here it is - the 6 mo. probation - part 1

Renewal: The Big Picture
By Maria Maria #677 FD/MM/FM 3489 4/04

Cover quote: This renewal is for the rebuilding of the house of your soul and spirit, and is My golden opportunity for the beginning of a new life for you--a life built solidly on the rock Christ Jesus once again!

Note on page 2 above copyright:
Notes:
1) The date on which the renewal begins has been changed from June 1 to June 15, 2004. It still ends on November 30, so the renewal period will be five-and-a-half months rather than six. However, rather than go through the many renewal GNs and change every mention of this time lasting six months to five-and-a-half months, the Lord instead indicated that we could leave it as is. We pray this won't be confusing.
2) When the word "disciple" is used in this GN, unless otherwise indicated, the definition is the general broader meaning of all Family members who are disciples at heart and followers of the teachings of Jesus and David. When we address the Family disciple members, the Missionary members, or the Fellow members specifically, it will be clearly noted.

Contents
A special focus during the renewal 3
The nuts and bolts of the renewal period 4
What's in it for me? 5
A mysterious palace full of treasures 6
Why do we have to fast worldly input? 7
Breaking chains of addiction and
bad habits 9
As you pour out, He'll pour in 11
It gets easier with time 12
Everyone is on the "hot seat" 12
Personal P&P question 14
Don't hold your breath 14
What's at stake? 15
A peek into the future 17
The gift of greater unity 19
How to divide the extra time 20
Another worthwhile investment of time 21
Praise offensives 22
Basic plan for the renewal 23
Making things right 23
Prayer themes and Word study topics 24
A worthwhile investment 26
Renewal endorsements 27

Dear Family,
1. We're about to enter the period of renewal, and when I think about all that our Husband has promised is awaiting us during these six months, as well as after--which I'm going to share with you in this GN--it thrills me. And it's my prayer that after reading this GN, you'll be excited too! Peter and I want, and it's the Lord's desire as well, for you to feel privileged to go through this period of renewal, not because it's going to be easy, but because of the tremendous rewards and blessings that will come with the territory of this move of His Spirit.
2. Jesus has called this time a gateway to greater things, a golden opportunity, a chance of a lifetime, a kick-start in our renewed commitments, a special privilege and honor. Obviously, He sees it in a positive light, because He knows the purpose of it; He knows the valuable end results. He's got the big plan, and He knows this time is going to be for our good--our personal good, the good of our families and children, and the good of the Family overall--and He desperately wants us to see it in the same positive light as He does: not as a punishment or a chastisement, but as the priceless gift of His love that it is for us all. It's our chance to receive a spiritual boost in our goals of becoming the winning disciples and Homes that the Lord has commissioned us to be.
3. Sometimes the most precious gifts in life come in the oddest packaging--and so it will be with this period of renewal. Some of the greatest things we ever learn in our lives are a result of difficult experiences, or when we follow the Lord up high mountains. When the honeycomb is squeezed, out comes the honey; when the olive is pressed, out comes the oil; when the flowers are crushed, out comes the perfume; when a mother goes through childbirth, out comes a beautiful new life; when a caterpillar is encased in a cocoon, out comes the butterfly; when gold goes through the fire‚ out comes the purified version. When you look at the wonderful end result of everything difficult, doesn't it make it worth it all? That's how the Lord wants us to look at this renewal period--not to focus on what we are forsaking, but to look at what we stand to gain!
4. In the spirit, the Lord wants to give us each a new lease on life. He wants to take the Family out of the world of our past--the ways of which were good for a time, but are no longer what He needs today--and bring us to a new place in the future where we will be able to reach previously unknown heights for Him‚ where we will be "new creatures‚" where old things will be passed away and all things will become new. He wants to make honey out of our honeycombs, oil out of our olives, perfume out of our flowers, and pure gold out of our marred metal. That's what this time of renewal is all about. It's not a senseless venture; it's not a pointless act of going through the motions to make us all feel good and holy; it's not just a test or a pointless exercise. It's a doorway to change and progress. It's a means to get us where the Lord needs us to be.

5. (Jesus:) This period is for the rebuilding of the soul and spirit of each Family member. The house of each Family member's spirit and heart has been torn down bit by bit over the years by compromise and disobedience. Your houses are shabby, worn‚ and in a state of disrepair. They don't stand as strong and stable on the Rock Christ Jesus as they once did. This period will help rebuild the houses of your spirits.

*


6. (Jesus:) I am taking the Family into the era of obedience, and this time of renewal is going to be one of your first great tests of obedience. I know it is a test‚ it is not easy, and it is going to mean sacrifices for each of you. But I also know it is necessary, because it is an important part of your training in obedience and yieldedness to My will. It is not, however, only a test or some kind of worthless exercise in sacrifice. It is going to bring about certain benefits in your spiritual lives and growth, affecting your future and fruitfulness, which nothing else would accomplish. It's going to be a lifesaver for your children and teens.

A Special Focus During the Renewal
7. (Mama:) Our Lover has poured out a lot of terrific counsel about the period of renewal, which I'm eager to share with you--why He's asking it of us, what we have to look forward to as a result, how things will change for the better after we have been cleansed and renewed, how He sees the future, and much more. This is the first in a series of seven or eight GNs explaining the renewal period. So it's not possible for me to give you all the details in this one GN, or all of the Lord's promises and instructions.
8. But I wanted to let you know right from the beginning that the Lord has given a very special focus for this period of renewal‚ and it's one that you might not be expecting: focusing on our children‚ JETTs, and teens--giving them quality time, love and care, helping them to find happiness and joy in serving the Lord, teaching them the Word, and making this time fun and meaningful for them. There are three GNs later in this series that explain in more detail the Lord's vision and plan for our kids and young people during this time, and I think you'll be thankful as you see Him unfold the solutions that we so desperately need. He called this renewal period His gift of love to the children.
9. So that will be a major focus, if not your primary one, during these next months. You might wonder how you're going to accomplish everything else that you were expecting to accomplish during the restructuring and renewal period--finding a new Home or team members, upping your standard of discipleship, making the personal changes the Lord has asked of you, and on and on the list might go. The picture won't be complete just in this one GN‚ but as you read through all the GNs in this series‚ I believe the Lord's plan will become clearer, and you'll see how it all fits together perfectly.
10. In this GN I want to first address some of the questions and concerns that you might have as adults, so that you can have a peace in your hearts about this coming time, and impart that spirit of faith and expectancy to the children and young people in your Home. Also, for those of you who are parents or teachers, you'll be encouraged to know that the Lord is going to ask everyone to focus on the children and young people during this time, not just those who are their parents and primary caregivers. So you're going to get lots of help! I believe your burdens will be lightened as everyone helps to pull the load, and the children will be happier than ever. We'll get into the details in GNs 1075-1077, coming soon.

The Nuts and Bolts of the Renewal Period
11. Before I continue with some of the Lord's promises and encouragement about this time we're going into and what we can expect from it, I thought you might appreciate a recap of the details of the renewal period, so that you know right from the start that there are no hidden "surprises." I didn't want you to be distracted, wondering and worrying about it as you're reading this GN, so the Lord told me it would be best to put the specifics here in point form.
12. Most of this is a review of what you've already read in "Forward, Always Forward!" (ML #3479, GN 1067), although there are a few more minor points that weren't included in that Letter, which we've since prayed more about. I'm also including further details and prophecy excerpts on a few of these topics in a separate GN of Q&As on the renewal period. But for now, here's a short summary of the "nuts and bolts" of the renewal period:

* The renewal period begins June 15, 2004, and ends November 30, 2004.
* All FD and MM Homes will participate in the renewal. It is optional for FM Homes.
* All FD and MM Homes will fast worldly input for the duration of the renewal period. This includes movie watching, TV/sports watching, System music, novel reading, computer games, or Internet browsing (except for business purposes).
* WS will be cutting back on the production of many of the monthly pubs, but there will still be some publications that you will receive that relate to the Family restructuring.
* You'll receive new GP tools, new books, and new GP music CDs that are scheduled to reach you during the renewal period.
* The board structure will continue to operate, although it may run at a slower pace, because board members will also need to focus on their personal lives, their children, changes within their Homes, etc.
* The CVC will continue to offer services to the Family during the renewal.
* Everyone will retain their right of mobility and you will not lose your status.
* Fellowships and parties are acceptable.
* Moderate consumption of alcohol is permitted.
* All FD and MM Homes and members must refrain from going on ex-member websites, and avoid fellowship either personally or via mail with those who talk against the Word, who tear down your faith and weaken you spiritually, whether they are former members, friends, antagonistic relatives, or others.
* All parents must explain the period of renewal to your children, as well as talk with your JETTs and junior teens to make sure they understand. (Note: Please see GNs 1075-1077 for further counsel on this.)
* Everyone must continue to live up to the requirements and guidelines of their Family membership category.

What's in It for Me?
13. As you know, last year the Family in Brazil went through a six-month period of punishment. Although this worldwide renewal period isn't a punishment, and some of the specific details are different, there are some similarities. It was a time of forsaking the things of the world, and through it the Lord brought about a cleansing of the Family in Brazil. He blessed them tremendously as a result, even though at first it looked like anything but a reward or a blessing. They may have felt much like you feel now, if you're wondering how on earth this renewal period is going to bear good fruit in your life and whether you'll truly be thankful for it in the end. I believe you will be, if you'll give God a chance to work.
14. You see, no matter how much good the Lord promises as a result, I realize that this period of renewal isn't going to be easy. I also know that it will probably be more difficult for some of you than for others (and I'll talk more about this in a bit). Some of you are probably dreading it, because of the things you're going to have to forsake--especially if you have become dependent on some form (or maybe many forms) of worldly input (and I'll talk more about this later as well). Others of you may feel like it's a pointless work of the flesh, just going through the motions for no reason at all, and you don't see how any good is going to come out of it for you.
15. But if you go into the renewal period kicking against the pricks in your heart, having made up your mind from the very beginning that you're not going to get anything good out of it, and it's just something you need to endure because you have to, how is the Lord going to be able to work in your life? He won't be able to. His hands will be tied‚ and you'll be unhappy or even miserable throughout. The mindset you go into the period of renewal with is going to play a big part in how much you're going to benefit from it. It will be a positive experience for those who give it their all, who yield to it. It will be as good, beneficial, life changing, and positive as you make it, according to your decisions.
16. So if you don't have a positive attitude or you can't see anything good about the renewal period, don't settle for that. Ask the Lord to change your mindset and ways of thinking, and He will. It's important. Neither I nor the Lord are expecting you to have the attitude of, "Oh‚ joy! I'm super looking forward to this time of renewal. It's going to be just great!" You don't have to be jumping for joy, but the Lord expects and needs each of you to be as positive as you can be. And you do that by asking the Lord how He wants to use it in your life, how He wants you to look at it, and how it's going to benefit you personally.
17. Focus on the positive, even if it seems a little selfish: "Jesus, I need to know what's in it for me." If the reasons He's given here or the blessings He's promised for the Family as a whole aren't inspiring to you, or you're still having battles even after reading this series of GNs that explain the renewal and the Lord's plan and purpose in it, then ask Him to tell you something personal that will help you to give this time your all. Don't be afraid or too proud to say‚ "Jesus, I really don't see how this period of renewal is going to do me any good. It looks like just plain misery to me, so I really need Your perspective. Tell me how this is going to benefit me. What am I going to get out of this?" I guarantee He'll tell you, if you're yielded enough to ask Him. Or if you don't have the faith to ask Him yourself, ask someone else to ask Him for you. Either way, get His perspective!
18. The Lord is like a salesman, and He's trying to get you sold on His "product"--the renewal period. He's telling you it's good‚ that it's worth the price, that it's going to benefit you, that everything in your life will improve as a result, and that you won't regret the "purchase." And because He loves you so much and wants to make it easy for you, He's not even going to ask you to just take His word for it. He's going to give you the benefit of being able to hear the reactions of "satisfied customers" who have experienced the blessings firsthand and "endorse" His product.
19. So at the end of this GN, I'm including some reactions from our dear brethren in Brazil. I pray that their experiences and testimonies will encourage you to know that the promises the Lord is giving you today--as well as what He will show you personally in prophecy--regarding what He means to accomplish through the renewal period and how He wants to bless you are not just pretty words. He promises real, living benefits that you will feel and know in your life as you obey. His blessings are not just going to be airy spiritual blessings either; He's going to bless you with the things that He knows will mean the most to you, and even physical rewards as well. As we all know, obedience comes before the blessings--not the other way around.