MINISTRY

MOVING IN…

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I have just finished my morning gauntlet of prayer and study. I am moving in to the rest of my day and further into the rhythm that will be 2027 and 2028.

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These last days of sabbatical are the beginning of a new practice that will probably take the rest of 2026 to work into the fibers of my being.

Yesterday I took my sister to the Irish Festival at the Winchendon Community Park for her birthday.

We listened to some amazing music and did some window shopping at the booths. We shared bangers and mash and Guiness beef stew, apple cider and apple fritters. Then we finished the day with cake and ice cream at home with the kids. It was a great day.

As the day came to its finish line, I walked the dogs and closed in the chickens making sure Hen Solo was with her sisters before locking the coop gate. It was an early night to bed and I realized as I laid my head to the pillow that I had not followed the rhythm as planned. I had not planned for the expectations of others. I had not considered alternative pathways to move into the evening gauntlet of prayer and study. I had not taken an aside from the festivities of the day to pray for even ten minutes.

I have prayed today that Jesus would help me move in to the rhythm He has shown me as my next step. I have asked Him to show me how to fold the rhythm into the life He has given me, how to adapt this life and its demands to the life He is bringing me into. The way lies before me. Learning and wisdom are the prayers of my heart. I ask without doubting that I will have the learning and wisdom and that what He wants will be established.

A RHYTHM THEN VICTORY

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On Monday nights I spend three hours at The Worship Room House of Prayer. We pray for encounter, marriages and supernatural healing.

Lately I have been greatly challenged by the Holy Spirit about a necessary change in my life rhythm, if I want to see the prayers I am praying answered. The Lord has been talking to me about a permanent change of a sacrificial life rhythm that will bring the victory I am longing for. I am seeking this change during my time of sabbatical.

God is calling for an “ALL IN SURRENDER TO HIS WAYS”. I have to admit I don’t fully understand this yet. I know it has something to do with prayer….maybe the quality of my prayer more than its duration…. maybe not. I just don’t know. I do think it has to do with the restoration of DAVID’S FALLEN TENT and entering it.

Two adventurers beside a tent in an autumn forest beneath a crescent moon

During this sabbatical I am changing up some of my life rhythm and considering how much of it I will carry into my post sabbatical life.

FROM NOW ON

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One of the words God has been speaking to me since the beginning of October is “FROM NOW ON…” . Just that…..Only that.

I have been contemplating the word. I know I don’t fully understand it. That said I do feel that this sabbatical is some kind of a crucible.

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Sabbatical is usually rest…relaxation…slowing down…even vacation. I felt going in that this sabbatical was about something different. I told the staff it was going to be different. I feel now that I entered this season one way and I am going to leave another way and FROM NOW ON things will be different. Something in me is being burned away and once it is….I will never be the same again.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS “FROM NOW ON…” WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND?

THE WORDS OF BEGINNING

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It is day 5 of sabbatical.

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My rhythm has definitely changed, but I cannot say I have yet done a lot of “resting”. The weekend was given to three big events designed to bring “Word from God” into my heart.

The events certainly did their job. I have lots to contemplate over the next 26 days.

Even before the events began I heard:

FROM NOW ON.

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AND TAKE THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE WINTER SEASON.

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I ALSO HEARD, IT IS TIME TO PREPARE: A NEW RHYTHM, A NEW ORDER, A NEW ACCOMPLISHMENT, A NEW SIMPLICITY.

Gardener planting seedlings in an enchanted forest beside a cottage

On Friday I attended our church’s men’s conference. The word I heard there was…

WHAT YOU SPEAK WILL BE YOUR FUTURE. YOUR CONFESSION BECOMES YOU.

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On Saturday morning I attended a community conversation where I heard the word…

A NEW WAY OF LEADING LIES BEFORE YOU.

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On Saturday evening I attended TWR’s Prayer conference, where I heard…

THE FALLEN TENT OF DAVID IS RESTORED. ENTER IT. SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING AND JOIN HIM IN IT.

Two adventurers beside a tent in an autumn forest beneath a crescent moon

I took Sunday to rest completely and tom begin unpacking these words with God.

COLLAPSE

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Day 2 of Sabbatical.

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I forget between sabbaticals what the first days are like. I am not as disciplined as I should be about resting so when I come to vacations (which I seldom take) and sabbaticals (which I take every two years), the first day or so my body just collapses.

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This year I have built in a pretty aggressive prayer schedule to the sabbatical. I was at prayer by 6 A.M. yesterday. I had gotten up at 3:30 A.M.

By 10 A.M. I was drawing in weariness

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So I went to bed until 1:30 P.M.

I dragged myself out of bed for the afternoon gardening and animal chores.

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I barely made it through the chores. I had to take breaks between each dog walk and the chicken coops.

My plan was to go to prayer at TWR House of prayer for three hours. The prayer topics were: Braking down strongholds; prayer for the church; Prayer for TWR House of prayer. I knew by 3 P.M. that was not happening.

I had a light supper and I was in bed by 7 P.M. again. I slept until 3:15 A.M. without stirring.

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I prayed in the dawn. I am feeling better today, and that is good. It might be sabbatical, but I have some very important places to be tonight and tomorrow.