Praying for specific things. Seeing what GOD does.

Gathering online is more of a challenge now.  It was my plan in the beginning to start there and organize each country's resources.  Now, I am not sure.  The internet has become the battleground for everything.  It is not a safe place.

I have thought it might be better to be our own host, not part of Yahoo or Google or any other major hosting platform.  I thought we might be able to protect ourselves better.  I'm not sure that is true.  I would need to find out.

These are things I still think about, in case GOD provides the funding for Working Together (WT) while I am still alive.

And I pray about my replacement -- someone who will protect the people of GOD through Working Together.

It seems like my life has been wasted because I haven't been able to build anything.  Then my Faith kicks in because I know GOD can do anything that He needs done, and I don't know what His Plan is.  I KNOW He wouldn't have started Working Together unless it was part of His Plan for our time.

Recently, I have been listening to a lot of Joel Osteen YouTube videos (sermons).  I think he reminds us that GOD is the One in charge.  He helps us remember GOD works in very mysterious ways to accomplish His Will in our lives and in the world.

When I started trying to build something to help Christians, we didn't face the technology we face now.  The microchip wasn't in anyone's body.  We didn't know about digital currency.  The problems we faced were not so global and frightening.  Spiritual warfare was not something I thought about.

It's hard to think about all the things that have happened in my life.  I guess I expected GOD to just provide what was needed to slowly build the places of refuge I envisioned... and felt were His leading.  It didn't work out that way.

I am now trying to make a new set of notes about all the things involved in building Working Together.  I am calling it my Prayer List.  I hope to check things off as GOD provides for them.

I have heard of others doing this.  I have attempted to start lists before.  This time is more important.  I am at the natural age for death and I am seeking GOD for what to do with Working Together.

I watched an animated story about George Muller by Torchlighters at the Vision Video channel ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7jUlzZtyEQ  ).  Muller is the man who trusted GOD for every detail of saving the orphans forced to live on the streets of his city.  

He made lists.  He recorded the dates when GOD answered prayers.  I think he also recorded what they prayed for but, right now, I don't recall all those details.  What I have always remembered about George Muller was his faith.  I don't know that my faith is that strong.

My plans for Working Together were different.  My faith was that GOD would provide the funds and I would use those to build what we would need to survive without money.  I expected to build everything using Membership funds and then other products and income sources.

Membership funds created the Tithe (10%) as a Benevolence Fund, a Reserve Fund (10%) as savings for emergencies and costs in the future year, WT financial needs (about 20%) , and various Program Funds (about 40%) for their operating expenses, and the last 20% for taxes and unexpected needs.  I have it all in my notes.  This may not be the exact percentages, but it is the general framework.  

Each program has its own breakdown.  Every part of Working Together was planned to create its own products and services to create more income to build itself.

All Working Together wages would be equal, paid by the hour.  In other countries, wages would be figured on the area housing and food costs.  Either 30% housing or 20%food using full-time wages as the base.  

People would keep their own incomes outside of Working Together.  WT wages are meant to support the individuals and families that are part of its workforce, members and non-members, equally.

We would build the houses and other spaces for each community, we would grow our food, and these would be part of the wages we paid. 

An example: the charge for housing and utilities would be 30% of full-time wages, food is figured at 20% of full-time wages.  This is as far as I could plan.  The work would be all the tasks we need to survive as a community.

There are a lot more details in my planning notes.  It wasn't meant to be a commune, more like a regular community.  People keep their own incomes, if they have any, and WT wages are equal because we are One Body but have different tasks within the Body of Christ.

Someone in Washington state set the equal wages by a yearly amount.  I felt it was important to set it at an hourly amount. 

Everything would not belong to everyone, but everything would be used to help as many as GOD allowed.

I wonder if we have time to build anything.

FAITH FRIDAY for 4MAR2022 - My Update Post

 Some days are just more difficult than others.  Sorry about that.  This is my "official" post for this week.

I don't think I have done very good with my Sabbath rest today.  Been catching up with all the undone things for yesterday.  I have such a hard time resting when I want to.  I really wonder what it was like for the Jews in the Bible times.

I'm trying to move into a larger text size because it is easier to read.  I have also discovered that when I increase the percentage of my web pages, I can't get them to work right.  It's a problem.  So now I am going to try to use larger fonts.  Next :: a template!!  Then I can have it the same formats every time!

I have been thinking about some faith issues over the days and months.  I don't write about them, but I am in the process of trying to figure out GOD's perspectives.

I will let you know I shred at least four bags of papers so far, with more to come.  I have been reorganizing my files and it might actually be a really great thing. It's a long project that I have been trying to get done, but is taking forever.  I need more crafting spaces in my room  This is helping to do that.

My prayers are always for increased income so I can accomplish the ZILLIONS of things I have always wanted to do.  All of my projects are toward that end.

This year might be a good year for GOD's blessings.

I hope so.

FAITH :: Still thinking about things...

 It is now MARCH !!! 

I didn't post much last month.  I was thinking about GOD and all the things attached to a life where He is the one we follow.  I was praying to Him for help, for guidance, for some kind of provisions for the work He has put in my heart and life to do, and trying to find the way through all these questions.  I am still praying and looking for His directions.

Today was a busy day going through my things because I bought ten more storage containers, small gasket boxes I like am slowly collecting.  Right now they are packing my books and my crafting supplies.  When I get to a permanent place, they will become my selling boxes and inventory storage.  That's part of the plan.  I want to do TWO crafting fairs at Christmas when I can reach that level of commitment... time, health, money, and local options.  Today, though, I am trying to make more easy-access options for my supplies.

Motivation seems to be a mountain to climb.

I am working on it.

Space to work is still a problem, and shipping... and photos.  I am beginning to find answers, so things will get better I hope.  My goal for this year is to increase my income... I would like to reach $5K a month and see what that is like.  :-)

I could get the equipment I want with that much.  I think it's the same old chicken and egg situation... what comes first, the chicken or the egg?  

I'm working on my technology options... for photos and uploading to listings. 

I have a small amount of money to invest in some equipment, or whatever.  I am trying to decide what the most important thing to get first is.  :-)  You know I am pretty slow about those kind of things... trying to spend wisely.  That's why I decided to buy the gasket boxes finally.

Faith is hard when the resources are low.

I guess that is why wealthy people forget about GOD, they think they don't need Him.

I have started my Prayer Journal again... and will try to catch up on the days I missed.  Prayers are good any time.  I'm sure it is good to keep praying even if I am late with my planned schedule.  :-)

I'm back to praying for my sons daily... it just seemed like they need prayer and I want to seek GOD for their souls.  The other five spots are a mix of National and Family and Friends and Public People.

I don't know what will happpen to my writing commitments yet.  I am still trying to figure out how to make PATREON the main effort.

I guess that will be it for tonight.

Pray for me, too -- if you can.

Thanks.  Deborah Martin

http://work2gather.us

STILL my favorite !!

#My2020PatreonChalleng update for 23 JAN 2020

It has been a long day.  I have been thinking about what to blog today.  Making a planned schedule changes a lot of things.  I want to decide on topics that relate to #My2020PatreonChallenge.   I haven't decided what those topics would be... yet.

I have tentatively made Tuesday and Wednesday sales related... things like making listings, creating products to sell, etc.

This week I spent hours at PRINTFUL making new designs for my ETSY integration with them. I had lots of problems with my computer later in the evening and couldn't get several efforts done.

I may have lost one design/listing and have to do it all over again.  It's a hard learning curve to work so long on a design and have it get messed up on upload.  The design was fine on my computer, but not OK when it went to Etsy.

Today I went back to ETSY for hours and checked my listings, revised and updated almost all of them, and made posts to PATREON and Facebook (the only site available at the time).  I am getting an idea of a workable schedule.

Sunday - planning
Monday - Patreon updates
Tuesday - sales activities
Wednesday - sales activities
Thursday - blog updates
Friday - Sabbath prep and whatever I can fit in
Saturday - Sabbath rest and whatever I can do in the evening

This is just the beginning effort to get everything checked and done.  As I actually face the needs of my days, the "schedule" has to change to deal with them.  :-)

What did I list?

A new mug design.
A new long-sleeve t-shirt design.
A new sweatshirt design.

I ordered my logo cup as a sample from PRINTFUL and it is on its way - according to my email notification.  :-)   I tried out the process already with a mug.  This time I ordered the 15oz mug instead of the 11oz .  I haven't decided on which shirt design to order yet.  I can't afford to buy all my designs, but that is a goal for the future.

I had a great design on a black large eco tote, but it got lost in the computer issues.  I also tried to transfer my t-shirt design to a different style t-shirt and couldn't get that to work.  I tried making a design on the blanket they have.  I just wanted to see what it looked like with words.  Interesting, but not a job for their software.  I have to wait until I get a better computer and the ADOBE software to really explore my design options.  I am praying for a quick and positive answer from GOD!  :-)

One of my pages at Facebook is called Prayers.  I originally set it up to go with ACTION PRAYER at Working Together  (work2gather.us) but have passed through a valley on how to get it going.  A recent experience has focused me on public prayer for people who would never know someone is praying for them and others.  Today I entered another post about my process and thoughts.  It shared something (in bold below) that has had me thinking since I wrote it.

23 January 2020
about noon my time

I am almost ready to start posting... I just need to decide my format - a pattern to keep up, if there can be one. I know there are millions of news stories I could pray about, tons of post topics to pray about, and my own goals and experiences to pray for... but this new direction I am going in needs to be focused on sharing my prayers for people GOD has placed on my heart. That is very different. I have been praying for some of these people for many, many years but they don't know that. Public prayer is hard. Public prayer for people who may hate, oppose, dislike, disagree with, and become angry about is much harder. I think prayer is the first step in reaching people, it is like bringing them into GOD's attention. I hope everyone finds heaven, but I know so many will not... and that means their eternity will be in hell and in the Lake of Fire. It's hard to know that.

In Christ, Deborah Martin

The world believes that GOD is a myth, that faith has no meaning.  I have always wondered how GOD reaches people when their lives are so "successful" in their eyes.  The Bible talks about the "rich man" and what happens.  As I have noted their lives, prayed for them, and wished I could do more, the words of the Bible always become attached to our world's existence.  It leads me to keep wondering what "success" really looks like.

It's a difficult issue to even think about.  Each one is a living person just like me and you... but their reality is so different.  Some have been trying to find their place in our world their whole life.  We can't change the place where we come from, the lives we had no control over... we can only make a decision to be saved today, and go on from there.

These "rich" people fight the same battles we do, but at a different level.  Being homeless showed me the same battles exist at every financial level, and in every kind of people - including Christians we think are so much higher on the spiritual ladder than we could ever be.

With my focus on the End Times and how we will survive, the things of the world are going to be hard to leave... and may cause that Great Falling Away we read about in the Bible.  I had hoped to be so much further along with Working Together than I am, but this is the reality, today.  I wanted to create a place to go to when Christians had to make that big decision, when life became something they never expected it to be.

We, in America, like to think we can pray and GOD will always provide what we want.

The fulfillment of prophecy and our idea of GOD's provisions are not quite the same.

Being poor and homeless taught me many things I never would have considered before.

Whatever happens with my PRAYERS page, I hope GOD is able to reach some of the souls I say are looking for love in "all the wrong places."

Pray with me when I begin posting there.
Maybe GOD will hear and help them to find Him.

In Christ,
Deborah Martin



NOTE ::  I am looking into Affiliate Marketing as an income option, but I currently DO NOT post any kind of affiliate links.  When I decide on this, I will be sure to let you know.  Deb

Thursday, 24 May 2018 - republished

Thursday is my "Friday" so I love it more and more as I want to rest!  :-)

I tackled most of my ivy-removal activities this morning and went back again to do some weeding in the afternoon.  It is beginning to look better... by the end of June it should look a lot better.  I will try to take a photo, though I realized I should already have been posting them... to share the agony of the project!  haha

Been trying brewer's yeast on other foods today... it does have its own taste when you use enough of it.  This is an interesting food I have been trying to figure out for some time.  I am also working on using other seeds and flakes I am learning about... chia, flax, sesame, wheat germ, and whatever else I have.

Sent off five letters today, and a birthday postcard.  Need to finish my monthly list in a week's time, with no mail on Memorial Day.

My weekend will be again devoted to making some space for my art and crafting projects, and getting some done... plus the Sabbath rest goal... so hard to do still.  I may watch some YouTube videos, or listen to podcasts, or watch a movie to force myself to do as little as possible.  Still, not sure that is resting.  Every single thing I do can somehow be attributed to work of some kind in my life.  That is the problem.  :-(

I guess writing letters will have to do.

I am getting better at checking my new Facebook organization... and I am beginning to like it a lot.  I still have to figure out some of the connecting issues, but that will eventually get done.  It is beginning to be a good social media space for me... finally.  I hope I get it to be just what I need it to be.

I heard that Donald Trump and the leader of North Korea are waging word wars... hope that gets figured out.

I didn't see any TV today... just the news page that you have to see when you open the internet access page... I may look at it more, again... but maybe not.  Just reading the headlines is a challenge to my mind and morals.

Well, I am off to figure out what to do about my food supplies for the weekend.

Until next time,
In Christ,

Deborah Martin
work2gather.us

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May the Lord of our existence find a way to touch our lives and hearts and minds and goals so that we will find the happiness and joy He promises.
May GOD watch over our country, and our earth... and help us to make good choices.
May we see the blessings that are ours because of GOD's provisions.
May our eyes be kind to others, our wallets generous, our hearts merciful.
Amen.

NOTE... This blog was RE-published, with this note, because it didn't send a copy to my files.  I hope this won't be a problem.

Tuesday, 23

Here we are again...

I have been viewing a LOT of documentaries and other programs like them... I did watch a YOUNG Denzel Washington movie about ghetto schools and changing them from gang-infested to learning centers.  Disasters seemed to be a big theme.  I watched a documentary on Tornadoes over the weekend, and then tried a series (season) on natural disasters.  I let the season go after the first few because so many of the scenes were repeats... I liked the ones I saw with fresh information in them.  Made me really think about how to prepare better for things you never expect.  I did watch an entire season on my first try at the process :: Reno My Reno.  Netflix and PBS are my only documentary sources so far.  I was on Netflix most of the time.

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I don't really have much to say right now.  I have been praying for a lot of things, trying to figure out the future.  It takes a lot of time and energy to be looking that way.  :-) 

I will continue this tomorrow, I think...
GOD willing.

The days are precious.  I wish I could do more.  I keep wondering how many I have left.

In Christ,
Deborah Martin

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May GOD comfort us all in our needs, our prayers, our dreams.  Amen.

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Today was a short walk to the past... I was sorting through lots of old articles saved for their topic and information... lots of recycling today!!!!  :-)  It was hard to remember some of the details of what I discovered.  The Haiti quake, elections, homelessness, and lots of other things... too many to go through.  I am passing on as much as I can, for the generic inspiration they have in them.  I hope they bring someone a little more thought before they go to the waste pile.

I will be continuing this long process tomorrow, the next day, and for as long as I can stand to do it.  There are still boxes to go through.  It is a great feeling to finally get to it.  It's been on my "list" since moving.  It will help to clear out more space in my room.

*
I am finding the supplies for projects I have planned, too.  That is all getting sorted and put where I can find it easier, get it started or finished, and ready for whatever its life will become.  I may take some breaks to finally create some art or jewelry or ???  It is really a matter of getting the space cleared and organized to do the things I have been gathering supplies for.  Things that are easy to ship are the top priority.  Keep watching my Etsy shop, possibly my eBay store, and maybe my Fiverr site.

Finding one project to do with Fiverr has been a long goal.  I joined Fiverr with the hope of just selling something at $5... they turned into a creative site where that doesn't seem to fit anymore, so my thrill about them is gone, but I am still working on my goal to find the BEST thing I can do with their format... ONE thing to sell.  If my efforts get better, maybe I will go to two.  It takes a lot of time to create new things... I am looking for good things that duplicate easily.  Maybe even wholesaling some of my creations (like supplies, if I create something that will fit that requirement) at Etsy.

These are long goals right now, but in time they will be ongoing.

By the end of the month I should know where I am with all this.  Most of my sorting will be done and I will have the space, my supplies, and time to get something done.  God willing!

*
No TV today, mostly... I did go up to rest and eat popcorn for the News... then back to my room activities.
I didn't really turn the radio on, much, if I did.  I don't even remember it!
I get really involved in reading when I need to concentrate.

*
I do hope to start posting more photos... soon.
Not sure how much I want to share anymore...
I need to decide what is personal, what is business, what is worthy of sharing...
It is all a learning process.

This seems like the best of my blogs to keep going at a personal level, for the long-term.
I keep thinking about what I want it to become... and whether it will develop on its own as I age and keep "journaling."  I suppose it is like a journal, and I have been thinking about starting a yearly book (journal) of my day-to-day activities and thoughts.  It may cause me to change the direction of my public writing.  I don't really know.   Videos are on my mind, too.  If I get skinny again... that may just become the online choice for me.   :-)   We'll have to wait and get that figured out.

Time to go.
Keep checking back.
In Christ,
Deborah Martin

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May GOD watch over us as we seek His Will for our lives and His guidance for our decisions.
May life be better for those who are suffering.
May the world find a way to be kind to one another.
May our problems get solved, and the answers be really what we need them to be.

May the GOD I have prayed to for so long about WT and all the things that have been needed, finally have mercy on me and provide the finances and provisions to prepare good things for His People... and others. 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Wednesday, 8 November 2017

Such a day...  I was able to bake my salt dough creations, in a couple forms (cut-outs and silicone molds), to see how they would turn out... developing my products... and will try some more, maybe tomorrow.

Also baked another batch of FIMO shapes... still developing these product options.

Got out my supplies and tools to see if I can make something all done and ready to sell... will also have to dig for more supplies tomorrow to get those done!

Worked on some new food ideas, for more soups and salads to eat.  I guess we get into food rutts, and have to work to try new ways of eating the same basic foods.  Getting better on my calorie options... one bread instead of two, no bread instead of one... and hitting all my basic food groups.  Still trying to decide on how many of each is OK for me... based on a few different eating plans.

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Love my later eating plan (to 7pm), but have been eating too much in the wee hours, and after my deadline and before my starting time of 4pm (right now).  Trying to get back to the beginning plan... not sure Christmas is helping me.  With my food group plan it doesn't seem to matter, but I still think it is better to have that no eating period for my poor body to regroup.

*
I must be trying to feel productive today... all these accomplishment details.  :-)

I'm having problems with my technology options, so that is a killer for me... always causes problems.  I'm praying about the most important thing to try to buy this Black Friday.

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Still crying over the church shooting every time I see something about it.

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I have entered the final section of Joyce Meyer's Battlefield of the Mind book... Lots of great sections to think about, would like to quote them more, but I have to get better at taking notes while I'm reading.  It seems to be hard to do.

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My prayers are continual... for the same things... and I am still wondering how GOD will make Himself known in the answers.  Evil people don't seem to fear GOD, and they should.  I guess the worst consequence is eternity in hell AND the Lake of Fire, but it is hard to fear that reality when you don't acknowledge that GOD even exists, or think you will somehow escape it.  I am believing GOD for the souls of my sons, and others I know.  I am counting on His Power to intervene in their lives before it is too late.  I am hoping to find my own way through all the increasing sins that attack our lives... how to do it? I don't know.  I keep looking for answers as I wait for GOD to provide the enormous sums of money needed to create a place for Christians.

*
Well, we may be like the children of God who were forced into the fiery furnace, willing to die but knowing GOD has the power to save.

In Christ,
Deborah Martin

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May the GOD of heaven, and all of the universe, be kind to us today.
May He save the ones we love.
May our lives become forever changed by the salvation of our souls.
May the lost become interested in finding out the real truth for themselves.
May we become a better nation, a Christian nation, a nation that doesn't live on fear and acts with wisdom and mercy and faith.
Amen.

Spiritual Battles and Daily Life

My internet disappeared as I tried to write this,
so I finished it on my computer and then transferred it to my blog later,
when the internet was working again.... such a pain !!
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Monday, 20 June 2016 - about 6pm my time


The days of our spiritual battles are long and busy.  I wonder how difficult these battles would be if I was able to do what I really want to do.  When I think about how my own spiritual battles increased as I tried to do things in Christian realms, I begin to look at my favorite preachers and others in ministries differently.  Now I wonder what battles they face, how they deal with them, how GOD helps them, what I need to know, how I can fight better, what it looks like when GOD helps them, and more. 

Christians, ordinary people who are Christians, like me, are not prepared for these kinds of spiritual battles.  When they happen, we just think life is really bad and don't understand why.  I know that is what happened to me in the beginning of my efforts to create some kind of ministry.  It was a long time before I realized that something was going on and all these problems weren't happening by "accident" or without purpose. 

The spiritual realms are an unknown field to me.  I understand the possibilities that the Bible teaches us, but the real life details are beyond my ability to figure out.  I wish I was one of those mighty warriors of the faith, but I am not.  I just keep doing my best and plead with GOD to protect us.

When I was searching for answers about Christianity and salvation and what the Bible teaches, I went to a lot of different churches... across the long spectrum of Charismatic and tongues-speakers to Conservative Southern Baptists.  I tried to understand cults and how to know if a particular church actually is one.  I explored groups that said they were helping the homeless and poor... and found some of them to be predators of those desperate and trusting people who are searching for GOD and heaven.  I eventually decided that genuine believers are everywhere, even in the cults as individuals grow into future evangelistic believers.

"There are Christians in every denomination,

but every denomination isn't Christian." 

The Body of Christ became more real to me as all of this was being discovered and reflected on.  I wondered if we are weak because of our separations... if those differences that divide us are meant to be our place in the ONE Body of Christ... some for power in prayer, some for mercy, some for teaching, some for evangelism, some for helps, some for each of the gifts and ministries we know about.  Big churches may be a reflection of personality... little churches may be critical to the neighborhoods they serve... but all of us suffer because we are not "working together" as a single Body of Christ.  This is a spiritual battle that has existed long before me.  I still hope that GOD will provide a way to bring us together, especially for the hardships ahead.

Knowing about spiritual battles doesn't help me fight mine.  I think this may be because my personality is part of my army.  I count on the power of GOD and His promises to help me, and the angels that do His work, and the plans GOD has for my existence.  I am just one cell in the huge Body of souls that are saved by Christ.  I don't have to become like everyone else, and they don't have to be like me.  Knowing all this helps me to focus on what matters as I search for answers to my problems... and the problems of the world.



The future of America is being fought for this year.  We have a serious election ahead of us, and four years of whoever wins.  The battles for America's soul are growing.  Franklin Graham's Decision America 2016 Tour is part of my hopes for America and my prayers for Christians who live here.  I receive their updates through the mail, I joined the Oregon group on Facebook, I have the dates marked on my desk calendar, and I ordered one of the Prayer Journals they created for the event (with a page for all 50 states)... and I try to find a way to share my concerns for America whenever I can. 

We are at a difficult time in prophecy... what we pray for may be impossible for GOD to honor because some things have been destined for centuries.  I think prayer helps us, though... and helps us to look for GOD's solutions to our problems.  If you have read any of my blogs, comments on Facebook, or other writings, you will know that Working Together's mission is to prepare for the End Time struggles we know are coming.  Someone will face them, and there may not be a refuge for them if we don't make one.  Our wayward children, grandchildren, and loved ones, might one day decide that GOD is the right path.  Will there be a place of refuge for them... I don't know.  I just think it would be good to build them.

I hope you will join me in this effort.



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Finished about 7:30pm
Posted about 8pm