Fruitful Living Monthly Review and Updates (August)

 (August Postings)

The saying goes: “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

Many believers only have this one tool in their toolkit so they really don't know how to engage delicate and sensitive repairs in any other way than to hammer away.

Fruitful Life has been presenting Believers the opportunity to build up a much-needed multifaceted spiritual toolkit  with screwdrivers, scissors, pliers, wrenches, flashlights, measuring tape, and many other assorted instruments so that they can properly engage the challenging issues of hearts and homes: spiritual, mental, emotional, financial plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or structural problems, and even know when or how to make repairs or adjustments that are according to code (proper interpretation of the Bible).

........Continue this word at More Than a Hammer

Prayer Watch-

"You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

 

Fight for Your Family

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/family-prayer-campaign

 

Prayer Agenda/ Daily Prayer and Devotionals

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/prayer

 

 

Spiritual Wellness Support Group

Feel free to join our weekly Midweek Prayer Connection as we unite from coast to coast in the United States.

 

-         Wednesdays at 7:00PM EST, USA

-         The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/972473313

 

 

News and Announcements

 

Chris and Carol Green Earn Board-Certified Mental Health Coaching Credentials

https://chrisandcarolgreen.blogspot.com/2023/08/chris-and-carol-green-earn-board.html

 

Summer discounts and scholarships now available for most of our courses and programs.

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/scholarships-discounts

 

Life Coach Certification Course Now Available 24/7

https://fruitfullifeleadershipeducation.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:127  

 

 

Sunday Webcasts

– Replay and rehearse these profoundly powerful messages from the Sunday postings in the Hearts and Homes Community Site.

 

The Test of Faith (Part 1)

https://youtu.be/hbX4TRYEfPg

 

The Test of Faith (Part 2)

https://youtu.be/7erAtYEPU70

 

Fight for Your Family

https://youtu.be/l3UzlLIOSV4

 

Restoring the Gates and Walls of Our Hearts and Homes

https://vimeo.com/channels/850249/145228681

 

 

Householder’s Treasure

– Midweek short video clips that posted in the Hearts and Homes Community Site.

 

Marching Orders

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/65484485

 

Self-Absorbed Believers

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/65484761

 

Real Talk

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/78880158

 

The Priority and Presence of God

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/93216117

 

Moving Out of Tradition

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/93216252

 

 

Books and Blogs

 

How I Learned to Hide

https://lisaredeemed.com/how-i-learned-to-hide/  

 

Why I Tried to Die: A Story of Trauma, Resilience and Restoration

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Tried-Die-Resilience-Restoration/dp/1945169389

 

Fruitful Living ...In Every Season

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1514327066

 

Processed for Success (Free eBook Download)

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/processed-for-success

 

 

Health and Wellness

Mental Health and Wellness Support

 

Christianity and Mental Health (Courageous Conversations)

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/christianity-and-mental-health

Beyond the Altar: Amethyst Roberson, MA, LPC, NCC

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/beyond-the-altar

 

More Than a Hammer

https://vimeo.com/856029199/fdc61b5084?share=copy

 

STEP Forward Life Institute

– Add to your faith…. Knowledge. Continue to be equipped and empowered for the work of the ministry in your home and community.

 

Personal Growth and Spiritual Maturity

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/personal-growth-maturity

 

Fruitful Living Legacy Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/fruitful-living-legacy

 

Kingdom Foundations Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/kingdom-foundations

 

Marriage and Family Life Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/marriage-and-family-life

 

Servant-Leadership in Family and Community Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/family-and-community-leadership

 

Innovative Service and Marketplace Ministry Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/innovative-ministry-leadership

 

Become CARE-Ready®, Even If You Don’t Want to Be a Certified Life Coach

https://fruitfullifeleadershipeducation.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:157

 

Our Resource Library – Recommended Books and Courses

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/library

  

***

Fruitful Living Monthly Review and Updates (July)

 (July Postings)

Join the Hearts and Homes Community Site HERE

 

Prayer Watch

- "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

 

Fight for Your Family

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/family-prayer-campaign

 

Prayer Agenda/ Daily Prayer and Devotionals

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/prayer

 

 

Spiritual Wellness Support Group

Feel free to join our weekly Midweek Connection as we unite from the east coast to the west coast of the United States.

 

-         Wednesdays at 7:00PM EST, USA

-         The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/972473313

 

 

 

News and Announcements

 

In Loving Memory of Yong Saccone

https://urbanlifefamilypost.blogspot.com/2023/07/in-loving-memory-of-yong-saccone.html

 

Summer discounts and scholarships now available for most of our courses and programs.

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/scholarships-discounts

 

Life Coach Certification Course Now Available 24/7

https://fruitfullifeleadershipeducation.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:127  

Community Connections

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/community

 

 

Sunday Webcasts

– Replay and rehearse these profoundly powerful messages from the Sunday postings in the Hearts and Homes Community Site.

 

Restore the Former Desolation (Part 1)

https://youtu.be/jt-58Su2K6Y  

  

Restore the Former Desolation (Part 2)

https://youtu.be/v55rJG3Am4w   

 

Repair the Ruined Cities

https://youtu.be/5JEzw_Mok2I

 

Normalcy Bias

https://youtu.be/WWLJj7WZgFs

 

Defeating the Real Enemies of Our Families

https://youtu.be/P-9YobXZADg

 

 

Householder’s Treasure

– Midweek short video clips that posted in the Hearts and Homes Community Site.

 

Breaking the Cycles

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/59931518

 

Be Ready for Him

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/61219792

 

The Blessing Terminator

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/61224862

 

Rejecting the Ways and Wisdom of God

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/65484356

 

 

Books and Blogs

 

Processed for Success (Free eBook Download)

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/processed-for-success

 

How I Learned to Hide 

https://lisaredeemed.com/how-i-learned-to-hide/ 

Why I Tried to Die: A Story of Trauma, Resilience and Restoration

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Tried-Die-Resilience-Restoration/dp/1945169389

 

Scenes from the Life of the Redeemed

https://www.amazon.com/Scenes-Life-Redeemed-DeVata-Davis/dp/1414113501

 

 

 

Health and Wellness

Weekly Spiritual Wellness Support Group

 

Beyond the Altar: Amethyst Roberson,  MA, LPC, NCC

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/beyond-the-altar

 

Elephant in the Room: Mental Health and Wellness in the Church

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/elephant-in-the-room

 

Breaking the Silence and Stigma of Mental Health Struggles

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/family-emotional-mental-healing

 

 

 

STEP Forward Life Institute

– Add to your faith…. Knowledge. Continue to be equipped and empowered for the work of the ministry in your home and community.

 

Fruitful Living Legacy Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/fruitful-living-legacy

 

Kingdom Foundations Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/kingdom-foundations

 

Marriage and Family Life Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/marriage-and-family-life

 

Servant-Leadership in Family and Community Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/family-and-community-leadership

 

Innovative Service and Marketplace Ministry Certificate

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/innovative-ministry-leadership

 

Become CARE-Ready®, Even If You Don’t Want to Be a Certified Life Coach

https://fruitfullifeleadershipeducation.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:157

 

Our Resource Library – Recommended Books and Courses

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/library

 

 

***

In Loving Memory of Yong Saccone

Last night we learned of the passing of a very dear woman of God.

We met Congressman Rick Saccone and his wife Yong at a prayer breakfast a few years ago (January of 2018). We sat at the same table that morning, and she began asking us about our ministry. Somehow we got on the topic of our Fight for the Family prayer series and campaign, and she became totally captivated by it. 

She embraced us and our ministry of prayer immediately.  She later purchased our book (Fight for the Family) and met with us every time they were in Harrisburg for Rick's congressional sessions. We met in the lobby of the hotel where they resided, and she'd secure a conference room or an isolated area in the cafe. 

Over the course of several months, we walked through and discussed every single chapter of that book. She told us that she learned more from that book than she had heard or been taught in any church that they visited across the entire state of Pennsylvania. (And they had been to well over 200 churches by that time).

She encouraged and supported our ministry with the most genuine and sincere heart we had ever seen. She was a great blessing to us at a time when we were beginning to feel like our time and purpose for being in south central Pennsylvania had been a failure and was pointless.

She was a powerful intercessor and a grateful U.S. citizen since she was a Korean immigrant. She had a greater love for our country than most natural born U.S. citizens. Her love for God and this nation had nothing to do with conservative politics, but it was out of a genuine appreciation for the opportunity to live in a place where there was actual freedom from governmental and religious oppression. She helped us recognize what we had, in spite of the racism and emerging radical social agendas.

We are at a total loss for words. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Our prayers are with her family. 

Fruitful Living Monthly Review and Updates (June)

(June Postings)

Join the Hearts and Homes Community Site HERE

Prayer Watch

- "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

 

Fight for Your Family

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/family-prayer-campaign

 

Prayer Agenda/ Daily Prayer and Devotionals

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/prayer

 

 

 

Spiritual Wellness Support Group

Feel free to join our weekly Midweek Connection as we unite from the east coast to the west coast of the United States.

 

-         Wednesdays at 7:00PM EST, USA

-         The Zoom link is at https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/spiritual-wellness-support

 

News and Announcements

 

Summer discounts and scholarships now available for most of our courses and programs. (Discounts ranging from 50% to 100% off registrations.)

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/scholarships-discounts

 

STEP Forward Life Institute Graduates More CARE-Ready Life Coaches

https://chrisandcarolgreen.blogspot.com/2023/06/109-certified-care-ready-life-coaches.html

 

CARE-Ready Life Coaching® Receives USPTO Registered Trademark Approval

https://chrisandcarolgreen.blogspot.com/2023/02/care-ready-life-coaching-receives-uspto.html

 

Sunday Webcasts

– Replay and rehearse these profoundly powerful messages from the Sunday postings in the Hearts and Homes Community Site.

 

Making Disciples (Part 1)

https://youtu.be/RYWKjF5uWn8

 

The Honor Role

https://vimeo.com/559714302

  

Father's Day - The Gift of Resiliency

https://youtu.be/EHzs5ixOCnM

 

Making Disciples (Part 2)

https://youtu.be/3HUvPYTU6TU

  

 

Householder’s Treasure

– Midweek short video clips that posted in the Hearts and Homes Community Site.

 

Restoring an Expectation in God

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/55748441

 

The CROSS: God Knows How We Feel

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/56283625

 

A Foundation of Prayer

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/59930652

 

Living Beyond the Natural

https://vimeo.com/channels/icymi/59931327

 

 

Books and Blogs

 

Why I Tried to Die: A Story of Trauma, Resilience and Restoration

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Tried-Die-Resilience-Restoration/dp/1945169389

 

Scenes from the Life of the Redeemed

https://www.amazon.com/Scenes-Life-Redeemed-DeVata-Davis/dp/1414113501

 

 

 

Health and Wellness

Access to holistic wellness from a Biblical perspective

 

Beyond the Altar: Amethyst Roberson,  MA, LPC, NCC

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/beyond-the-altar

 

Elephant in the Room: Mental Health and Wellness in the Church

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/elephant-in-the-room

 

Breaking the Silence and Stigma of Mental Health Struggles

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/family-emotional-mental-healing

 

The Spiritual Wellness Support Group Archive

https://vimeo.com/channels/spiritualwellnessgroup

  

 

STEP Forward Life Institute

– Add to your faith…. Knowledge. Continue to be equipped and empowered for the work of the ministry in your home and community.

 

Five Habits of Victorious People of Faith

https://fruitfullifeleadershipeducation.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:149,cms_featured_course:1

 

Marriage Enrichment & Resiliency

https://fruitfullifeleadershipeducation.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:125

 

Spiritual Urgent CARE

https://vimeo.com/744314194/a67d8937d2

 

Freedom in Christ: Spiritual Urgent CARE Training

https://vimeo.com/744378697/6fb85d11e9

 

The Pillars of the Success in Process Philosophy

https://vimeo.com/751794335/11f46e29b8

 

Life Coach Certification Course Now Available 24/7

https://fruitfullifeleadershipeducation.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:127  

 

Become CARE-Ready®, Even If You Don’t Want to Be a Certified Life Coach

https://fruitfullifeleadershipeducation.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:157

 

Our Resource Library – Recommended Books and Courses

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/library

***

You Will Appear to Be Drab

In November of 1990, Carol and I were being prayed for by a group of pastors and leaders who had gathered from across the country. We were attending a special conference called The School of the Prophets. It was a conference for pastors and their leadership teams, including their administrators. During this conference, they set aside time to pray for everyone.

Having accepted the role as my brother's administrator, this was an extremely important time for me. Carol and I had been married nearly 10 years. Our first born son was only four years old. Our twins were only seven months old. Even though many things were spoken concerning our future ministry and our marriage, the most profound thing I took away from that session was the prophetic word about how my life and ministry would be perceived.

The word went something like this: “You will appear to be drab because of the way you will disarm and disenfranchise yourself in order that others will be seen.”

I have never forgotten that exhortation because it has always given me perspective about the way people would perceive and respond to our ministry, even to this day. Today, in America, you must be bold, strong and forceful to attract people to your business, organization, institution or church. Yet, I've had to deal with the fact that God said that I would appear to be drab.

Drab has definitions like: boring, dreary, drudging, ho-hum, humdrum, mind-numbing, monotonous, numbing, old, pedestrian, ponderous, slow, stale, stuffy, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, and wearying.

It doesn’t seem very encouraging to have the Spirit of God tell you that your ministry is going to appear to be drab. However, this word has served me very well through the years because it anchored me to not be surprised or get too discouraged by the responses of people. 

Honestly, sometimes this is still a challenge for me because the most notable responses from people who see you as drab are dismissal and disregrard for what you share and teach. They love the encouraging words, but the words of wisdom and advice have often been ignored or glossed over. Sometimes it seemed like Biblical foundational teaching, as well as life and ministry experiences were meaningless. Yes, I will confess and admit, that's the toughest part about appearing to be drab.

We have watched our peers experience ministries that were exciting and explosive, while our ministry was more like the day to day, regular life, boring stuff that happens in a family. There isn't a lot of hype with us. We aren't charismatic, possessing magnetic personalities that draw crowds of people. Carol and I were, and always have been just a mom and a dad who served in the role of pastors for a time. So perhaps that is part of the reason we haven't grown very much beyond establishing a weekly support group. This society seems to desire the next new and exciting thing. However, the various types of people that God sent us to serve; all of them seemed to need a steady, no nonsense kind of mentorship.

Part of the reason why we appear to be drab is because we keep it real behind the scenes. Carol and I don’t believe in putting on a show or publically performing to impress people. Our most powerful moments take place in private coaching sessions on a zoom call, in our living room or sitting at the kitchen table. We had some great times in weekly church gatherings, but the bulk of what we are about is what takes place when there is no big crowd to observe it.

To this day, my wife and I still prefer sitting on our sofa, holding hands, talking and sharing our deepest thoughts with one another; rather than standing on a stage or in a pulpit performing for a crowd of people. The secret place is the only place that matters to us.

When our children were home, we had weekly or monthly family meetings and we talked openly and frankly in that setting. Therefore, our sons (preacher's kids) had no need to try to publically prove anything to anyone outside of what went on behind closed doors in our home.

When our youngest son got married, Carol and I had a private moment with him a few minutes before the wedding ceremony. When it came time to share publically during the wedding reception, we didn’t say very much because we had said what we needed to say behind the scenes. We felt no need to impress anyone publically.

Publically we may have appeared to be drab, but we didn’t mind that. What we had to say, we said it to our son privately and personally. So that’s a big part of why our ministry can appear to be drab publically. It’s because we keep it dynamic and real behind the scenes.

When a ministry appears to be drab, the number of people attending and supporting can remain small. It has been nearly impossible to establish a ministry team and a support base. In the business world, they call it building capacity. That basically means that it takes a certain minimum amount of staff, customers and investors to sustain a company or organization. In today's technology-driven world, you can go a lot further with a lot fewer people. Our daughter in law, our eldest son's wife, has been an absoloute God-send for us and our business. She has helped us grow and build even though we are a staff of only three. We are small, but mighty.

I guess what I'm saying is that God can, and still does, use the drabs of the world. Even though we don't always feel heard, we must realize that this is the same way God is treated all the time. It's not about us. It's all about Him. So instead of complaining or hanging our heads in some form of self-pity, we must all choose to move forward in obedience and appreciation of the opportunity to be a drab presence in a screaming world because somewhere, someone is no longer searching for thrills and excitement, but they're looking for the boring and real.

(The first/original version of this blog was posted July 23, 2013)