“LEARNING TOGETHER as ONE” The Praise Report

WHAT have you recently been LEARNING as you're working TOGETHER, spending time TOGETHER and ENJOYING being TOGETHER with Him and the others you're meeting here?

BUT FIRST

After last week’s post and all the new information that has come in, my Husband and I have continued discussing the future—not only of the YouTube videos, but also how they can be incorporated into and merged with our blog posts.

When I humbly asked for help with the HomeGrown Children website and even put myself in a vulnerable position by sending a preview to some of our ministers by email, I received no real response from anyone committing to take on that responsibility. UPDATE: I did hear from Kate My Heart's Desire but after I asked Marta, see below, but like always, His timing is perfect because she'll have an ePartner.

“Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.” “ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to go."

My vision is to continue to work three weeks ahead, as He led me to do to prepare for vacation, "a cord of THREE strands is not quickly torn apart,” and have posts scheduled in advance, allowing more ministers to come together as one, with everyone reviewing and strengthening each other’s work. This aligns with the promise and truth of becoming one body, where all members function properly under His control and guidance.

Today, I am rerecording and putting myself out there again, sharing the vision. Perhaps it will be another opportunity to be “rejected for good.” Yet after my husband reminded me of a story I wanted to share, I realized that perhaps this testimony will help bring in more of our partners who have faithfully invested their tithes and offerings but have not yet joined us in other ways, such as contributing to blog posts.

My testimony begins when my family joined a church, and they announced a women’s meeting. I attended, eager to get involved. During the meeting, volunteers were requested for a project, and I quickly raised my hand because I wanted to participate in everything. Yet my hand was ignored because I was not part of "their group."

Years later, my family joined another church that was experiencing a worldwide revival. Once again, I heard about the women’s ministry and attended. When opportunities were presented and volunteers were requested, I raised my hand again because serving has always been my passion.

This time, I was welcomed into the group. Together, all the ladies attending distributed responsibilities based on each person’s experience and expertise—not based on what I had done in that church, since I was new, but based on my talents, previous experience, and years of serving in many churches.

Is it any wonder that this church was experiencing a worldwide revival?

This testimony reminds me that we overcome the wicked one by "the word of our testimony." Through our testimonies, we overcome obstacles and move forward in what needs to be done.

Below is the menu I mentioned—a framework we could generally follow, while still remaining flexible when necessary.

Another testimony my husband reminded me of involves the “Tupperware lady.” I believe it was shared in one of the ministry commitment lessons. Alas, since I cannot locate the testimony, I will briefly summarize it here.

Although her life was filled with challenges and chaos, she excelled at selling Tupperware. In fact, she became one of the top sellers in several states while we were living in Florida. She explained that after her husband left her, she needed to support herself, and even though the company taught its representatives to ask every woman attending a party whether she would like to host one herself (this was the standard sales strategy), this woman, however, when she asked God for help, He told her, “Don’t ask everyone. Only ask the ones I tell you to ask.”

She listened.

Out of a dozen women at one of their parties, she might ask only three. Yet all three would book parties, and those parties would prove hugely successful and profitable.

With that testimony in mind, rather than asking everyone, I am going to ask Him whom to ask. Perhaps that means asking Marta to oversee the Wednesday Restored Marriage Testimonies, since she has already mentioned that she used to do this and it was successful. Or perhaps it means approaching each person individually.

I may not know everyone’s strengths and passions, but God does.

When we seek God’s wisdom, we can trust Him to carry out His plan. As I often remind myself each morning, so I do not become overwhelmed or stressed:

“This is Your ministry. Darling, It is not mine. I simply want to do whatever You want me to do.”

So, "hoping against all hope,: I would like to formally ask Marta whether she would be willing to take Wednesdays for RMI and work alongside an Encourager Partner so that two people are serving together side by side. Marta, after seeking the Lord, you can ask Him whom He would have you choose as your ePartner. (He apparently confirmed this in your comment I just discovered today.) 

Fresh FRIDAYS is the one post I would like to continue overseeing, using the new chapters I am completing and the chapters I have been working on. We are now down to just five remaining.

Ministering MONDAYS focuses on IOU. Immediately, my Husband reminded me that Adina was the one who originally headed up IOU, making this a natural fit.

Adina, would you be willing to take this on again? If desired, you could also work on the lessons themselves. The goal would be to stay three lessons ahead and have them scheduled in advance.

For Thankful THURSDAYS TPR, my Husband immediately reminded me of Anastasia because she has been one of the most consistent contributors.

However, this ministry is about more than simply sharing what we are thankful for. It also involves bringing together testimonies and contributions from different languages and cultures, which is vital. Anastasia is already connected to that work and has recently been involved in several innovative projects that are flourishing under her leadership. I've failed to make this happen, but I trust that if this His plan, it will happen.

Anastasia, would you consider taking Thankful THURSDAYS? Several posts are already scheduled.

Let me add something important. For every scheduled blog post, we would like each of you to discuss it with your Husband and review what is being prepared. Everyone who has the privilege and access to blog posts should not bury their talents.

Think of it as preparing a spiritual meal.

See what's coming up and then ask yourself, "What can I bring to improve this meal?"

What we are looking for is not simply personal opinions, but the richness of your culture, your experiences, and the perspective of the country where you live—testimonies that touch the heart of our readers. We want each of you to contribute using your unique G Suite color—your distinct contribution that identifies you and enriches the whole body. BTW, I added the table to your PDO in March, Adina. Move it to wherever would be convenient to access. 

 SATURDAYS HTBB How to Be Blessed has already been rescheduled, so no additional help is needed there until the last one posts.

This leaves SUNDAY Fellowships.

Because spiritual nourishment is important, I copied the previous fellowship post, hoping and believing someone would step forward to gather updates from the various fellowships and share what God is doing.

Looking at the last post, the only name I see is Marta, and that update was from the previous week. However, the person who immediately came to mind to head this up was Hope. I have consistently seen her making copies of "HopeAtLast," Chapter Lessons with the footnotes—helping behind the scenes, and faithfully working on a regular basis—qualities that are greatly needed in this role. Hopefully, Hope will be reading this, and she will take the opportunity to protect us from RMI and me personally being sued again (I ultimately paid the fine personally, along with the attorney's fees, wronged and cheated by making sure RMI has paid for each picture. If it's not listed, He's led us to either REMOVE it or create an AI version replacing it in the media. If this is something you enjoy doing, please join Hope.)

SUNDAY Fellowships would involve reaching out to fellowship leaders, perhaps attending some recorded fellowships, learning what is being discussed, gathering testimonies, and highlighting the fruit being produced so that more women will be encouraged to join. Or instead, ask each fellowship to post a section rather than what should be on the page, the times etc. Who's leading it? Who's attending? Everyone uses their BNN, so why are these details being concealed underground? I don't have a clue so unless you're part of the "in group," we won't know.

If I were new, I wouldn't even know how to join any of these fellowships. The list of time zones and conversion charts can be confusing. That is another area that could be improved.

But I trust Hope will either unravel it or reach out to several of you who can.

As I continue "hoping against all hope" that this ministry can grow stronger, I believe it will happen if everyone who volunteers works together with her Husband and an Encourager Partner, ePartners, who both seek the Lord for guidance, work ahead, faithful will schedule three posts in advance, and contribute what God specifically asks them to contribute.

Just like the Tupperware testimony—not asking everyone, but asking the ones He directs.

That leaves  Travel TUESDAYS Languages Lessons.

Looking at the last two posts, Liza has been leading those. If she would like to continue, that would cover the remaining day.

And then we would truly be coming together, LEARNING TOGETHER as one body.