Renewal Part 5

138. Here are the things He would like everyone in the Family to do:

139. * Every Family member should hear from the Lord in prophecy before the renewal period‚ or as close to the beginning of the renewal period as possible, about the P&P question in this GN (see paragraphs 70-71). (There will also be a few P&P questions in the GNs which follow on the renewal.)
140. * Each Home should set aside June 15 as a day to kick off the renewal together. The Lord has given a special message and prayer for that day, as well as some activity ideas. When we asked the Lord how flexible this timing was, if some Homes preferred to hold this "official" start to the renewal a few days earlier or later, the Lord said:
141. "It would be best if everyone was at home for this special day, or at least spent the day with a Home or united team, if for some reason it's not possible for them to be with their own Home. Just as I ask the Family to be united at the Feast, this is a similar milestone time, and will be a great battle in the spirit that is important to win right at the beginning. So rather than make leeway for Homes to adjust this according to their own personal preferences, I'd rather they adjust to Mine and set aside this time as a day to unite together and rout the Enemy, right at the beginning of this very special and milestone time." (End of message.)
142. * At the halfway mark of the renewal period (roughly the end of August), each person should hear from the Lord about how you're doing, and if you're making the most of the renewal. This would be a time in which you could ask the Lord if you're doing the things He showed you to do at the beginning of the renewal, and if you're making sufficient progress in the changes He's asked of you‚ or if He has any new goals or steps for you to begin taking at the midway point.
143. * There will be a plan for the closing of the renewal. We don't have all of the details to share with you in this GN, but we wanted to let you know in advance that you can expect some kind of meaningful closure to the renewal at the end of November, so that you can prepare accordingly.

Making Things Right
144. Another benefit of the renewal will be the opportunity to make things right with your co-workers and loved ones. As you pray about your life and your ministries and attitudes and effectiveness for the Lord, you will undoubtedly find areas that need improvement. Some of those will be areas that have affected other people, and there will probably be some things that you'll need to apologize for or confess and make right. Please take the opportunity of this time during the renewal to do that.

145. (Jesus:) As I shine the spotlight of My white-hot love and the uncompromising standard of My Word into all areas of your heart and life, you will find areas that need cleansing. Part of that cleansing comes through confessing and apologizing when your actions or attitudes have affected others. Don't be too proud to do that! It's part of the cleansing process, and will help you feel much better, happier, lighter, and more free in the spirit.
146. Taking the step to make things right in the way that I show you also helps to set safeguards around you, because, while you can be very sorry when you realize that you've fallen short in some area, it's easy for the conviction to pass if you don't do anything about it. So when there are practical steps you can take--such as asking for united prayer, asking for help from your Home members or shepherds, confessing, apologizing, changing your habits and lifestyle in some way--it's important to take them, to let the conviction of My Spirit actually change you.
147. Otherwise, you can go on your way and remain not only the same person you were before, but even become a little more hardened to the Spirit and My voice of conviction. You don't want to let that happen. That step of actually apologizing or confessing or asking for the help of others to make a change in your habits will make these changes more permanent and complete. They will really become a part of your life. They will help you walk more in humility and My Spirit, instead of just being good in theory.
148. If I show you things from the past that you need to make right, please be very prayerful in the way you bring them up to others. Apologizing and confessing your sins is an important step, but it's important to do it prayerfully and in the spirit so that it doesn't hurt others. Ask Me for My humility, grace and wisdom.
149. Through your obedience I will use this time to make whole many of the breaches of hurt or disunity or unconfessed sin that have threatened to destroy the Family. You will be mending the walls of your city, and the cleansing rains of My Spirit will be pouring down on you. Then this time of renewal will truly be complete, and you will be more prepared, individually and as a Family, for the battles that are ahead.

Prayer Themes and Word Study Topics
150. (Mama:) The Lord also suggested that we have united prayer initiatives every month, a different theme to focus on each month. These are topics that He'd like each Home and every Family member to devote extra time to praying for--throughout the days during the specified month‚ as well as on your prayer days.
151. Here are the prayer themes that He gave for each month:

152. June: Focus on praying for the restructuring, cleansing, and strengthening of the Family and for the smooth and effective implementation of all the changes the Lord is bringing about. Pray that the Family as a whole--and every individual-–will make the right choices to yield, grow, and progress. Pray for our switch to "renewal mode," especially our emphasis on the children and JETTs and teens in our Homes. That we will all find a good balance in managing our time‚ and that we can put priority on the things the Lord has asked of us. Pray for a renewed dedication to our children and JETTs and teens--the hope of the future--and that we will change and grow in the ways the Lord wants us to, in order to be the biggest blessing to them. Pray for our children and JETTs and teens to be encouraged and happy as they see the benefits of the renewal, that this time will truly be a blessing for them, the Lord's gift of love to them t hat He intends it to be.
153. July: Focus on praying for the children and their needs--physical, educational, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and otherwise. Pray for their strengthening and good progress in every area of their lives. Pray also for our Family parents and teachers and their continued anointing and strength with the big job they have to do. Pray for our pregnant mothers, for their strength and health, strong, healthy babies, and problem-free deliveries.
154. August: Focus on praying for the second generation of the Family (SGAs, YAs, and teens), for them to continue to fight the good fight, to be challenged within the Family, and to fulfill the roles the Lord has for them. Pray especially for our JETTs and junior teens, that they will grow into their calling, and find something worthwhile and challenging that really "turns their key" and helps them to be happy and fulfilled serving the Lord. Pray as well for our former-member young people, for their happiness, connection with the Lord‚ and for Him to work in their lives as He knows best.
155. September: Focus on praying for the FGAs, for them to continue to fight the good fight, to be fulfilled and happy in their service to Jesus, and that they can grow and change as the Lord needs them to. Against afflictions, for the fountain of youth to flow freely into their lives, and great grace for the challenges they face.
156. October: Focus on praying for Mama and Peter and their leadership of the Family. For their clear channels to the Lord, and His clear guidance as they lead the Family and pass on the Lord's Words. Also pray for the COs, VSs, and the boards.
157. November: Focus on praying that the Family will preserve the truth that the Lord has given us through our obedience and getting the Word out to the world like never before. Pray that the Christmas outreach and witnessing season will be our best year ever in terms of long-lasting fruit and souls and disciples.

158. And last but not least, the Lord suggested we include a list of reading topics for you. He said‚ "Every Home will be different in what they need to focus on. Each Home should prayerfully choose a new Word study project for each month of the six-month renewal period."
159. These would be in addition to any Word study projects or topics the Lord leads each of you to work on individually in your private reading times, based on your own personal needs. When praying about your Word and study projects, please keep in mind that you will probably have quite a bit more time for reading and studying His Word and reviewing His principles, since you will be refraining from worldly entertainment for the six months of the renewal period. Think of the treasures of His Word that you will be that much richer in, that much more steeped in--and taking the time to pray and ask the Lord for His goals and priorities for both yourself personally and your Home will be the best way to make sure you're hitting the mark.
160. Some Word study ideas (and the Lord might show you more) are:

161. * Reread and study the "Show Me the Money" GNs. We have heard from the COs that many areas weren't able to devote the time to doing the P&Ps and assignments in this Letter, since it sort of fell through the cracks because of the Christmas witnessing season. So I'd like to ask that you restudy these important GNs and do the assignments sometime during the renewal if you haven't already done so as a Home, or if you didn't finish them or aren't implementing them as you should. This would be especially important for you to do once you have decided to stay together as a Home, or after you've gotten together with the team you're going to be with. These Letters aren't just a course on fundraising but on discipleship.
162. * Lord willing, there will be a GN (or a few GNs) coming out during the renewal about certain bad attitudes that have crept into the Family. This will bring with it a lot of food for thought, and various study topics.
163. * Reread and study the "Pray, Obey, and Prepare" Letters (see the list in ML #3470, GN 1058).
164. * Word studies on the keys, praise, prayer, pride/humility‚ disobedience/obedience, division/unity, compromise, churchianity, lack of fear of the Lord, bitterness, doubt, worldliness, self-righteousness, complacency/lethargy, selfishness. (Note: These lists are in GN 1058, available in the pubs section of the MO site. We hope to compile reading lists on other Word topics and post them on the MO site during the renewal, and will add a notice on the site when we do so.)
165. * Word studies on childcare, parenting, and discipline for various age groups. There's a list of Letters at the end of "Are You a Delinquent Parent," ML #3388, GN 984, and other recent Letters include:
* "Solutions for Shepherds, Parents and Everyone," ML #3389, GN 985.
* "Where to Now?" ML #3398, GN 991.
* "Reach the Rich," ML #3400:69-99, GN 992.
* "Raising Junior Teen Disciples," ML #3419, GN 1006.
* "Jewels on Junior Teens‚ Part 1," ML #3439, GN 1025.
* "Jewels on Junior Teens, Part 2," ML #3440, GN 1027.
* "Jewels on Junior Teens, Part 3," ML #3441, GN 1028.
* "What Is Full-time Discipleship, Part 2," ML #3469:431-471, GN 1056.
166. * If you're working with a young person to learn a new skill, or you're teaching them one‚ you might want to consider doing the reading course from the CVC together on that topic--either working through it separately and touching base together‚ or even reading some of the material together.

A Worthwhile Investment
167. In closing‚ I wanted to reiterate that you are going to get out of the renewal period as much as you put into it. Your level of commitment and obedience will determine whether the benefits are meager or overflowing! And collectively, each of our choices will add up to determining the future of the Family! That's a pretty sobering thought, isn't it?
168. For just a minute, picture Jesus as your Banker. He's asking you to make an investment right now. This investment is your sacrifice‚ your forsakings, and your commitment to give your all to Him for the next six months. He's asking you to put your "money"--in the form of your will, your desires, your independence, your own ways‚ and the things of this earth--into His "bank," through yielding your all to Him. Will you?
169. The more you invest in God's "bank" during these six months, the more "interest" you will earn in the form of spiritual blessings and rewards. If you invest a lot of spiritual money by jumping into this renewal with both feet, you'll get a lot of spiritual interest in return--gains that will really be worth something to you personally and will make a difference in your life. If you invest less, your gains will of course be less. The more you deposit into the heavenly bank, the more you'll be able to withdraw. It's that simple.