GETTING BACK ON TRACK FOR JESUS!--Part 3
Maria #207
DO 2892
9/93
Mama's Letter to the Family in Europe
1. So far I've talked about many of the needs, questions and problems concerning the teens and the YAs. Now what about you adults? What role do you play in all this? What do you think went wrong in your shepherding and parenting? What do you think you could have done to avoid or minimize these problems?
2. The past months must have been a terribly trying time for you. It must break your hearts to see your young people so dissatisfied, and the pain you feel when your loved ones leave the high calling of God in the Family to try out the System must be nearly unbearable, if it weren't for the Lord's supernatural grace. You've probably been battling discouragement, condemnation, frustration, fear of failure, and uncertainty and insecurity in your roles as shepherds and parents. Dad and I have prayed for you, that the Lord would strengthen you through all this and help you to learn precious and needed lessons, and that He would cause even this time of trial and testing to be a testimony of His faithfulness and the never-failing truth of Romans 8:28.
3. I don't want to spank you real big and make you feel even more discouraged or condemned, but I must point out the failures in your shepherding and parenting, and the many wrong attitudes you've developed, which must be rectified and changed if we're really going to heal the wounds, mend the broken hearts, strengthen our loved ones, turn this field around, and get back on the wall for the Lord.
4. Admittedly, there were some definite mistakes made that may have put you adults in a very awkward and difficult position. But there are also some fundamental problems in your shepherding and serious weaknesses in your own spiritual lives that can't be blamed on anyone else but yourselves.
Where Are Our Adults At?
5. I don't blame the European shepherds entirely for these problems, because they were sincerely trying to make things better for our young people. They were trying to hear them out in the open-forum discussions they held. They were trusting them to act maturely, a trust that they later realized was misplaced and undeserved by some. And they were trusting that you adults, at least the NASs and the Home shepherds, would be able to carry the ball and shepherd your flocks!--Or at least have the wisdom, guts, conviction and discernment to call for help if you needed it, and to keep on calling until you got the counsel and guidance and support that you needed!
6. I'm afraid that one of the main questions now on my mind is, "Where in the world are our shepherds and our parents and our adults at?" How could you have let the teens conduct such an absolute mutiny?--Such total, outright, blatant defiance and rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft!
7. What ever happened to the Spirit of God? What has happened to the gift of discernment? What has happened to people's conviction? What has happened to the Word and to the Letters and to the standard which we've been clearly taught and brought up in for years now?
8. What have we become if we can allow our own teens to be blasting the house full of demonic hard rock music, around our precious, unpolluted, untainted little children?--And to have the teens sneaking out at night, getting drunk, cursing, fighting, rebelling, ignoring the Word and Godly spiritual principles, and leading their little brothers and sisters astray!
9. I know that teens naturally tend to be rebellious and that they desire to do new and different things, and I know that we're learning lessons in how to relate to them, love them, raise them, teach them, train them, communicate with them and have mutual respect. But what I don't understand is how such absolute rebellion and total blatant violation of all the rules and rebellion against everything that is Godly can be tolerated or accepted or put up with by any self-respecting Family members!
You Cannot Abdicate Your Role as Shepherds!
10. We who have been given the role of shepherds over our dear children and young people cannot abdicate that role, no matter how strong the forces may seem to be that stand against us. We can't just stand back and let our young people run wild and just hope that somehow things will eventually work out.
11. Granted, many of your shepherding methods and attitudes do need to change. It's true that you, like many other adults, do need to change the way you relate to the teens and YAs. You do need to learn to give the mature ones the responsibilities they need and desire and can very capably handle. You do need to include them in on the plans and decision-making. You do need to respect them and listen to them and seek out their opinions. You do need to stop talking down to them and treating them like little children. You do need to quit being such old bottles, such deadhead shepherds! But while you learn these lessons, you can't just quit shepherding altogether!
12. What has now happened in Europe is that instead of really trying to change and be the kind of shepherds the Lord wants you to be, you adults have opted to just not shepherd the teens at all. It seems you've made so many mistakes and blown it so badly in the past that you're afraid of making the same mistakes again, so you figure you'll just check out and let the kids go and let things just "fall into place" on their own, which of course won't happen. The Devil will make sure it doesn't happen!
13. Our young people look to you for loving guidance, help, instruction, and encouragement, and it's no wonder they've gone so far astray when you've provided so little of that and have instead left them groping in the darkness, having to try to find their own way. "A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Pro.29:15).
Fear of Losing More Teens Stifled Shepherding!
14. I understand that you fear more teens will leave, so consequently you don't want to rock the boat or demand too much from them or put your foot down to stop their shenanigans. We've read report after report from the adults in Europe that say you're so afraid of having more teens backslide that you're not correcting or shepherding them at all. In fact, you're continuing to give in to their demands and completely compromising the Word and your convictions in an effort to calm the teens down and make them happy. Obviously this compromising has not made the teens happy. And the end result is that those young people who were already rather weak in their convictions became even weaker and eventually left, as they were allowed to drift even further from the anchor of the Word and a close relationship with the Lord. And a few strong, loyal, dedicated teens and YAs also left, simply because they became so disillusioned, confused and disgusted with what was going on.
15. The Word and principles and standards which we believe and live by stand firm. And the allowance of a few freedoms should not in any way change our basic principles of living for Jesus, forsaking all, laying down our lives for others, loving one another, witnessing to the lost, obeying and respecting our elders, staying separate from the world, etc. You need a complete turnaround in your Homes, your shepherding, your communications with one another, your witnessing, your standard, your whole lifestyle and walk with the Lord! Otherwise you'll end up losing not only this generation of teens, but the upcoming ones as well, because the sins and worldly pollution that are rampant in your Homes will continue to corrupt, confuse and destroy the JETTs and younger children also.
What About the Standard of the Word?
16. Surely most of you must have known that something was seriously wrong with your Homes and with the shepherds and with the teens and with the entire situation if you continued to have such serious problems. Surely you must have realized that our Homes are not supposed to be full of disunity, strife, bickering, and demonic rock music! Surely you must have realized that if the adults and young people can't communicate with one another, if your teens are unhappy, rebellious and backsliding, that something must be seriously wrong! Surely you must have seen that the Enemy has been coming in and polluting and sifting and ripping off your own children!
17. So I can't help but wonder, what in the world is wrong with our adults and our shepherds and our people in Europe? How can you just shrug your shoulders and give up on your own teens, and just turn a blind eye and accept or ignore the problems? Or in some cases, how could you have let yourselves get so out of tune with the teens' feelings and needs?
18. There is absolutely no excuse! You can't use the excuse that you didn't know it was wrong or you didn't know what to do. You have the Letters and you have the standard and you have the conviction of the Holy Spirit in your hearts. And when you saw that the problems were either growing worse, or that you were only gaining temporary victories and the problems were popping up again and again, this should have been a clear indication to you that you weren't getting to the root of the problem and finding a real lasting solution, and therefore something more needed to be done.
19. It makes me seriously question your discernment and knowledge of the Word and Family principles, when after years and years of the right sample in the Word and being daily flooded by the waters of the Word, you so lightly brush it aside in favor of a new "doctrine," just because it supposedly has come from one of your leaders or is some new push or new revolution.
20. Is it because some of you adults have become so compromised, so lacking in conviction and so out of the Word for so long that you didn't even see what was happening?!--Or at least you didn't have the gumption and the conviction to keep working and trying and fighting until the problems were resolved, and unity and loving fellowship were restored! It's no wonder the teens wouldn't respect you and didn't receive your counsel and help!
The Need for More Reporting and Hands-on Shepherding
21. You all should have been screaming for help, crying out about the problems, and proclaiming your desperate need for help over and over again, until you got the help you needed! I believe that most of you could see that what was happening in your Home was completely contrary to the Letters. How often have we pointed out in the Letters that if it isn't according to the Word it's not right, and if it's not right, it's a crime, and failure to report a crime is a crime!
22. When you're faced with serious problems and need help, you should report in detail and with a spirit of urgency so as to effectively communicate the seriousness of the situation. When I say report, I don't mean a slight mention on your TRF or one paragraph buried in a long phone message, in which you casually mention something to the effect of, "We're having a few problems communicating with the teens and finding a balance in the new liberties and shepherding." You should report specifically and repeatedly!
23. If you report about problems, but don't get help or answers or counsel right away, the natural tendency is to just resign yourselves to the problem situation and try to forget about it or live with it, figuring you've done your part and discharged your responsibility. Or if you do happen to continue to report, you only give a slight mention of the problems, a little reminder, possibly because you don't want to be a bother, or you don't want to look like you're not in control of your situation. There's also the possibility that you figure your overshepherds already know about the details of the problems and they're already aware of what's going on, because you reported about it once in the past.
24. But what you've got to realize is that because your shepherds are so busy and because they're faced with so many emergencies, there's a chance your situation may have gotten pushed down in priority on their to-do list. Also, it's not unthinkable that they may have even forgotten, or at least the details of your problem may not be as glaring to them as they are to you. So don't hesitate to remind your shepherds about serious ongoing problems and continue to report specifics. Report urgent problems in phone messages. Also, don't try to be so positive and speak so much faith that your reports aren't factual. Please tell it like it is!
25. Another lesson we can draw from this sad experience is that we must have more hands-on shepherding. You shepherds have got to get in there and really see what's happening, and stick around long enough to offer the prayer, counsel, help and direction needed to bring about a lasting change. And then you've got to keep your fingers on the pulse of the situation to make sure everything continues to go well.
26. Can you honestly say that the Word and obedience to it have taken priority in your lives? Are you living the Word? Are you loving the Word and excited about the Word? Are you even reading the Word?
Give All the Teens a Chance for a New Start!
27. As we begin to clean up and strengthen the work in Europe, we may lose a few more teens. But by God's grace, we must pray that if we do, it will be those teens whose hearts are honestly not with us, those who honestly don't want to serve the Lord and who don't belong with us, and not our dear faithful teens who have simply become confused, disheartened, weakened, and gotten weary in well doing because of the many problems they've seen, the lack of action from the shepherds, and the inside attacks they've had to fight for so long. God help us not to lose any more of our precious teens and YAs who are David's children! We need our teens and YAs! Each one is precious and invaluable!
28. There is an important balance to be found between purging the ranks of those who honestly don't belong in the Family, and having the patience and faith to win and strengthen those who do belong in the Family, but who are very weak and who are going through a rough time right now. We do want to be rid of any other rotten apples, and we'll certainly be better off without them. But in our efforts to "purge the ranks" we must not cut any young people off prematurely, without doing all we can to win them back to the Lord and give them all a chance to see the Family the way it should be.
29. After everything these teens and YAs have been through, we certainly don't want to come down on them so sternly at this time to where they feel they just can't make it, so they may as well quit. We need to trust the Lord and give Him time to work in their lives!
30. If we clamp down real hard on some of these teens right now, they might not make it. Whereas if we give them the love, encouragement, prayer, understanding and the explanations that they need, and show them some tangible proof that the Family in Europe is changing, then I have the faith that many of these wayward kids will turn into jewels before our very eyes.
31. In this case, it seems like these kids, or many of them, are not being rebellious because they hate the Family and don't love its policies and don't love their parents, and they want to go out in the System and have their own way and do their own thing. It seems more like most of these kids are misbehaving and being so recalcitrant because they are very hurt and disappointed and disillusioned and they're crying for help.
32. Ask the Lord to help you be the sample and the shepherds you need to be, and to give you a good balance between patience and conviction. And with time, the Lord will make it clear who is His and who is not, like the parable of the wheat and the tares. (See Matthew 13:24-30.)
Don't Revert to Your Old Style of Shepherding!
33. The need for greater shepherding and direction and guidance is not a go-ahead for you adults to resort to an unloving, legalistic, harsh style of shepherding. I don't want to see a backlash now to where you overreact and get overbearing, bossy, legalistic, condescending, demanding and pushy, and go to the other extreme of harsh discipline, heavy restrictions, etc., as I understand has been the tendency of many of you. You can't try to make up for lost time by everyone now "ganging up on the teens" and socking it to them every time they turn around or step out of line at all.
34. Harsh discipline is not the Family way or the Lord's way! Dad and I have never advocated harsh, unloving, merciless, cruel discipline! How very sad if our dear people who have joined a Family of love only hear about that love in the Letters and do not experience it. How sad if all they see is harshness, legalism, self-righteousness, strict discipline, quenching of the Spirit, dependence on the arm of the flesh, squelching of personal initiative, and forbidding of good suggestions and counsel.
35. Such measures remind me of what Dad said in "Prayer for Love and Mercy" about the nurses who can't stand to see the pain and suffering, so they harden themselves and let their hearts grow callused until they become almost butchers of mankind. "Getting hard and tyrannical is a fleshly compensation, it's not the Lord's solution!" (See ML #75.)
36. It may be a natural reaction for some of you after getting a spanking for being too lax, to overreact and overcompensate for past failures by getting "heavy" and "laying down the law," since you would not want to make the same mistakes again. But this is not God's way nor how He wants you to react. You are in His Family of Love, and He wants to teach you how you can be loving, yet still be firm. You can be loving, yet still mete out discipline.--So that whatever you do, it will be in love, and your young people will know you love them, even when you have to correct them. And you will lovingly correct them because you love them.
Teens, Please Don't Get Bitter or Resentful!
37. Some of you teens may feel you have experienced unnecessary restrictions or harsh discipline. You may feel you haven't been handled so lovingly, and you may be quite upset about it! I'm sorry if you teens have been hurt or if you have not experienced the loving, mature shepherding that you deserve. But please try to understand that the adults in the Family aren't perfect; they're learning lessons and growing, just as you are.
38. I'm asking you teens to please not get bitter. Getting bitter won't help; it will only make matters worse. It will inhibit your spiritual progress and cause a wall of resentment to grow between you and others. Being bitter will squelch your happiness and quench the freedom of the Spirit. The Lord won't be able to bless you as fully as He'd like if you harbor bitterness. So please try to trust the Lord and forgive those adults whom you feel have treated you harshly or unjustly or unlovingly or in a manner that was too extreme. Try to look at any unpleasant experiences you may have had from the perspective of Romans 8:28, and ask the Lord to help you forgive and forget and start anew.
39. In spite of what might look to you like "bad treatment," there's really no excuse for getting bitter and blaming others. You should look at it as a test from the Lord, and like Grandpa says, if you can endure those "bad experiences" and come through them still loving the Lord and the Word and the Family and your shepherds, then you'll come out on top, and you'll be a better person and a better disciple as a result. If you get bitter, the Lord will hold you responsible for your bitterness, since you alone have to make the decision to become bitter or not. You will be the one who will suffer the most if you get bitter and resentful.
All Parents Make Mistakes, Because No One Is Perfect!
40. Almost all of us can look back on our childhood and our teen years and see situations or periods of time when we weren't handled the way we think we should have been by our parents or teachers. And maybe we're right. Maybe they did make a lot of mistakes, because most parents and teachers do. They often have to experiment and see what works best, especially with their first children. Parents are naturally going to fail in some things because nobody is perfect and it's just hard raising kids!--And no matter how good the parents are, no matter how Christian they are, how strong in the Lord they are, they're still going to make mistakes with their kids. Parents are human, and all parents make mistakes, and lots of them, but so do the kids. (When I say "parents" I'm not necessarily just referring to your flesh parents. These principles also apply to guardians, teachers and shepherds.)
41. Almost everybody has something that they could complain about, and some people have quite a lot. Everybody could be bitter about something, if they chose to be. So you dear teens and YAs need to really look at things in perspective and not go off the deep end and think that the few little ways that you feel you've been mishandled or mistreated or not handled wisely or lovingly make up some extreme circumstances that only you have been exposed to, or that are much worse than what most people have to endure.
42. Today's teens in the System have much greater reasons to get bitter than you have, since their parents and teachers and pastors and counselors are much less qualified spiritually and morally than yours are. If you think that your teachers and parents have failed you, think of how today's teens in the world must feel about their parents, teachers, pastors, etc. A great number of adults in the System couldn't care less and aren't even trying to do a good job with their teens. They don't even care about them, or have just given up and decided they can't do anything anyway, so let them go their own way.
43. I think you teens need to be reminded of these comparisons. You may not like these reminders; it seems we're always telling you how bad the System is and how good you have it, but it's the truth! And if we don't remind you, your little problems in the Family can get blown up out of all proportion in your eyes.
Respecting Authority Is Still in Vogue
44. Teens, you shouldn't get such a chip on your shoulder that every time an adult counsels you about something, or has to deny you something you want to do, or restricts your independence in some way or curtails some of the freedoms you might like--that you get extremely offended and categorize any no that comes from an adult as heavy-handedness, old-bottlism, lack of understanding or dictatorial tyranny. Lately we have put so much emphasis on the adults learning to understand you teens better, to respect you more, to give you more leeway in decision-making, that there is the danger that you will interpret any authority exercised over you as wrong or out of line.
45. If this is your attitude, teens, you are the ones who are wrong and "out of it." God has given the responsibility of your shepherding to your parents and teachers, and if they fail to correct you or tell you no sometimes, they're going to get it from Him, and you wouldn't want to be responsible for their failing in their job, would you? They've got a very difficult job--because they have to train you in the way you should go, which means exercising some authority over you and meting out some discipline to you, but they have to try to do it lovingly.
46. Authority in the Family is still very in vogue, whether you teens like the way it is administered or not. We adults, your shepherds, are trying to be loving and understanding, but sometimes we have to lovingly but firmly say no, and when this happens, it is your responsibility to accept it and not get so sensitive and offended and in a huff about it. If you teens are right and the adults are wrong, there is something you can do about it, you know. Remember the quotes, "Prayer changes things" and "if you pray, things will happen and things will be different." How much praying have you done? Or have you just been complaining?
Giving Correction and Telling Your Kids No!
47. It's very hard for us adults to say no to our kids when we know they want to do something. We don't want to do anything that would keep them from being happy or inhibit their independence. Sometimes we feel bad and sometimes a bit guilty for doing so. And how much more so would an adult feel that way if he'd had a problem in the past with going overboard in the direction of heavy restrictions, and now was wanting to find the right balance.
48. I can sure feel for you poor adults in Europe, some of you who have been so heavy-handed and squelched the kids so much. For you to now have to impose any rules or restrictions on the young people must be extremely difficult. You may have quite a difficult time saying no or laying down restrictions, especially if the teens are having a heyday and being quite manipulative and continually bringing up your past mistakes and failures for the purpose of getting you to water down your convictions in the present. I can certainly understand how teens who freely express their disagreement with any adults who are trying to keep them in line can be quite intimidating, or at the least distressing, as some adults have indicated.
49. You still have to impose the rules, and often this will be viewed by the teens as part and parcel of the same heavy-handedness or dictatorialness that you had fallen prey to in the past. Every time you say no they'll hold it over your head that you're falling back into your old ways.
50. I think it is very very important, especially since some of you adults may have these problems, to "explain explain" and try to get your answers from the principles of the Word and even your own prayerfulness and common sense, to show the teens why certain things need to be done or not done. It takes a long time to give good explanations, and that's one of the problems, but it's also one of the best solutions with teens, and one of the best ways to not only satisfy them that you know what you're talking about, but to train them so that they can in turn pass on the same things to others.
51. It seems that many of you adults are quite behind the times and immature in your shepherding methods and your knowledge and genuine understanding of the Word. A lack of knowing and being able to apply the Word may be one of your major problems. From here on out, you're not going to be able to depend on your own ideas or your past training or the sample you saw at some Training Center. You need to get down to some serious study of the Word, so you will have more love, understanding, and patience, and you'll be more Spirit-led, rather than either getting too lax or leaning to the arm of the flesh and legalism and rules and harsh discipline.
Reevaluating Your Time and Priorities
52. I know you are very very busy. This is a dilemma that we all face in our service for the Lord. There is so much to do and so many urgent needs, projects, and problems. You have children to care for, bills to pay, contacts and sheep to minister to, reports to write, classes to teach, schedules to work out, young people to counsel and train, mail ministries to take care of, provisioning pickups to make, business and legal affairs to attend to, sickness to cope with, preparation of your media spokespeople, and the list goes on and on.
53. Life in our Homes is very busy, and you hardly have a moment free to rest or relax or even have a little quiet prayer time. There are emergencies and urgent problems that demand your time and attention almost nonstop, and I understand that sometimes you just can't get to everything. It's just not possible. You can only do so much in a day!
54. Understanding how busy you all are makes it more difficult for me to have to correct you, because I know that many of you are working day and night and doing as much as you possibly can. I certainly don't want this Letter to be the straw that breaks the camel's back and causes you to just sit down and give up in despair. But I also know that the Lord has a solution, and it could be that maybe you need to pray and reconsider your priorities and see if maybe there are some things that are taking your time and strength that aren't absolutely necessary, which you could let go of, in order to be able to attend to the daily pressing issues that come up, and yet still have some time left over for the Word, prayer, shepherding, and even rest. There are only so many hours in the day, and it's come to the point where you may have to let some things slide a bit in order to take care of the most important and necessary things.--And then just trust the Lord to somehow take care of what you can't get to.
God Can Do Miracles!
55. It usually takes a while for things to change, but they can change no matter how desperate the situation has been. God can do miracles, as He has in some Homes, by reaching down and touching you teens with His power and giving you a real sense of His presence and His Spirit in your lives, to show you that things can be different, things can be exciting, and things can change. It's tremendous to see what the Lord can do with you teens, and how He can turn you around by His Spirit and give you such a new start so quickly.
56. Of course, it's going to take a lot of work on your parts, because you have bad habits and wrong attitudes that need to be rewired, but you've gotten over the biggest hurdle by just yielding to His Spirit and what He wants for you, and making definite decisions to be true disciples!
A Point of Decision!
57. We've come to a point of decision. I am determined to see things change!--And this change is going to have to encompass and involve each adult, YA and teen, which will in turn affect all the others, JETTs on down. Are you all with me?
58. Some of you reading this may be thinking, "We've had so many pushes, pulls, seminars, and programs, and I don't know if I can handle another one. It probably won't do any good anyway." Well, this isn't a push or a program. What we're talking about here isn't just the need to re-inspire you teens, nor the need to make your witnessing more fruitful, nor the need for you adults to get more on the ball in your shepherding, although that's all a part of it. But we're talking about something much more serious here: We're talking about whether you are going to be part of the Family or not.
59. The question you'll each have to ask yourself is: Do you love Jesus and do you want to serve Him? If so, the conditions are laid out very clearly in the Word. Jesus said: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another. If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Luke 9:23; Mat.6:24; 2Cor.6:17; Eph.5:11; John 13:35; 8:31,32).
60. This is a call to arms, dear Family! This is a call to forsake all and join the fight wholeheartedly, to recognize the evil influences and attitudes that have crept in amongst you, that have been hindering and buffeting you. This is a call to cast them off, rebuke and refuse them, and ask the Lord and each other for help to become rewired in heart and mind as His true disciples, to become 110% in your dedication to the Lord and the principles and ideals that we stand for.
61. This is a call to each of you: Who among you will stand up for Jesus? Who will stand up and be counted for Jesus and help raise the standard that's lagged so low?
62. I know that many of you adults and teens are discouraged and battle-weary right now, but I truly believe that if each of you will rededicate yourself to the Lord and will have a metanoia in the areas where you've backslidden in heart, the Lord will revive and restore you to real victory in your life.
63. Of course, it will take time for you to be strengthened and cleansed, but once you've committed yourself to serving the Lord and you know you want to be His disciple no matter what the cost, then you're well on your way to recovery. PTL! But you'll have to do your part--and that means yielding, getting back to the Word and prayer, forgetting yourself and your own desires, and thinking of others!
It's Time for a Complete Turnaround!
64. I'm coming to the close of this Letter, and you adults and teens might be wondering, "My goodness! What do I do now?" The need to change is clear, and I pray the Lord has been speaking to your heart, but you might not quite know what to do now. Well, you can't wait for some leader to come and hold your hand and lead the way and straighten out your mess! You need to look to God and the Word and get right with the Lord! Cry out to the Lord for forgiveness and ask Him to cleanse you and give you the grace and strength and conviction to get up out of the hellhole you've dug for yourselves and get on with serving and obeying Him!
65. Get desperate and cry out to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you, and mean it! This is the first big hurdle--to yield to the Lord and what He wants. A real turnaround in these areas will require that you all recognize and acknowledge that things have gone too far and that they have not borne good fruit. Then you need to repent, rebuke the Enemy and any effects your backsliding has had on you individually and as a group, and ask the Lord to renew His pure Holy Spirit in you, so you can get back on fire for the truth. "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1Jn.1:9).
Restore Unity!
66. This type of initial prayer of repentance is a good start, but I don't believe you'll really be able to make the progress the Lord wants unless you can restore the unity in your Home and clear away any confusion and bitterness you feel. The Lord's Spirit won't be able to flow freely to cleanse and strengthen and rejuvenate you if you adults hold on to your feelings of resentment toward the teens, or you young people continue to distrust and dislike and rebel against the adults. Unless you get rid of all that hurt, distrust, resentment, bitterness, etc., then it's likely you'll eventually fall back into the same problems. You've got to root out, pull down and destroy the old, so you can plant and build the new!
67. To do this, please take some time to have heart-to-heart talks with anyone you need to talk to--whether it be your peers, your parents, your children, your mates, your teamworkers or co-workers, or whoever. Take the time to talk, to confess your faults one to another and to pray for one another so that ye may be healed.
68. After you've talked it out, renewed your communication together, confessed your faults, forgiven those who have offended you, and sought the forgiveness of those you've wronged, then would be a wonderful time to have communion and a time of desperate prayer.
69. You could consider including a prayer of forgiveness, that the Lord will forgive your sins, mistakes, shortcomings, wrong attitudes, etc. Please refer to the compilation of Bible verses entitled "Prayer for Forgiveness" at the end of this Letter, which you may want to read and pray unitedly, as you seek the Lord for forgiveness as a group.
New Beginnings!
70. If you truly take these changes to heart and go to the Word for the confirmation, you'll become strong witnesses who will be able to speak with conviction. You won't be ignorant of the Enemy's devices; you'll be able to withstand them and fight together to raise a standard against them. You'll be happier and more inspired, you'll have sweeter and more loving interactions amongst yourselves, you'll be learning and growing and bearing fruit.
71. Dear teens, YAs and adults, I guarantee that this will be your future, and much more, if you'll take up this challenge and accept the Lord's call in your life. Dad and I love you so very much, each of you, and we are praying desperately that you'll make the right choice.
72. I wish I could hug each one of you, and tell you how much I love and admire you for shticking, and thank you for your stand of faith and faithfulness, love and loyalty for the Lord and the Family. God bless and strengthen you! We need each one of you! Keep fighting!
Much love, Mama
PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
Bible Verses Compiled and Edited by Maria
(This prayer can be prayed privately or as a group. If you choose to pray it as a group, we recommend you read it aloud in unison, in which case you could either read it in its present form, using the "I" and "me" pronouns, or you could substitute "we" and "us." If you prefer not to read the entire prayer aloud unitedly, you could also take turns reading one verse each.)
How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
Thou hast said, Lord, that he who covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
So I acknowledge my sin unto Thee, and my iniquities will I not hide from Thee. I confess my transgression to Thee, O Lord, and trust in Thy promise to forgive my iniquity.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are troubled.
For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, when I lift up my hands toward Thy holy oracle.
Thou art nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and Thou wilt save such as be of a contrite spirit.
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, "Where is thy God?"
Therefore, redeem the soul of Thy servant; I trust in Thee, let me not be desolate.
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee.
Hear my voice: Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
I wait for Thee, my soul doth wait, and in Thy Word do I hope.
Remember not my sins against me.
Lord, my wicked ways have I forsaken and I have returned unto Thee. Have mercy upon me therefore and abundantly pardon me.
I wait patiently for Thee, incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my cry.
Bring me up also out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay. Set my feet upon a rock, and establish my goings.
Put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto Thee, O Lord: So that many shall see it, and fear, and trust in Thee.
Withhold not Thou Thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: Let Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: Therefore my heart faileth me.
There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: Make haste to help me.
Forgive my transgression and cover my sin.
I am poor and needy, Lord, yet Thou thinkest upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Be merciful unto me, Lord, heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee.
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for Thee, O living God.
With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander again from Thy commandments.
I am overcome with sorrow: Strengthen Thou me according unto the promises of Thy Word.
Remove from me the false way, and in Thy goodness teach me Thy law.
Let, I pray Thee, Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Thy Word unto Thy servant.
I am Thine, save me; for I have sought Thy precepts.
Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: And I will have respect unto Thy statutes continually.
I cry with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep Thy statutes.
I cry unto Thee; save me, and I shall keep Thy testimonies.
I rise before dawn and cry for help, I have put my hope in Thy Word.
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate upon Thy promises.
Plead my cause, and deliver me: Revive me and give me life according to Thy Word.
Let my supplication come before Thee. Deliver me according to Thy Word.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant, Lord, for I do not forget Thy commandments.
Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul.
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
I am weary of my crying: My throat is dried: My eyes fail while I wait for Thee, O God.
O God, Thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee.
Thou keepest me awake all the night: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
Wilt Thou cast off for ever? Wilt Thou be favorable no more?
Is Thy mercy clean gone for ever? Doth Thy promise fail for evermore?
Hast Thou forgotten to be gracious? Hast Thou in anger shut up Thy tender mercies?
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.
Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?
If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: If I make my bed in Hell, behold, Thou art there.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts:
And show me all my wicked ways that I may be healed, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee.
Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Rescue me, O Lord, for Thy Name's sake: for Thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sins are ever before me.
Thou requirest truth in my innermost being: fill my heart with Thy wisdom.
Remove my sin, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that, though You have crushed me and broken me, I will be happy once again.
Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from my sins, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness.
O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.
For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices that Thou requirest, Lord, are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
My soul doth bless Thee, O Lord, and all that is within me doth bless Thy holy name.
My soul doth bless Thee, O Lord. Let me not forget all Thy benefits:
Thou forgivest all mine iniquities; and healest all my diseases;
Thou redeemest my life from destruction; and crownest me with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Thou art merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Thou hast not dealt with me after my sins; nor rewarded me according to my iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the Earth, so great is Thy mercy toward me.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hast Thou removed my transgressions from me.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so Thou dost pity them that fear Thee.
For Thou knowest my frame; Thou rememberest that I am dust.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is from everlasting to everlasting upon me, and Thy righteousness unto children's children;
To such as keep Thy covenant, and to those who remember Thy commandments to do them.
In the day when I cried, Thou hast answered me, and hast strengthened me with strength in my soul.
Thou wilt perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine Own hands.
In Thy great potter's hand remake my vessel as seemeth good unto Thee.
Give unto me a new heart, I pray Thee, and put a new spirit within me: Take away the stony heart, and give me an heart of flesh.
I forsake my sins. Be Thou faithful and just to forgive me my sins; O Lord, do cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul, O Thou my God; save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee.
Be merciful unto me, for I cry unto Thee daily.
Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: For unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.
O Lord, I will praise Thee: though Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me.
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family