EFC FAITH DISCIPLESHIP CENTER

Mountains and Valleys (Part 2)

Shawn Bram

FDC Committee member

Christianity is not a bull to ride, it is an Ark to get into. Does that make sense? If we never fall off, we start thinking that we can ride that bull, and we can't. This life, this journey with the Father, is an Ark to get in and rest.

An often repeated lesson is this: it's not about doing, it's about being.

It is an honor to enter into the Refiner’s fire. Are you struggling? Are you in trials? Are you discouraged and thinking you should be further along in the journey of faith than you are?

"It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22 HCSB

I don't much like that, in and of myself I don't like it, yet I know that God's ways are not mine. His ways are far above mine. God has the ability to change us and this is often done in the valley, in the struggle, in the low points.

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit". John 15:2 NASB

Pruning: not a pleasant picture. Then God prunes you. If you are His, He will prune you so that you will bear more fruit. Consider a huge, beautiful rose bush. Pruning that bush is painful and maybe even quite ugly, even if that rose bush has lots of roses and huge growth, roses all over. "Every branch that BEARS fruit, HE prunes it"... why?? "so that it may bear more fruit". He prunes the branches that are bearing fruit, so they bear even more fruit...

Do I believe that? Oh God, the fruit, the roses in my life are and have been so sweet. Why would you prune that Father? Why? "So that you may bear more fruit, son". Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it.

It might look ugly. Certainly feels like it at times to me. Just wait. When it bears fruit, He prunes it. Just wait. Just wait and see what the Master Gardener does. Oh, just wait until the fruit season comes back around.

Where did the beautiful roses go? He prunes us. He cuts off the roses, to produce a peculiar glory, so that we might bear even more fruit. And so often we can't see what He is doing, we can't look at what He sees. We need to look at the Word and trust the truth of God's Word.

When the pruning happens, one result is the plant gets stronger and the roots go deeper. "Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness" Col. 2:7 NLT. The more pruning, the healthier, stronger the bush; the deeper the roots, the more fruit it can produce; the more roses that bud and bloom in the spring.

When God is pruning you, the rose may represent a number of things. Maybe He, in His grace, poured out an abundance of mercy on you in different areas of your life. Maybe it was an emotional ride, a tangible presence of God, unlike anything you experienced before. The roses of God may look different for each of us, but the pruning,.. I think that consistently looks painful across the board.

It seems to me that few Christians willingly enter into the Refiner’s fire, few allow the Lord to prune them. I know it is not something I have "wanted". The pruning of the Lord is not a sought after, prayed for experience. Who has ever prayed "Lord, please bring your pruning shears and prune the roses in my life.” Nope, not too common.

Father, open our eyes to see things more as you do.

So what do we do? My job, your job, is to walk by faith. Trust the Lord. He is good. His grace is sufficient.

Don't base your spiritual progress on outward fruit. The most valuable growth is unseen. The most valuable growth of a strong tree is the underground root system. The trees that topple over have more above-ground growth than below-ground growth. True roots produce true growth. God doesn't look at man the way man looks at man. Profound. So easily do I forget that. God's Word will not return to Him void.

Understand that if you find yourself in the pruning process, God is saying you are strong enough now to walk without the ecstasy of the roses.

[To be continued next newsletter]

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From the Director

Dennis Backes

FDC Director

Spring again and as we all know it brings along a lot of work with it! But I have to admit, I certainly missed the garden and outside work after a long winter! Seeing the farmers in the fields planting and people mowing gives me an extra boost of energy to get out there and get at it, though not as quickly as 10 years ago but still at it, PTL! God provides in so many different ways. He knows our needs before we need them. Zechariah 10:1 says:

"Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone".

Changes of season in the men's lives are happening also with Casey and Gavin as they rely on God. In their second phase of the FDC program, they are out working and that fills their schedule and makes for busy days. Local employers are providing work for them and that is a great blessing of how God provides. We know God has a plan for each of them and continue to ask for your prayers for all of us at FDC to persevere through each day and to rely on God! I know we miss some of you when we send out thank you cards, so I want to say “Thank you” for all your prayers, donations and support for Faith Discipleship Center. Without you, FDC would not be possible. Also, so many of you have helped to support me in many different ways over the years and I am so grateful for that. We continue on in God's work here at FDC and look forward to what God is doing through His Spirit in our lives and in yours! God has given us the gift of time, I pray we use it to glorify Him. Thank you to our teachers, Board members and leadership team who give selflessly for many years. God bless you all.

Dennis

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Committee Corner

Gavin and Casey (Hi Guys!) are well into Phase 2 and are seeking more employment, as well as working on regaining the discipline in their lives that is so desperately needed in men. Please keep them on your prayer list as this is always a trying time for men when they finally give up what Satan has always wanted them to do, and he does not give up. Continue to Pray for Nate as he is now out on his own and working hard. Once men graduate and get back into a world that is seeking to destroy them at every turn, they need continued prayer now more than ever. We are also expecting a couple new residents soon and others continue to be interviewed. Please keep the whole ministry in prayer that we exercise God’s wisdom to do as He tasks us all to do. We will also be receiving two new fellas soon: Sean and Scott. Lift them up in prayer as they start a new walk regaining the discipline in their lives that has been thrown away. God is gracious and merciful and He absolutely loves to restore people to obedience and a new life. Pray that these fellas know that in truth, not just merely in words.

One other big item of news is the addition of a new member to the FDC Committee: Dave Wisecup. The FDC Committee is made up of men from a number of churches that have come alongside the Evangelical Free Church of Oelwein to help operate the minstry and oversee its day-to-day operations. He has actually been involved with the ministry for some time, but this is the first time it has taken on a bit more of a "formal" direction, so to speak. If you see Dave, say Hi and say a prayer for him. 

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IMPORTANT NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

Postage costs have risen dramatically, & it has become increasingly more difficult to send out the FDC Newsletter via regular mail without significant recurring cost. We are asking that if you are able to take the FDC Newsletter electronically instead of in the regular mail, we would like you to send an email to news@efcfaithdiscipleshipcenter.com and request the change, giving FDC your email address as well as your name and regular address so the change can be made. Typically, the hard copy newsletter is sent electronically as a printable document format (PDF) file, so it can be quickly printed off and distributed within your church or group, as you desire. We are asking that you consider changing to the electronic format and help us reign in some of the costs that Satan loves to throw at us to make things tough. One of the benefits of being on the electronic mailing list is that when immediate prayer needs come up, you will be notified and can respond immediately to it if you wish, plus any new events that are coming you will know about right away. Thanks and please earnestly consider moving to the electronic format.