Maria
June 18, 2004
In order to facilitate your planning and preparation, this GN should be read in advance of New Year's Eve.
By MariaMaria #546 FM 3314 11/00
Dear Family,
1. God bless you! We pray you had (or are still having, depending on when you receive this GN) a tremendous Christmas witnessing season. And for those of you in fields where your important holiday witnessing continues in full force through the first part of the New Year, we pray the Lord will strengthen you and continue to open doors and touch people's hearts to receive His message and be inspired by it. The Family Feast Celebration 2001 is coming up, and in this GN I will share the proposed schedule of events and some insight from our dear Husband on this very special time.
2. As you've read in the Grapevine, this year's Feast will be held on January 2, 3, and 4. We realize you might not be able to take this time off to dedicate it wholly to the Feast, but we hope you'll be able to take some time to read, pray, and commune with the Lord around that time. The Lord has given us some inspiring New Wine especially for this year's Feast, which we'll talk about in the paragraphs which follow. We'll also list the timetable in which we're suggesting the CM Family read this new material, but please don't feel bound to follow this schedule if it doesn't work out for you.
3. When we prayed about when to have the Feast 2001, the Lord gave the following instruction, which shows some of what we stand to gain from these days we spend together with Him.
4. (Jesus speaking: ) The month of January is traditionally a month to take stock. It's a time when worldly businesses do their inventories, restock their shelves, make their projections for the coming year, and set their goals for the new year ahead. It's often a time of re-evaluation, new beginnings, weighing accounts, starting fresh, making resolutions, creating new habits. This is a good time for My Family to do the same.
5. Having the Feast at the first of the year has many advantages. It's also a time when the Family needs and deserves a time of rest, a time to retreat and refresh and regain their strength after having worked hard for weeks during the Christmas season. Having the Feast in January can provide this time of rest and refilling and communion with Me. My Family is deserving of such time, and My children must have this time if they are going to continue walking through the doors that I will lead them to.
6. By having the Feast at the first of the year‚ you'll be helping the Family to start the New Year on the right foot. The Feast is always a time of recommitment, a time to take stock of things, both spiritually and practically‚ evaluating visions, goals, ministries, and outreach. By holding the Feast in early January you'll be helping the Family get a head start on the year 2001. For these reasons, it is pleasing to Me that you hold the Family Feast at the first of the year. (End of message from Jesus)
7. (Mama: ) Here are excerpts of two general messages from our loving Husband that give us a peek into the wonderful things He has in store for us.
8. (Jesus speaking:) I have called you to the era of action, have I not? You've entered the days of greater works, greater fruitfulness‚ greater happenings‚ greater acts. From the moment the new era began, you stepped into your new calling. On the horizon are greater things than you've ever experienced, and it's only going to get bigger and better!
9. Those of you who have stuck by Me are going somewhere! I call you to be movers and shakers, the driving ones, the desirous ones, the live ones, the ones who are moved to action, who are set in motion, the ones I activate to do great things. This is the era of action—right now, today!
10. Likewise, Family Feast 2001 will be a mover! During this Feast I wish to turn on the activation key in each of your hearts. I wish to pump each of you with a fresh new vision and unprecedented goals.
11. Just as your ministry will only get bigger and better‚ so these Feast times will only be bigger and better, more exciting and thrilling than the year before, for these are the days of great things! There's no standing still! This will be a time to let your inspiration level rise high, for I desire to activate each of you and stir you to motion.
12. At the dawn of the new millennium, I and David spoke to you of the great things to come. At this one-year mark into the new millennium, during this Feast 2001, I wish for you to see the tangible ways that things are in motion. I wish for you to see that all things are moving forward. I wish to move you, inspire you, and enlarge your vision.
13. I wish for this time of the Feast to be a time of inspiration, a time when I will impart the vision‚ a time of revelation, a time when you will see that great things are in motion. I will spark you into motion through imparting fresh new vision and goals that will give you courage, hope‚ and great joy. I wish for it to be a time of high inspiration! Without a vision the people perish‚ but with a vision you are strengthened, encouraged, and moved into action! This Feast 2001 will be a time when I will turn the activation key in the heart of each of you who have chosen to stick! (End of message from Jesus.)
14. (Jesus speaking:) I wish for this Feast to be a time when I can inspire you, My brides, and increase your vision and help stretch your faith for the great things I will do in the days ahead. I wish for you to see that things are moving forward.
15. The Enemy is ever on the prowl to fight, hinder, slow down‚ and discourage My brides worldwide. As this thrust with the Activated ministry picks up momentum, the Enemy's fury will rage. But his attempts to stop you in these days of action are as futile as trying to stop the rain. I wish to encourage you, My children, and remind you of this. I wish to speak words of encouragement and inspiration to you‚ sharing more from My heart to yours.
16. This time of Feast will be a time of vision-building, a look at the state of the nation, a time to receive the vision and My plans for you. It will also be a time to be spiritually fed and strengthened, a time when you can revel in My truth and be refilled, when you can feast on the nourishing food of My Word, that you might ward off any would-be attacks of the Evil One.
17. I will pour out messages that will help, encourage, strengthen and spur you on in this day of action. I will speak to you about impossibilities and I will impart to you secrets on how to rise above. I will give encouragement, comfort, and wise words to you, My brides.
18. This Feast 2001 will be a time when I will both rally you, My troops, and impart visions and goals for the new year. Yet it must also be coupled with a time of rest and relaxation, a time for each of you to take stock of your own heart and soul. I wish for this to also be a period when you have sufficient time to commune with Me privately, to consolidate your victories, to get ahold of Me personally, to weigh up accounts with your own heart, to make firm your vision and set straight your goals‚ to continue to make firm commitments for the year ahead.
19. As I have called My WS brides to continue to make commitments to excellence, so I call My brides worldwide to continue to make firm your commitments to excel as never before. Let this be a time to come together‚ uniting in visions and goals and prayer, refilling with My strength and power, to go out and win the world for Me. (End of message from Jesus.)
n New Year's Eve—Prayer and Praise Celebration!
20. The Lord indicated that our New Year's Eve celebration should be a time when we praise the Lord for the victories won this year and thank Him for all He did. We should also commit the coming year to Him in prayer and hear from Him in prophecy together. He indicated that this would be a good occasion to which you could invite your friends, close contacts, and supporters.
21. (Jesus speaking: ) Having the Feast during the first few days of January will free you to usher in the New Year with close friends and sheep and those to whom you're ministering. Am I not leading you in a mighty outward move—a great witnessing charge to win and make disciples of all nations as never before? Am I not leading you in a tremendous push to witness as never before? Therefore, I would have you leave this night open, for there will be some Family Homes where it will be advantageous to invite those who are worthy, those who are in your circle of fellowship, to a meaningful New Year's Eve celebration, such as the candlelight ceremonies that you are already familiar with. This will vary from Home to Home according to its ministry and outreach, but leaving this night open for you to celebrate with your friends and sheep, if it is appropriate, will bear much fruit in our worldwide witness.
22. New Year's Eve can be a time of praise and thankfulness to Me, a time to count your many blessings and recount all that I did for you in the past year, as well as pray and dedicate the New Year ahead to Me, and to hear from Me in prophecy together. This night can be a pre-Feast gathering, one that I will leave open to invite close friends, live–outs, and those to whom you are ministering. (End of message from Jesus.)
23. (Mama:) You may wonder whether you should still have a party on New Year's Eve, in addition to this prayer and praise celebration. Anticipating that this question would come up, we asked the Lord. Here's His reply:
24. (Jesus speaking:) I have called for a New Year's Eve celebration. In addition to your time of praise‚ thanksgiving, prayer and hearing from Me‚ this may include more festivities when and where appropriate. What better prelude could you have to a time of dancing, games, enjoying good foods and beverages together, than this substantial time for prayer, praise, thanksgiving and hearing from Me! For those who desire to party, it's okay by Me to do so. Just be sure to include Me in all you do. Have fun!
25. Each situation will be different. In some Homes it would be fine to continue into the night partying and enjoying each other's fellowship; for others it would be wiser to make other arrangements. The important thing is to ask Me, to be Spirit-led, and to get My leading on what is best in each case. Be sure to take into account what is in the best interests of your friends, sheep and live-outs, making sure their needs and expectations are being met. Some of your friends may also expect a little festivity after the initial celebration‚ and including them in this plan may be a wonderful way to witness. There are a number of possibilities. Ask Me for the best plan for your Home‚ and I'll be glad to help you in your personal organization of this New Year's Eve event! (End of message from Jesus.)
n JANUARY 1
26. Beginning January 1, please check the MO website for a special Feast song to download. Do not play it for your Home; hold it until the evening meeting of January 4th. (One person should, however, check to make sure it downloaded well and will play properly when needed.)
n JANUARY 2
27. Morning: Read GN 919‚ "Welcome to the Feast Celebration 2001!"
28. Afternoon/evening: Read GN 920, "Nothing Is Impossible!" Then set aside a time for communion together.
29. (Jesus speaking: ) Communion at this time will unite your hearts from the start, and give power and strength and instill in you a hunger for what I have for you during the remainder of the Feast. During this communion, all should lay hands on one another‚ praying for one another, as I pour out the gift of increased faith. Pray for one another, for the gift of faith to be loosed within you. Pray that you might each be set free to act upon your faith.
30. As all lay hands on one another to receive this gift of boosted faith, I will pour out My Spirit in great measure. I have said, if you will believe, this gift of increased faith will be given; therefore let all ask, that they might receive in full. This prayer and time of uniting‚ breaking the communion bread and drinking the cup, will bring on unity, which will help to pull down My Spirit upon this time of the Feast. It will also serve to boost the faith of My Family and open your spirits, hearts, and minds to receive the messages in the remaining days of the Feast. (End of message from Jesus.)
n JANUARY 3
31. Morning: Read GN 921, "Rise Above!"
32. Afternoon: Private reading, or reading in smaller groups, a time for personal prayer and hearing from the Lord regarding all He has presented in the messages you've read so far.
33. (Jesus speaking: ) This will be an important time for everyone to seek Me privately—personally or with their mate. It will be a good time to reflect on what you've read thus far, and seek Me further for ways to implement these words personally. (End of message from Jesus.)
34. Evening/night: United time loving the Lord intimately, singing songs of love and praise to Him, as well as reading words of love and adoration both to and from Him.
n JANUARY 4
35. Morning: United devotions at whatever time is convenient for your Home, followed by additional reading, either unitedly or privately, which can be organized as you feel led of the Lord.
36. (Jesus speaking: ) It's a good idea for the Homes to have some united time this morning to gather for praise and prayer. It can simply be a time to prime the pump for their time of individual reading and prayer, or their gathering in smaller groups to read and pray. This united time should include a short devotional reading. It can also be a time to pray for the items on the Feast 2001 prayer request list. (See GN 919.) This gathering should not go over one hour from start to finish. The Family that praises and stays together bears much fruit together. Therefore it is wise to allot this time; it will be unifying, edifying and fruitful. (End of message from Jesus.)
37. Regarding the united or private times of reading that you will have this morning, the Lord said:
38. (Jesus speaking:) Consider the reading list included in "The Action Series." Some of this material could be read, and as each Home seeks Me‚ I will make it clear what each needs to read. The Family is busy, busy‚ busy during the year; a lot of material has been poured out in recent months, and this time of the Feast will be a welcome and needed time to catch up on and review some of these milestone pubs, including the challenges and reading material in "The Action Series." (End of message from Jesus.)
(Note: For your easy review, at the end of this GN we're including the reading list which was published in Part 3 of "The Action Series," ML #3308, GN 908. Along with this list you could consider reading over parts of "The Action Series" GNs.)
39. Afternoon/evening: Read GN 922‚ "Song of Victory," and play the song you've downloaded from the MO site. Please follow the reading of this GN with a time of hearing from the Lord in prophecy as a Home. (Note: If for whatever reason you are not able to download the song from the MO site, don't be discouraged! You will be receiving it on tape, Lord willing‚ by the time of the Family Birthday Feast.)
n FEBRUARY 18-19
40. More to come—Family Birthday fun! February 18 and 19 are official free days!
41. (Jesus speaking: ) Scheduling Feast 2001 at the first of the year will serve in part as a needed and well-deserved time of rest for My Family. I ask that you not only declare February 18 a free day, but that you declare another free day at the time of the Family Birthday. I wish to give My Family this added bonus, for they are deserving, they are worthy, and they are needy. Therefore, let both February 18 and 19 be official free days for My Family to rest, relax‚ and have some fun and fellowship. I will rejoice with them as they rejoice. I would also commune with them, as each one communes with Me and spends time with Me, feeding from My Word and listening to My voice. (End of message from Jesus.)
n Find a Good Balance Between Rest and Redeeming the Time
42. (Mama:) Please seek the Lord as a Home and receive His confirmation in prophecy about your schedule for the Feast regarding when to wake up, have meetings, go to bed, etc. I realize that you might be quite tired after the long haul of the Christmas push; this is why it's important to seek the Lord for His ideas on how you can keep a reasonable schedule, even going to bed early when possible, so you can be well enough rested to get deeply fed from the Word you read. Of course, it's nice to have a little more relaxed schedule during these three days, which is fine, but please refrain from late-night activities such as movies, games‚ parties, etc., which would only further tire you and distract you from the main thrust of the Feast.
43. (Jesus speaking: ) These days of feasting are primarily a time to pray, tank up on My Word, and hear from Me personally. Encourage everyone to seek Me in order to find a proper balance in scheduling their time so as to get the most out of these days. As they take the time to hear from Me on this, I will lead and help them strike a happy medium to reach this end. I will instruct them on how they can get needed rest as well as redeem the time in the Word and prayer, and not push too much and therefore be too tired to absorb what's being read. During these days, the onus will be on the individuals to stir themselves to want to suck and receive all that I wish to give them.
44. During the actual Feast days, it would not be wise for people to stay up too late at night, nor to spend time in extra activities such as watching movies‚ throwing parties‚ playing games, or other late-night activities. These three days are to be reserved as a time for Me, to fellowship with Me, to spend time in My Word, in praise and prayer and in My bed of love. I will refresh and strengthen My brides as they concentrate these three days on My Word and prayer and Word-filled activities.
45. All should come to the Feast knowing these three days are to be a time of retreat. And though it's okay to have a slightly relaxed schedule as far as rest and sleep‚ it's primarily a time to enter into prayer and feeding on My Word. This in itself will provide some rest and relaxation‚ for resting in spirit also rests the body. It should be a time of relaxed scheduling as far as easy meal prep, relaxed, leisurely get-out, a minimum of house duties and clean-up, etc., in order to free everyone to press in to My Spirit, to commune with Me, learn from Me, and hear from Me.
46. It is not a time to catch up on special projects, those things you always wanted to get around to. I ask that you refrain from any type of activity that would keep people up too late or be a distraction. The time of the Feast is primarily a time to press in to My Word, to have sweet communion with Me first and foremost. Therefore‚ everyone should seek a proper balance in their scheduling, so they can utilize these precious moments with Me to the full. (End of message from Jesus.)
n Daily 30-minute Prayer Vigil
47. (Mama: ) Having received the Lord's confirmation, I would like to ask that each person try to spend 30 minutes during each day of the Feast engaged in intercessory prayer vigil. The prayer requests to concentrate on are published in GN 919. This 30-minute period can be divided into smaller increments if that's easier for you.
48. (Jesus speaking:) It's also a good idea to suggest that everyone take at least half an hour a day during these Feast days for prayer vigil. This will be apart from united prayer times. These vigils can be done privately, or with a partner, or even in a small group, according to how people feel led. They can also be done in one sitting, or this half hour can be broken up into smaller intervals according to individual leading. The important thing is that My children pray in earnest and that they begin to learn to take this vital time in intercessory prayer daily. This time during the Feast will set a precedent, a standard that I pray many will want to follow throughout the year.
49. When you join together as a Home in a commitment to invest time in intercessory prayer, you can gain strength and conviction from the perseverance and faithfulness of your fellow Home members. Intercessory prayer is something I wish for you to grow in, and this is a good time to start to forge new and better habits in this responsibility. (End of message from Jesus)
50. (Mama: ) You might have members in your Home who are under some kind of restriction regarding the GNs they read, such as new babes, live-outs, teen/YA returnees, etc. There are guidelines in the Charter about what these members are allowed to read, some of which is up to the teamwork's discretion. In light of the wonderful material that will be shared during the Feast, we checked with the Lord to see if there was some leeway allowed or if He wanted to make exceptions to some of the normal Charter guidelines.
51. As you'll see from the following message, He has left this decision with the teamworks of the Homes, but He is definitely making it clear that His leaning overall is for as many as possible to hear these GNs. This should help you teamworks know the general mind of the Lord when you're praying about this question and exercising your "discretion" regarding any members of your Home who fall under this category. You'll see in the counsel which follows that there are some people who, according to the Charter‚ would normally not be able to hear these GNs‚ but who as a special blessing can be allowed to attend the united readings of the Feast GNs, as the Lord wants this to be a special time of unity and inspiration. Of course, He reminds you to confirm your plans by hearing from Him in prophecy, but He says it would be rare for someone to not be included in the united readings of these wonderful GNs (or to not be allowed to read them on their own if, due to scheduling purposes, they couldn't be in the actual meetings). He says this is a special dispensation of grace.
52. (Jesus speaking:) I have shared deep truths and great revelations in this Feast material, for the sake of My loving brides. It is a priceless privilege to sit at My feet and hear what I pour out. Regarding cases such as new babes, rejoining members or those changing status, I wish to have mercy and allow them this special dispensation of grace so they might partake of these truths in unity with their brethren. This will likewise make it easier on the Homes‚ so that no one will have to miss out in order to accompany the babes or others.
53. I wish for this to be a unifying time—a time to unite hearts, mind and souls, and pull down My Spirit together. I wish for these who are new to be strengthened and fed. I wish to show this mercy, and in so doing, if they will receive and believe‚ they will be strengthened and receive faith and conviction to carry on.
54. I remind you teamworks to still bathe everything in prayer, being always open to My voice of instruction in the case that I lead you to make an exception to this decree. Should you have someone who you feel should not participate for some reason, then you can come to Me and seek further counsel on whether they should be permitted to participate and hear these messages. For anyone to be excluded would be the rare exception.
55. In addition, should you have a brand-new babe of only a few days or very few weeks, one whom you feel is not yet ready, you can seek Me for counsel on what he or she should hear. Again‚ to exclude these babes would be the rare exception. For most new babes, these great truths will be an encouragement. Nevertheless, you teamworks should do all things through prayer and frequent seeking and checking in with Me, and I will lead and guide you as to any rare exceptions that may be necessary. (End of message from Jesus.)
56. (Mama:) The children's pubs being prepared for this Feast include the following:
m 1 HTK: "Nothing is Impossible!"
m 2 MLKs: "Nothing Is Impossible!" and "Rise Above!"
57. In times past there were specific instructions as to how to handle the care of the children during the Feast. The senior teens usually attend the united meetings. Sometimes the JETTs and junior teens were also included. Sometimes there has been the option for the younger kids to be in the back of the meeting room being occupied with quiet activities, coloring, etc., as long as their presence doesn't interrupt the meetings.
58. When we prayed about the upcoming Feast, the Lord did not give specific, across-the-board instructions; He left this decision up to each Home. So you can pray about the details, knowing the specifics of your childcare situation. Please consider the following counsel from the Lord when prayerfully making your decisions. It would also be wise to confirm your decisions with the Lord in prophecy, of course.
59. (Jesus speaking:) As far as the children being present while the Feast messages are being read, this is okay. The reading of these pubs will not present a problem for the children, should you feel led for them to be present in the room. But each Home should pray and receive My confirmation as to what is best for them.
60. I ask you to carefully and prayerfully seek Me for what is best in your particular case. Take into consideration what is best for all involved. Consider all the factors in the equation.
61. Sometimes it is more convenient to have the children in the back of the room, especially so that no one has to be out of the meeting and miss the united reading. However, if the presence of the children actually ends up being a distraction to others who are trying to concentrate on the reading, then, though no one actually misses the meeting, some may not be able to fully concentrate on what is being read. If it lessens the attention span of several people, in the long run it may be more productive to care for the children separately, and have those who are with the children make up their reading time later.
62. This is all very subjective‚ and each case must be judged on its own. Often people say, "It's fine. I'm not bothered by the extra movement or the extra little noises," but they don't fully realize that in actuality they are being distracted to some degree in their concentration and focus. This is a very fine line, one that's often difficult to discern.
63. Situations vary greatly, for much depends on the Home, the number of children, their ages and their attention span, how long they're able to be kept fairly calm and settled while the reading is taking place, etc. It even depends on the layout of the Home, the acoustics and so on.
64. Such detail is not beyond My concern, for I know firsthand the great struggle in spirit and how Satan will stop at nothing to hinder and distract My children from fully taking in, absorbing, and comprehending My Words.
65. There are many pros and cons to having the children present, and there are many factors that must be considered. Each Home must therefore come to Me, seek Me, and hear My instructions on what is the best course of action to take in their situation. For some, I will lead them to do similar to what they do for their normal daily devotions. For others, I will lead them in a completely new and different arrangement specifically for this time of the Feast. For others, I may lead them to have a different arrangement in their schedule and the times they get together for united reading. They might try something slightly different than the average Home, perhaps coordinating their reading times with the children's nap times and so forth.
66. Most importantly, each Home needs to get specific directions from Me regarding their situation. Be flexible and open to what I have to say, and take into account what can best accommodate all concerned. (End of message from Jesus.)
67. (Mama: ) God bless you, wonderful Family, with a terrific Feast 2001 celebration! Peter and I love you so very much and have you in our daily prayers.
Much love in our fascinating‚ miracle-working Champion,
Mama
P.S. On page 8 you'll find the reading list which was printed in Part 3 of "The Action Series," ML #3308, GN 908.
Feeding the sheep/follow-up
qML #2422, "No More Visiting Hours!" (Lifelines 18)
qML #3132‚ "Why Witness?" (GN 741)
qML #3135, "Be a Missionary!" (GN 744)
qML #3137‚ "'Instant' Witnessing!" (GN 747)
qML #3238, "The Activated! Program." (GN 849)
qML #3245, "Witnessing and Follow-up Pitfalls!" (GN 847)
Shepherding
qML #3113, "Jesus, Our Good Shepherd!" (GN 724)
Shepherding JETTs and your brothers/sisters
qML #3154‚ "How to Keep Our Teens!" (GN 760)
qML #3191, "Shepherding Our Children and Young People!" (GN 796)
Pride/humility
qML #3043, "Prophecies on Pride and Humility!" (TS GN 25)
qML #3235, "Stay Humble!" (GN 838)
qML #3251, "Do the Humble Thing!" (GN 853)
qML #3268:17–41, "Intimate Details of My Life!" (GN 870)
Loving interaction/communication
qML #3100, "Come Together—In Love!" (GN 722)
qML #3187‚ "Stop the Gossip Now!" (GN 792)
qML #3201, "Living the Lord's Law of Love!—Pt.1." (GN 804)
qML #3237, "Loving Kindness!" (GN 840)
Unity/disunity
qML #3161, "Overcoming the Generation Gap!" (GN 767)
qML #3222, "Citizens of the Kingdom!" (GN 835)
qML #3234, "Loving Interaction!" (GN 837)
Applying and living the Word
qML #3183, "Quiet Time—Your Lifesaver!" (GN 788)
qML #3218, "The Weakness Revolution—How You Can Make It! Part 1 and 2." (GN 819–820)
qML #3219, "The Weakness Revolution—How You Can Make It! Part 3." (GN 821)
qML #3250, "Desperate for Jesus!" (GN 852)
General spiritual strengthening
qML #3184, "The Spiritual Health Revolution!" (GN 789)
qML #3255, "Spiritual Attacks Intensified!" (GN 856)