Dear Ones,
I believe God has given me another idea to help encourage our family of FMM disciples. As most of you know, Brenda and I have been working on additions for the Letters From Home section, sharing some of the mind renewing Christ Life truths that have so impacted us and many others through the years. And John’s foundational teachings continue to have a broad and wide impact around the world whether it’s through the website or the printed booklets, they are all consistently filled with solid Biblical Truth. So we see God continuing to feed His sheep through these avenues and are so grateful to Him for allowing us to be a part of this marvelous work.
We know that disciple boot camp training is an ongoing, ever deepening process. I’m often reminded of the Israelites taking the Promised Land… it’s a lot of territory and we take it one ‘city’ at a time. So it is in the process of renewing our minds to be compatible with God’s rock solid unchanging Truth and His Perfect plan and provision for all of His beloved humans.
There are times to ‘take the city’ and there are times to prepare for its taking. During the preparation times, we may have a lot or a little time to invest. Our FMM website and teachings more often than not are lengthy and comprehensive; they do a wonderful job of feeding, encouraging and training us when we have time to sit and soak and marinate in their Yeshua-centered Truths. But what about those times when we need a reminder or encouragement ‘on the fly’ – when we don’t have much time but we need a quick and timely word? That’s where the new Family Jewels page can help.
I picture populating the Family Jewels section with gems of truth that have encouraged and informed the FMM family members in our discipleship journeys. I do not see it duplicating the Bible or daily devotional calendars or promise boxes… instead, I see it filled with ‘one liners’ or ‘quick hits,’ little reminders whether directly from the Word or from another source in the Body who is sharing the Word’s Light. I’ll begin with a handful of gems that have been very meaningful to my own discipleship growth. I’d also like to encourage the FMM family at large to share gems from their own experiences and we can then continue to populate the page with those as well.
Luke 18:8 says, “…However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” I think I can speak for all of us FMM disciples in training when I say that, as the old song goes, “though none go with me, still I will follow…” My choice is made and there’s no turning back. As our brother Peter affirmed in John 6:68, our God alone has the words of eternal life. So let’s share those words of life and encourage one another as we’ve been admonished to do:
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13)
A quick formatting tip before you read further – I’m using a ~ separator between thoughts and will use //~// between additional gems as they’re added. I look forward to incorporating many more family treasures in the future as together we walk in our Lord’s command, “Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Let the ‘Treasure Hunt’ begin…
Expect struggles, and stand your ground! ~ For nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37) ~ Since God’s work is already finished, He has already provided. ~ Does this ____ pass the Philippians 4:8 test? ~ More than one thing can be true at the same time. ~ The people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits (Daniel 11:32) ~ Repetition is the mother of mastery and skill; dabbling is the mother of bozohood and failure. ~ Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved (Jeremiah 17:14) ~ Whatever you picked up along the way, you can lay down along the way. ~ The love of God accepts reality and works with it the way it is; then He goes on from there. ~ Use the law of sowing and reaping to plant in the ‘garden’ of your soul exactly what you want to harvest. ~ I will not neglect your word (Psalm 119:16b) ~ Healing comes from real processing of real data (instead of hiding or denying it). ~ We have the power to influence the quality, level and outcomes of our lives by paying attention to the lies or truth we plant in the field of our life ~ We live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) //~//
—-January 2013 additions —-
My brother is my brother; my brother is not the enemy; the enemy is the enemy ~ Regardless of what others do or don’t do, I always have good seed with which to respond. ~ I am never more safe than when I willingly give myself to You with all of my heart, all of my soul, and all of my strength ~ forgiveness is more important than if you receive an apology ~ My past will pollute my present and future unless the Lord and I deal with it //~//
—-April 2013 additions —-
I know that my Redeemer lives (Job 19:25) ~ By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me (Psalm 42:8) ~ Use every situation and relationship you encounter as raw material through which to reveal your King and His Kingdom ~ Stay on your cross – reckon yourself dead and let Yeshua live from within in ~ You said, “I AM!” and that’s more than enough ~ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21) ~ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing and yet possessing everything (2 Corinthians 6:10) //~//