“A Bit of Grace” August 15
August Greetings!
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted to this newsletter list so let me review what we’ve been up to:
July was a month full of challenges in our household, and what time was available for the public aspect of the ministry was given to PREPARE Internet Radio and working out some technical and administrative bugs there. Fortunately we are getting back into a good routine and we will be able to put consistent effort into other aspects of DTM going forward.
PREPARE Internet Radio
Most of our time and energy has been going into our internet radio program on BlogTalkRadio. For those of you who need a little tutorial, there are two ways you can access the program, LIVE and through the ARCHIVED PODCAST.
LIVE BROADCAST: To listen live, you need to go to my ‘Host Page’ on Blog Talk Radio and click on the “Click to Listen” button when it’s active, which means the show is being broadcast.
Listen Live
For PREPARE radio, here are the numbers you need to know:
To call in during the program: (718) 664-6988
To Instant Message the host during the program:
YahooMessenger & AIM: ncpatriot8
GoogleTalk: nc.dianne
You can also access my program through the Program Guide of BlogTalkRadio by searching for “Prepare” or by my name, “Dianne Thomas.” Currently the Live Broadcast Schedule for PREPARE Radio is as follows:
* Mondays at 6:30 pm est: “Practical Christianity: Does What You Believe Work?” Series on the basics of our beliefs, the three realms of reality, sources of authority and our identity in Christ.
* Tuesdays at 6:30 pm est: “Getting Healed: Becoming Whole Spirit, Soul and Body” Series on how to identify your temperament and your wounds, then how to go to God to get them healed once and for all. How to identify attacks from our enemies the world, flesh and the devil and how to overcome them. Fogiveness and giving up our rights.
* Thursdays at 6:30 pm est: “Knowing God: Developing an Intimate, Supernatural Relationship” Learning how to clearly and consistently hear from God, how to respond, divine guidance in specific situations, praying effectively, learning to minister as the spirit being you are.
* Saturdays at 10:00 am est: PREPARE Radio Q&A / Feedback We are currently addressing questions regarding how to respond to conflict in a group setting when a Leader receives a ‘revelation’ that no one else can accept. During this regular feature we answer questions and pass along feedback and comments that are likely to be of interest to the audience in general. All questions are responded to individually as promptly as time permits.
I will be including the link to the live broadcast in these weekly newsletters as well, though I suggest you bookmark the web page for easy access. We have many new List Members signed up through BTR and we welcome you and thank you for joining us.
ARCHIVED PODCAST: If you are not able to listen to the live broadcast, you can join the majority of listeners who listen to the programs in their entirety via podcast. There are two ways you can listen to these archived programs: 1) Streaming/online. Once you find the archived progam you want to listen to from the BTR PREPARE Host Page, one of your options will be to play the podcast through your internet connection. [When loading the Host Page, the most recent Live Broadcast will automatically begin playing.] There are multiple formats that will likely be compatible with the programs already on your computer. 2) Downloads. Another option you have is to download the program in various formats, including .mp3, which you can listen to at your leisure on your computer or any compatible audio player (iPod, for in! stance).
This weekly newsletter will include the Broadcast Schedule and Topics as well as links to Archives for your convenience.
grace2you.com / Dianne Thomas Ministries Web Site
This has been our main ministry site for over 10 years. We will continue to use the site for general information, as an outgoing mail address and for accepting donations and resource requests. Updating the site is not the highest priority, though we will be duplicating much of the information on the site now onto the blog site Prepareblog.net.
“A Bit of Grace” Newsletters
These newsletters will be sent out weekly and will contain any announcements, review of previous programs with links, schedule and descriptions of upcoming broadcasts with links, any feature updates to the blog, and a summary of new postings, including excerpts and links to keep you updated and connected. Hopefully this newsletter will provide those who don’t consider themselves web-savvy with enough experience to become familiar with these web resources to be able to use them and feel comfortable doing so in a short period of time.
PREPARE Blog
One of the great advantages of a blog is the ability to interact with visitors in a variety of ways. In the coming months we will be posting not only new articles, commentary on other’s articles and analysis of current events in light of grace, we will also be integrating opportunities for registered commenters to post and respond to specific exercises designed to ‘test’ what you’ve been learning and have a little fun as well. Because we are always welcoming new visitors, we will continue to post material we’ve covered previously through the newsletters. It is free to register, and your email address will not be provided to anyone else without your permission. Register here:
REGISTER TO COMMENT ON BLOG
See the About page on the blog for more details about what we will be covering and an overview of our policies and terms of use.
Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments or feedback you may have, especially technical ones regarding using the internet radio service, blog features or resource request forms on grace2you.com. Odds are, if you have questions, others do too, and the sooner I know about them the sooner I can either correct an issue or clarify instructions. So thanks in advance for bringing any issues to my attention.
Thank you for your patience as we explore this next stage in the growth of this ministry. Your continuing support, both personally and financially, has been very encouraging. It’s always great to hear that you’ve been touched in any way so always feel free to drop me a line at nc.dianne@gmail.com.
Tithing, Giving and the Scriptures [Part 1]
INTRODUCTION
One of the most divisive issues in the church continues to be regarding tithing. Many mis-understand the term, its use in the scriptures and its meaning for the church today. We will be looking at the topic from as clear a perspective as possible, based on the scriptures. The act of tithing is clearly delineated in the scriptures, but a misunderstanding of the ways the term is used in scriptures and what happened at the Cross and Resurrection has caused many Christians to continue to be brought under the heavy weights of the Pharisees.
The scriptures can generally be broken down into the following time-frames: 1. Pre-Codification of The Law (before the law was written down); 2. The Codified Law (the written law); 3. Additions to the Law (included in post-Torah books of the Bible), 4. The Transition (when Jesus taught under the law), 5. The Fulness of Times: Grace! (from the Resurrection until whatever comes next).
For clarity sake, and to see the progression of God’s unfolding plan, we will review the scriptural usage and function of the tithe and tithing within each of these time frames. The scripture verses being discussed are included for clarity sake. References are in The New King James Version unless indicated; please feel free to refer to additional references and versions as desired.
Prepare for the Week: Stay Emotionally Focused
Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Remember Dad already has your week planned out for you and will see you through each day.
Our emotions often respond without checking in with our mind or will. Be on the lookout and ready to respond to attacks from the world system, especially things going on at work with people. Be SLOW to respond. It is better to walk away with nothing to say than to respond out of the flesh. Don’t get caught up in ‘office’ politics.
Obtaining and Maintaining Focus is very important for all of us right now, so we know there will be warfare: we know we will be coming up against our flesh, the demonic realm, and the pressures of this world system. But you are WELL ABLE to maintain focus if you stay dependent on Daddy and His resources to get your information and encouragement.
This will be a long-term issue so you will be receiving similar reminders as this, to stay focused, but thi!s is the way we learn new habits, not just by overcoming distractions but by developing new ‘vision’; clear focus and confidence.
Have a great week!
Aide & Comfort
When tragedy strikes, most of us look for a way to help. If we live nearby, we may consider volunteering, especially if we have a skill or resource that would be particularly helpful. Or perhaps we look for a way to donate ‘in general’ ~ blood or financially, for example.
In some ways we’ve come to expect this response. Watching the news, we are given the ‘up close and personal’ accounts of missing loved ones, details of last conversations, contact information. Then come the concerned politicians and government officials and their promises of investigations. And the event memorials. Then the lawsuits.
Yet I wonder how much of this is done for the good of those actually involved in the crisis event? How much grieving do we do because we are stirred by human compassion? How much because it’s expected? How much for the cameras? To be a part of the bigger event?
Don’t get me wrong. In the condition we’re in now, living for ourselves as we so often do, we are doing good for others. The blood donations will be used by someone in need, the finances and memorials will fill needs as well.
But how much do we rely on feeling compassion to motivate us to reach out and give what is ours already ~ comfort, healing, hope, answers.
I’m confident that as we all continue to be joined to Father and His heart, we will more and more be equipped and ready to be sent where He sends us.
I guess that’s part of the lesson of what is often called “The Great Commission.” Are we ready to go when and where Jesus sends us? Or are we too busy fulfilling the given expectations.
I know we will be ready.
If we want to be.
Prepare Internet Radio Thursday at 6pm est
JOIN US for
PREPARE Internet Radio
THURSDAY at 6 p.m. eastern & SATURDAY at 10 a.m. eastern
This week we’re learning practical steps to discern the Voice of the Lord: Identification, Understanding & Response.
Tonight’s Q&A is:
“What do you do when you feel like knowing God is nothing but work with little to show for it?”
Be sure to visit the archives to listen to previous shows at your leisure. The programs can also be downloaded or subscribed to.
Join us Live by clicking here:
For PREPARE radio, here are the numbers you need to know:
To call in during the program: (718) 664-6988
To Instant Message the host during the program:
YahooMessenger & AIM: ncpatriot8
GoogleTalk: nc.dianne
To email the host during the program: nc.dianne@gmail.com
Please Join Us!
Getting Healed ~ Where to Start
God has a three-fold purpose for each one of us here on this earth:
- He exposes our flesh, so He can consume it,
- He makes us able to receive His healing in all areas of our lives, and
- He makes us able to enjoy intimacy with Him on all levels.
These areas are intertwined, and as He heals us, it will also affect how He exposes our flesh and brings us into relationship with Him. One can’t be done without the others. So if you want to have an intimate relationship with God, you’re gonna have to let the Lord deal with your flesh, and you’re gonna have to let Him heal you. Likewise, if you want to be healed, you’re going to have to develop an intimate relationship with God and have your flesh exposed.
Finally, if you’re tired of walking after your flesh, you’re going to have to learn how to get healed, and how to walk and live and move in the spirit.
So part of God’s purpose for us is that we receive healing in all parts of our being. Remember, we are a three-parted being: “I am a spirit, I have a soul and I live in a body.” In our spirits we are already complete. Spiritually, we are whole, we are entire—we don’t need healing in our spirit. It is in our body and in our soul (our mind, will and emotions) that we are wounded, and, if not tended, where wounds can fester and need healing.
June 14, 16 PREPARE Internet Radio
JOIN US for
PREPARE Internet Radio
THURSDAY at 9 p.m. eastern
[note time change, this week only]
SATURDAY at 10 a.m. eastern
Last week we made it through the first 4 steps to take in learning to hear God’s voice now. We will continue our teaching on Hearing God with looking at 6 ways to start to hear His Voice more clearly.
Tonight’s Q&A is:
“If I’m studying the Bible, going to church and attending Home Group, do I have to spend additional time learning to hear God apart from these times?”
Be sure to visit the archives to listen to previous shows at your leisure. The programs can also be downloaded or subscribed to.
Join us Live by clicking here:
For PREPARE radio, here are the numbers you need to know:
To call in during the program: (718) 664-6988
To Instant Message the host during the program:
YahooMessenger: ncpatriot8
GoogleTalk: nc.dianne
AIM: diannethomasmin
To email the host during the program: nc.dianne@gmail.com
Please Join Us!
June 7: 8p.m. est Thursday Evening PREPARE Internet Radio Broadcast
Last Thursday we answered listener’s questions and laid a foundation for the practical reality of hearing from God now.
Tonight’s Q&A is:
“Why is it so hard to hear Him clearly; If God wanted us to hear Him why doesn’t He just make His Voice heard?”
We will continue our teaching on Hearing God with looking at 6 ways to start to hear His Voice more clearly.
Be sure to visit the archives to listen to previous shows at your leisure. The programs can also be downloaded or subscribed to.
Join us Live at 8pm est by clicking here:
For PREPARE radio, here are the numbers you need to know:
To call in during the program: (718) 664-6988
To Instant Message the host during the program:
YahooMessenger: ncpatriot8
GoogleTalk: nc.dianne
AIM: diannethomasmin
To email the host during the program: nc.dianne@gmail.com
Please Join Us!
Dianne
PREPARE Internet Radio Saturday Morning 10am eastern
We will be looking at some fundamentals and practical strategies to put into effect to learn how to hear God clearly and consistently for yourself.
Join us Live at 10am est by clicking here:
For PREPARE radio, here are the numbers you need to know:To call in during the program: (718) 664-6988
To Instant Message the host during the program:
YahooMessenger: ncpatriot8
GoogleTalk: nc.dianne
AIM: diannethomasmin
To email the host during the program: nc.dianne@gmail.com
Join us!
Join us 7p.m. tonight!
Last Thursday evening we started our discussion on Hearing from God, focusing on not being able to hear at all and how to tell if it’s God. We also discussed current events, specifically what God has said about the French Elections (Pandora’s Box) and the passing of Jerry Falwell (family comforted and 5 people sent forth).
Then on Saturday morning we spent some time answering a listener’s question from the previous broadcast; during the program I had mentioned that there are some questions you can ask a person to determine at least to some extent whether a person is truly a believer (a regenerated being) or not, so we discussed what those questions are and what the answers may reveal. We then discussed some parenting responsibilities, forgiveness, discipline and ‘turning the other cheek’ using the public exchange of actor Alec Baldwin’s relationship with his daughter as an example.
Tonight we will recap the major points from that discussion and touch on a couple of thoughts on immigration, illegal and otherwise, and move forward on hearing from God.
Join us!