, just the fact that you want to serve Jesus shows that you are still fighting and the Devil hasn't won; therefore, you and the Lord are winning, and that is a great success and outweighs anything else, thank You Jesus!
30. If you have questions and don't understand some things (even after you've asked), if you keep making the same mistakes over and over, if your NWOs keep cropping up again and again, if you don't like some of the people you work with and you don't agree with them--don't be discouraged! Just do the best you can and don't condemn yourself for what you can't do. "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not" (2Cor.8:12).
31. It's good to fight being critical, it's good to be full of faith. It's important to work on your weaknesses, and it's good to like the people you work with; but the point is, if you miss it sometimes--or even a lot of times--don't take it too hard, and don't give up! If you love Jesus and are trying, He will give you credit for that. We pray you are each able to shine for the Lord and use your gifts to the fullest for His glory. Let's all try to see each other with eyes of love and do all we can to help each other along so that together we can make a good team that can fight together to win the battle and change our part of the world. Grandpa and I love you and pray for you!
Love and prayers, Mama
* * *
Just Say "No!" to Condemnation!
32. (Intro: After hearing the news of Dad's graduation, dear Paula [Bithia] became extremely despondent, feeling that the hurt she had caused Dad through her involvement in the persecution of the Family had contributed to his death. Paula's shepherds asked for desperate prayer for her, as no amount of counseling, talking, reading or explaining had been able to help her shake this feeling of despair and condemnation that she was suffering. After hearing this request for Paula, Mama wrote her the following letter:)
From Mama, 12/94:
Dear Paula,
33. God bless you! I love you! I heard you were having some big battles and I wanted to write you right away. I've been real happy for you and just thrilled with what the Lord is doing in your life. The Lord has so wonderfully helped you! Please don't let the Enemy steal away your victories now. Not only is he trying to steal away your victories, but he's trying to steal your life!
34. You're fighting for your life, you know, so don't just give up and let the Devil have it. Just stop it! Right now! The Lord has given you a will, and you can use it. If we'll just say "No!" to the Enemy and "No!" to the Enemy's darkness, his doubts, his fears and his condemnation, and "Yes!" to the Lord's light and truth and freedom, we can overcome.
35. Every time I would think about Dad, no matter what the memory of him, I would get hit with a condemning thought. No matter what sweet picture I would remember of Dad, there was an immediate attack of the Enemy to make me feel guilty for my failings. But what can I do about those things now?--Nothing but do my very best for Jesus and for Dad to carry on with the work that they have assigned me to do.
36. So I realized I had a will and I could choose not to think about Dad--if in so doing, I was getting so attacked. So I just decided to do what the Word says and "forget those things that are behind and look forward to the things that are before" (Phil. 3:13). After all, those are just memories of Dad. Right now I have Dad with me just as much as ever, in Spirit, and I am conscious of his presence all the time, and it makes me happy, not sad. So why think back on past memories when I can look forward with Dad to glorious possibilities? I don't need the memories of the man when I've got the man! The memories will be nice some time when the Devil stops attacking me on them and trying to make very sweet, positive experiences so negative.
37. So, Paula, no matter what you did in the past, the Lord has forgiven you, Dad has forgiven you, I have forgiven you, and the Family has forgiven you. The Lord never allowed one thing more than He knew the Family needed, nor one thing more than we could take. You suffered enough just through the natural consequences of your actions. But you have been forgiven, so who is it that condemns you?--It's the Devil, of course. So if you feel discouraged or worried or fearful or guilty, this is not of the Lord; it is of the Enemy. You must resist him and give no place to him!
38. The following is something I sent to someone the other day, which I would like to say personally to you as well:
39. So cheer up if you make mistakes!--You should be thankful! The Lord loves your broken and contrite heart. "Contrite" means "repentant." How can you be repentant unless you've done something wrong? How can you say, "God be merciful to me, a sinner" if you never make any mistakes and you don't believe you are a sinner?
40. So why don't we try thanking God for our mistakes instead of beating ourselves up for them? Why don't we try to see all the Romans 8:28 in them instead of sinking down in despair and bemoaning our failures and all of the problems they've caused us and everybody else?
41. Even if we can believe that Jesus doesn't condemn us and that others don't condemn us, we have a hard time not condemning ourselves. We figure that if the Lord isn't going to punish us, and no one else is going to punish us, we have to punish ourselves. After all, we're bad and that means we need to keep paying the consequences. But this is not the case. Jesus has already paid the price for our sins--not just our sins before salvation, but when He died on the cross He took all our sins--past, present and future--on Himself, and was punished for those sins so that we would not have to be punished.
42. But we still try to punish ourselves--we still try to do penance. Penance is self-punishment, suffered willingly to show that one is sorry for having done wrong in an effort to obtain forgiveness. But penance won't gain us forgiveness--not one iota of it! We can only be forgiven through Jesus' blood that He shed on the cross, not through our own works.
43. What some poor people do for penance in the flesh, we often try to do in the spirit. They whip themselves, nail themselves to crosses, walk on hot coals, etc. We torture ourselves the same way in the spirit as they do in the flesh. We can no more help ourselves by this torture of our spirits than they can by their torture of their flesh. We just can't do it ourselves; only Jesus' salvation is able to save us from our sins and mistakes. And since we're already saved by His blood, why are we trying to save ourselves again by our own efforts?
44. If we try to punish ourselves when Jesus already paid the price so that we wouldn't have to be punished, we are literally slapping the Lord in the face and telling Him that His sacrifice didn't amount to anything. We are despising it, we are belittling it and we are saying that it wasn't enough, and that we have to pay for our own sins. What a terrible thing to do to the Lord, Who has sacrificed His life so we could be free from the bondage and punishment of sin and death!--And thus free to serve Him joyfully without the heavy weights of condemnation.
45. Paul says very clearly, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). Are you in Christ Jesus? Have you accepted His death on the cross as your salvation? Does He live in your heart? Then you also have to accept that that punishment that He paid for your sins means all of your sins--every one of them--and that there is absolutely no need for you to pay for them yourself or to punish yourself through condemnation. Not only is there no need, but you have no right to try to do it. You have no right to try to usurp Jesus' place. You have no right to tell Him that He didn't do a good enough job, that you still need to punish yourself, because He didn't do the job well enough.
46. He is saying to you, "There is now no condemnation, because I have paid the price. You are no longer condemned for your sins--any of your sins--because I paid for them all by giving My life. I was condemned for you so that you don't have to be condemned." The Devil will try to condemn you, but his condemnation is a lie, and if you accept it, you're letting yourself be punished for something that you don't need to be punished for--that you shouldn't be punished for!--Because Someone was already punished in your place.
47. Not only are you making the Lord feel bad because you didn't accept His sacrifice for you--the gift of His life that He paid for you--but you're torturing and immobilizing yourself for nothing. It's not necessary and it has no value, and it's not going to do you any good. It makes you feel very bad and it saddens the Lord, Who paid so much to keep you from having to pay because He knew that you could never pay enough, and that any payment you would pay would be worthless. It would do absolutely no good.
48. So, dear Paula, think on these things and let them take root in your heart. You can be sorry, yes. You can be convicted, yes. You can decide that you won't do what you did again, and you can learn lessons from the mistakes you have made. But you cannot sink into the depths of despair, flagellating yourself, refusing to be comforted and constantly thinking negative thoughts that the Devil wants you to think. Be sorry for any damage caused and get it over with, and then be thankful for your mistakes and count your blessings, and see what God has done through your mistakes to make you a better person for Him. Get up right away and go on and try again.
49. Jesus knows how much you love Him and how greatly you are dedicated to His work and His Family, and His heart breaks to see you in such a state of despondency and overwhelming grief. Not only does it torture you, but it immobilizes you, and gets you right where the Enemy wants you. Jesus wants to take you in His arms and comfort you, if you'll just look up and reach out.
50. You've come so far, don't disappoint the Lord! Don't fail His Family. Don't hurt Dad. What you will do now if you give up will be worse than what you did before, and will have just as grievous consequences. Satan has desired to have you, but Jesus--and Dad--are praying for you that your faith does not fail. With God's love, nothing is impossible--if you'll just put your will on His side! Just say "Yes!" to Jesus!
51. We love you very much and are upholding you in our prayers.
Love, Mama
* * *
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,
52. 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 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.
53. 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.
54. 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.
55. 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 discontentment, 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).
56. 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
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family