Word for 2008

[Jennifer Smith]

With this being the close of 2008, I revisited this word to see if any of it stood out...(the part about economic fear was notable, of course). I offer no comment on authenticity or lack thereof, but I thought some might find this interesting! This is from a church website of a nearby town in Indiana, Restoration Christian in Sellersburg.



In 2008, He won't be late. Delay does not mean 'no.' It's a different time. A change of seasons. Crunch time for some. it's the season the church has been told to be preparing for. We are reaping what we sowed in 2007.

Some world leaders and church leaders will leave the scene in 2008. Some through grace and others through disgrace.

That which you have sown in tears you shall reap in joy. Fear will grip many in the economic world, but those who move in faith and patience will reap the benefit. It's like the time when the lepers were afraid to go into the city for fear of death, but realized if they stayed where they were they would perish anyway. Churches can't stay where they are and survive. The must go forth and go for it. Fear of 'what if' must be overcome. There must be a pushing and pulling together of one another to experience the new birth. All things necessary have been given to the church to bring about success. Who you listen to will play a big part in what you are able to accomplish in 2008.

A greater ability to advance materially and spiritually is coming on the scene. God will put some churches together and rebuild others.

It's time to move up to a higher level of greatness and move out from under the ceiling that has been put on your lives by self and others. Look for new opportunities and success in business and in spiritual areas. Whatever you think in your heart, so are you. Opportunity to deal with unfinished business and projects will arise and some will be resolved.

It's a time to look at what you have and not what you don't have. The church is moving into a different atmosphere. One of excitement, anticipation, and participation. I will stabilize some ministries and organizations in 2008. I want to reorganize to stabilize for future growth. I will pull together ministries to fulfill my plan and purpose. With my plan in motion there will be less commotion.

There is a new stirring of the Spirit within the church. The church will move into the new year with renewed confidence and trust in the Lord to do what He said he would do. Get ready for a positive push in the Spirit.

I will challenge my people to a new level of commitment this year. I will push them beyond their ability into possibilities.

God is calling His people to a new level of blessings in the days to come. Some will miss it because they will not hear the call because of being too busy to stop and listen. Some will miss it because they will be told that it is not for today. Some will miss it because they are caught up in religiosity, and churches that refuse to change. Be willing and ready to move forward into greatness.

[Dr. Ron]

Not to be sarcastic or snide, but this could apply to any year in any church and is very ambiguous.

I don't rely on much of this sweeping generalization. I do know that sometimes a word has been given to us and it has been very specific and was always confirmed with happening.....

No offense intended, but this seemed rather trite to me.

[Mike Vande]

The only word for 2008 now is "over", and I might add, "Thank God!"

In 2008, I managed to plow through some of the worst situations I have had to deal with in the last 20 years, praise God for carrying me. My biggest hope for 2009 is that He doesn't have to bring me through more of the same, or worse.

Oh well, at least I haven't been bored...

[Jennifer Smith]

The only word for 2008 now is "over", and I might add, "Thank God!"

In 2008, I managed to plow through some of the worst situations I have had to deal with in the last 20 years, praise God for carrying me. My biggest hope for 2009 is that He doesn't have to bring me through more of the same, or worse.

Oh well, at least I haven't been bored...

Amen, brother, I think it has been )a year of adversity for many of us! "What does not kill me, only makes me stronger..."

and, "Do not pray for lighter burdens, but for stronger backs..."

I do hope 2009 our burdens will be lighter though!

(Sorry I have a cliche for every occasion! J/K )

[Jennifer Smith]

Not to be sarcastic or snide, but this could apply to any year in any church and is very ambiguous.

I don't rely on much of this sweeping generalization. I do know that sometimes a word has been given to us and it has been very specific and was always confirmed with happening.....

No offense intended, but this seemed rather trite to me.

That's okay.. actually the only parts that stood out to me were the parts about the fear in the economic world, and...

I must admit about church leaders "leaving the scene" since Sam resigned this year. But, I've come to realize we are "on the scene" more now than ever. I look for God to do great things as He always is doing, in 2009. I appreciate your take as always, and I didn't take it as being snide either!
Other parts of the word may have meant more to individuals at the time, but those parts were significant to me, or at least notable. It has been a crazy year!

Have a great year in 2009!

[RamboPreacher]

i like Word 2007, myself. it took me a while to get used to the new menu system, but it is much more convenient now.

[Jennifer Smith]

Rambo you made a funny!

I like Word 2007 too, it is great!

[TW]

A few quick comments on the material Jennifer has presented.

As Dr. Ron pointed out, much is generalizations and could be applied to any church or denomination. The economics shouldn't suprise anybody. Leaders come and leaders go, that holds true in religious communities as well as secular ones.

What bothers me most about this "word" is the "I" factor. "I" am going to do this , and "I" am going to do that. The very arrogant statement:

I will pull together ministries to fulfill my plan and purpose. With my plan in motion there will be less commotion.

Now I must ask, where is God in all of this? Shouldn't he be working on God's plan and purpose? Then he continues with more "I"s.

He finishes with the conclusion that if you don't follow him, you have missed God's calling!

Yeah, right!

I think that I'll let God continue to open doors for me, and follow where He leads.


TW

[RuSKY]

A few quick comments on the material Jennifer has presented.

As Dr. Ron pointed out, much is generalizations and could be applied to any church or denomination. The economics shouldn't suprise anybody. Leaders come and leaders go, that holds true in religious communities as well as secular ones.

What bothers me most about this "word" is the "I" factor. "I" am going to do this , and "I" am going to do that. The very arrogant statement:

I will pull together ministries to fulfill my plan and purpose. With my plan in motion there will be less commotion.

Now I must ask, where is God in all of this? Shouldn't he be working on God's plan and purpose? Then he continues with more "I"s.

He finishes with the conclusion that if you don't follow him, you have missed God's calling!

Yeah, right!

I think that I'll let God continue to open doors for me, and follow where He leads.


TW

Amen TW,

also I noticed

"I" will challenge "my" people to a new level of commitment this year. "I will push them" beyond their ability into possibilities.

Reads like he thinks he is the boss and he owns them, Not God!

It made me think of Nebbuchadneezer (sp?) in the book of Daniel. He went into the palace and boasted of "this great kingdom and things which
I have built by the power of my hands." It wasn't long before he was eating grass with the wild beasts for seven years.

RuSKY

[Mike Vande]

I do hope 2009 our burdens will be lighter though!

(Sorry I have a cliche for every occasion! J/K )

I have a few of my own, J. Well, if they can't be lighter burdens, maybe they can be burdens we don't mind carrying so much. But, stronger backs would be okay too...

[Jennifer Smith]

A few quick comments on the material Jennifer has presented.

As Dr. Ron pointed out, much is generalizations and could be applied to any church or denomination. The economics shouldn't suprise anybody. Leaders come and leaders go, that holds true in religious communities as well as secular ones.

What bothers me most about this "word" is the "I" factor. "I" am going to do this , and "I" am going to do that. The very arrogant statement:

I will pull together ministries to fulfill my plan and purpose. With my plan in motion there will be less commotion.

Now I must ask, where is God in all of this? Shouldn't he be working on God's plan and purpose? Then he continues with more "I"s.

He finishes with the conclusion that if you don't follow him, you have missed God's calling!

Yeah, right!

I think that I'll let God continue to open doors for me, and follow where He leads.


TW

TW, I took that part to mean God was the "I" like a prophetic utterance.. (I know in the previous sentences it was first person narrative. But I think it switched there. I assume this also because the word was supposed to be given for not just a local group but for "the church" at large, and also I believe it wasn't the pastor who gave the utterance, so it wasn't the speaker's church.) But I could see how it could be perceived that way from just reading it. It's perfectly right and good to scrutinize and test every word to see if it is from God, according to the scriptures and using discernment.

I am interested to see if the church will add a word for 2009, they have a prophetic ministry and prophetic training classes there, I have never been but they seem to be well regarded by other churches in the area.

[one love]

The whole "I" thing caught me by surprise but I quickly realized they were looking at it as a prophetic word and the "I" was as If it was God speaking.


I will tell you 2008 has been probably the hardest year of my life with out a doubt. It has had more changes and battles that I never thought I would face, But the Lord has brought me through as always and I am glad 2008 is OVER!

Looking forward to see what the Lord has for 2009

[TW]

I'm sorry but the author of this writes in the first person, and never gives any indication of switching to the second person, so one who reads it would naturally assume that the entire piece is in the first person. I went to this Church's website and read another piece by this same author, a piece in which they clearly indicate when they are switching persons in their narrative.

Jennifer, as far as this church having "prophetic training classes," allow me to relate my personal experience with this type of class. The church in which I was saved, had for a while a "School of Prophets." I took these classes, and I can tell you they are bunk! How do you train someone to be a Prophet? To my knowledge God is the one who determines to whom He will give prophetic visions. God is the one who give another the ability to interpret the vision. Not some preacher, but God. I don't believe that God looks at your resume to see if you attended a School of Prophets. If that were the case, then the student with the straight A average would get all the best prophecies. The one thing that I do know, and I didn't need to attend a special school to learn this is, "If you say that God said something, and He didn't say it, your in real deep trouble!!!"


TW

[EagerBeaver]

TW, the reasons you stated are the exact root of my beef with messages and interpretations. Too ambiguous and some words that are given just sound arrogant.

[Jennifer Smith]

I'm sorry but the author of this writes in the first person, and never gives any indication of switching to the second person, so one who reads it would naturally assume that the entire piece is in the first person. I went to this Church's website and read another piece by this same author, a piece in which they clearly indicate when they are switching persons in their narrative.

Jennifer, as far as this church having "prophetic training classes," allow me to relate my personal experience with this type of class. The church in which I was saved, had for a while a "School of Prophets." I took these classes, and I can tell you they are bunk! How do you train someone to be a Prophet? To my knowledge God is the one who determines to whom He will give prophetic visions. God is the one who give another the ability to interpret the vision. Not some preacher, but God. I don't believe that God looks at your resume to see if you attended a School of Prophets. If that were the case, then the student with the straight A average would get all the best prophecies. The one thing that I do know, and I didn't need to attend a special school to learn this is, "If you say that God said something, and He didn't say it, your in real deep trouble!!!"


TW

I can see what you are saying, but I think there could be something to the idea of having teaching from the Bible and giving opportunity for practice of spiritual gifts. Not many people have the office of "prophet" but a person could be used to give an encouraging prophetic word or a message and interpretation in tongues, and often we are afraid to take the opportunity to step out and be used of God in this capacity.. but in a small group setting and with teaching and instruction... do you see what I'm saying? But I'm sure there are ways this type of class or group meeting could be done well or poorly.
We are actually in a class about the gifts of the Spirit at our church right now and we have just been reading and studying so far. As the class goes on the teacher has said there will be opportunities to join together in prayer as the Lord leads and allows.