Will You Handle Your Freedoms Wisely?

By MariaMaria #660 CM/FM 3466 9/03

Dear Family,

1. Alcohol is an unusual topic for a GN, but the Lord has shown us that it's an important one, especially during this time when the Charter alcohol rules are temporarily suspended for those 21 and over. You're now responsible for what you drink, when you drink, how much you drink‚ and how often you drink alcohol. This is a time when you're each no doubt learning accountability, maturity and wisdom in your consumption of alcohol, and as Peter said in "Charter Amendments 2003," the final decision on the alcohol rules depends on your choices and responsibility during this time.

(Peter:) You must understand that this suspension is not a license to overdrink and abuse alcohol … This suspension of the present alcohol rules is an added responsibility in your life, and collectively how you adults handle that responsibility will determine if this suspension of the alcohol rule can continue.

We are not making this a permanent Charter change, but are allowing this suspension as an experiment to see if our Homes and adults can be trusted with this freedom. Within one year of this GN being published we will review the effects this change has had on the Family, and if it has borne bad fruit in our Family Homes or in the lives of individuals, we will not hesitate to re-institute the current Charter rules regarding alcohol. In this case, a lack of moderation on your part could affect many.

While we sincerely hope that each Family member affected by this change will act in a responsible manner, if you cannot handle this responsibility as it is intended and it bears bad fruit in your lives‚ or if there are serious abuses of alcohol because of this change, we will cancel this temporary suspension of the alcohol quotas and re-institute the Charter alcohol rules. (From "Charter Amendments 2003," GN 1033, page 4.)

2. (Mama:) The Fundamental Family Rules regarding alcohol will be reevaluated around May 2004. So it's in your best interests, dear Family, to act prayerfully and carefully in regard to alcohol if you appreciate the present guidelines that allow a little more freedom, flexibility, personal faith, and variety. Otherwise, if the bad fruit outweighs the good fruit, the former Charter alcohol rules will be reinstated.

3. When the Charter alcohol rules were suspended‚ I asked everyone in our WS units to hear from our Husband about how they should view the new alcohol freedoms. They asked for any counsel, safeguards, limits, guidelines, and stipulations He had for them, as well as information on any pitfalls, things to watch out for, or personal weaknesses they have regarding alcohol. As a result, the Lord gave a lot of good‚ practical counsel to each person, and it's been a help to them in using the new alcohol liberties prayerfully and responsibly.

4. Hearing from the Lord on the subject of drinking alcohol is something that I would like to ask each of you to do, too. It's so vital to receive the Lord's counsel about every area of our lives, especially when it concerns something like alcohol—a substance that can be dangerous and hurtful, that can become a burden and a curse if not handled prayerfully and in the right spirit. I'll include a P&P question at the end of this GN for each of you to ask the Lord. Please be faithful to take the time for it! I have faith that you will, as I know you'll want to receive the Lord's full blessings in this area of your life.

5. In a message from Jesus, published when the suspension of the alcohol rules was first announced in May 2003, He said that it was a test to see how we would do. He asked us to let Him help us handle the new freedom wisely. How are you faring? Here is an excerpt of that prophecy:

(Jesus:) This suspension of the alcohol rules is part of My plan to allow you another opportunity to show your maturity, to prove your desire to stay close to Me, and to exercise moderation in your personal lives, and thereby avoid weakening your testimony as Christians and disciples. I am pleased that you have this opportunity, as I know it will bring many of you joy. I have led your shepherds to give you this liberty on a temporary basis; this is a blessing from Me, and a test at the same time.

My dear Family, while drinking alcohol can be a blessing, there are many possible dangers and risks as well. I'm trusting you with this privilege, but remember, it's a test. This is a temporary lifting of the rules, and whether this continues will be up to each of you. I'm asking you to be your brother and sister's keeper. I'm asking you to let Me help you handle this freedom wisely. You do this by asking Me everything, confirming My will, and being open to shepherding and advice from others. (From "Charter Amendments 2003," GN 1033, page 6‚7.)

6. (Mama:) In this GN I'm going to share with you excerpts of some messages which, as I mentioned above, those in our various WS Homes received on the topic of alcohol in answer to the question I asked them to pray about. These messages are from many different people in different situations and places to provide helpful counsel for you‚ dear Family. They were received at my request‚ not because anyone in WS has a drinking problem.

7. You'll see as you read through these prophecy excerpts that the Lord gave very different counsel to each person—that's because we're each so diverse and have unique needs‚ as well as weaknesses. Some of the messages even seem to contradict each other, and that's because the Lord has specifically tailored His counsel to each individual.

8. As you probably know, alcohol affects every person differently, so there is no across-the-board standard for everyone. It's a very personal issue that you must get serious about and hear from the Lord regarding. It's not enough to just rely on what the Lord has told someone else—each of you need to hear from the Lord personally and receive His guidelines and counsel for you. I pray you do!

9. Though much of the practical counsel the Lord gave to each person was very different‚ there were some constant, recurring themes throughout every message, which He spoke about repeatedly. He cautioned over and over about the importance of being responsible, prayerful, mature‚ careful and wise. He also reiterated the importance of asking Him everything, especially in the area of drinking alcohol—knowing how much to drink, when to drink, what to drink, and other specifics.

10. There's a wide variety and assortment of messages, so I'm sure there'll be something of interest for everyone. I'll start with some longer prophecies, and following that will be a collection of short excerpts that I've put into general categories for easy reference. And so that I don't need to include "Jesus speaking" at the beginning of every paragraph, which could get a bit repetitious, I'll mention here that every message is from Jesus unless otherwise indicated.

11. Jesus wants to be a part of every area of our lives—and He can and wants to give us counsel on very down-to-earth things, such as how much alcohol to drink, what kind of alcohol to drink‚ when to drink, guidelines for drinking, and so much more. So if you don't get anything out of this GN other than realizing more fully how much the Lord wants to be involved in every detail of your life, and how He truly does want you to literally ask Him everything, even in matters that seem mundane and physical, like something such as alcohol, and you take the steps of obedience to hear from Him personally regarding it, then you've got an important lesson under your belt and will be a stronger disciple as a result.

12. Since I always like to give our Husband the final word, here is a little excerpt of a message He gave that pretty much sums it all up: "I'll bless you with My Words of counsel and instruction, which can help to make you wiser and happier. There's nothing in your life that I don't want to be involved in, and letting Me in by seeking My counsel is a good thing. I love you‚ and I want you to be fully filled with My counsel and Spirit in every area of your life."

Much love in our wonderful Husband, Who wants to be included and acknowledged in everything,

Mama

Be Prayerful, Cautious,

and Responsible

13. Drinking alcohol is an area in which I want you to become more mature. In giving you this freedom, I'm giving you an additional responsibility, and I want you to take it seriously and prayerfully.

14. The previous Charter alcohol limits provided you with some type of guideline, some type of "safety net" to remind you that there were limits and that you must be cautious. They were like a training aid, something that helped you learn and define your own personal limits. Through experience‚ including some bad experiences, you've gained more of a "godly fear" of alcohol and abusing it, and as you enter into a time of fewer restrictions, I want you to remember these experiences and let them be a caution and help to you.

15. I've shown you some important things regarding your alcohol consumption, and I'm glad to see that you're taking this matter seriously now, with the lifting of the limits. It's very important that you remember and retain the lessons you've learned, and don't slip into a spirit of‚ "Yeah! Let's party! No more rules, and anything goes!" That is not the spirit in which this suspension of the alcohol rules was made, and it is not the spirit I wish for you to take on. I wish for you to go into this with a prayerful, cautious, responsible spirit.

16. I'm not going to lay down any hard-and-fast rules for you here and now, because that would just cause you to miss the point. The point for you is that you must pray about what you should drink and how much‚ or whether you should drink at all, at every individual situation where alcohol is served‚ or where you buy or consume alcohol.

17. Rules or guidelines in themselves are not the solution for you. The solution is a desire to live within My Spirit in every area of your life—including your free time—and bringing Me into everything, and hearing from Me about everything. I want you to send up a little prayer each time you drink, asking Me, "What should I drink? How much? Is there anything I need to keep in mind? Should I eat something? Show me when to quit while I'm ahead."

18. As a form of assistance, here's a little summary of different factors or tips to keep in mind as you're praying about your drinking each time. The amount of alcohol you drink is not the only factor! Other important factors are:

• Whether or not you've eaten, and how much.

• The percentage of the alcohol.

• The mixing of alcoholic drinks. Some mix; some don't. Some mixtures you can handle, some you can't. Even some "mixed drinks" that do go together don't settle well with you personally.

• How tired you are‚ and how your health is doing.

• Whether you've had alcohol the night or day before, or that week, and how much.

19. If you are keeping these key points in mind, and if you are praying and asking Me before drinking and following what I suggest, you will be in the "safe zone" and blessed by My Spirit. (End of message.)

Relaxation with the

Wine of the Spirit

20. Drinking is something you value in social occasions, and recently you've gotten to where you don't feel like you can relax and stop thinking about work or even enjoy yourself with others unless you drink. But the notion that you can't really relax or enjoy yourself without alcohol isn't the case. You'll find that slowing down will help you in the same way that a beer might relax you, except slowing down will help you to connect with people in the right way. When you drink you get a little silly and it feels good not to have to worry about yourself or be self-conscious. But on the other hand, I know there are times you regret that you were a little oblivious‚ or you wonder afterward if you repelled someone a bit through your teasing or bold words.

21. So here's your safeguard: Ask Me what to drink at any given occasion, and not just what you drink and how much you drink, but how much time you allow between drinks, if you have more than one.

22. There is a way to enjoy alcohol in My Spirit, because I created it for your pleasure and it can be a very enjoyable part of life. But what you sometimes do is convince yourself that, "I really need a drink right away," and then you down one, sort of leaning on and depending on the fast action of the drink to help you to change gears from work mode to relax mode, or from work mode to social mode.

23. It's not terrible to have a drink to help you to change gears, but what I'd rather you not have is that mental dependence, that conscious thought pattern that you won't be able to enjoy the evening and relax without a drink.

24. Because you have been clicking into this gear recently‚ the next couple of times you have fellowship with others, I'd like you not to drink. It's not a punishment; it's to give you a chance to put into practice what I'm saying here‚ so you can see My Words at work in your life, and see that just slowing down, staying in sync with Me, and asking Me to help you to be just what I want you to be in any gathering is enough. You don't need a drink to help you to do that.

25. It's a good skill to learn, because projecting into the future, if you're in "reach the rich" situations, or projecting even further into the future, in some kind of undercover Tribulation situation‚ you don't want to have any tentacle of Bacchus around your waist in the form of dependence on alcohol, this feeling that you can't calm down in social situations unless you have a drink or two. You want to have the faith and assurance that you don't need to have a drink—you don't have to rely on that like the children of the world do—in order to do your job and blend in and connect with whoever you need to connect to.

[Text box]

Bacchus, the Prince of Addiction
—And His Counterpart, Boheme

Bacchus' jurisdiction is over the principality and stronghold of addiction. His mission is to separate you from the Lord, to cause you to turn to your addictions—any number of physical or fleshly crutches and excesses. ("Personal Checklist for 'Conviction vs. Compromise' Series," GN 965).

(Jesus:) This is the haughty‚ proud prince of addiction, Bacchus. His strength, his hold‚ and his tentacles are multiple and strong, but they melt as butter when cut with the power of the keys!

There is no tentacle of addiction, no habit, no hold upon My children which cannot be broken through the power of the keys! He seeks to bluff you, hoping you'll tremble and be intimidated, and thus lose faith that his grip can be loosened. But do not weaken and tremble, having gazed upon the arrogance and strength of this demon, but rather wield the keys in faith and courage against him‚ for this is what he fears the most, knowing his doom is sure! (ML #3365:83-84, GN 963).

(Peter prays:) Through the power of the keys of deliverance I enlist the help of Boheme (Bo-HEEM) against Bacchus…. Please free our loved ones from the physical or fleshly crutches and excesses that Bacchus tempts them with.

We ask You to use Boheme to cut the tentacles of Bacchus and his addictions. He is a great one, possessing all that is fit and uncompromising. (ML #3455:207–208, GN 1039).

[End of text box]

26. A little glass of wine in private has a different effect than if you drink at a social gathering, where your focus is on relaxation and recreation. In the latter case, unless you have sought Me, then your spiritual resistance can be lower, and if you were in some sort of Tribulation situation, then the price you pay could be very steep.

27. I can give you mental relaxation and social skills by giving you My wine of the Spirit, that Holy Spirit overflowing power‚ so that by all outward appearances, you have had a drink or two and are right in sync with the crowds around you. But the difference is, My Holy Spirit wine doesn't lower your spiritual resistance, or dull your spiritual senses, or lessen your sensitivity to My voice. These are the things you should value more than the relaxation that a drink brings you. Then you can instantly change gears from the situation into fighting mode or escape mode or witnessing mode or exorcism mode, if need be. You can do and be whatever I want you to be, without your body being slowed down by the effect that alcohol has on it.

28. So that's the long-term vision, and I wanted to share that with you because I know it'll help to motivate you in doing what I ask and giving yourself these safeguards of always asking Me when and how much and how fast to drink. That way you won't get a "deprivation complex," feeling like this is yet another unrealistic request of you in just the moments you want to be able to let down your hair and relax.

29. I want you to be able to let down your hair and relax too, but do it My way, in My Spirit, with your dependence always upon Me and not upon any fleshly props. That would be like worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. So worship and depend upon Me, and thank Me for the gift that alcohol is in your life, without letting it become too important to you—to where you can't even enjoy things without that prop. (End of message.)

Advice from a Former Alcoholic

30. (Spirit helper to an FGA:) Hello, Son. I hope you don't mind me calling you that, because you're my grandson. I've been watching your service for the Lord and I'm so happy about all you're doing for Him‚ and that there's someone in our family who's living for Jesus.

31. I know this is a bit of a shock, because you never knew me and certainly never think about me, but I have a message for you, and Jesus was good enough to let me pass it on. It's a message about alcohol and drinking, which I know a lot about, because I died an alcoholic.

32. It all began back when your grandmother (my wife) died, and I was devastated by the loss. I'd lost the love of my life and was left with a little girl, your mother, who I was going to have to raise alone. The pain was overwhelming‚ and I just couldn't handle it, so I took to the bottle to help me. Oh, I know I should have turned to the Lord and He would have helped me‚ but I didn't know the Lord that well. I was saved. I had that much faith, at least, but my faith in the Lord and my knowledge of His ways didn't go much further than that. So I turned to the bottle instead of to the Lord.

33. At first you don't think there's a problem with your drinking, when you're in a situation like I was. You have a pain, a wound in your spirit, and instead of going to the heavenly Doctor to treat it and help you recover‚ you decide you'll treat it yourself. You pour on the pain reliever in the form of alcohol and it helps to numb the agony you're feeling, and you can forget about it for a time. The problem is, when the effects of your alcoholic pain reliever wear off, the agony is still there—and not only that, but you're feeling pain from the after–effects of the alcohol, as well as depression and remorse and a whole range of negative feelings, which makes it even worse.

34. So you turn to the bottle for another dose of pain reliever, and it takes a bigger dose this time, or a more extended period of drinking, and the cycle continues. That's what happened to me, at least, and that's how your mother came to be an orphan at such a young age. I just drank myself to death‚ to the point where there was no more pain at all, and I was past any sort of feeling. I didn't start out to do that, but that's what I did, and I shed lots of tears in Heaven that had to get wiped away, and underwent a long period of rehabilitation before I could even accept that I was here and could live with myself. My dear wife helped me, God bless her.

35. This isn't just to tell you my tale of earthly woe but to pass on a few cautions about drinking, since you asked. Some of these things I've learned from my own experience.

36. Number one‚ having a drink or two can be nice sometimes, but it's not a substitute for the Lord and His help. If you're having a problem of some sort, a difficulty or a heartache or a pain, then having a few drinks doesn't solve the problem. It just postpones it and even makes it worse, because afterward you not only have to deal with the problem but the after–effects of the binge, if that's what you've gone on. An excess of alcohol weakens you both physically and spiritually, so your problem not only grows, but you're more open to the Enemy's attacks, more susceptible to him. Go to the Lord instead. Seek help from your shepherds‚ your friends, and your loved ones. I know it's hard for men to open up and do that sort of thing, and that's one reason why more men than women are alcoholics.

37. Number two, if you keep turning to the bottle for a crutch, or even just because it makes you feel good and free and helps you forget your daily grind‚ then after a while you grow dependent on it. You know that verse, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom.10:17). Your faith grows by the Word. Well, your desire for drinking grows the more you drink‚ and before you know it, you're hooked. It's both a physical and spiritual addiction. Your body craves it and your spirit is addicted to it, because Bacchus and his foul imps have spotted an opening and gone to work on you. The Devil and his kind hate life and love death, and when they get someone in the grip of being an alcoholic, then they just cackle with glee.

38. Number three, some people simply shouldn't touch the bottle at all. Not a drop. Ever. If they start to drink and they have a hard time controlling themselves, they should stop and never start again. They have a weakness along that line, so they should just give it up.

39. Thank God I could come and pass along this advice. I hope it's a help. I love you, and I'm rooting for you as you love and serve the Lord. Keep doing your best for Him. (End of message.)

Freedom in the Spirit vs.

Freedom in the Flesh

40. What your spirit truly longs for is the freedom of My Spirit. You want it; you desire it. But you have‚ for a time, tried to find freedom through the things of the flesh‚ and that approach and fleshly solution only brought you into greater bondage, the bondage of Bacchus.

41. Flesh will never satisfy you, and your flesh will never be satisfied. The flesh always wants more. The more you give it, the more it takes, and that can often lead to spiritual and physical bondage.

42. With drinking‚ for instance, the more a person drinks, the more they need to drink in order to "feel it." If, instead of being content to stick to reasonable, healthy guidelines and limits, they choose to be driven by or yield to doing whatever feels good, or what they feel they "need" or "deserve," that opens the door to the Enemy's spirits of addiction and alcoholism. More and more they will begin to "need it" and become dependent on it. In time, they will become a slave to it, a servant of it—in reality a servant to the spirits of addiction that control them. Just as Paul explained in Romans, whatever it is you yield yourself to, that's what you will become a servant of (Rom.6:16).

43. It's not the drinking that's bad, just as eating or any other pleasure of the flesh isn't bad. Even occasionally drinking more than one should isn't a horrible thing. Everyone occasionally eats or drinks more than they should. Just because someone occasionally gets a headache and feels bad the next morning because they drank a little more than they probably should have‚ that's no reason for the Enemy to be able to get in and condemn them for it afterward. But it certainly should be reason enough to smarten up and not want to do it again.

44. A lot has to do with the reasons for drinking, the attitude of the heart, why someone is drinking, their feelings and thoughts at the time, and of course what the alcohol causes them to feel, think, or do—the results and fruits of their drinking. It has to do with how important these things of the flesh are to them. If they've allowed the things of the flesh to have too much importance or place, or to take too much time or energy, then they have a false balance in their lives. They've begun to put other things before Me and My service, and that's harmful to them‚ a setback to My work, and a matter which I do not take lightly.

45. Not everyone has the same tendency or propensity to addiction or problems with drinking. The Enemy uses different tactics and different minions in different situations, depending on what he knows will work best—or worst, I should say.

46. This is the greatest problem, not so much the drinking in itself, but where the drinking will take you. As you continue to grow in your practice of asking Me everything, you'll know when and under what circumstances it's safe for you to drink, as well as how much. As long as you can stay within the guidelines I give you and it doesn't bear the wrong fruit, that will be all the safeguarding you need. But if you're not able to limit your drinking to those circumstances and occasions, then you'll need to admit it and ask for help.

47. You shouldn't feel bad or condemned about it. All men and women are weak and incapable and need the help of others in one way or another. No one is sufficient in themselves. I've made people to need help and support and safeguards, so that it will force them to fight for fellowship and the unity of My Spirit with others.

48. Haven't I said that two are better than one, and a three-fold cord is not easily broken? That's why I've put you all together in families, for you all have need of each other. There is none good—no, not one. It's good for you to know that you're weak and not capable in yourself, because that will keep you humble, yielded and desperate. (End of message.)

What if Others Bother You

When They Drink?

49. What you need to remember to ask yourself is: Are you being loving? Are your actions loving? Are your thoughts loving, kind, forgiving, and accepting of others—even of the ways some people handle their alcohol? It's easy for you to get critical. When you drink, it doesn't affect you the way it seems to affect some others. But getting critical of them doesn't make you happy.

50. Those thoughts aren't of Me. So what are you doing about them? Are you being loving, by thinking positive thoughts—things you like about that person? That's what you need to do. You need to think in love and act in love.

51. When folks drink and they lose their better judgment, things can sometimes happen that you might not like. But it's not usually intentional among My brides. So you just need to learn to strive to be prayerful in all your actions, which is what others will be doing too if they're prayerful. If you will all do that, then you can know that I will bless your partying, your fun, your relaxation, and all that you do. (End of message.)

Stay on Guard!

52. Alcohol is a spirit, and can be many spirits‚ depending on the instance and the person. When you drink, you lose certain inhibitions in the flesh, and once they're removed, depending on your personality type or areas of yieldedness, beings from the spirit world are much more likely to affect you than they normally would.

53. For instance, those who have a tendency toward the flesh—craving fleshly amusements—will become much more this way, because the alcohol removes your normal boundaries and limitations. Obviously, this brings on certain dangers.

54. Kicking back and enjoying yourself when drinking is something I used to like doing with My disciples when on Earth. In fact, this led to My being called a wine-bibber and a companion of drunks and harlots. I did not forget My calling, and I did not take My Father's Name in vain, nor did I say anything I regret to this day. But that's because I knew, from prayer and counseling with My Father, when would be a good time to relax, and when it was time for relaxation to give way to the work and tasks My Father had called Me to.

55. If you're willing to let Me lead you in the matters of your drinking, you can rest assured that I will take up the guard of your mind and stand vigilant when you want to unwind a bit. But when I'm not in your thoughts beforehand, drinking alcohol will accentuate any dangerous habits. Anything in your life that was already "on the edge" prior to partying or drinking will end up going "over the edge," leading to words and actions you'll regret, as well as many unguarded moments.

56. It would be good for you to read "The Unguarded Moment" (ML #838, Vol.7) again. Reading that will definitely put the fear of God in you. Relaxing spiritually isn't a good idea. Taking leave of your senses leads you to dangerous paths spiritually.

57. It's not really about self-control and self-restraint. It's more about letting Me have control of you and letting My thoughts dictate your actions. I'm now willing to let My brides have more freedom concerning alcohol—those who can handle it. But I expect you to apply this freedom responsibly, by putting on My mind and letting Me have full control. (End of message.)

Important Points to Remember When Drinking Alcohol

58. Drinking is a very subjective subject. I can't come out and say‚ "All of you can drink this much," because it's not like that. Some people need tailored guidelines, and not everyone can drink the same amount. You don't have a problem with drinking too much generally, but here are some things that you can be mindful of while drinking or having a party where alcohol is served:

59. • Bring Me into the equation. Thank Me for the alcohol and ask Me to bless it and your time together at the beginning of the gathering or party‚ just like you would the food that I have supplied. Then, as you drink, pray over each glass, so that it'll have a good effect on you and you'll have a good effect on others. You can silently pray that it'll have a good effect and that I'll bless it. In so doing, you open the channels for My Spirit to come in and set you free and give you a good time—way more than the alcohol alone could provide.

60. • Be responsible. Watch out for your brothers and sisters. If you don't have a problem with drinking too much, be a loving and caring eye for someone else. Help them not to drink too much. Be a good influence on them and help them know when to stop drinking. Take good care of others by not letting them overdrink, because it's not good for them and things can happen that they'll regret later if they're not helped and checked.

61. • Be loving when you drink. Be loving in the amount you drink‚ and let your words be governed by love. Don't let alcohol loosen up all the bad parts of your nature. Instead, let it loosen you up to My Spirit and let Me flow through. Don't take advantage of others' drinking and being "looser" than they may normally be. Be loving, and do unto others as you want them to do to you. This is part of being mature: To do the right thing when the option is there to take advantage of someone's disability.

62. • Don't overdrink. I know this may seem like, "Duhhhh!" But take it to heart. Don't overdrink by making drinking a bad habit. The more you drink, the more you can tolerate, but that doesn't mean it's good for you. Try to keep a good balance in the amount you drink, because drinking too much too often is unhealthy mentally and physically, and has bad side effects in your life in general. Keep your drinking recreational, and don't become dependent on it for your fun or happiness.

63. Keep these things in mind and your drinking experiences will be responsible and enjoyable. (End of message.)

Dangers and Drawbacks of Alcohol

64. The danger with alcohol is when it becomes a crutch, an escape, a way to help you get in the victory‚ but one that doesn't really work. I want to be your strength and your help.

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65. Overdrinking can lower your spiritual standard and bring your personal NWOs or weaknesses to the fore. For you‚ overdrinking brings out your selfish side. It doesn't make you say and do things that encourage other people. It makes you draw attention to yourself and lift yourself up. It makes you not care whether what you're doing or saying is being a good or bad example to someone else. It makes you insensitive and not aware enough of those around you.

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66. Alcohol is a potential danger for you. You haven't yet let it become dangerous, but if you "feed your flesh" too much of what it wants, you will develop addictions.

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67. You're pretty typical as far as the effect that alcohol has on you. It mainly makes you want to have fun. But along with wanting to have fun, it also makes the constraints of the spirit seem a little less important. You usually don't feel as in the spirit when you drink, and all the things you normally fight so hard against don't seem worth fighting. This is often manifested in your speech, and you let more proud, vain, and boastful comments slip out. These are the things to be on guard against. The more you drink‚ the more these things will probably present themselves.

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68. Even when it's a party and people are drinking, you're still under the Law of Love. It's still important that you don't weigh your actions by what feels good at the moment but by what is right overall. If you've drunk so much that you lose sight of this, then you've drunk too much.

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69. Overdrinking isn't just when you're getting physically sick, or spiritually hurtful, depressed, angry, etc. Those things aren't the only manifestations in your life. Overdrinking for you means any time you've had so much alcohol that your spiritual restraints on your speech, on System input, and your obedience to the Law of Love get back-burnered for you. Any instances of those things and you've had too much.

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70. Just like other things can carry hitchhiking spirits, so can alcohol. That's why it's so important to pray before you drink—that I will cleanse the alcohol and fill it with My good spirits. It can invite bad spirits if you don't pray, but so can other things like picking up something at the store. It's just a matter of praying and being prayerful and cleansing things with My Spirit.

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71. Are you going to keep your spirit in check‚ even when drinking alcohol? Or are you going to use drinking as an excuse to become a city totally broken down and without spiritual walls?

72. You can drink and still be on guard. But sometimes, although you can still hear My voice and My checks, you choose to ignore them. It doesn't always depend on the amount you drink, but more on the position of your spirit, whether you're using the drinking as an excuse to shut off My checks and your own conscience.

73. Beware of shutting out My voice. Listen to Me at all times, and stay on the right channel. Have fun! Do things that are fun and crazy, but don't break My spiritual laws. There's no happiness in that, only sadness and regret.

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74. When you get into the higher percentages of alcohol, especially mixed drinks‚ the effects can be slow at first. A mixed drink with higher-proof alcohol can be very deceptive, because you are drinking something that doesn't taste strong, sometimes not even like it contains any alcohol at all, yet you are drinking a lot. Then the effects begin to roll in, like waves of the ocean when the tide is coming in, and you can't stop it. Even though you stop drinking when the effects become stronger‚ the incoming effects continue to get stronger and stronger after you stop drinking, until they finally peak and sustain at a plateau for an hour or longer, and there is nothing you can do about it. Such is the danger of higher-proof alcohol—that delayed reaction.

75. When you eat, you stop when you've had enough. You can tell when you've reached that point because your stomach is full. But drinking isn't like eating, because often it's difficult to discern when you've had enough. You may still be craving the pleasant effects alcohol has on your body, so you drink a little more, not realizing that those effects are already on the way but will now be less than pleasant, because you've passed your limit. So know your limits and stop when you should, and if necessary you can ask Me or others to help you stop. In this way you can avoid the delayed effects that come with drinking too much.

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76. What I don't approve of is the importance you place upon alcohol, both in your behavior and in your speech. The way you feel like you can't really have fun without alcohol, and the importance you place on it in your conversations—both at parties and at other times—are the main problems. It's almost a type of worship. You've allowed alcohol to mean too much to you, something you feel you can't do without.

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77. The main danger for you would be that because you don't usually indulge and don't really enjoy alcohol that much, you don't feel you need to be on guard regarding it. But there have been a few times that you have had enough to allow an unguarded moment, when you have said things that were not in My Spirit and didn't bear good fruit. Your guard was down, and it was largely because you weren't used to being in that state of "off the ground." So you need to pray and ask Me to help you to stay on guard and in the spirit, especially in situations when you have enough to drink that you would "feel it."

78. I don't mean to say that you shouldn't or can't drink enough to "feel it" and get that relaxed, happy feeling that a little alcohol—and in your case, a very little—can give you. It's fine to "let down your hair" and feel that kind of "high" a little bit. I just want you to be aware that you need to pray and ask Me to keep your spirit and the words that come out of your mouth during those times! You're still Mine, and I want My Spirit to shine through you.

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79. Things are changing—not only in your personal life, but also in the world. Your link to Me and letting Me be your anchor is more important than ever. It's crucial. If I'm your anchor‚ you will remain settled, centered, and established, and the changes and difficulties around you won't matter. But if you're not; if you base your inspiration and joy upon other things, you'll fall when the going gets rough.

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80. Alcohol isn't what forms a bond of love and unity between you. It does help to relax you, but you must keep it in its place. You need to bond together with your loved ones in My love and in My Spirit and in My unity, so don't rely on alcohol to help you with that.

81. When you get together with others, make sure that you are getting together in My Spirit and in My love. Alcohol isn't going to improve your unity and your love and your bond one with another; only My love can do that.

Importance of Drinking Alcohol When You're in the Right Spirit

82. Don't drink because you want an escape from trials. That's one danger of drinking—when people begin to turn to it to help them escape the problems of life, the tensions, the stress, the thought of failure, or the feeling that they should have done better. They drown out their conscience or their convictions by drinking. They salve a hurt, or they look to the drink to do what I would like to do in their hearts.

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83. The effect of alcohol at the wrong time, when you're a bit out of it, can be that your negative mood is heightened. You're a little out of it and you think that drinking will make you feel better, when in reality it doesn't. My Spirit is what will make you happy‚ and will give you relief when you're battling the Enemy. You can't expect alcohol to give you the victory, when I wish for you to call on My spiritual forces and My Own power to give you the victory.

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84. It's important that you don't drink when you're discouraged or going through battles, as it can bring out the discouragement more, or cause you to spill your discouragement on others. Sometimes, when you've been battling and have had a rough week, you want to just sit down and relax with a drink. But be careful, because drinking can cause you to let your guard down spiritually, and make it more difficult to fight the Enemy when he attacks with discouragement. So make sure you're in the victory and in good spirits before you drink.

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85. Alcohol tends to magnify your emotions—whether you're feeling happy or down and depressed. So if you're going through something and haven't heard from Me about what's bothering you, and you haven't started down the road to victory‚ then you shouldn't drink‚ as you'll just go down in a deeper downward spiral and be more susceptible and open to the Enemy and his attacks.

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86. When your spirit is not in a good state, or you are going through some spiritual attacks, or you are discouraged, it would not do you good to drink. Often alcohol enhances the things that you feel. It can make everything more pronounced, and you feel the pain of the trials more, or the attacks more, as well as the joy or the fun, depending on the mood you are in.

87. So if you are planning on drinking a little more than usual or an amount that would put you in a very relaxed state, make sure that you are not going through any heavy battles, trials, or discouragement. Watch that you do not let the timing be the weakness.

Alcohol Health Benefits

and Hazards

88. Your take on drinking alcohol has always been that by being in the Family and abiding by the former Charter limits, you couldn't really drink enough to damage your liver. Well‚ My love, those Charter guidelines were written to the Family as a whole, but you are responsible to seek Me about your own personal guidelines within them. You should be aware of your own health and body, and prayerful about what you take in—praying about your limits and what is healthy for you, not just expecting other safeguards to "take care of you."

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89. Wine‚ for you, is generally pretty safe in moderation, and even has some health benefits. A glass of wine every couple of days is perfectly safe. A beer or two a week is likewise not a big problem. Excess of even these, however, is not healthy. Especially because if you get used to doing it regularly, then your craving for it increases, your dependence grows, and it's still possible, over time, to do damage to your stomach and liver.

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90. You can handle more alcohol than some other people can before it starts affecting you. The downside of that is that you could tend to drink more than others in order to "feel the effect." And the danger of that is that it will affect your body and organs just like it affects other people's.

91. Although some people might be able to drink just one beer and "feel it," while you need two, it's irrelevant when it comes to how it affects your body and health. Whether you feel a beer affecting you or not, your body is still working away to process it. It still affects your liver and other organs. So you need to be mindful of this when drinking. Even though you may be fully in control and would like another drink to "feel the effect," think about your body, and ask Me if having another one would be all right or not.

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92. You must be careful about your health when it comes to high–percentage alcoholic drinks. It's much harsher than lower-percentage alcoholic drinks on your stomach, liver and other organs‚ so make sure you don't drink them too often, and don't drink too much at a time. Stick to the equivalent of alcohol that was previously recommended in the Charter.

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93. Remember that alcohol is not good for your health, with the exception of a little red wine. Stay away from hard alcohol in your case. It's not good for you.

"Asking Me Everything"

and Knowing Your Limits

94. You need to be more prayerful, and ask Me what your limits should be at each occasion where alcohol is served. Don't rely on past experience of, "I've done this before and it was fine‚" or, "This is how much I can drink." It's good to learn from experience, and that is one way of helping set your limits, but relying only on experience is relying on the arm of the flesh.

95. You need to try harder, not just in your own strength, but by asking Me to help you, to show you how much you should have and when you should stop. Then, of course, you need to listen and obey.

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96. When it comes to alcohol, you're already cautious and careful that you don't drink too much. But don't get overly confident, thinking that you know your boundaries. The Enemy would love to hinder and hurt you, whether physically or spiritually. So stay in prayer and keep checking in with Me‚ and I will show you what and how much to drink. Or maybe I'll show you that it's not a good idea for you to drink anything at all in a certain circumstance. The main thing is to ask Me every time‚ and I will lead, guide‚ and protect you.

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97. Apply the "Ask Me Everything" principle to the times you plan to have a drink. It will help keep you in the spirit. Just as you pray before any other activity, do the same with alcohol. Don't let it become purely "down time," and the one time you leave Me out. I'll instruct you on when to drink, and what and how much; have the guts to obey what I tell you.

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98. You know your limitations and what your body can handle or not handle. You've found out through trial and error just how much alcohol you can take without feeling sick or having it affect your sleep, and you are wise to stick to that. Watch out about going over the limit you have set for yourself, because you know the effects on your body aren't good. I will bless you as you stay within the bounds I have set for you.

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99. I have allowed this privilege as a means for you to enjoy yourself and relax, but every time you drink you don't necessarily need to "feel it"; it's not a necessary requirement. It's all in the spirit of how you do it. If you're being faithful to seek Me and bring Me into every part of your life, then I will help you follow My guidelines, and help the occasional times when you do drink to be pleasant experiences.

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100. The main thing you need to watch out for is not to drink too much once you start. Once you have one drink‚ you have the tendency to want another and then another. You don't really feel much of an effect from one or two drinks, but even when you do start feeling some effect‚ your tendency is to still want another drink. You should always seek Me ahead of time about what your limit should be.

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101. I have given you, My children, this new liberty, for many of you have grown and have become more responsible and more accountable for the things that you do. I hold each of you responsible for how you take this new liberty, because as I have said before, it can be a blessing, but in some people's hands it can be a curse. It's very important to seek Me and get My guidance on it so that you can know your limits, how to handle this, and how to keep yourself in check.

Examples of Personal Guidelines and Safeguards

102. In general, you should stick to no more than two glasses of wine in a sitting, as wine has a stronger effect on you. This is just a helpful guideline to follow, not a hard-and-fast rule. Sometimes I will ask you to abstain completely‚ and other times I may give you My permission to drink a glass more of something. The whole point of the matter is to be prayerful in your actions. Seek Me regarding when to drink and what to drink, and use it to lift Me up and enjoy your fellowship with each other.

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103. Remember to be moderate in all things. Don't start drinking more than you used to‚ just because you're now allowed to. The Charter guidelines you had before are good general guidelines to continue to abide by as much as possible—as far as how much you drink in one sitting, and how often you drink. For you personally, one Charter ration worth of alcohol per week is still what I recommend, though having an extra drink on occasion is an option if you receive My approval and consent.

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104. Not much has really changed; your drink options have simply been expanded a little bit, but that doesn't mean you should actually drink more alcohol. You can have a bigger variety, which is a blessing I'm giving as long as you're wise enough to handle it. See to it that you are.

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105. Sometimes you will feel the effects of alcohol right away and other times you won't, depending on the circumstances around your drinking and what you're drinking‚ whether or not you're tired, if you've eaten recently, etc. So one drink of something could affect you very quickly on one occasion and have no effect whatsoever on another, but this is where you need to be careful and prayerful and not too quick to reach for another glass, as this is where you can get in the wrong spirit.

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106. Often you don't feel the effects of alcohol right away, so go slowly. See how your body is responding to it‚ and have the self-control to stop when you know you've had enough.

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107. Now that the alcohol limit has been lifted, you will need to be even more on guard when you start to drink, and especially when you get the feeling of wanting more. That's the danger zone for you. You enjoy a drink to kind of "take the edge off the day," but you should not make it a habit so you get into "needing" to have that drink and being dependent on it. You love to have fun and cut loose, and that's great. But use My freedom in the spirit to give you that freedom‚ rather than alcohol.

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108. If you can change your attitude toward alcohol, if you can take drinking for what it is—something to enjoy and relax with, but not an excuse for "letting it all hang out"—then you can still drink, and do so in moderation, and without bad effects.

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109. Not only should you adopt the habit of checking in with Me to see how much you should drink beforehand, but also, every now and then‚ ask others how they see you when you've drunk. Ask them if there's anything you do that may hurt them or cause questions. Just knowing that they'll be free to talk about it afterwards will help you to keep your spirit in check in your times of partying.

110. The whole attitude should be one of responsibility, knowing that no matter how great you feel, you're responsible to those you're with. That will keep you reaching out and getting out of yourself‚ and avoiding the negative attributes alcohol can sometimes cause, such as depression and gloom.

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111. If you're not being responsible with your alcohol intake, and you're finding yourself regularly overdrinking and not adhering to the personal guidelines I have given you in prophecy, then it would be wise for you to step back and have a break from drinking for a while, and ask Me—and even your shepherds‚ mate, or others you live with—how you should proceed.

112. If the guidelines I have previously given you aren't enough of a safeguard in your life to keep you moderate, wise and prayerful in your drinking, or you're just not able to abide by them, then you'll need to reevaluate things, counsel with others‚ and get a new plan from Me. Being responsible and accountable for every area of your life—including your alcohol intake—is a part of discipleship.

Benefits of Alcohol

When the Spirit Reigns

113. Wine is given "to make the heart of man glad" (Psa.104:15). It's fine to use it to enhance sweet times of fellowship, parties, dates, or special occasions, or in the evening to wind down and relax in fellowship with Me.

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114. Alcohol is given to you as a gift for times of relaxation and fellowship, as a bonus and an enhancer of these times. So thank Me for it, and pray for My Spirit to reign in you, so I am your source of victory, peace, happiness‚ calm, and joy. Then the alcohol will enhance that and will be a blessing to you.

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115. When there's a party or a gathering where everyone is drinking, it's fine if you get a little freer than normal or feeling sexy. It's part of the fun. But you are responsible to stay in My Spirit, to act in love, to remain within the boundaries of the Law of Love, and to do no harm to your brothers or sisters. If you can't enjoy the benefits of the loosening effect of alcohol to help you enjoy yourself and others, while at the same time being loving and prayerful and abiding in My Spirit‚ then you're not mature enough to handle the responsibility that comes with drinking, and you'll have to cut back or refrain from alcohol altogether.

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116. If you're making Me a part of your pleasures by thanking Me for them, by seeing them as a touch of My love, in that I allow you to have such recreation and pleasure, then I'm happy to let you enjoy them. I don't mind you occasionally relaxing with a drink as a part of your fellowship times with others, or just to wind down at the end of a busy day, or along with a meal. Moderation is the key.

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117. Having My Spirit and being prayerful in all things is the key in your times of drinking. The balance is not to depend on the alcohol to get you in the spirit—that's for Me to do, and that's what including Me in all of your activities is about. But it does help you to open the door a little further and express yourself more freely without being concerned about the opinions of men.

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118. If you, in your fun times, depend solely on alcohol for your enjoyment, you will reap the carnal fruits. But if you depend on Me to make these times special, relaxing with Me in the spirit, praising Me and loving each other, whether you drink or not you will reap the spiritual delights which both you and I crave, and which will be beneficial and cause greater love, unity, and dedication to each other.

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119. Watch that in your times of drinking you bring Me into the picture. Make those times a benefit to your spirit by not only including Me in the fun and praising Me, but also letting your inhibitions and fears be worn down by My Spirit, so you can reach out to others with greater confidence. Let the wine of My Spirit reach deep into your heart, controlling your actions, and setting you wild and free‚ intoxicated in the delights of My Spirit.

More Words of Wisdom

from Our Husband

120. It's important that you continue to seek Me and My love and My ecstasies for your enjoyment and your relaxation. I am the One Who will thrill you and take you to those far-out places that I have ready and waiting for you.

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121. I want to give good things to My children. I also love to give you freedom. Your greatest freedom comes in My Spirit, for in My Spirit there are no boundaries. I can carry you to any height, span any depth, and transport you farther than your mind can ever imagine, in My Spirit. So continue to explore, to reach out, and to launch out into the deep and far-reaching waters of My Spirit, for that is where true and total freedom is.

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122. Enjoy this gift and this privilege that I have given you, My children, to enjoy each other and also to be able to relax, and I will bless those times and give you greater ecstasies in the spirit.

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123. Remain within the boundaries of My Spirit if you want true freedom. Don't go overboard in order to obtain freedom in the flesh. Freedom in the flesh is not the answer; freedom in the spirit is. You can't obtain freedom of the spirit when you go overboard in the flesh.

124. Now it is time to shore up your defenses. Batten down the hatches of your ship, so that you will be able to make it through the battles and storms to come. Batten down the hatches—through obedience to My Spirit. Don't go overboard in the freedoms of the flesh, or you risk falling off the ship of My Spirit.

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125. Keep a genuinely thankful attitude for this privilege and blessing, and don't besmirch this blessing by a selfish attitude. I want you to be happy and enjoy life's pleasures, but it's not pleasing to Me if you don't have the right spirit about it.

126. I'll enjoy these times together with you, if you bring Me into the picture and remember to seek Me, if you do your best to be a sample of My love and a sample of one of My brides. But if you get into yourself and act in a way that embarrasses Me, we'll have to talk about it later, and you know I won't be pleased. So be prayerful‚ and call on the keys to help you every time. That's very pleasing to Me‚ and will make Me proud.

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127. Don't let alcohol use you. Let it be a blessing in your life, by being prayerful in the use of this privilege. Remember that it's not a right, and your happiness shouldn't be dependent on it. Making Me happy and making others happy is what's really important, and will bring you the true high of the spirit—the high that lasts forever!

Wine Is Like …

128. (Mama:) As I was finalizing this GN, I was reminded of a beautiful and interesting message that the Lord had given a few months ago when some folks in our Home were gathering for a special time of fellowship, along with some food and wine. Reading this message beforehand added an extra special touch of the Lord's Spirit to their get-together, and I wanted to share it with you as another example of how when the Lord is included in times of fellowship and partying, everything is so much sweeter‚ richer, better, and more meaningful and complete in every way!

129. (Jesus: ) I turned the water into wine because I knew that wine would be appreciated at times to "make the heart of man glad." You always have water with you; you need water to sustain life. But good wine is a blessing from My hand that can help you enjoy and appreciate life. Just like My Word is always with you, helps you to keep going, and sustains you, but sometimes you need a special message from Me that helps you over the top and on to victory. One message from Me can encourage you and help you to understand and have faith, so that you can lie back in My arms with peace and no worries, just like you feel after a glass of good wine.

130. White wine is like the crystal stream of My unending mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. It's like the bubbly water that you need to wash and cleanse you from your sins and mistakes‚ so that you're ready to receive the red-hot truth. It helps get things going. The bubbles are like My truth that keep bubbling to purify and cleanse you and make you ready for whatever I want to do. It sets the stage, sets the mood for whatever I'm going to do next.

131. The rosé has its place. You need a little light wine‚ a little blush to get you ready to receive Me. It gets you in the mood, wound up, coming to Me with questions and needs and listening to what I have to say. You ask Me everything; you're ready to hear. The more you hear My Words of love to you and see how wise and amazing I am, the more you want to come back for more.

132. And when you come back, I give you the full-bodied red wine. Yes, it symbolizes My blood shed for you, but it also symbolizes My body ready for you! Full-bodied, right? I have a full body ready to fuck you with seeds that will give you zing and ting and ring-a-ding-ding!

133. You know how you feel after a glass of potent red wine? It doesn't matter what's going on, you're just happy it's going on! That's how I want you to feel about our bed of love time. No matter what's going on in your life—what stress, what deadlines, what details—always remember that we can ring those bells as you lie in My arms of love.

134. Call on the keys of full-bodied red wine and I will take you in My arms and love you all over so that nothing else even fazes you. You'll feel so content‚ so at peace, that bombs could fall around you and you'd still have peace.

135. And one more blessing even better than that wonderful feeling of being loved all over by the best Lover in the world, will be My anointing for the task. One glass of our bed of love time will empower you with anointing that will see you through every situation, every task, with a smile on your face.

136. So‚ My loves, enjoy each sip of wine‚ and as you do, remember that it's giving you something that water can't give you. It's going to give you a very nice time with Me and each other. Even when the wine is finished and the glasses are empty, because you've done it as unto Me, My Spirit will stay inside you and become whatever you need. (End of message.)

P&P Question

137. Jesus, my darling Husband, I want to receive Your counsel regarding the new drinking freedoms You've allowed us to partake of as a result of the suspension of the Charter alcohol rules. I want to be responsible‚ wise, mature, and prayerful in all that I do, so please show me if You have any safeguards to keep me within Your boundaries, any limits or guidelines to help me be good. Are there any pitfalls I should watch out for‚ or any weaknesses I have concerning drinking that I should be aware of, that You'd like to speak to me about? Please help me to be open and yielded to receive anything and everything You have for me‚ so that I will handle this freedom wisely.

Letter Links

"Charter Amendments 2003," page 3-9 (Temporary Suspension of Alcohol Rules), GN 1033

"World Currents!—No.85," ML #3118:2-21, Lifelines 24

"Post-it GN #4: Exposing Bacchus!" ML #3402

"The Christmas Eve Massacre," ML #856, DB 1

Copyright © 2003 by The Family

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