Living Righteously in this World, Full of Grace and Truth
The Bible says in John 1:14 that Jesus was “full of grace and truth.”
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
But just what does this phrase mean?
Key to unpacking this phrase - full of grace and truth - is to understand how Jesus viewed his own ministry. To better understand how Jesus viewed his own ministry we only need to turn to Luke 4 where we read:
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him.
He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus interpreted the very foundation of His public ministry to be a direct fulfillment of the passage from Isaiah 61 (quoted above) which is also very similar to the language in Isaiah 58:6-12.
The point is this--
The truth is . . . there are many who are poor and abandoned (truth). He has come to bring good news (grace). There are many who are blind and lame (truth). He has come to bring sight and healing (grace). There are many who are bound and oppressed (truth). He has come to set them free and to break the bonds (grace). There are many who are naked and homeless (truth). He has come to clothe and provide shelter (grace).
Those who opposed Jesus could mock his theology, they could laugh at his faith, they denigrated his deity, they could even kill him. And the same reaction happens today among the followers of Jesus. But when it came to observing His compassion and care for the most undeserved, the oppressed, the widow and the orphan, the abandoned ones; they could only marvel at how He loved people, because He was “full of grace and truth.”
Christian singer Steve Camp wrote a song titled, “Do You Feel Their Pain?” This video shows what life is like inside Kibera and pictures of the children and orphans who live in the slum. It’s a direct reminder of our blessings here in the America, even when we feel our lives are in pain and oppressed. A good friend is directly involved with starting an orphanage in Kibera and these children are real, as are their life stories.
If the link doesn't open, go to:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=txP6dEMLXSE
* How Do You Feel Today?
click on poster for larger image
For many of us, using feeling words to describe what’s going on inside can be tough. It seems a lot easier to describe someone else than our self. Yet, even when observing a friend we can be limited by our emotional vocabulary.
As a kid I loved watching The Flintstones. I remember Fred would tell Wilma she was very droll as he described her whimsical manner, usually when she gave him a wisecrack about something he did. This was a new word I latched onto and it had this sort of power to it. Of all the vocabulary to use in describing someone’s behavior, Fred told Wilma she was droll. Specific words can bring behavior or feelings alive.
Those involved with the step-study booklets understand the need to express their feelings. Words can be so powerful and lend themselves to drawing out the depth of a specific feeling. Many times that feeling is hidden beneath layers of protection and it lurks around until it can escape. Yet when it does rise, there can be no word(s) to describe it. Usually, this is not an issue when alone, but when sharing in a small group it is nice to be able to articulate what is going on inside.
The following is a partial list of emotional words. Click on the below links for more complete lists if interested. Search the list below and try to pinpoint how you feel today. If you’re in a small group, copy the list or lists from the links and use them when filling out your lessons. If you're not in a small group, the lists can be helpful in journaling or helping others understand how you feel. Lastly, developing a strong emotional vocabulary can assist in helping others
Mad:
Bothered * Ruffled * Irritated * Displeased * Annoyed * Steamed * Irked * Perturbed * Frustrated * Disgusted * Indignant * Bristling * Fuming * Explosive * Enraged * Irate * Incensed * Outraged * Furious
Sad:
Down * Somber * Glum * Lonely * Disappointed * Melancholy * Gloomy * Mournful * Grieved * Depressed * Crushed * Defeated * Dejected * Empty * Wretched * Despairing * Devastated
Glad:
Secure * Comfortable * Relaxed * Contented * Optimistic * Satisfied * Refreshed * Stimulated * Pleased * Warm * Snug * Encouraged * Tickled * Proud * Cheerful * Thrilled * Delighted * Joyful * Elated * Exhilarated * Overjoyed * Ecstatic
Afraid:
Uneasy * Apprehensive* Careful* Cautious* Hesitant* Tense* Anxious* Nervous* Edgy* Distressed * Scared * Frightened * Repulsed * Agitated * Afraid* Shocked * Alarmed * Overwhelmed * Frantic * Panic stricken * Horrified* Petrified * Terrified * Numb
Confused:
Curious * Uncertain * Ambivalent * Doubtful * Unsettled * Hesitant * Perplexed * Puzzled * Muddled * Distracted * Flustered * Jumbled* Unfocused* Fragmented* Dismayed * Insecure* Dazed * Bewildered * Lost * Stunned * Chaotic * Torn* Baffled * Dumbfounded
Ashamed:
Uncomfortable* Awkward * Clumsy
Self-conscious * Disconcerted * Chagrinned * Abashed * Embarrassed * Flustered * Sorry * Apologetic * Ashamed * Regretful * Remorseful * Guilty * Disgusted * Belittled * Humiliated * Violated * Dirty * Mortified * Defiled * Devastated * Degraded
More comprehensive Lists: Click on the below links
Feeling word list- Full List
* Measure twice, cut once!
SLOW is not Lazy! (Measure twice, cut once!)
Rushing to action is the bane of the business world. Speed is often a substitute for thinking. There is a lot of value to slowing down in the impulsive and unthinking business world. The same can be true of our spiritual lives. This of course affects all other relationships. America is an action-oriented culture. There is a lot of energy and dynamism here, but we do tend to overdo it sometimes. Action is visible, whereas thinking or considering is invisible.
How can someone be considerate and calm on a diet of sugar and caffeine? That’s the sort of diet seen with people living in the workplace who are caught running from one activity to another. It’s no wonder that many in business are so impulsive and resist calm consideration.
Slow can be hard work, but accepting a slow process has a better chance of success. It takes time to produce a polished piece of work that does the job it is supposed to do. And that is based on some slow thinking and the willingness to think before acting.
There are two related carpenter's proverbs:
The first proverb, Measure Twice Cut Once rings true to any builder, who out of experience, can relate that a careful measurement is indeed good. Measuring twice will surprise you now and then, yielding a different measurement the second time around. It is a matter of knowing yourself well enough to humbly admit whether you understand something or not and avoid charging forward.
The second proverb, Measure Once Cut Twice, is a painful reminder of times when things didn't go so well. When you thought you had it all right--you had confidence and--wham!, you ended up cutting a piece of expensive stock wood precisely an inch too short, which is usually proceeded by frustration and the proverbial, “Dang it!” (Dang it! that is, if you’re walking in the Spirit). The goal is to get the measurement right, not spend all day adjusting tools for success.
Some tend to open the new box from Home-Depot and start assembling, only to find themselves with a garage full of spare parts and an incomplete assembly. Then your spouse walks in and says, “Is that it?”
Your pride was wounded, the temptation to defend yourself is present, you say something you later regret, dinner is now served cold, the stress level at home raises 30 degrees, you don’t want to go to bed mad, you apologize, and before you retire for the evening you remembered that wise old saying, Measure Twice Cut Once!
In life, we make moment-by-moment choices. The success of most choices is dependent on our attitude going into the choice. This is why it is so important to be walking in the Spirit of God and having daily devotions. Blessings come to those who wait, not to those that hesitate.
“You deviate an inch on the map, you lose a thousand miles on the ground”
"Desire without knowledge is not good, and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way..." --Proverbs 19:2
* 10 Stages of Love Addiction (part 2)
Last Monday we looked at five of the ten stages of love addiction. They were obsession, the hunt, recruitment, gratification, and return to normal. This week we look at part two.
10 Stages of Love Addiction (part 2). To review part 1, go HERE.
6. Justification. The very fact of having "resolved" these problems by resorting to romantic fantasy or acting out frequently brings its own feelings of guilt and remorse. The addict then begins to justify his behavior. He convinces himself that what he did "wasn't so bad," that "everyone does it," that it was "normal," or at least "understandable" for someone with his unique circumstances and special needs. His self-talk sounds like this: "But I needed it. I deserved it. Besides, I really had no choice. It's just the way I am. I was only doing what comes naturally to me." In this phase particularly, the addict rationalizes what he has done to the victim. Even if the gratification involved another living, breathing, feeling human being, he depersonalizes the entire episode. Inn his mind the other person was not a "real" person at all, just a component in the staging of a complex romantic drama.
7. Blame. Most addicts cannot successfully rationalize their behavior without blaming someone for it. The addict will blame his parents, his spouse, someone from his past who has let him down, and lay his underlying pain at their feet. Fundamentally, he refuses to take responsibility for his own situation, but blames others for "driving" him to make the choices he makes.
8. Shame. But justifying and blame-shifting only go so far. Invariably the addict carries a residual awareness of what she has done - and of what her actions say about what kind of person she must be. Inevitably that awareness comes to the surface in the form of guilt over what she has done and shame over who she really is. The very nature of shame is that it be repressed, "stuffed" deep inside her mind and heart, rather than brought into the light and dealt with. Thus are sown deep seeds of self-loathing - seeds that will eventually give birth to the pain that launches the whole cycle all over again.
9. Despair. The experience of careening from high excitement at the outset of the cycle to shame and guilt at its conclusion, and the awareness that the cycle is unstoppable, produces hopelessness. When the fix is off, the addict's whole world comes crashing down. The sense of pain or emptiness that originally fueled the addictive behavior is nothing compared to the agonies of depression and despair. And those agonies get worse with every trip through the cycle.
10. Promises. Because the pain is so great, the addict swears "never to do it again." He will be different. He will thing differently. He will live a new life. He will never go to "those places" or read "those books" or watch "those programs" again. But the prospect of keeping all these promises - the same ones he has made, and promptly broken, so many times before - only heightens the sense of frustration and adds to the addict's despair. He knows it is only a matter of time until the obsessive thoughts start t crowd in again and he will be caught in the addictive cycle once more.
10 Stages of Love Addiction (part 2). To review part 1, go HERE.
6. Justification. The very fact of having "resolved" these problems by resorting to romantic fantasy or acting out frequently brings its own feelings of guilt and remorse. The addict then begins to justify his behavior. He convinces himself that what he did "wasn't so bad," that "everyone does it," that it was "normal," or at least "understandable" for someone with his unique circumstances and special needs. His self-talk sounds like this: "But I needed it. I deserved it. Besides, I really had no choice. It's just the way I am. I was only doing what comes naturally to me." In this phase particularly, the addict rationalizes what he has done to the victim. Even if the gratification involved another living, breathing, feeling human being, he depersonalizes the entire episode. Inn his mind the other person was not a "real" person at all, just a component in the staging of a complex romantic drama.
7. Blame. Most addicts cannot successfully rationalize their behavior without blaming someone for it. The addict will blame his parents, his spouse, someone from his past who has let him down, and lay his underlying pain at their feet. Fundamentally, he refuses to take responsibility for his own situation, but blames others for "driving" him to make the choices he makes.
8. Shame. But justifying and blame-shifting only go so far. Invariably the addict carries a residual awareness of what she has done - and of what her actions say about what kind of person she must be. Inevitably that awareness comes to the surface in the form of guilt over what she has done and shame over who she really is. The very nature of shame is that it be repressed, "stuffed" deep inside her mind and heart, rather than brought into the light and dealt with. Thus are sown deep seeds of self-loathing - seeds that will eventually give birth to the pain that launches the whole cycle all over again.
9. Despair. The experience of careening from high excitement at the outset of the cycle to shame and guilt at its conclusion, and the awareness that the cycle is unstoppable, produces hopelessness. When the fix is off, the addict's whole world comes crashing down. The sense of pain or emptiness that originally fueled the addictive behavior is nothing compared to the agonies of depression and despair. And those agonies get worse with every trip through the cycle.
10. Promises. Because the pain is so great, the addict swears "never to do it again." He will be different. He will thing differently. He will live a new life. He will never go to "those places" or read "those books" or watch "those programs" again. But the prospect of keeping all these promises - the same ones he has made, and promptly broken, so many times before - only heightens the sense of frustration and adds to the addict's despair. He knows it is only a matter of time until the obsessive thoughts start t crowd in again and he will be caught in the addictive cycle once more.
.
Review both lists and ask God to reveal what areas need focus and attention. Celebreate Recovery has step-study groups for this very purpose. Once denial is removed where do you go? This is where the community of Christ-followers gather to share and meet God where we most resist change.
* Letter from Jimmy
Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: ''How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?''
The surgeon said, ''I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.''
Sally said, ''Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?''
The surgeon asked, ''Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.''
Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good-bye to her son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair.
''Would you like a lock of his hair?'' the nurse asked.
Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally. The mother said, ''It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the university for study. He said it might help somebody else. I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, ''My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.''
Sally walked out of Children's
It was around
Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say I LOVE YOU.
I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me.
He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place.
Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of His pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed.
Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him?' "God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.
Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm, sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?
Signed with Love from: Jesus & Me
Celebrate Recovery tonight.
* Confronting the Resistance to Change
Have you had a situation where you decided to change a particular habit or behavior and are successful for a couple weeks (maybe longer), only to find the habit or behavior returning? I think we can all agree that real change is hard!
It is difficult to give up old habits and patterns of behaving and relating. How many times have you said to God, yourself and others that you are going to change and yet resort back to the old way of acting? Maybe you are just beginning recovery and are not sure about making changes others say you need to make.
Why is this resistance to change so difficult & how to overcome it?
Resistance is a force that pushes back against movement in a particular direction. In terms of dealing with sexual addiction (and addiction in general), resistance will be encountered as you try to change the old way of behaving.
Resistance will be encountered as you
try to change the old way of behaving.
This resistance will manifest in several ways. The first resistance encountered will be simply to admit you have a problem that needs change. This admission is the first step in the recovery process. It is the step of honesty. Overcoming denial often results when the pain of our behavior is worse than the rewards it brings.
We admitted we were powerless over our
addictions and compulsive behaviors.
That our lives had become unmanageable.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Romans 7:18)
Pain is a powerful motivator in breaking down resistance to change. Admitting the consequences of our actions can make us face reality and the pain it brings. It further helps one see the unmanageability of life and powerlessness over one’s behavior. When one sees the insanity of what you have been doing, you are ready to truly move forward in recovery.
In the early stages of recovery, being in a recovery group and for some, individual therapy, helps to break through the denial and have the needed support to deal with the pain of the addict’s life.
In understanding resistance to change, one must take into account the physical impact of addiction. Research on sex addicts' brains show a striking similarity to the brains of cocaine addicts. The implications in terms of treatment is that the hyper-stimulation that comes from engaging in a sexual addiction alters the brain chemistry, leaving a clear bio-chemical component as one quits the habit.
Withdrawal symptoms include distress, anxiety, restlessness or irritability when unable to engage in the behavior. Resistance can be experienced powerfully as the person goes through withdrawal. A person might consider a good evaluation by a therapist familiar with addiction and the treatment required to help during this time of transition.
As a person begins to give up the old patterns of behaving, all of the emotions he or she has been medicating through the addiction will begin to come back. Simply put, there will be an awareness of emotional pain. Resistance here will be to find another way to medicate the pain. Here again, one must confront and put into place new strategy’s for handling pain.
No one likes to feel pain, yet it is God’s way of
driving us to look to Him to find solutions rather
than in our own resources.
Addicts generally have more than one addiction. So while stopping the sexual addiction, the addict may increase the activity in another addiction to mediate the withdrawal symptoms. Or while the person gives up the sexual addiction, he replaces it with another addiction with the majority of emotional and behavioral features remaining the same.
Here, the person has not dealt with the core problems. He has simply found another way of self-medicating. Perhaps the greater battle will be found in changing your belief system.
The Bible says that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9).
We have this capacity to deceive ourselves. It also says that change comes by the renewing of our mind. When we get caught up in a pattern of acting that gets entrenched, we find numerous ways of defending that behavior. Stronghold beliefs (II Corinthians 10 3-5) are the ways we protect patterns and actions that we wish to engage in that are contrary to living the way God wants us to live.
Denial is the way addicts protect sexual behavior that they want to continue to engage in. Resistance will be found in the reasons one continues to justify engaging in self-destructive ways. Rationalizations (“I don’t have a problem, you all are just sexually too conservative”), minimizing (“it’s not a problem”), and comparison (I’m not as bad as some of the others”) are just a few.
In twelve step language, this equates to “stinking thinking.”
One must be relentless in rooting out distortions in thinking. In order to do this, the individual must ask help of others in the recovery community to confront distortions when they hear it. You must not allow pride (“I can do this on my own, or I don’t need to tell others or ask for help”) to get in the way. Remember, it is your own thinking that has got you in the mess in the first place.
We must recruit the help of the recovery community in overcoming resistance to change.
Recovery and change doesn’t just happen. Breaking through resistance is a daily battle that Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:16-26 of the spirit and the flesh at war with one another. Paul had to crucify the flesh and its passions. To overcome resistance, one needs to be honest.
Find safe people where you can share and be held accountable. Get a sponsor to assist you to work through a twelve step program and establish and maintain sobriety will really be helpful. Establish good spiritual habits of devotion, bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Avoid isolating. We need each other in this battle.
Remember;
1) Resistance will be encountered as you try to change the old way of behaving. You are NOT alone here.
2) Addicts generally have more than one addiction.
3) The heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). We have this capacity to deceive ourselves.
4) Denial is the way addicts protect behavior that they want to continue to engage in by rationalizing, minimizing, and comparison.
5) One must be relentless in rooting out distortions in thinking.
God, pain is Your way of driving us to Yourself. Give us the courage to face our pain and resist denial by rationalizing, minimizing, and comparing our sinful behavior. Help us to change our thinking and to seek holiness in our lives. May we humble ourselves to rely on You, Your Spirit, Your Word, and the people of God. Thank you for the foundations You have given me in my life. I am not alone in my recovery. Help me to reach out to others, even if that means a warm smile to someone else today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Answered Prayer!
Yesterday I posted this email from a friend who had to evacuate because of the fires that surrounded his home;
“As you might know, the So Cal fires are really bad, and the Santiago Canyon Fire is now upon our neighborhood. It is surrounding the community of Foothill Ranch where we live, and there doesn't seem to be enough fire crews or air support to fight it effectively at this point. We have packed up our cars and are ready to evacuate. Would you take a moment to please pray for our community as well as the many others being impacted by this horrendous fire season.”
I recieved this email as an update to his circumstances;
Thank you so much for praying!! We got so many encouraging notes back our family had a huge sense that we were being prayed for.
The fire ended up around 4:00pm coming through the trailhead canyon that is behind the houses right across the street from us. We were told if it did we would need to evacuate. There is so much fuel in this canyon (brush, shrubs, huge oak trees, etc.) we knew it would be bad. It came through very quickly and we evacuated as we saw it coming. In tears and exhausted we drove away wondering if we would ever be back.
Other neighbors stayed. After being gone at my mom's apartment in Mission Viejo for about an hour, we called some of those neighbors who said the fire had worked its way through the canyon and for the most part climbed the ridge on the opposite side of the canyon. Our neighbors right across the street had a palm tree in their back yard catch fire . . . but that was the worst of it.
So we're back home tonight, though there are still many patches of fire burning that we can see. The firemen said it should be fine, and that they would be here for the next two weeks!
There's definitely something about packing your cars with what really matters that has a way of helping one with priorities. Now we get to put all that "stuff" back, thankful that its not the ONLY stuff we still have. So many others were not as blessed today. Please continue to pray for them.
We love you all!
* FIRESTORM--Praying in Time of Tragedy
“The moment when faith is hardest and least likely,then faith is most needed”
When we hear about streams of wildfires, some of which seem to be acts of arson, our first response can usually be to pray away the pain or pray that this will never happen again. People seem to become either too emotionally attached or detached in such events.
How can we pray beyond the fear and shock, beyond the most obvious needs, to have a Kingdom perspective in all of this?
As a nation watches this firestorm on TV, we here in Southern California (some of us can actually smell the smoke burning) from a human perspective are unable to make sense of the horrific situation faced by those whose homes are engulfed in flames.
The flames themselves create vivid imagery that life will not last forever; that there’s an end in mind. They force us to ask, “What really matters in life?”
I received an email yesterday from a friend that gripped my heart;
“As you might know, the So Cal fires are really bad, and the Santiago Canyon Fire is now upon our neighborhood. It is surrounding the community of Foothill Ranch where we live, and there doesn't seem to be enough fire crews or air support to fight it effectively at this point. We have packed up our cars and are ready to evacuate. Would you take a moment to please pray for our community as well as the many others being impacted by this horrendous fire season.”
We have packed up our cars
and are ready to evacuate.
What will we pack in our cars when we are told by an exhausted fireman that it’s time to leave…NOW? It is important to listen to God in these times when our consciences are sensitive because too many times when the embers cool, so does our conscience.
The following are suggestions to draw closer to God in prayer during this firestorm. Take time to reflect on the scriptures below in their context (click on the passage)
Praise
Though it is difficult, start with praise, focus on God's character.
* Praise God that He is sovereign, that He has ultimate control over all, and that nothing takes Him by surprise (Is. 45:5-7).
Petition/Intercession
* Ask God to use this situation to bring unprecedented spiritual openness to people affected by the tragedy, and ask Him to show His face to them.
* Ask God to bless the ministry that will be thrust upon the church or community affected by the tragedy. Ask Him to empower them with a powerful witness when they are called upon to speak about or reflect on the situation.
* Ask God to stand against the enemy's attempts to make families experience unresolved anger or guilt over the loss of loved ones.
* Ask God to focus the minds of public officials on the need for prayer and to provide people who will continue to pray for the situation.
* Ask God to equip leaders who will be called upon to mentor and minister to people in the aftermath of tragedy (Heb. 13:20-21).
* Ask God--for yourself and others--for a passion and love for Christ that drive out fear (1John 4:18).
* Thank God that the enemy has made a tactical error, since martyrdom and persecution have always strengthened the church, and that God will use for good what Satan has intended for harm (Genesis 50:20-21).
* Thank God for the people who will be drawn to seek God's face because the overwhelming nature of the tragedy leaves them nowhere else to turn (Jonah 2:1-9).
* Thank God for a vivid reminder of your own mortality and vulnerability, asking Him to prepare your heart and spirit for a faithful response when you are faced with tragedy.
I received an email yesterday from a friend that gripped my heart;
“As you might know, the So Cal fires are really bad, and the Santiago Canyon Fire is now upon our neighborhood. It is surrounding the community of Foothill Ranch where we live, and there doesn't seem to be enough fire crews or air support to fight it effectively at this point. We have packed up our cars and are ready to evacuate. Would you take a moment to please pray for our community as well as the many others being impacted by this horrendous fire season.”
We have packed up our carsand are ready to evacuate.
What will we pack in our cars when we are told by an exhausted fireman that it’s time to leave…NOW? It is important to listen to God in these times when our consciences are sensitive because too many times when the embers cool, so does our conscience.
The following are suggestions to draw closer to God in prayer during this firestorm. Take time to reflect on the scriptures below in their context (click on the passage)
Praise
Though it is difficult, start with praise, focus on God's character.
* Praise God that He is sovereign, that He has ultimate control over all, and that nothing takes Him by surprise (Is. 45:5-7).
Petition/Intercession
* Ask God to use this situation to bring unprecedented spiritual openness to people affected by the tragedy, and ask Him to show His face to them.
* Ask God to bless the ministry that will be thrust upon the church or community affected by the tragedy. Ask Him to empower them with a powerful witness when they are called upon to speak about or reflect on the situation.
* Ask God to stand against the enemy's attempts to make families experience unresolved anger or guilt over the loss of loved ones.
* Ask God to focus the minds of public officials on the need for prayer and to provide people who will continue to pray for the situation.
* Ask God to equip leaders who will be called upon to mentor and minister to people in the aftermath of tragedy (Heb. 13:20-21).
* Ask God--for yourself and others--for a passion and love for Christ that drive out fear (1John 4:18).
* Thank God that the enemy has made a tactical error, since martyrdom and persecution have always strengthened the church, and that God will use for good what Satan has intended for harm (Genesis 50:20-21).
* Thank God for the people who will be drawn to seek God's face because the overwhelming nature of the tragedy leaves them nowhere else to turn (Jonah 2:1-9).
* Thank God for a vivid reminder of your own mortality and vulnerability, asking Him to prepare your heart and spirit for a faithful response when you are faced with tragedy.
--Take some time in private prayer, lifting up the suggestions or praying whatever God lays on your heart. We unite in prayer. We are a family. Our heart's break for those in need. Let us draw near to God and be used of service in our love towards one another.
More on the power of prayer
More on the power of prayer
* What is Celebrate Recovery?
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Many think recovery is only for drug addicts and alcoholics—people whose lives seem out of control. That’s just not true. The Bible clearly teaches that all of us have addictions in our lives. Sin is addicting, and the Bible says, “all have sinned.” Not one of us is perfect. We’ve all blown it; we’ve all made mistakes. We’ve hurt ourselves, we’ve hurt other people, and others have hurt us.
Many think recovery is only for drug addicts and alcoholics—people whose lives seem out of control. That’s just not true. The Bible clearly teaches that all of us have addictions in our lives. Sin is addicting, and the Bible says, “all have sinned.” Not one of us is perfect. We’ve all blown it; we’ve all made mistakes. We’ve hurt ourselves, we’ve hurt other people, and others have hurt us.
Because of sin, each of us needs repentance and recovery in order to live our lives the way God intended. This is why the biblically based Celebrate Recovery program was developed based on the Beatitudes of Jesus. It started in 1991, but the principles it is based on have been around since the first century.
The goal of Celebrate Recovery is not
We all come from different backgrounds. Some are drawn towards materialism, others sensuality, and still others power and control. Whatever one’s bent, the result is the same—obsession and preoccupation over ways to make our lives work. The Apostle John knew this well which is why he tells us, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” -1 John
How sin manifests in each individual is unique, but there are patterns that emerge in us all. This is why the testimonies (stories) of others resonate so deeply within us. We can relate to bits and pieces of each particular story because all of us are made in the image of God, and in this, we are connected. It is sin that separates us from God, each other, and ourselves.
In Isaiah 57:18-19 God says of His people that He has seen how they have acted but He will heal them, He will lead them and help them and will comfort those who mourn. So God knows us. He knows the condition we are in. He knows where we came from, where we stand today, and where we are going tomorrow. He says;
* If you’ve been hurt, “I want to heal you.”
* If you’ve ever felt worried or afraid, “I want to offer peace to you.”
Persistent temptation must be team-tackled
The paradox of faith is that in order to save your life, you must lose it. In order to have life, you must first die. Those still trying to manage their lives without God are lost in their sin and selfishness. They are in deep denial of God’s holy laws. Who can say they have never broken any of the Ten Commandments?
The reality is we are not going to get well on our own. Persistent temptation must be team-tackled through community. We need each other. Try to fix our own problems on our own only makes them worse then they were when we started. But there’s hope. God is ready and waiting to help you if you let Him. Your life will change. You’ll experience freedom from your sinful hurts, habits, hang-ups and habits as you give up control and allow Jesus to be Lord in every area of your life. This is why the first principle speaks of being spiritually poor, not spiritually rich (paradox):
Realize I'm not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. --"Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor"
This is what Celebrate Recovery is about. We are growing together in community. It isn’t perfect because the “it” is people, and this side of Heaven we still fall short. But that shouldn’t stop us from being part of the church (Christ’s body) and find our place as we serve one another. Celebrate Recovery offers a way to deal with hurts, habits, and hang-ups that block the three most important relationships in life—God, others and self—in a Christ centered program.
For more on Celebrate Recovery, go here.
* 10 Stages of Love Addiction (pt 1)
10 Stages of Love Addiction (part 1)
1. Obsession. The individual is consumed by thoughts of romantic intrigue. The mind seems to whir away of its own accord, devises plots and plans to obtain the romantic high. Concentration is shattered, judgment impaired. Obsession begins the cycle that drives the individual to the next phase and beginnings the cycle that drives the individual to the next phase and intensifies as the process plays itself out. An episode of obsessive thinking can be triggered by almost anything: meeting an attractive person; passing someone on the street; seeing a picture on a billboard; experiencing an emotional low point of self-pity or depression; even passing through a location where the obsession was triggered on a prior occasion. The very promises that the addict makes to avoid triggering the obsession can themselves serve as a trigger. It is truly a no-win situation.
2. The Hunt. The individual is driven to follow through on the obsession. Inevitably he begins to seek out something or someone that will satisfy that drive. If his object of choice is another person, he may cruise the singles' bars. If he is hooked primarily on novels or movies, he will often go through rather elaborate rituals of selecting "just the right book" or video, setting the scene with music and dim lighting, and so on. The stronger the obsession, the more diligent the hunt. This is another point at which interference with normal life becomes noticeable if it results in time away from work or home responsibilities. Only one of two things will stop the hunt: finding the object being sought; or being caught looking.
3. Recruitment. When the object of the hunt is something inanimate, like a book or movie, recruitment is as simple as a business transaction: buy the book or rent the video. When the object is another person, however, the recruitment phase is far more complex. Romance addicts become remarkably skillful at enlisting other people to play the necessary role to complete their romantic fantasy. Sometimes this takes the form of a non-sexual seduction. Recruitment is always risky. The addict might be embarrassed to run into someone she knows while buying a book with a lurid cover or renting an unsavory video. Worse yet, she might be seen cruising bars or other public places looking for a partner. Worst of all, she might find a prospective partner but have her overtures rebuked. Yet that risk only heightens the romantic intoxication. The rush of adrenaline that accompanies the danger of being caught or found out further propels the addictive cycle.
4. Gratification. Gratification occurs when the addict succeeds, by whatever means, at realizing her romantic fantasy. The book, the soap opera, the movie "does the trick." Or the combination of soft music and candlelight enables her to play out a Technicolor romantic dream in her mind. Or another person is found who responds positively to her advances. The "itch" has been scratched, at least for the moment.
5. Return to
Lord, I confess, I’ve been consumed by obsessive thoughts that have taken on a life of their own. These thought have wrecked havoc on my life. I want to take every thought captive to Christ, to have a mind that is renewed and healed of past cravings. When the next desire for recruitments takes place within, I ask for strength and the wisdom to make a call to a sponsor or friend. Purify my life Lord, I seek holiness because I seek You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Part 2 next Monday
* Precious Jesus (prayer)
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Jesus, you came that I might have life, and have it abundantly
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You poured living water into my life that was parched and thirsty
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You fed my soul that was hungry with the bread of life
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought healing through a touch that knew no prejudice or barrier
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought Salvation through the cross,
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought a means through which mankind
could be made right again with its Creator
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought comfort to the sorrowing, liberty to the poor
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You accept me as I am, and mold me
into the person I was meant to be
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You enable broken lives and relationships to be made whole again
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You poured living water into my life that was parched and thirsty
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You fed my soul that was hungry with the bread of life
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought healing through a touch that knew no prejudice or barrier
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought Salvation through the cross,
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought a means through which mankind
could be made right again with its Creator
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You brought comfort to the sorrowing, liberty to the poor
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You accept me as I am, and mold me
into the person I was meant to be
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
You enable broken lives and relationships to be made whole again
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.
* The Perfume of Friendship
“The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.”
Proverbs 27:9
Friends come in all shapes and sizes. Some have big hearts. A few deliver the sunshine of laughter. One may offer a slender shoulder for you to cry on. One might listen while you whine, while another may speak the truth even when it hurts. One girlfriend may bring a casserole when you are sick, still another offers a prayer for healing. Pals will compliment you, hug you, watch your kids, and send you a birthday card. Or they might call once a year just to catch up on life. Whatever type of friends filter through your life, true healthy friendships are a gift from God.
We learn the importance of friendship at a very early age. Children have no material possessions to boast about and have no money so they value friendship in high esteem. Most kids base success on their friends. When a child heads for the lunch bench at school, they long for others that want to sit with them. Birthday parties are great events in their little lives. Equally, it is very sad to see a little one sitting alone, detached from others in school or walking at recess along the wired fence all by themselves.
Throughout our lives, we long for friendship. This fact is supported by television shows. Viewers loyally tune into specific shows throughout the decades displaying themes of friendship. We hum lyrics from the Cheers theme song “Sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” We watch Friends with hopes we too might develop friends through the ups and downs of life. Who can forget the last episode of M*A*S*H when Hawkeye rises in the helicopter to go home and looks down to see his close buddy BJ take the time to write in stones, “Goodbye.”
Today’s verse, “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense,” reminds us of the importance of friendship in our lives, Friendships enrich our lives. They help us through the valleys of despair and rejoice with us on the mountaintops of joy.
Friends do life with us
Friends help hold us accountable in what we do. We listen to them because they have taken the time to prove their worth. When they share difficult words we need to hear but resist, we eventually listen because we know they care. Scriptures tells us, “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Friends keep us dedicated to our agreements. We catch the passion of a friend which sharpens our desire for a closer walk with the Lord.
Of course, in order to have good friends, we must be a good friend to others. Certain qualities promote deep and lasting friendships. For example, honesty and loyalty set the foundation for friendship that can last a lifetime. Best friends are people we can trust and we want them to know they can trust us as well. Patience, kindness and a sense of humor are essential in developing and maintaining enduring friendship. Good friends can chuckle at our human foibles helping us to keep in mind that even the best friendships will have imperfections.
May we never be so involved in church activities that we forget to develop friendships. It is very easy to be so busy rapped up in our desire to do good, that we end up after many years in church alone and confused wondering why nobody knows our birthday or calls when we are absent.
Friendship! It’s one of the true riches we can have in this life.
Will you thank God today for your personal friends?
Dear Lord, Thank You for giving me a variety of friendships to help me walk the road of life. I am especially grateful for the friends who inspire me. Lord Jesus, teach me how to be a better friend. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear Lord, I am lonely today. I don’t have any close friends. Please help me to reach out to others, to move beyond my own pain of rejection and to see life with new eyes. Help me not to be so critical of others and always think others are using me for their good. I am thankful that I have a friend in Jesus. Would You please bless me with a friend in this lifetime as well? In Your name I pray. Amen.
Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing! --Proverbs 25:13
Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. –Proverbs 18:24
* Jesus Forgave Our Sin
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace” –Ephesians 1:7
Forgiveness means we don’t require a payment for settlement. If repayment is made there is no need for forgiveness. Forgiveness here assumes grace. Grace lets the injury go. Grace gives what someone doesn’t deserve. Forgiveness is not getting even, it gives away this right. This is what God has done for us when we trust Christ: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” (Acts
The key here is understanding our sins before a Holy God. This understanding must be heart-felt. If we don’t understand our position before a Holy God we will never walk in a deep appreciation of grace. We will never be in awe of the love God has given us by wiping out our transgressions for His own sake (Is 43:25) and removing them as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12). This is truly amazing grace!
Is forgiveness enough?
All sin is serious before God’s holiness. It is His glory our sin injures. When we ignore or disobey our sin we blaspheme God. His justice requires punishment. The injury done to God’s glory by our sin must be repaired so that in justice His glory shines more brightly. If we are set free and are forgiven there must be some dramatic demonstration that the honor of God is upheld even though former blasphemers (us) are set free. Thus, forgiveness is not enough! There has to be justice.
This is why Christ suffered and died. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of all our trespasses.” (Eph 1:7) Forgiveness costs us nothing. All our costly obedience is the fruit, not the root, of being forgiven. This is why it is called grace! But there was a cost. It cost Jesus His life. This is why we call it just.
Imagine someone being set free for a horrible crime and showing little emotion. Do you think that criminal really understood his crime? After the criminal is set free and enters society with no record of wrong doing, what if he then complains about his poor treatment in prison, the bad food or uncomfortable sleeping conditions. Worse yet, what if he grumbles about the lousy T.V. channels he had to watch during his recreation periods? Is this a man who appreciates the grace given to him? Does he even begin to understand the sacrifice someone made on his behalf? Has he any comprehension the acts of evil he committed?
If we don’t understand our sin before God
we minimize the work of Christ on the cross.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.—Romans
* Discovering the Steps to Overcome
Yesterday’s devotion "The Way Out!", spoke of Jeri’s story, a woman who had been enslaved to binge eating for a long time. For Jeri, the way out was through connection to God and to a buddy; to talk things out rather than using food to make herself feel better. Today we look at specific steps Jeri took to overcome.
As Jeri continued to work on things, she began to get in touch with other dynamics that were driving her eating. She had a lot of fear of getting close to men because of some abuse that she had suffered. She had subconsciously gained a lot of weight as a way of keeping men safely at a distance.
She gradually became aware of things that triggered her desire to eat, and she had to learn how to express that pain instead of “eating it away.” Learn to express the pain Instead of "eating it away"!
In time she came to understand that she had some character flaws as well. She was not as honest as she thought she was. She was indirect with people and then held grudges and bitterness toward them instead of talking things out directly, offering forgiveness, and resolving conflict.
She had always been a “nice” person, but that niceness was covering a lot of anger and resentment, and her true feelings would come out as she would talk about people behind their backs. She had to learn to repent of that kind of indirect, hurtful behavior and to offer forgiveness and resolve conflict.
Jeri went back to school and started a new business, which became successful. She was soon hired as a consultant and was really thrilled that she was able to exercise her gifts and talents, overcoming a longstanding belief that she was “stupid” and unable to do anything significant.
Now “significant” people were paying her to help them. One more thing. Jeri lost half of her weight – and I do not mean half of her goal weight or half of the weight that she was supposed to lose. No, I mean literally half of her body weight. She went from 300 to 150 pounds. This was not as a result of a “diet.” She lost the weight as a result of getting reconnected to God and his life.
The following steps map the path that Jeri took and that God describes:
* She got to the end of herself, the end of her own strength, admitting her powerlessness.
* She found strength in reaching out to God.
* She found strength in reaching out to God’s people.
* She overcame the aloneness and isolation through learning how to be vulnerable and to connect with others – this healed the pain that her eating was serving to medicate.
* She grew in her character, learning how to be honest, to be responsible, and to set good boundaries with others instead of being so passive and powerless.
* She grieved a lot of hurt.
* She forgave a lot of people and gave up a lot of bitterness.
* She developed her talents, reached out, took some risks, and grew a life of work and service.
* She learned to pray at a more realistic, deeper, and more dependent level.
* She began to study the Bible in a different way, not as religious obligation but as the place to find the wisdom that was healing her.
* She learned new interpersonal skills for building better relationships.
* She worked out conflicts with people, asked for forgiveness, and made amends.
* She learned to reach out to people at the critical times when she needed help.
* She lost the weight. Through spiritual growth, her addiction was overcome.
Review the above steps. Each one of the steps above are worthy of a sermon for deeper understanding. Are there any that have helped you? Are there any that you would like to grow in? Are there any you need to understand better?
Keep in mind this is a process! Jeri didn’t do all of the above in three easy CR meetings. One of the greatest demands we put on God and ourselves is to demand change…NOW! See the very first devotion on this hurtful habit.
Finding a friend can be difficult for some. Ask a CR leader Friday night about finding a sponsor or accountability partner. Don’t ignore the questions inside—make a note of them. Hope and victory are ahead. Feelings come and go, but faith in Christ lasts forever!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. -1 Peter 1:3-5
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* The Way Out
NOTE: All names are purely fictional and do NOT represent anyone in particular
The Way Out!
Jeri had been enslaved to binge eating for a long time. Her doctor had sent her to counseling because he feared for her health. She was very overweight and had a history of heart disease in her family, and he was very concerned about her.
She had “tried” many times before to control her eating through dieting. She would initially lose some weight, but eventually she would give up and quit, only to have the weight that she had lost return, with extra pounds on top of it all. Despair had given way to detachment, and she found herself in a lonely pattern, having given up. Yet the doctor had gotten her attention, and she now feared for her very life.
Need to be cured of the commitment to dieting?
When Jeri came to a Christian counseling clinic, the first thing the counselors had to do was “cure” her of her commitment to dieting. She came in mistakenly believing that all she needed to do was to have more commitment and willpower. She believed that if she made a strong enough commitment, then she would be able to manage her eating.
This is not how addiction works, however!
Jeri had to learn that addiction was by definition the inability to stop. In other words, she had to learn to admit that she was powerless over her addiction and totally helpless to stop. You would think that after gaining a few hundred pounds and after many failed efforts at dieting Jeri would have seen that she did not stand a chance of change by herself. Yet that is part of addiction – the belief that one really is able to overcome the problem.
What does it mean to Lean on God?
Next, Jeri had to learn that she had not truly reached out to God as the Source of power in her life of addiction. She had “prayed” about her problem before, but that is very different than leaning on God as a source of power in the addiction itself. She had to learn that when temptation came, she had to pray and ask God at that moment for the strength to know what to do to flee the temptation.
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength
of my heart and my portion forever--Psalms 73:26
Finding strength through other people.
Then, she had to learn that God also gives us strength through other people. She began to see that part of the reason she had failed before was that she had tried to go it alone. She had thought because she had joined diet groups emphasizing group support, that she was getting that support. She discovered that in moments of weakness, when she was feeling loneliness or self-pity, she needed to be able to call a few people. She needed a “buddy system”.
Oil and perfume rejoice the heart;
so does the sweetness of a friend's
counsel that comes from the heart--Proverbs 27: 9
Here’s her story:
"Well, last night I found myself craving some serious food. I was just about to give in when I remembered what was taught. There were three things. First, I needed to reach out to God. So I prayed and asked him to help me get through it and to show me what was going on. Second, my cravings were not really for food, but had something to do with how I was feeling inside. Third, at those times I could not just depend on myself, but had to reach out to someone else. So, I asked God to help, and then I called another friend from the support group and told her I was struggling.
As we talked, I began to feel really sad. The more I talked, the sadder I got. I felt this deep aloneness that I never had felt before. She just told me to keep talking, and I did. Then, slowly, the feeling went away. And the weird thing was that after that conversation, I was not hungry anymore, but I hadn’t eaten anything. I think I am getting it!”
She learned to reach out to God and to a buddy to talk things out rather than using food to make herself feel better.
Principle 2 -
Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.
"Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"
Tomorrow: Discovering the Steps to Overcome--What Jeri did to overcome
* 10 Steps to Emotional Freedom
When the new Celebrate Recovery devotion blog started, the first two weeks were devoted to studies on the Cross of Christ. This was to lay a strong biblical foundation for effective Christian living in an age where truth and understanding can be unclear. Christians need to know their faith is firmly founded upon biblical truths. Those devotions can always be visited by searching the archive. From time-to-time there will be more devotions based on the freedom found in Jesus’ finished work on the Cross. Now we move to specific recovery devotions and steps for recovery. The first is titled, 10 Steps to Emotional Freedom.
Lists can be good, but also create pressure to be successful in all areas. Take a look at the following list and allow God’s Spirit to speak to you.
As I looked over the list, three steps jumped out at me. It's those three I will bring before God. I know if I am going to Love God and others, I need to deal with these issues because if I do not, they will pull me in negative directions.
Lists can be good, but also create pressure to be successful in all areas. Take a look at the following list and allow God’s Spirit to speak to you.As I looked over the list, three steps jumped out at me. It's those three I will bring before God. I know if I am going to Love God and others, I need to deal with these issues because if I do not, they will pull me in negative directions.
1. Make amends. Take steps to correct any problems you may have caused for others and acknowledge to them your regret for causing difficulty in their lives … Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
2. Make friends with failure. The fear of failure can hold you back from success. Most successful people have failed many more times than they’ve succeeded.
3. Don’t say yes when you mean no. If you feel it is always your “duty” to say yes to a certain person, that may be reflective of an unhealthy relationship.
4. Streamline your life. Take an objective look at your schedule and let go of the truly unimportant things. Don’t be held hostage by an overburdened agenda … Cease striving and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
5. Give yourself some slack. There is a difference between striving for excellence and striving for perfection. The first is attainable, gratifying and healthy. The second is unattainable, frustrating and neurotic.
6. Appreciate the value of sorrow and pain. Truly, difficult times are unavoidable. See that God can draw you closer to Him, family and loved ones through troubled circumstances.
7. Examine your negative attitudes and beliefs. Negative attitudes are one of the chief causes of depression. Try to determine the root cause of your negative attitudes and take responsible steps to resolve them … You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad. Proverbs 14:14
8. Strengthen your relationships. Human relationships, especially within the family have a forceful impact on life. Nurture relationships with people who lift you up and recognize your role to lift their life as a friend too … Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27 9.
9. Nourish your spiritual health. It is cliché in the Christian culture, but spending time in the Bible, with Christian friends and in prayer is vital to being truly free emotionally. Pour out your sorrows to God. Spiritual strength can uphold you when it seems that all other strength is spent. James 5:16 tells us to Confess your sins one to another and pray for each other that you may be healed. Emotional freedom comes when we open our lives up to others. Confess to God and another and Satan will no longer be able to blackmail you with your secrets. In secrecy there is secrecy and in openness there is wholeness.
10. Take the first step now. Procrastination is the enemy of emotional freedom. Talk with a trusted friend, pastor or counselor. Get resources that can help you grow.
Which step(s) stood out to you? Pray over them today. Honestly ask God to open your heart towards positive change and freedom to love God and others while experiencing greater peace and joy in your life. Pray for a close friend to walk with you and discuss these steps.
* Jesus Showed His Own Love For Us
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“And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” –Ephesians 5:2
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” --Galatians 2:20
People crave truth and desperately seek integrity and consistency in a world that shifts with the times. God’s Word is a rock, an unmovable pillar, it is eternal. If you want to know what a person looks like who seeks after God, read Psalm 119. This Psalm drips with passion!
It is our sin that cuts us off from God, not sin in general. It is our hard-heartedness and spiritual numbness that demean the worth of Christ. We are the ones lost and perishing. When it comes to salvation, we have forfeited all claim on justice. All we can do is plead mercy. It is then we see Christ suffering and dying…for us!
Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her—Eph 5:25
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays
down his life for his friends—Jn 15:13
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to
give His life as a ransom for many—Mt 20:28
What is the call of Jesus?
* Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—Acts 16:31
* Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved—Rom 10:13
* Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name—Acts 10:43
* To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—Jn 1:12
* Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life—Jn 3:16
This is amazing. In human terms, who would die for his enemies? If I didn’t see myself as an enemy to Christ, will I ever be amazed at His love for me? This is what separates the “love talk” of the world from the love found in Scripture. The “love talk” of the world doesn’t save the soul!
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not covet.
Jesus paid the highest price possible to give me the greatest gift possible. The gift reflects His whole being as seen in His prayer; “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory” (Jn 17:24). He died to secure this for us. Note the statement, “…may be with Me.” This is relational! This is living and active.
God designed relationships and intimately knows what we need and desire. He is also fully aware of our predicament here on earth. He didn’t leave us on our own. If you want to know what man will do, “on his own” read history. History is a constant scroll of depravity, of death and dying, of evil found in one war or battle after another.
Because of Christ’s love for us, may we have a heart for God and the things of God. May we reflect His desires and make a stand for the things that are good, pure, and right. Let us think of Jesus and the life He led. May we walk in gratitude of the hope we have inherited and a deeper appreciation of that famous truth, “Jesus loves you."
Jesus loves me! This I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
little ones to him belong;
they are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! he who died
heaven's gate to open wide;
he will wash away my sin,
let his little child come in.
Gentle Jesus, with me stay
close beside me all the way;
when at last I come to die
take me home with thee on high.
for the Bible tells me so.
little ones to him belong;
they are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! he who died
heaven's gate to open wide;
he will wash away my sin,
let his little child come in.
Gentle Jesus, with me stay
close beside me all the way;
when at last I come to die
take me home with thee on high.
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