Maria
June 30, 2004
By MariaFD/MM/FM 3498 5/04
Dearest Family,
1. In this GN I'm going to share with you a letter that Peter recently wrote to our WS units. It contains some excellent counsel that I thought you would appreciate being able to read and benefit from. We were preparing to explain some changes and restructuring in WS to all of our units, and so Peter wrote them this letter a couple of weeks in advance of making a video and sharing the details of the changes with them. The Lord showed him to do it that way so that they would have time to meditate on these lessons, and to personally pray and get ahold of the Lord about anything that might threaten their happiness, receptivity or faith for the changes. It won't be exactly the same for you, since we're not preparing you for any big GN or video coming in the next weeks or months (that we know of, anyway!), announcing big changes. But our lives are full of change, and I think you'll be able to relate to a lot of what Peter shares in this letter. I pray it will help you to be happier‚ more fulfilled, more at peace in what the Lord has called you to do, and also more resistant to the attacks of the Enemy when he tries to make you feel the opposite.
2. As you know, it's a time of progress, change, restructuring and growth for the Family. And, as you read in the "Get Up and Get Over It" GNs, the Lord is counting on us all to get over our personal sensitivities or wrong mindsets that are hindering our unity or forward progress. We just can't afford to put up with them any longer in our personal lives. They affect our unity and overall strength and progress too much. If we continue to harbor and nurse and protect our little sensitivities and preferences‚ it will be at the expense of the future of the Family. We will fall short of the goal the Lord has set for us. It's time to see that progress is a need, and to make it, we're all going to have to forsake something. It's not personal—we're at war, and we need to move forward.
3. Many of you struggle with battles similar to those Peter addresses in this letter. The Lord has confirmed that, and you've confirmed it through the letters you've written me. The Enemy uses different tactics with different people—depending on what your weakness is or what he thinks he can use to trip you up or make you unhappy. But some pretty universal battles during times of change and forward progress are comparing, discontentment, unyieldedness, resistance if things don't go your way‚ the temptation to look at positions or titles as indicators of usefulness or trustworthiness, and on the list goes. These battles affect the work and your ability to fill your place well, wisely, and dependably. These battles are also difficult for those around you to deal with. But most of all, they hinder you as a person—your happiness, your health, your fulfillment, your flexibility, and ultimately your usefulness.
4. Everyone gets hit with battles from time to time. We're only human, and the Lord doesn't expect us to be perfect or to always take everything in stride. But if you allow these battles to hang around in your mind and heart and keep bothering you, if you don't fight to win, fight to overcome and rise above them, you will be distracted by them. And in war, a distracted soldier is easily wounded or killed.
5. You probably won't be able to relate to all the details in this letter. The WS work environment is much different from most Family Homes, simply because many people in WS work at a desk all day long. The fact that our WS Homes don't get much outside fellowship and don't have a big turnover of people also makes these in–house type battles more intense, because everything can seem more permanent. Some of you in small or isolated Homes or service ministries can probably relate to that feeling, too. But I think if you can step back from the WS details and take this as an opportunity to learn from someone else's lessons—in this case, the lessons Peter shared with our WS members—you'll come away wiser and more humble, and happier.
6. See if you can't apply this counsel to the situations you face in your Home when things don't go your way, or when someone else gets to do something you really feel you deserve, or when you miss out on something exciting in the area. Maybe you're a young person in a far-flung and fruitful missionary Home, and you compare with those who live in a metropolitan area with lots of Homes and more fellowship. Or maybe you're an FGA feeling "left behind" when jobs or responsibilities are given to those of the younger generation—especially if you feel you're equally qualified or in some cases even more qualified. In all these cases, your circumstances, if you were to listen to the Enemy and his take on things, could seem pretty unfair, and you could wonder if the Lord really loves you and cares about your needs. He does. He has a master plan and you play an important part in it, no matter what situation you're in. It's very possible that He needs you tremendously right where you are now, and if you were to leave, the work would seriously suffer.
7. I love you‚ and we're sharing this with you because we want you to be happier, and we want you to reach your full potential for Jesus. The world needs you, and there are so many that the Lord is depending on you to reach through your day-by-day faithfulness in whatever ministry He's called you to. You're professionals—be professional about your service for the Lord! We have so little time that we can't waste any of it on worrying about what we want instead of what the Lord wants.
Claiming the keys of fulfillment and contentment for you, Mama
Dear Mates,
8. Mama and I love you very much. It's an exciting time to be in the Family. It's a time of growth and change, which will mean greater fruitfulness and fulfillment. And it all begins right here, right in WS‚ with you. Each one of you is greatly responsible for all that's happening in the Family today, because if it weren't for you and all that you do‚ we would never be able to provide the Family with the counsel, the shepherding‚ the restructuring, and the tools for the job that are needed at this crucial time. We're very thankful for you—not only for all that you do, but all that you're willing to commit to and take on, because of your love for the Lord, and for the sake of our brethren on the field. "No greater love hath any man than this, that a man lay down his life for the brethren."
9. That's talking about you! You're laying down your lives for the brethren, and many of you have been doing it for years—laying aside your own desires, your own plans and dreams, and often your own personal preferences, as you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
10. As you know, the Family has been failing in many respects. But from the responses we're receiving to the recent GNs‚ we know that many on the field are willing to do whatever is needed to turn things around and save the Family—and not only save it, but make sure the Family becomes what we need to be in order to accomplish our big job and fulfill our mission.
11. If the Family is going to be able to make the changes that are needed, however, they're going to need a lot of help. They're going to need more shepherding and better communications. The boards are going to have to be strengthened. The leadership structure of the Family is going to have to be given the attention it needs. In order for that to happen, we in WS are going to have to change many of our former ways of operating. It's going to require a revamping of our WS structure, as well as our former mindsets.
12. A few years ago, when the Lord began revealing to us that we were heading into an era of greater works, He made it clear that in order for that to happen, we would have to change things‚ and change a lot; otherwise there would be no structure or format in place to bring about those greater works. At that time, He showed us the plan of committees and boards, and the WS work ethic. It was a great start.
13. The WS work ethic, along with all that it entails, has taken quite a bit of getting used to for some of you. You weren't accustomed to that kind of a structured, professional work environment. Some of you have continued to battle with those changes, allowing them and the idea of accountability in your work hours to cause you to feel pressured and stressed. We're sorry for those of you who have struggled in this area, and we'll continue to pray for you. [Note: This is referring to a particular aspect of the WS work ethic involving daily work reports and required weekly work hours.]
14. The truth is, though, if we hadn't been willing or able to make the changes back then that the Lord had showed us to make, we wouldn't be in the position we're in today‚ to make the changes that are needed for today. But now we're facing even greater challenges and the need to be able to accomplish even more and greater works, and so it's time for even bigger steps of growth and change. It's going to require another grade, another level of professionalism on the part of us all.
15. Although we might not feel capable of taking on any more at this point, we know that we don't have a choice. If we don't, we'll fail, and the Family will fail, and that's not an option. We haven't come this far for nothing. We're going to go all the way and make all the changes that are needed to help WS be what we need to be‚ and we're sure you feel the same.
16. The changes we're referring to that need to be made have been in the works a long time. We've been discussing and praying for months about these things. We also heard from many of you in response to our request for your suggestions and ideas, and we're very thankful for the wonderful input and ideas that you shared with us. Your ideas were all much appreciated, and we've passed on many of them to the shepherding teamworks‚ and will soon be passing on others to the department heads to see what we can implement and how to go about it.
17. As I said, the Lord is calling us all to a higher level of professionalism in our service to the Family, and we're proud of you for being willing to flow with it and grow. For instance‚ we've recently had our first across-the-board personnel evaluations in the history of WS. [Note: These evaluations were ones in which our WS shepherds went over a comprehensive list of questions regarding each member of their Home and how they were doing in their work and discipleship. Afterwards our personnel received a general "grade" to let them know how they had scored in each area, commendation for their strong areas, and counsel on how to improve in their weak areas.] We realize that because it's such a new concept for many of you‚ it was probably a little tough, and in some cases, discouraging. But from what we've heard from your shepherds, the evaluations were a great help, and there have already been wonderful signs of progress from many of you, as you strive to change and grow‚ not only in your work, but also in the other pillars of your discipleship life—your spiritual life, community life, and personal life.
18. I'm sure you'll all agree that the workload within WS has grown over the past year or more. One reason for this is that the boards have become established and active throughout the Family, and some of the people in WS who were previously able to do other jobs must now focus on board work. Some of the international board chairmen (IBCs) need additional help in order to properly service the Family. In order to accommodate this need, as well as the many other needs within WS and the various departments, some of you will need to step into positions of greater responsibility, and at the same time, we'll need to bring in some new personnel to help meet our present needs.
19. I'm explaining all of this because, for some of you, this influx of new personnel might be a little hard. Perhaps you're someone who has been faithful and hard-working‚ sacrificial and dedicated and good at what you do for years now, and with all of this growth and change, you too would like to have a change. You'd like a job that would allow you to sometimes travel and be able to do new things. For most of you, that's not going to happen. And unless you get ahold of the Lord from the beginning‚ the changes and growth and the new ways of operating within WS are going to make you feel unhappy—either unhappy and dissatisfied with yourself and your ministry, or perhaps even critical and resentful of those who are stepping into new jobs, or of those who are being brought in to WS to do what to you might look like a more interesting or a more "important" job than you.
20. Not only for the sake of the Family and the changes that need to be made, but for your own sake, you just can't afford to go there. You can't afford to give in to the temptation to compare with others. Comparing has been a pretty big problem for some of you, and has been a hindrance to the work and to WS for a long time. We've sometimes delayed doing new things and making needed changes because we knew it would be hard on some people.
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It's easy to compare. But comparing only steals your joy. It doesn't help you do a better job. It doesn't motivate you. It only discourages you and makes you less of an open channel to Me, and more unhappy, and less of a blessing to others. There is no good fruit at all from comparing. It's just the same old Devil with his same old tricks.
21. Of course, we understand that it's a human weakness‚ a natural tendency to compare with or to be critical of others. It's just human. But there's a lot of Word on these subjects, and we're sure that when you pray about the changes that are coming, the Lord will speak to you and give you your own personal Words of counsel and help along these lines as well. But in order to help you to know what you need to ask the Lord about, He's shown us that we need to spell out a few things very clearly—not to hurt you or make you feel bad, but on the contrary, because we love you. We want to be honest with you, because we need you. We want you to be happy and fulfilled, but unless you're able to take these changes in the right way, with the Lord's perspective, we're pretty sure that some of you won't be happy.
22. Change is coming. By the grace of God, the slow-sinking "Titanic" of the Family is being mended, renovated, revitalized‚ and saved. We're working day and night to save it, and we're going to need the help of each one of you. In order to save the Family‚ WS itself must also be revamped. We can't delay or put off making the changes that are needed‚ just because we know that some people are going to have trials and feel bad. We can't not raise people up and require more of them, or give someone a new job and place of service they're cut out for and have experience in, just because others will compare negatively and get discouraged. We've got to look at the work and the job that's ahead of us professionally.
23. This is going to mean a lot of change. Some people will be moved into positions of more responsibility and leadership, and in other cases‚ people from outside of WS are going to be brought in and given either a newly created job or one that may look more interesting or significant to you. But many of you will be staying right where you are, doing what you've been doing‚ or in some cases, doing more.
24. Because the Lord is asking WS to take on a greater involvement in the shepherding of the field, there will be more movement, more travel. Some of our WS personnel will be called on to visit the field. Others, because of your responsibilities to the Family to get out the pubs or to serve the Family in another ministry, won't be able to travel. You'll be required to stay right where you are. This, too, will probably be hard on some of you, if you let it‚ if you give place to it.
25. Some of you who battle against criticalness are often tempted to judge things, people, and situations‚ without really knowing the full picture. You look at others within WS, and because you're tempted to compare or because you listen to the Enemy's lies, you feel that Mama and I or your shepherds have "favorites," or that some people are just "squeakers," and they end up getting what they want, and it makes you want to become a "squeaker" or a complainer, in order to try to get your way—either a change of some kind‚ a better job that allows you to travel, or whatever it is that you want. This is nothing less than giving place to the Enemy, letting him in to spoil your connection with the Lord, and to influence your mindset and way of looking at things. Giving place to the Enemy in this way hinders your ability to fulfill your calling and to be as fruitful as the Lord means for you to be.
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You're right where I want you, doing exactly what I want you to do. Take My word for it. That's the highest-paying job there is, when it comes to spiritual benefits. That's where you'll be the happiest, learn exactly what I know you need, and be the biggest blessing. What good would it do you if you were learning all kinds of stuff that wasn't exactly what was needed to benefit the work?
Time is so short, I can't give everyone the same training and experiences, as much fun as that would be. I have to place each of you where I need you to fill a certain spot‚ and to learn what you need to prepare you for the next spot. So don't mess up My plan by feeling you have to somehow move around to do more for Me. Just be the best little daisy you can‚ right where I put you. And then you'll be ready for what's next.
In Heaven there will be plenty of time to celebrate and enjoy each other's accomplishments and get more of the training or experiences you would have liked. But right now‚ there's so little time, you just have to stay within My master plan if you're going to win this war.
26. Mama and I, and your shepherds, are very desperate to do whatever is necessary to make the Family what it needs to be. In some cases‚ this means that we're having to ask some of you to continue doing the same job you've been doing for a very long time—without any change, or new responsibilities, or opportunities to travel. It doesn't mean that you're not on our list of "favorites," or that we wouldn't love to be able to give you a change if the Lord indicated it was needed or within His highest plan for you.
27. Whether you can believe this or not, we don't have favorites. Honestly. We don't have time for them. We've got a big job to do and we've just got to do whatever works best, with whoever the Lord shows us is best suited to the job. We've spent weeks and months going over our options, praying about every angle of these decisions, and it hurts us to think that after all of that, some of you will be left feeling that we don't trust you as much as we do others, or that you're not as important to us as someone else.
28. Each one of you is important to us, and we obviously trust you or you wouldn't be in WS. The Lord has called you and gifted you for your own special place of service, and if you weren't doing it, we would all suffer. The Family would suffer. So, again, in this area, we need to ask that you realize the reality of the situation, and not let the Enemy lie to you or give you his mindsets regarding these things.
29. Along these lines, another area that has been sensitive and a source of battles for some of you, and which could potentially result in even bigger battles in light of the way WS is changing, is along the lines of wanting to be "in the know" about things, feeling "trusted" with a certain level of information; being able to participate in and have a part in the decisions that are made, even when being able to do so would be a distraction‚ or take away from the very valuable and limited time you have for your own important work and ministry, etc. Others of you want to have the kind of job or position that would require you to meet or counsel with Mama and/or me. Some of you have allowed the Enemy to make you feel somehow less important because you don't have access to all the information that the COs have, or the IBCs, or perhaps the department heads.
30. We're sorry if you feel bad, and again, we're praying that you'll be able to close the door on the Enemy's tricks. We're expecting that, with the Lord's help, you'll be able to do so, and that you won't continue to struggle or compare or give place to the Enemy in this way. It's a distraction and a hindrance that you don't need, and probably don't want. So just give it over to the Lord and get over it.
31. One particular aspect of the changes that may be a source of discouragement for you FGAs is the fact that many of those who the Lord is calling to be "raised up" at this time are SGAs. As an FGA, in hearing the news of the various changes and seeing those who are being asked to take on more responsibility, you may wonder why you haven't been selected to move into another position. It's natural to feel that way and we don't fault you for experiencing such feelings. We understand. The Enemy will undoubtedly try to attack some of you with feelings of disappointment, sadness, or hopelessness. His goal is to make you feel like you're a has–been, washed up, and not useful, that you're being passed up by the young people, or whatever he knows will look most bleak and hurtful to you. He wants you to feel that you're not appreciated, or that you've failed in some way.
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Be glad that the second generation is willing to take on more, so the Family can continue being what I need it to be. If it wasn't for them, how could I keep the Family moving and changing? In any organization, the younger generation is needed to carry on the work, and so it is with the Family.
32. However‚ the way the Lord sees the situation is very different than the way the Enemy portrays it. The Lord looks on you FGAs as faithful, time-tested, diligent, and committed soldiers. You've given your lives to the Lord, you've sought Him for His plan for your lives, and you've continued to follow it! He's given you the calling of doing the very ministry that you're presently doing within WS, and He values your faithfulness to abide in it. The goal for each one of us, young or old, should be to find what it is the Lord wants us to do, where it is He wants us to do it, and to do it well‚ with our whole heart, the best we possibly can. And if you've already found your calling and you've made your election sure, as we FGAs have, then we pray that you'll be able to continue finding fulfillment and contentment as you fulfill the Lord's will for you to the utmost—by doing your job the best you can.
33. Having a change of ministry, taking on more responsibility, getting to travel, or being more "in the loop" doesn't bring with it any more of the Lord's blessings than does abiding in your calling, being faithful, and sticking to what the Lord has asked you to do. Each one of you has a much needed job and place of service, and it's through yieldedness and following the Lord's plan for you that you will find His blessings. We FGAs who have been around for a long time have experienced firsthand that this is the truth; we really do know that the only place to be happy in the Lord and content and blessed is in the center of His will.
34. But it's easy, during times of change, to be knocked a little off balance and to doubt the importance of your calling, or to wonder if maybe something else would be more exciting‚ make you happier, or make you feel that you're more useful and "important." So please bear this in mind, and believe that the calling that the Lord has given you is exactly what He both wants you to do and is asking you to do. Stick with it! Don't allow the Enemy to buffet you, to cause you to become discontent‚ to feel like you're not useful, or that you're missing out by staying faithful to your calling.
35. One of you FGAs expressed that the following verse encouraged you concerning this very topic, and I want to share this verse with all of you, because it's really the heart of the matter of abiding in your calling and not looking to the ministries or positions of others‚ or comparing with others: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His Own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2Tim.1:9). That means that the Lord not only created you, but He also ordained what your calling was to be before the world was created. So once you've found it, stick to it.
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I have given you very specific talents, and this is what I have prepared you for. This is what I have ordained for you‚ the place of service that I have chosen for you. So be content in the place that I have given you.
36. You FGAs who remain faithful in your ministry year after year are the backbone of WS. You're the stability of our company. [Note: And the same is true of you FGAs on the field; you're the backbone of the Family!] The Lord is still helping some of the young people to find their niche, and He's working to place them, to give them experience, to teach them lessons, responsibility, and in order to do that, He has to put them first here, then there, and give them a chance to learn, to grow, to make mistakes, to become leaders.—Just like He did with you. It's called training‚ and the young people need it. But once He has gotten them trained and in the right place, He'll ask them to abide in their calling too. It's a matter of the Lord's timing, and by providing the strength of support‚ faithfulness, stability, and the other enduring qualities that you FGAs provide to WS and to the various departments that you're in, you're enabling the young people to find their place of service and to receive the training the Lord knows they need.
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It's time for the younger generation to step in and take responsibility; otherwise their growth will be stunted.
The older disciples are kind of like the infrastructure, in some ways—like the skeleton, the bones, that provide the framework and the structure, the foundation, the support that everything else is added to.
The second generation are like the muscles, the reflexes, the blood that gets that body up and moving and doing things and active and productive and going places. If those bones weren't there, there wouldn't be anything for the muscles to latch on to.
I'm like the heart—pumping life to everyone, and keeping the body alive, but even I need both bones and muscles to make the body whole and useful and functioning. So everyone has their part, and everyone has to play their part to make the body work the way it should.
You're doing the part that I've called, chosen, and ordained you to play, and even predestined you to do, and fashioned you in Heaven to do before you were even formed.
You're in My will in the position in which I've placed you. I have given you an extremely high calling—My will.
37. You FGAs are already trained‚ you have years of experience; you're solid, dependable, and we trust you. You're leaders in your own right within your various ministries, and we count on you to do the job and to do it right. So please don't allow the Enemy to convince you that you must be a failure, that you're not on the cutting edge, or any other such lies. Call on the keys of contentment and send the Devil packing. If you give in to the Enemy's attacks on this front, you'll find yourself discouraged, discontent, critical, and unable to accept the fulfillment and joy the Lord wants to give you. So don't let yourself go there.
38. Some, or maybe all the above-mentioned things, have been sources of discontentment for several of you, whether SGA or FGA. The Enemy has tried to use these things to make you feel that you're not important, that your opinions aren't valued‚ that you're being "passed over." If you're someone who falls prey to these kinds of dirty tricks, you need to get ahold of the Lord and ask Him to free you, through the power of the keys, from the "green door" of comparing.
39. Because we each have a big job to do, and much more work on our plates than any of us will ever be able to get done, it's just not practical or feasible or even reasonable to want to be involved in or aware of everything that others are involved in. Most of us only have time to be aware of what we personally need to be involved in in order to do our own job, and to be able to make wise and well-rounded decisions in the area of expertise the Lord has given us.
40. So, please‚ instead of letting the Enemy distract you with thoughts of comparing‚ and usurp your time and energy, as well as your happiness and sense of fulfillment regarding the place of service the Lord has called you to, why not just get busy in the area and ministry the Lord has called and gifted you in, and what He's asking you to commit to? Get busy‚ giving it your all, and letting your gifts and talents and anointing shine and make room for you in the way that He knows you're best suited for and most needed.
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My highest compliment goes to the man who is content where I place him, filling his spot with honor and faithfulness. That's the absolute BEST you can do.
41. Here is some previously published counsel from our Husband on this subject:
(Jesus:) Those Here in My Heavenly Kingdom in the realm of the Spirit are all happy and fulfilled, because they understand that they have a role to play, a job to do, and they understand My love for them more fully. They do not question My love, for they have experienced the depth of My love for them. They have great peace and great joy and great contentment in being used in the position wherein I have placed them, knowing that those things which I give them to do are My will for them.
There is no competition or feeling that this one is greater or that one is greater, because they have contentment as they do My will. And oh, what joy they have in this contentment, in this knowledge that I love each of them for themselves. They understand that each one is precious to Me, each one is special to Me. They understand that I died for each one, that I have redeemed each one‚ and thus each one is very special to Me.
And so it is with you—each one of you is special to Me! Each one of you is called to Me, and I died for each one of you. ("Prophecies on Leadership," ML #3052:23–25, Lifelines 23).
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You must learn what this means, that man looks on the outward appearance, but that I look upon the heart. I measure the faithfulness and yieldedness and love of the heart—not the position and power given to the man. Though some men must have positions and power, I nevertheless judge by the heart, by the spirit. I judge heavenly judgment, not earthly judgment.
I weigh each person's love, yieldedness, and faithfulness in a balance that is counterbalanced with the weights that I choose—the weights of the gifts and the talents that I have given them. To him that is given much is much required. For if much is given, the counterbalance weight is heavy. He that is given much is expected to give much in return‚ and he is balanced against those things which I have given. He whose talents are less has less of a counterbalance on the scale.
I do not judge all men equally by counterbalance, but I judge each one as an individual. I do not compare. I bring each one through their own lessons, their own testings, their own trials, and I judge them accordingly. I do not judge one according to the tests and the trials of another. I judge this one according to the tests and trials of this one alone‚ and I reward accordingly; each one according to their own tests, each one weighed according to their own counterbalance.
Each one is an individual. Each one is individually loved by Me. Each one is individually judged and rewarded according to My love, according to My wisdom‚ and according to My justice—the justice of love, the justice of understanding. (ML #3052:25-28).
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In every man's life there are testings, there are trials, there are provings, there are periods of purging, of squeezing, of melting, of molding. But I do not withdraw My love during that time. I am there and I am faithful to love you, for I have purchased you and you are Mine. But I allow these things to cause you to grow and to make you strong.
When one man goes through these periods of testing, and yet another man seems to be greatly blessed, it is not a sign that I love one over the other. Do not judge My love according to outward appearance. If I have called you to a lowly task, to a humble task, to a tedious task, you should not look at another who has a seemingly glorious task and say, "This one is more loved of God than I," for it is not so. I love you‚ and I judge you according to that which I have brought across your path. I judge you according to your faithfulness, your yieldedness‚ and your willingness. (ML #3052:34–35).
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To everything there is a time and a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven. For some‚ right now is My time for them to move into something new, but it's not that time for you. Maybe I'll choose to work differently in your life later, but for now‚ your attitude should be, as I told My disciples, "What is that to thee? Follow thou Me."
42. (Peter's letter continues:) In closing, we'd like to ask that, if you're being tempted to worry about some of the changes that are coming, please take them to the Lord. The Enemy doesn't use the same weapon or the same tactics on everyone. While he may hit some of you with comparing, he may tell others that you're just not going to make it, that you can't take any more "change" or more "professionalism." Whatever you're getting hit with, please ask the Lord for His counsel about it, for His mindset. And if you're someone who has battles with comparing, or feeling "unimportant‚" then please do go to the Lord and get desperate with Him about it. Here's an example of someone who did. They were being hit with battles similar to the ones I've mentioned above, after the initial note sent around a couple of months ago about the WS restructuring, which explained a bit about the upcoming changes.
43. (Prayer:) Dear Husband, do You have anything to say to me regarding the discouragement I began to feel yesterday when I read the note from Peter about some of the changes? I don't know what it is, Lord, but I guess I just feel like whenever there are changes or new things happening, I'm never involved. I know there are many who aren't involved‚ but I'm one of them, and it discourages me. Maybe for other people it's not a battle, but for me it is. It brings up battles of not feeling needed, not being trusted, or just generally being "out of the loop."
44. I know I should be happy for others who are being used of You and seem to continually be "promoted" and get to go places and do things—and I should be content to just do whatever it is that You want me to do, even if it's not usually very exciting or fun‚ but when I get tested I don't always pass the tests. I usually get hit with discouragement about my place of service, get itchy feet and want to go somewhere else or do something else, and feel like "throwing in the towel." I wonder if anyone really sees or understands.
45. (Jesus:) You can expect that the Enemy will try this trick on you. He knows it's a way he can attack you, playing on your emotions, on your nature and personality. He knows you want to go places, do things, and feel used, so when you don't get to experience those things, or when you see someone else getting something you wish you had‚ he uses it to get you down and discouraged.
46. You can't allow yourself to entertain his thoughts, not even the thoughts you would just naturally think. You've got to force yourself to think My thoughts, and that doesn't just come naturally. If thinking about what someone else is getting to do or be, and being happy for them doesn't work so well immediately, or if that's too high a goal, then at least don't think on it negatively. Realize that it's going to happen, it's My will and needed, and you either just let what I have planned happen, or you balk against it in the spirit and get discouraged.
47. Force yourself to look at it like this: "So what! I'm going to serve the Lord regardless. I'm going to do what He wants me to do, even if I do feel like I'm missing out a bit, or even if I'm not getting to do everything I want to do." Don't let what happens to others get you down.
48. (Prayer: ) Jesus, thank You for everything You've said so far. But what's in it for me? As I was reading today in the "Law of Love" series‚ there was a quote that said, "When something is difficult and costs you a lot, it really helps to know what the big picture is, and what good will come from such a sacrifice. It's nice to sometimes know, 'What's in it for me?’"
49. (Jesus:) Only I can see and know how difficult it is for My brides to do My will. I see how much each person sacrifices to do the things I ask of them, and how difficult it is to yield and submit and say yes to Me. It's true that things aren't always entirely equal on Earth. But I promise that I will reward according to the degree of sacrifice and yieldedness required at every turn in the road.
50. My love, sometimes it really does cost you to say yes to Me, to buckle under and do My will—especially when you wish you were somewhere else‚ or doing something else, or being used of Me in a different way. But remember that I always see the degree of the cost in every decision that you make, and you will be rewarded. Easy steps of obedience are rewarded, as all steps of obedience are. But difficult steps of obedience are rewarded much more. The more difficult the yielding, the more the rewards. The more sacrifice required for an individual to do My will, the more rewards they will receive in return.
51. You will be rewarded fairly and equally, My love. And though you sometimes wish you had some of the rewards here on Earth that you're desirous of, believe Me when I say that when you get here you will be glad you waited. And always remind yourself that no matter how things look through your carnal eyes of the flesh‚ I love you with the completeness and fullness of My love. There are no favorites when it comes to My will for My brides. I use each one in the way I know is needed and as is best, not only for My Kingdom and the work, but also as is best for you. I love you; don't ever forget it. (End of message.)
52. (Peter's letter continues:) Please know how much we love each one of you too. You are very special to Mama and me, and we mean that! We appreciate each one of you and thank the Lord for you. We couldn't do the job of getting the pubs and services to the Family if it weren't for you and your faithfulness.
53. We love you and are claiming the keys of contentment, happiness‚ challenge, peace, spiritual progress, rising above, faith, hope, and love for each one of you. Through the power of the keys NOTHING is impossible‚ so please claim that promise for yourself. Go to the Lord to ask Him for the personalized counsel that you need, and go on to be all that the Lord and the Family need you to be!
With love, admiration, and prayer,
Peter
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In My house your rewards and blessings are not determined by your position, but by your love, your dedication, your faithfulness, and your obedience.
Copyright © 2004 by The Family
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