January 2013 Update

January 2013 Update

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to send a note out to all of you to check in… Hope you are all well, and doing well in these first days and weeks of 2013. Sickness has been making the rounds in a powerful way; hopefully you have endured through it. The sun is moving back to its bright place – we have gained almost an hour of sunlight since the solstice in December, and that is always a wonderful sign that God is still in control, and that he is still committed to the earth and its seasons!

As promised, I have been sending out some selected news articles from trusted sources to those of you who have signed up for the “Rest & Be Thankful News Group”. If you are NOT on that email list, and would like to be, just send me a note and I will include you. As I said, these news items are just a few that come across my desk and seem to me to be significant enough for you to have them. The news group is just a way to get God’s perspective on news and events. I hope it is a help.

It does seem to me that the word I have been hearing in the past few months and that together we heard as we prayed on that Sunday afternoon with Glennis is happening: ACCELERATION. The world and the events around the globe seem to be on a crazy warp speed path…

What I also am hearing - and I truly believe this – is that God is graciously putting his people on an accelerated path of growth and Holy Spirit anointing as well. We are shifting into high gear at amazing speed – those who want to be part of this wonderful Kingdom life, harvest crews sent out into God’s harvest, those hungry for MORE OF GOD and his SPIRIT, those willing to spend it all on HIM…

I feel more sure all the time that the decisions we make in this season will be crucial for our lives, our families and futures… our involvement in Kingdom work as our choices and decisions now will have us strategically placed for God to use to the best advantage for the Kingdom.

YOU MATTER. Your lives matter, friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord.

One of the sources for news and teaching and worship for many of right now is Kim Clement, a gifted prophet that God is using in a great way. Kim Clement has said that the first 80-100 days in 2013 are really keys for the whole year and coming season. Because of that God is calling him to a fast for 100 days.  (He often does partial extended fasts and while he is in those seasons he spends extra time in prayer.) He is inviting his “church” (a cyberspace church from around the world) to join him.

God had asked me to do a regular (partial) fast anyway, so I am joining Kim and company with this fast. I encourage you to consider it as well. 80 days takes us to March 21, 2013. 100 days takes us to April 10, 2013, just about a week before our spring NRSD retreat on April 19-21, 2013. 

Steve and I skyped with Zack and Chana on Sunday. It was so good to touch base with them. They are hoping to attend the Spring Retreat, April 19-21! NRSD UR 2-3 will be here before we know it. Marilyn and Jenny and Steve and I are already talking about it, planning and praying about it. I hope you have gotten the books and are starting to read the material we will be focusing on. It will be challenging again – as usual I guess!

We are also asking God about a new cohort to start after you dear people are through with your NRSD training. We need to start seeing that take shape in the next 6 months or so, so if you know anyone who might be interested, please let us know.

It seems that we will have another cohort – I don’t have a reason to NOT go ahead with a new group. I do believe God is going to be doing a lot more training here on Norwegian Ridge. Seer school, school for prophets, healing school… one day seminars, one weekend training schools… Prayer School is in its second semester, and these are 6 week sessions, every other week, week nights for 2 hours… these are just a few of things he has already birthed or will birth in this new year. Pray with us, will you?

I hope you are thinking about what you still want to learn and study before you graduate from NRSD. To get the MOST out of this school, what do you still have to do? Have you been working on your student portfolio? How is your senior project going? Remember, these things are not for me, they are for YOU.

They are intended to help you make the most of your time with NRSD. Let us know how we can help.

The next question: What do I want to do after graduation from NRSD? July will be here before we know it!

Some of you have been throwing out the idea to continue a connection to NRSD somehow after graduation… to keep meeting, studying, and praying with the body God has gathered here on Norwegian Ridge. That might also be something to consider and pray about in the next months. What plan does God have for you and Rest & Be Thankful for the future?

So, God is certainly at work here. It is breathtaking to see how he is moving and shifting things around us. This is a good time to be alive!

Please stay in touch with Steve-O and I. We love to hear from you and to have you come and visit. You are prayed for!

Hope to hear from you soon,
Joan & Steve Tyvoll