*** As an FYI, this post was sent to Meghan for her to read before I posted this. She has read and given me her approval and blessing to post and submit this to each of you 🙂 ***
I just wanted to post some prayer points that have been on my heart 🙂 With the calender year drawing to a close soon, I’m looking forward to what the Lord has in store for D4Y in 2013! I know I may be jumping ahead, but as Meghan can attest to, I tend to be wired for the “future” in what I see and hear, lol. So, I first prayerfully ask that all of us will take a moment to ask the Father to prepare our hearts, minds, ears, and eyes and that He quicken in each of us what He is speaking to us corporately and individually. I prayerfully say, Father, thank You for what you have done, are doing, and WILL do. You are faithful, just, true, merciful, gracious, and loving and we praise You for it. Let us have ears to hear You…amen.
Prayer points on my heart to continue to strengthen and advance The ministry, Meghan, the team, and us individually:
1) Renewed commitment to D4Y: Praying the Father would help remind and show us corporately and individually what each of us personally committed to for supporting this ministry and Meghan, and what each of us is called to as an intercessor for Meghan and Dyed4you. My prayer is that He will help each of us set aside time at home to prayerfully reread what we committed to when Meghan, lead of the Spirit, asked us to be on this team. Each of us is an extremely important piece and uniquely vital in uplifting and encouraging Meghan and the Dyed4you Ministries. With this, I truly believe that the Father will continue to be faithful to show each of us our unique giftings and what He has specifically called and anointed each of us for. I truly believe in my heart God is wanting to continue to “level up” D4Y in a dynamic and fast paced way which will lead us all into continued love and character building, intense times of prayer and fasting, growth in our fear of Him, wisdom, and understanding, and a greater level of authority both individually and corporately. I am eagerly anticipating and excited to see how He is going to grow each of us, the team, and the ministry because of it! Here is the link to what the Father put on Meghan’s heart as a commitment to the team 🙂 Please read it and prayerfully reconsider what you voluntarily committed to when you said “Yes” 🙂
2) Personal encouragement/prayer emails: It’s really been on my heart that each of us prayerfully consider sending Meghan just a quick email, voice note, text message, etc. every week or so. I think we can all agree that something that may seem so small can speak huge volumes. She knows we pray for her, but I think that little extra “physical” note of “Hey, someone’s got your back today” would be appreciated just as much as we appreciate it when she does it for us 🙂 I also would like to ask you all to prayerfully consider sending each other the same things every once in awhile 🙂
3) Communication with the team: I am seriously SO blessed when I log on and someone has posted a prayer, scripture, or something encouraging on Facebook. SO awesome! I think we all love and appreciate it, each other, and the blessing Facebook can be in this regard especially since we all live so far apart 😉 And if we can take the 10-20 minutes to check out other things on Facebook (me included!), we can take a few minutes to check in with the ministry 🙂 We are committed to this ministry, not Facebook so let’s be mindful to check in 🙂 My prayer is that the communication channels continue to open and flow freely in these regards:
- if you need to “disappear” for awhile, just drop a line on there and let us know. Life totally happens and everyyone understands that! 🙂 But this helps manage expectations, especially with leadership, so we know you didn’t simply go MIA, helps us know how to pray and cover you, and is just good common courtesy 🙂 This ministry is unique in how we are from all over and we don’t actually see each other like we would if we were a group at church. This simple gesture to let us know you will be “off the grid” is like being at church after service, quickly tapping the girls on the shoulder and saying “hey, life is happening. I’ll be back. Love you girls. Keep me covered in prayer”. 🙂
4) Increase in posts with prayer points/scripture/dreams&visions: This is the hardest one for me to write and let me preface this with I personally don’t want to write this and have been struggling to because I don’t want to hurt anyone! Hear and know my heart on this and how much I love each of you. But, I love the Lord more and want to obey what He wants to communicate very lovingly, but firmly.
I am not a Facebook stalker, lol!!, BUT, there are many times I am scrolling through my news feed and see some of us regularly actively engaged in posting prayers/ prophetic words/Godly encouragement in other groups or pages, but don’t see that type of active participation happening in the D4Y team page and or the prophetic team page. It honestly hurts my heart for Meghan, for D4Y, and for the team, whether anyone else sees it or not. Although you are most likely praying for the ministry, Meghan, and the team, it would be greatly appreciated if we could direct some of that same energy and communication onto the D4Y team page and/or the Prophetic team postings of which we have pledged our support and commitment to Meghan and the ministry. Again, please understand, I love each of you dearly! But it is on my heart HEAVY to see us actively engaged posting things the Lord has shown each of us concerning this ministry and also in the birthing process of silks if you are on the prophetic team. It’s not about quantity, you’re right who ever may be thinking that 😉 But this IS the only way any of us are “seen” or communicate through, so please honor your commitment and prayerfully consider things He would have you post or add in the birthing process of silks 🙂 Without the participation in the prophetic team, the birthing process can become strained and laborious when team members, who likely have pieces, are missing without communicating they need to go MIA or are actively prophesying/posting to others or other pages but not doing so on the D4Y prophetic page like they have committed to. This leaves the silk and dyeing process, which is what most of D4Y is about, resting squarely on mine or Meghan’s shoulders as I reluctantly try to contact and engage team members. We ALL are important in this process and, yes, life happens. BUT, this is a ministry to which we have committed to, either as an intercessor OR intercessor and prophetic team member. God uses EACH of us and speaks through ALL of us!! One post could ignite others on the team and spark an intercessory fire storm to tear down walls and strongholds, opposition, oppression, sickness and disease, etc. One piece from a prophetic team member will unlock the “block” others may be having and act as an epidural through the birthing process of a silk. Without everyone on board, the linking together of our shields becomes difficult,strained, and weakened which in turn can weaken the defense shield around the fort (the ministry).
These posts will also GREATLY encourage Meghan and others on the team as well! Again, the communication helps us all “see” each other, hear each other, manage expectations, increase our understanding on how and what to pray, and strengthen the ministry and each other. It’s not about quantity. It’s about simple courtesy to communicate 🙂
Hear my heart when I say that I love each of you so, so much. I know this post was not a “feel good”, warm n’ fuzzy post. I know it might have “pricked” someone, or all of us….it pricked me every time the Father would speak to me about it; pricked me even worse when I continued to delay writing this. And trust me when I say, I take absolutely no pleasure in writing an exhortation. I DO, however, have much hope and expectation in what the Father will remove and grow fruitfully in each of us if we all, including myself, will humble ourselves, seek His face, and pray what His will is for us in this ministry, as a team, and individually. I know that I personally need to communicate how much I love and appreciate each of you more often. This post, in no way, shape, or form is meant to condemn or point fingers. I am guilty of some of these things myself of which I am so sorry and ask forgiveness for, especially as a leader for this ministry. My prayer for this ministry, for Meghan, and for each of us is that we will prayerfully ask the Father to help us examine ourselves and seek Him more than ever to discover the unique giftings and anointing He has in each of us and how He wants to use it for His glory through you for Dyed4you and in your own lives.
The one thing I am requiring from each of you on this post, is that each of you respond to it by writing in the comments below. One thing I would love to see for Meghan from each of us is that each of you acknowledge that you have reread the Prayer Team link with the expectations of commitment and anything you feel led to say 🙂 Imagine yourself as a leader of a ministry and what that would mean to you :))
Team, let’s close out 2012 with what the Father is sharing with us in prayer and go forward into 2013 with fresh vision, renewed commitment, reinvigorated passion and love, and a renewed and sharp focus!!
I love each of you mucho!! Don’t ever doubt it!!
Amanda
Amanda, thank you for your obedience. You are loved and appreciated. 😉
Rereading the Prayer Team Link about the commitment actually created in me a sense of belonging again. When I go through difficult times I tend to withdraw and thus feel alone. What I felt when reading the commitment was that I am only alone if I choose to be so. You all are always there and available because we are “family”. I HAVE been distant and quiet, partly because I am having difficulty hearing in the desert, partly because I don’t like to be a whiner or always be the one asking for prayer, and in October because I have been extremely busy at work. But I have not let anyone know, so I can see that it would appear like I am MIA. I am always more of an observer than a participater and only tend to talk when I have something worth saying. I see how this too could seem like I am MIA. So this was a good reminder for me to connect and comment, even if to identify my presence when I really don’t have anything else to add.
I do want to thank you all for “having my back” and for your prayers and encouragement. This has truly been the most difficult season of my life and I don’t know what I would have done without each of you and being a part of this team. It has meant the world to me.
And Meghan, I love you to pieces! You have the uncanny gift of seeing the good in others and pinpoint their gifting. You are an encourager and an enabler (in the good sense of that word). You are one of the most generous and loving people I know. And some day I am determined to meet you in person. 🙂
I, here and now, recommit myself to be an intercessor and support for you, your marriage, and your ministry. You are a blessing and I am blessed to know you and to be a part of your team.
Much love,
Donelda
observation: This ebb and flow cycle of high volume interaction, followed by a gradual or even abrupt lull, and then a jump start email has happened before. So is the cycle “normal” for a group or is this something that really needs to be overcome? I am not proposing an answer, just asking the question, and praying about this.
For me, life has become really busy. Babysitting 12 or so hours a day, trying to still unpack the last few items, husband out of state frequently, caring for 2 dogs, still suppose to try to squeeze in contract work, and have a life, and sleep. Of course I know I am not the only one with life moving at lightening speed and applying great pressure.
Amanda, Meghan, and the team, I love you all dearly and do pray for you all, whether I get to post daily or not. Each of you are precious and each of you has ministered to me during my time with D4Y, thank you one and all.
Blessings to each of you and your families. I truly love and appreciate each of you. Meghan, you are a blessing.
@Tonia – I believe it’s something that needs to be overcome. I know there will be some shifts, but I do not believe His desire is for it to swing like it has – as you observed – more than once.
I am very open to insights on how we can resolve this and what I can do as a leader to help encourage the team. I want to be sure we’re each doing all He’s asked us to do and walking in the fullness of what He’s calling us to.
I love you guys so much and appreciate all you do – you’re such a blessing to me!
Thank you Amanda for posting this; your heart shines through your writing and we feel your love. Well, umm… Is it alright if I admit I cried while reading this? It was at “Each of us is an extremely important piece and uniquely vital in uplifting and encouraging Meghan and the Dyed4you Ministries.” I don’t know if I’ve said it before but, that has been a struggle for me… I have been bullied since kindergarden. I know now that it is not what happens to you that hurts you but how you choose to respond to what happens. And I have chosen all my life to believe I’m not worthy enough. G-d has worked with me in that area greatly. And I can’t say G-d has not healed me, but the fact is I still cry. There has been some times, during the period I have been on this ministry, where I’ve felt I can’t contribute to anything or that I’m useless. So that is definitely a part that needs His touch. I know that as I search Him, He will also reveal me the position I am to occupy in this ministry.
I have to apologize because I know I could do more than what I’ve been doing so far. I also believe I can better protect the privacy of this group by not leaving my Facebook page opened. I know and AM SURE, NOTHING has gone out of my PC but I acknowledge I should be more careful (I WILL). I’m truly sorry for not ‘checking in’ as often. It is my responsibility to inform If I will not be around. And finally, I look forward to achieving a greater relationship with the Father so there could be more fruit in me and through me in the Dyed4you Ministry.
Today while I was praying for all of you, I received in my Spirit that there was a greater annoiting coming to us as a team. I think I should add it as a confirmation of what Amanda wrote here. Love you girls. I thank the Father for his firm but loving word and I thank you again Amanda, for your smileys and your “mucho” which has cheered my heart. :]
🙁 Now as I sit here in tears I will try and type. As I am sure you can all tell, I am the one that likes to sit on the sideline (I know this isn’t where God wants me, just where I feel safe). I do read the post, just don’t always comment. I am not sure if I am going to say the right thing or not, so I say nothing. This is something that I have been dealing with as a child, being teased and made fun of if I said stupid 🙁 I don’t even like to read out loud in front of a group because of the pain I dealt with as a child.
I do think of you all and you are all in my prayers. I am so blessed to have each of you in my life and all the prayers are felt.
The last few months have been a little hard with my health issues and losing Dan’s Mom in September.
Meghan, I do love you and you have been such a blessing to me. Thank you for all the love you so me and everyone else.
I my be quiet, but I am here.
Love you all, Tami
@Donelda: I love and appreciate YOU, sister! Your wisdom is such a gift and never goes unnoticed. It speaks and teaches to me often 🙂 Your post really, really moved my spirit almost to tears, especially the line that says (after rereading the team commitment), “I am only alone if I choose to be so”. I am guilty of retreating from others, including this team, because when I’m struggling I tend to “hide” and then ultimately feel so alone. If I would just see and appreciate that I am NOT alone because God gave this amazing group of women to come to :*) You really put the rereading of the commitment in a very beautiful light for me personally. Thank you! I think it is very fair to say the team recognizes and completely understands what you’ve gone through this year and I can’t imagine going through it!! Know we are all praying for you and your family as you continue to walk in faith daily for whatever it is He has next for you 🙂 You are loved and appreciated so much. And be encouraged to share your nuggets of wisdom and insight when He leads you to. It’s a gift rarely developed in Christian character and I honor you for it!
@Tonia: Thank you for posting! Your bold and gentle words are like the spoon full of sugar that helps the medicine go down 🙂 I love that about you! I know life has been a whirlwind for you too recently. I believe that your observation is correct but that this is something that needs to be overcome. I do not feel in my spirit this is simply just an ebb and flow which does naturally occur with ministries, people, families, etc. I mean, we’re human so things are never perfect, lol 😉 The cycle that seems to be occuring feels more like a hot and cold and not just an ebb and flow. I sense this is a result of two things that go hand in hand.
1) First, the ministry is basically “internet based” which creates a really interesting, unique, and challenging dynamic. We don’t physically meet or see each other like we would if we all lived in the same area or state. If this ministry was “locally based” and we all lived near or around the area, we would likely be scheduling set times to meet and pray together, worship, etc. It might feel more “real” and would lead to developing deeper connections and face-to-face relationships with Meghan and each other (This will be my second point, so hold on, lol). Because we all are scattered across the nation, we can’t connect in person. What we see typed on a computer screen is our only “connection” right now unless any of us have taken it upon ourselves to call a team member to connect with them personally. I think this poses some unique challenges. Our current interaction tends to be at our “leisure” or whenever we find time to post…which again, isn’t necessarily anyones fault! I think this is part of the process of discerning what does and does not work for something highly internet based. I hope that makes sense!
2) Secondly, I think because of what I mentioned in #1, part of the hot and cold we are experiencing is stemming from a lack of personal connection with each other: each of us with Meghan perhaps and a lack of personal connection/relationship with each other. Again, this is NOT a blame or pointing fingers thing! I truly think that it’s just a challenge caused by the unique dynamic of a ministry primarily being internet based and us scattered across the nation not seeing each other. I’m by no means saying we need to be all up in each others business, lol!! But, let’s take our conference calls for an example. The team dynamic changed in a fairly dramatic way after our calls and the interaction level was strong. It wasn’t the QUANTITY. It was the QUALITY of the interaction. I think some of us even started calling each other to connect. Those calls helped put a voice to the names and the typing on the screen. It made the connection in each of us more personal. We HEARD a PERSON. I often think of the verse that says that faith comes by HEARING the Word of God. Hearing someone is a powerful thing and does more for us to connect personally than just typed words.
Like you, Tonia, I am not sure of the exact answers. But one thing is for sure. It is not just a naturally occurring an ebb and flow. This is an extreme hot and extreme cold that needs to be earnestly prayed over and submitted to the Lord for wisdom and direction on how to overcome our present challenges. This will take a concerted effort as a team. But, more importantly, it will take a concerted effort individually as well to seek the Lord on what comfort zones He may be trying to stretch and break us out of in order to prune and bring forth fruit in out lives AND in the lives of others; both on the team and those affected or involved with Dyed4You Ministries. This team is a safehaven for us that He’s drawn us into and blessed us with. There are so many gifts within all of us I believe He is longing to draw out of each of us, develop, and prosper to help minister and heal each other and the Dyed4You community. One thing I believe He wants to break over this team is fear…fear of what will someone think of me, fear of failure, the need to perform, the fear of rejection, people pleasing, etc. Fear is the opposite of faith and I believe He wants to increase the level of faith in each of us tremendously, me included! I encourage ALL of you to please pray and seek the Lord on answers!
@Linette: I so understand about the bullying. I was as a child as well including extensive physical, mental, and verbal abuse from both my parents. I was constantly told how hated and unwanted I was and I mean constantly. It created deeply rooted things in me that I still struggle with (fear, insecurity, feelings of worthlessness). I too have had many times where I don’t feel I have anything to give or say to the team and I’ve had to push myself to do it. Then, when there were hardly any responses, it totally crushed me because the irrational voice in my head would tell me how stupid I was. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve cried and considered walking away from the team for good (especially recently). But that is just what the enemy would probably want. Stupid devil!
Let me encourage you that your posts and interaction are encouraging and I get SO excited when I see Puerto Rico on my screen, lol 🙂 I am so sorry I have not acknowledged or communicated that better to you. Keep pushing through and seeking Him like you are, Linette! I’m believing and joining my faith with yours that the Father will continue to heal your heart at a rapid pace and fill you to overflowing with joy and peace! You are a PIONEER!! You are so needed to go extend the tent pegs :))
@Tami: Oh, honey :*( I sat and cried myself when I read your post earlier because your heart was one that I was very mindful of and prayed I for you before I ever posted. You may be one of few words in posts, BUT you consistently comment, like, and post. I always know I can count on you and I think it’s fair to say the team would feel that way too 🙂 Let me encourage you that you are very well thought of on this team and well respected! I think of Song of Songs 2:14 that says, “My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely”. You are sweet, tender, and full of God’s grace and lovingkindness. I encourage you and pray that this new year will bring a new courageous step of faith for you to step out and let us hear from you. You are such a treasure, Tami!! You truly are safe in this team and we love you very, very much!!
Sorry it has taken sollong for me to comment on this letter. As I stated when you first posted, I was out of town. My precious Gabriella turned one on Thursday 11/1, and we were in Colorado Springs to visit her daddy (my son). It is alway hard to see him in jail, so that was not the time to try and engage and focus on this post.
Now is the time! I have reread the Prayer team link and I recommit myself to Meghan, D4Y, and this team. You ladies have been a breath of fresh air for me and a great support. I covet your prayers and friendship.
please forgive me for the times I seem to be absent. I often read the posts and pray but I don’t always let y’all know I’m doing that. I will strive to do so more regularly!
@Amanda, thank you so much for your faithfulness and courage in posting this letter. Thank you for bringing forth those things which need to be discussed and prayed over.
@Meghan, I love you very much and I truly appreciate your voice memos and virtual hugs. I especially liked the one you sent via Josh yesterday! 🙂 May your days be blessed with Shalom and inspiration. May Abba guide you in your marriage and bless both you and Allen with wisdom and understanding for each other and the path He has put you on as a couple and for Dyed4You. I wish I could hug you in person! <3
To all of you, you are always on my heart. Each morning as I shower, I pray. I start with the Shema and then as my prayers progresses, I pray for each memebr of this team and your families. @Donelda – you , Rick and Isacc, @Tami – You, Dan, Jen, & your grandkids and yes even your chickens on occasion, @ Kim – You, Chris, & Jacob and now the newest little Ochs, @ Amanda – You, Brandon, & Little Maddie, @Meghan – You & Allen and of course your crazy light loving pooch, @Allissa – you and your future spouse, @Tonia – You, your husband (sorry don't remember his name), your children & your precious grandosn and his healing heart, @Stephanie – you, your husband & girls and of course the little one in your womb, @Linette & @Leslie – I pray for each of you and look forward to getting to know more about each of you.
On other notes, I miss our conference calls, and Amanda, I think you're right they did change the dynamic of the team and I feel they brought us closer together!
I love each of you, I stand with each of you and this ministry!
Love & Blessings,
Elaine
Amanda, thanks for the reminders!
I did take the time to read your post and reread our commitment agreement last week when you posted this. Sorry I did not find a quiet moment to post an official reply until today. It hadn’t been that long for me since I read the agreement, but the refresher was still helpful!!
I do tend to struggle with being consistent and disciplined in my prayer life, so these are all good reminders for me. When my sister asked me to pray about whether I felt like I should be part of this team, at first I felt so honored and excited to see what God had planned. Then fear kicked in that I would not be consistent about following through on what was expected and let her and the team down. I really struggled with this for a couple days. I finally wrestled the fear down and got clear that fear of making a mistake or not measuring up to where I thought I should was not going to keep me from taking the steps and moving in the direction I felt called to go. I realized I needed to trust that God knows where I am and what I struggle with and that there would be grace for all that. It also occurred to me that perhaps the structure of this ministry would help me grow in the area of consistency.
I recommit to fighting the good fight to be consistent and keep my commitment, listening for the Father’s direction and feeling so much gratitude for His grace.
Looking forward to getting to know you all better!
With love,
Leslie
As I read I see a couple themes emerging:
1) Him giving us an opportunity to help grow more structure and discipline in our prayer lives (this includes me)
2) Him creating a safe environment where wounds from the past can begin or continue to heal.
If there are specific things I can do or systems I can put in place to encourage either one of these – PLEASE let me know! I still believe that Father has a plan to level us up together and that we’ve barely touch what He has planned there. I am excited to see that come to fruition as we move forward 🙂
I am so blessed to have each of your friendship. Sending BIG hugs to each of you!!!
Where to start… well my life has changed and with me living in Missouri there are aspects of my relationship with Meghan that have also changed. There are interactions that take place offline. I do feel I am in a season that the Father has me more quiet on the D4y prayer page.
I am still committed to Meghan, Dyed4you, and the rest of the team.
Agreeing with what you wrote Meghan.