So the weekend did not go according to plan. Recently, I purchased the "life recovery" Bible because of its use of 12-step and celebrate recovery principles through scripture and prayer. It has amazing tools not only for the field I work in but for my life, my personal sin, and the constant messes I find myself in spiritually. I have been working through a particular bible study that follows through the 12 steps and I am beginning the 4th step as of this evening. Now, the 4th steps states that "we made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves" I have done a 4th step inventory before and it was by far one of the most emotionally difficult things I have done. Honestly, I didn't want to revisit it, or even reflect on it, so instead of doing the healthy and proper thing. I chose to ignore it and put off my Bible studies and time with God. This led to a number of things that made this weekend for me less then pleasant (on an emotional and spiritual level). Thankfully it was only a few days and not weeks to months on end of rebellion and vicious cycles of nasty habits and self loathing. So, here I am today, ready to once again revisit those places inside me that while maybe dark to even my own eyes, the "light of the world" can see.
It is funny how timing works. Of course I think this is God and his sense of humor or irony if you will. The step 4 bible study focused on Adam and Eve, and how they hid from God and yet he knew where they were and what they did. At the same time, the study I am doing on the names of God continues to focus on the name for Christ: "light of the World"
As that light, nothing is hid from God. "darkness is as light" to him. I have also been reading through the Psalms and praying Psalms 19:12-14
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
This life we walk through is never easy; the way we cope with it is sometimes very unhealthy; and often times we, especially me, I get stuck in these unhealthy behaviors, unhealthy coping patterns and repetitively and incessantly fail. It is that lack of control and need to daily give it over to God. So, Just for today, I will give my troubles, my shame, my guilt, and even my joy over to the one who sees all, and gives grace and rest to all. One of my favorite passages is as follows.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:9-19
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Fresh air and will power...
Today at work, our clients got into an interesting discussion during one of their process groups. Why do people relapse? Each had his or her own idea, but most came to the conclusion that i had to do with following through with their program. In my previous job, I was able to see people who held down 10 or more years of sobriety. The number 1 reason they relapse was because they became confident, saying things such as "I got this," quit going to their 12-step meetings, stopped communicating with their sponsors, stopped going to church or connecting with a higher power. In essence they stopped working their program.
Tonight, in continuing to study the names of God, I revisited this idea of working a program. If Christ is the "light of the world," and we are to walk in the light as He is in the light," then how can I attain this.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5 - 7
In this life, in present body and present world, I will never be able to be perfect. My flesh is sinful. It is through the blood of Christ I am made pure, but how can I make the choices, control thoughts and attitudes which are often times automatic so that I do not walk in darkness. How come I keep on sinning? My conclusion is that I do not work my program. We have an excellent text, not the Big Book of AA, rather the Bible. God commanded Joshua on how to live:
Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you -- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:7-9
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord our God with all your heart, all your sould, and all your mind. This is the first and greates commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40
I could keep writing things that come to mind- "set your mind on things above not on earthly things..." "be anxious about nothing but through prayer and petition present your requests to God."
The truth is, I don't do these things. I don't turn to God first. I often times stop having my daily communion with him, I stop reading scripture and meditating, I stop putting others before me. I stop my program. I believe it is possible to live like Christ because he gave us all authority that he was given, the problem is, I don't keep up the work. I believe Christ put it best when he stated:
"If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters -- yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. Luke 14:26-27
Tonight, in continuing to study the names of God, I revisited this idea of working a program. If Christ is the "light of the world," and we are to walk in the light as He is in the light," then how can I attain this.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5 - 7
In this life, in present body and present world, I will never be able to be perfect. My flesh is sinful. It is through the blood of Christ I am made pure, but how can I make the choices, control thoughts and attitudes which are often times automatic so that I do not walk in darkness. How come I keep on sinning? My conclusion is that I do not work my program. We have an excellent text, not the Big Book of AA, rather the Bible. God commanded Joshua on how to live:
Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you -- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:7-9
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord our God with all your heart, all your sould, and all your mind. This is the first and greates commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40
I could keep writing things that come to mind- "set your mind on things above not on earthly things..." "be anxious about nothing but through prayer and petition present your requests to God."
The truth is, I don't do these things. I don't turn to God first. I often times stop having my daily communion with him, I stop reading scripture and meditating, I stop putting others before me. I stop my program. I believe it is possible to live like Christ because he gave us all authority that he was given, the problem is, I don't keep up the work. I believe Christ put it best when he stated:
"If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters -- yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. Luke 14:26-27
Monday, July 4, 2011
If I were king of the forrest....
"When we are born we're afraid of the darkness, and then we're afraid of the light" -Aerosmith-
How true is that statement? As a child, I remember going to Natural Bridge Caverns outside San Antonio. What I hated the most was the moment they would shut the lights off throughout the cavern. I knew it was coming every time, they even counted down and prepped you for it. However, as soon as those lights shut off, it was as if I was all alone, swallowed by darkness. So what did I do? I reached backward to ensure my mother was still standing there and didn't disappear. As a child, things lived in the dark. Monsters like the Cucui (boogeyman), ghosts, chucky, freddy (yes I watched horror movies as a child when I shouldn't have- I blame my sister ha ha). Now, as an adult, I know nothing will come out of the darkness and eat me. I still have trouble letting my feet dangle from the bed at night but you have to understand how scary the CuCui really is. Okay so humor aside, something transforms in us as we transition into adult hood. At some point, our innocence becomes lost. We look forward to being scared- hence the love of horror movies, and haunted houses. We look forward to misbehaving, and when our behavior is called to light, we scatter. Like roaches when the light turns on we run and hide, afraid someone might see who we really are and what we are really like.
Darkness as black as night will cover all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD will shine over you. Isaiah 60:2
The prophet Isaiah spoke of a spiritual darkness, covering all the nations and people of the earth. It is here in this darkness that we fumble around, trying to make some sense of our existence, deciding what is good is bad, and what is bad is good. However, we have hope. The savior God promised, the "light of the world"
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
The truth is, darkness can not hide us from God. He knows us inside and out, he remembers us when we were still dust according to the Psalms.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:11 - 12
In my sin, I would love to run and hide, to keep this secret from my God. However, darkness is as light. The only thing that hides my shame and sin from the eyes of the Father is the blood of the Son. Christ is the reason I stand before my God with confidence, even when I know I should cower and run. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:6.
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome. Ephesians 3:12.
Once again I recommend this prayer as I too pray for myself and others.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:12-14
How true is that statement? As a child, I remember going to Natural Bridge Caverns outside San Antonio. What I hated the most was the moment they would shut the lights off throughout the cavern. I knew it was coming every time, they even counted down and prepped you for it. However, as soon as those lights shut off, it was as if I was all alone, swallowed by darkness. So what did I do? I reached backward to ensure my mother was still standing there and didn't disappear. As a child, things lived in the dark. Monsters like the Cucui (boogeyman), ghosts, chucky, freddy (yes I watched horror movies as a child when I shouldn't have- I blame my sister ha ha). Now, as an adult, I know nothing will come out of the darkness and eat me. I still have trouble letting my feet dangle from the bed at night but you have to understand how scary the CuCui really is. Okay so humor aside, something transforms in us as we transition into adult hood. At some point, our innocence becomes lost. We look forward to being scared- hence the love of horror movies, and haunted houses. We look forward to misbehaving, and when our behavior is called to light, we scatter. Like roaches when the light turns on we run and hide, afraid someone might see who we really are and what we are really like.
Darkness as black as night will cover all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD will shine over you. Isaiah 60:2
The prophet Isaiah spoke of a spiritual darkness, covering all the nations and people of the earth. It is here in this darkness that we fumble around, trying to make some sense of our existence, deciding what is good is bad, and what is bad is good. However, we have hope. The savior God promised, the "light of the world"
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
The truth is, darkness can not hide us from God. He knows us inside and out, he remembers us when we were still dust according to the Psalms.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:11 - 12
In my sin, I would love to run and hide, to keep this secret from my God. However, darkness is as light. The only thing that hides my shame and sin from the eyes of the Father is the blood of the Son. Christ is the reason I stand before my God with confidence, even when I know I should cower and run. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:6.
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome. Ephesians 3:12.
Once again I recommend this prayer as I too pray for myself and others.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:12-14
Saturday, July 2, 2011
You, light up my life....
I know there wasn't a post yesterday, the study I am doing apparently has 2 day rests. Weekend maybe? Not sure. Well as stated earlier, I am doing a study on the names of God. Specifically, this study is on the names of Christ.
NAMES:
IMMANUEL- God with us.
This Week: "Light of the World"
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. John 1:3 - 9
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
As I think of this concept, I think about the times I have gone to candle light services on Christmas Eve. It is symbolic of the "light" coming into the world through the birth of Jesus. The room starts of completely dark, almost pitch black. Then, a single candle is lit. It is amazing how much darkness is pushed back from just the light of a single candlestick. The light however does not stop there, it begins to spread from candlestick to candlestick until all are lit. The room becomes a glow with a multitude of candles.
You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16
When Christ came into the world, he came to pierce the darkness, not only in the world, but in our hearts. Because of this, we too become light. We shine the light of God for others to see. As the "light" works in our hearts, certain things come to light, things I often wish would stay hidden. I never enjoy looking back at my secret sins, and hidden shame. However, they must be brought to light so that Christ can redeem me, so that I can be made whole. I was reading in Psalms 19 today and I decided that the prayer of David is a prayer I should pray every day. I encourage others to do the same.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:12-14
AMEN!
NAMES:
IMMANUEL- God with us.
This Week: "Light of the World"
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. John 1:3 - 9
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
As I think of this concept, I think about the times I have gone to candle light services on Christmas Eve. It is symbolic of the "light" coming into the world through the birth of Jesus. The room starts of completely dark, almost pitch black. Then, a single candle is lit. It is amazing how much darkness is pushed back from just the light of a single candlestick. The light however does not stop there, it begins to spread from candlestick to candlestick until all are lit. The room becomes a glow with a multitude of candles.
You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16
When Christ came into the world, he came to pierce the darkness, not only in the world, but in our hearts. Because of this, we too become light. We shine the light of God for others to see. As the "light" works in our hearts, certain things come to light, things I often wish would stay hidden. I never enjoy looking back at my secret sins, and hidden shame. However, they must be brought to light so that Christ can redeem me, so that I can be made whole. I was reading in Psalms 19 today and I decided that the prayer of David is a prayer I should pray every day. I encourage others to do the same.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:12-14
AMEN!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
At First I was Afraid, I was Petrified...
Fear is a powerful emotion. It can cause 3 natural physiological mechanisms in response. 1. Fight 2. Flight 3. Freeze. For 100 bonus points, does anyone know why? Aside from that was the way we were created, our brains have naturally adapted over the past few millennia. Back when the world was mostly teeth and flesh, when faced with a threatening animal or situation, humans had to decide 1. Can I fight this to survive? 2. Should I run from this to survive? 3. Humans learned that some animals do not eat dead things so they learned, if I freeze, it will leave me alone. Fear plays a key role in our ability to survive. So at what point does fear become a key role in our sin? For me, fear keeps me from trusting in God- IMMANUEL. This week has been good in a sense that I a daily trying to remember that He is IMMANUEL- God with us. I immediately try to control the situation and when I can't, in sets the panic. It is crazy how I do this over and over again. So as I continue to bring my mind that God is with me, I feel a calm come over me. Tonight's study continues to be a combination of Step 3 of the 12 steps (We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God) and the name Immanuel. Tonight, I am reminded of some important promises.
But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you." Exodus 3:11 - 12
"I will never leave you nor forsake you. . . . Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:5, 9
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:2 - 3
Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can human beings do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5 - 6
The word of God is full of promises that God will be with us, that he will not abandon us. I know I don't deserve it, but I am learning to daily accept the grace that was given to me and trust in the fact that He is IMMANUEL!
But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you." Exodus 3:11 - 12
"I will never leave you nor forsake you. . . . Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:5, 9
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:2 - 3
Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can human beings do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5 - 6
The word of God is full of promises that God will be with us, that he will not abandon us. I know I don't deserve it, but I am learning to daily accept the grace that was given to me and trust in the fact that He is IMMANUEL!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Mirror, Mirror on the wall...
Sorry for the delay, last night the server was down.
Let's Recap. I have started a study on the names of God. This week, the focus has been on IMMANUEL (God With Us). Part of this study is to incorporate the name and characteristic into prayer, specifically praising and thanking God for being with me/us, learning to identify where he is evident in my life, even when I don't want him there (deep down inside I do, but its easier to blame him then me).
In addiction and recovery, (really anyone's mind), God plays an important role. Step 2 of the 12 steps states "We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Step 3 states: "We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God..." Many people find these two steps difficult. Each name used to describe God portrays a characteristic he possesses according to our understanding of him (HEALER, FATHER, DADDY, FRIEND, SAVIOR, MASTER, VENGEFUL, ETC.) However, in our minds what often takes place is simple transference. God begins to take on the characteristics of authority figures from our past. If you had parents who were abusive while you were a child, either physically or sexually, authority figures who were never there, who didn't provide, who only dealt out punishment rather than love and compassion, then odds are God too begins to take this image in your mind. Do I truly want a God like that to be with me? First and foremost, it is time to separate lies from reality. If you read previous posts or especially the Bible, you will find that God loves us, is there for us, loves justice.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:9 - 12
Once we have realized this important piece of information on who God is, we can begin to surrender to his will and embrace the fact that He is with us. The Bible gives us specific examples of how he is with us, how he wants to be with us. When was the last time you looked in a mirror and reflected upon the reflection looking back?
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:41
The spirit of God lives in us. We should (I should) reflect that. I know often times I don't. Often times I get bogged down with a distorted image looking back at me, accusations, guilt, shame, sin, pride. All those things that bring me down and cause me to turn from my God. Jesus tells us that we are the light, a city on a hill, the salt of the earth. Others should see Christ in us and know we are children of God.
When I was 17, I was able to spend 2 months in Namibia Africa. It was an incredible and difficult time of my life however, I remember meeting with a small family (my ministry group and I) and they were not having anything we were talking with them about. They didn't want to hear about God and the message of the Gospel. So we decided to take our leave and journeyed up a hill that was right behind their huts (literally). As we sat there, we prayed. We asked God to shine through us, apparently our words were doing nothing so we gave it over to God. At the end of our prayer time, we journeyed back down the hill. The same family asked us to join them for a small meal, a token of their appreciation for spending time with them. They offered us a few small pieces of Goat and some "sour milk" (not pleasant). We were humbled that they would give us some of what was already so little to eat. As we partook, the man of the house told us. "we see something in you, you all are good people, you come, you eat our food, you smile, we see good in you" God was shining his love through us. I do not know if this family came to know God, but I do know God revealed himself that day. Every day I try to pray this prayer, that God will reveal himself through me, through my smile, my attitude, my actions. He is with me and in me. Our physical reflection may not ever be perfect, but I pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will wash over those imperfections and that we can begin to allow HIS perfection to shine through us.
Let's Recap. I have started a study on the names of God. This week, the focus has been on IMMANUEL (God With Us). Part of this study is to incorporate the name and characteristic into prayer, specifically praising and thanking God for being with me/us, learning to identify where he is evident in my life, even when I don't want him there (deep down inside I do, but its easier to blame him then me).
In addiction and recovery, (really anyone's mind), God plays an important role. Step 2 of the 12 steps states "We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Step 3 states: "We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God..." Many people find these two steps difficult. Each name used to describe God portrays a characteristic he possesses according to our understanding of him (HEALER, FATHER, DADDY, FRIEND, SAVIOR, MASTER, VENGEFUL, ETC.) However, in our minds what often takes place is simple transference. God begins to take on the characteristics of authority figures from our past. If you had parents who were abusive while you were a child, either physically or sexually, authority figures who were never there, who didn't provide, who only dealt out punishment rather than love and compassion, then odds are God too begins to take this image in your mind. Do I truly want a God like that to be with me? First and foremost, it is time to separate lies from reality. If you read previous posts or especially the Bible, you will find that God loves us, is there for us, loves justice.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:9 - 12
Once we have realized this important piece of information on who God is, we can begin to surrender to his will and embrace the fact that He is with us. The Bible gives us specific examples of how he is with us, how he wants to be with us. When was the last time you looked in a mirror and reflected upon the reflection looking back?
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:41
The spirit of God lives in us. We should (I should) reflect that. I know often times I don't. Often times I get bogged down with a distorted image looking back at me, accusations, guilt, shame, sin, pride. All those things that bring me down and cause me to turn from my God. Jesus tells us that we are the light, a city on a hill, the salt of the earth. Others should see Christ in us and know we are children of God.
When I was 17, I was able to spend 2 months in Namibia Africa. It was an incredible and difficult time of my life however, I remember meeting with a small family (my ministry group and I) and they were not having anything we were talking with them about. They didn't want to hear about God and the message of the Gospel. So we decided to take our leave and journeyed up a hill that was right behind their huts (literally). As we sat there, we prayed. We asked God to shine through us, apparently our words were doing nothing so we gave it over to God. At the end of our prayer time, we journeyed back down the hill. The same family asked us to join them for a small meal, a token of their appreciation for spending time with them. They offered us a few small pieces of Goat and some "sour milk" (not pleasant). We were humbled that they would give us some of what was already so little to eat. As we partook, the man of the house told us. "we see something in you, you all are good people, you come, you eat our food, you smile, we see good in you" God was shining his love through us. I do not know if this family came to know God, but I do know God revealed himself that day. Every day I try to pray this prayer, that God will reveal himself through me, through my smile, my attitude, my actions. He is with me and in me. Our physical reflection may not ever be perfect, but I pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will wash over those imperfections and that we can begin to allow HIS perfection to shine through us.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Yo No Soy Marinero...
I like that song. In case you don't recognize it, it is a line from La Bamba. Translation- I am not a sailor. It continues saying soy Capitan- I am captain. It's kind of funny; Many times, it doesn't feel as if God is there. How can He be Immanuel- when it is hard to see or feel him there? Suffering, pain, tragedy, all are a part of life right? Questions people often ask are why do bad things happen to good people, how can God allow this?
Well, there are a couple of things to remember.
1st: Some important characteristics of God.
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
Isaiah 25:4
In Deuteronomy, God promised that he would never fail or abandon his people. David in the Psalms, states that "the Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me"
The Bible is full of God's promises to be there for us and to deliver us and not abandon us. The final note is that:
"Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8
So the why does it often feel as if God has turned his back on us? Why in our hour of need does it feel that God isn't there or that He doesn't care. Is he or is he not IMMANUEL? Here is my conclusion. We need, I NEED, to stop trying to be the captain and allow myself to be the sailor. God doesn't abandon me; he never has. In fact, I should be dead about 3 to 4 times over. I turn my back on him; I pull away. All those times I could not feel his presence in my life was due to my attempts to ignore Him. The beauty is, he was still there, fulfilling his glory and his will.
"I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." John 15:15 God is at work, if we want to always know where he is and feel him there, we need to join him in his work, not demand he join in our work.
When you find yourself trying to take control of things, and finding your self frustrated and angry that it is not working out so well, raise your arms high in the air and repeat the following: "GOD, GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE, THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN, AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE".
Well, there are a couple of things to remember.
1st: Some important characteristics of God.
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
Isaiah 25:4
In Deuteronomy, God promised that he would never fail or abandon his people. David in the Psalms, states that "the Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me"
The Bible is full of God's promises to be there for us and to deliver us and not abandon us. The final note is that:
"Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8
So the why does it often feel as if God has turned his back on us? Why in our hour of need does it feel that God isn't there or that He doesn't care. Is he or is he not IMMANUEL? Here is my conclusion. We need, I NEED, to stop trying to be the captain and allow myself to be the sailor. God doesn't abandon me; he never has. In fact, I should be dead about 3 to 4 times over. I turn my back on him; I pull away. All those times I could not feel his presence in my life was due to my attempts to ignore Him. The beauty is, he was still there, fulfilling his glory and his will.
"I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." John 15:15 God is at work, if we want to always know where he is and feel him there, we need to join him in his work, not demand he join in our work.
When you find yourself trying to take control of things, and finding your self frustrated and angry that it is not working out so well, raise your arms high in the air and repeat the following: "GOD, GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE, THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN, AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE".
Monday, June 27, 2011
Hi, My name is Mike and I'm a sinner...
Often times, in my line of work I get asked if I am in recovery. My answer is usually ambivalent. I tell people in a sense yes and a sense no. The truth is, I have no addiction to a chemical substance. Have I struggled with substance abuse in the past? Emphatically, I must say yes. I have bordered on the line of alcoholism and made some pretty stupid choices. However, by the grace of God, my consequences were nil, and I was able to recognize my patterns of behavior and took control and changed the negative behaviors. I enjoy certain pharmacological pills; I know if I get a hold of them, it will be difficult to stop taking them. I enjoy them that much. Again, by the grace of God, I have not pursued these pills and when I do have them, I am learning to get rid of them without taking them. So no, I am not in recovery that I have to go to a meeting every day for 90 days or 90/90.
I do however,have some things in my life I consider an ongoing battle, a struggle, an addiction. These are things I am not proud of, in fact, I am ashamed, often times riddled with guilt. As I do this study on the names of God, I can't help but be amazed that He is IMMANUEL, God with us.
Take into account Peter. I have read his story over and over and today I realized something new, not about Peter but about IMMANUEL.
Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. he noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish." "master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again." And this time their nets were so full of fish, they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "OH,LORD, PLEASE LEAVE ME-- I'M TOO MUCH OF A SINNER TO BE AROUND YOU." For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!" And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
HOLY CRAP! Peter immediately recognized how much of a sinner he was and unworthy to be in the presence of someone who was holy and filled with the power of God. At this point, he didn't even know that Jesus was IMMANUEL, the one who would restore and save him. And Jesus' reply... "DON'T BE AFRAID! FROM NOW ON YOU'LL BE FISHING FOR PEOPLE" In other words, come and be a part of who I am and the work I have come to do. If you continue to read the story of Peter you will see that the man is a complete and utter disaster. He fell on his face numerous times, denied ever knowing Christ, doubted the power of Jesus on a number of occasions, and almost always completely missed the point Jesus was trying to make. And all Jesus did was walk with him, love him, DIED for him and used him in an amazing manner.
As I reflect on this, I see myself. I do the exact same thing. When I get into my habitual sin, persistent failures I try to hide from God. Rather than say "PLEASE GO AWAY FROM ME," I just run the opposite direction. I should be an Olympic medalist by now. I would rather hide my face from him and live in darkness, than come to him with my shame and guilt. Problem is, He is IMMANUEL! He is with me, even when I can't sense him because of my stubborn and foolish pride. King David said it best...
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
f I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalms 139:1-12
There is nothing I can do, nowhere I can hide. He is after all IMMANUEL! How awesome!
So am I in recovery? YES! My name is Mike and I am addicted to sin.
I do however,have some things in my life I consider an ongoing battle, a struggle, an addiction. These are things I am not proud of, in fact, I am ashamed, often times riddled with guilt. As I do this study on the names of God, I can't help but be amazed that He is IMMANUEL, God with us.
Take into account Peter. I have read his story over and over and today I realized something new, not about Peter but about IMMANUEL.
Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. he noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish." "master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again." And this time their nets were so full of fish, they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "OH,LORD, PLEASE LEAVE ME-- I'M TOO MUCH OF A SINNER TO BE AROUND YOU." For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!" And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
HOLY CRAP! Peter immediately recognized how much of a sinner he was and unworthy to be in the presence of someone who was holy and filled with the power of God. At this point, he didn't even know that Jesus was IMMANUEL, the one who would restore and save him. And Jesus' reply... "DON'T BE AFRAID! FROM NOW ON YOU'LL BE FISHING FOR PEOPLE" In other words, come and be a part of who I am and the work I have come to do. If you continue to read the story of Peter you will see that the man is a complete and utter disaster. He fell on his face numerous times, denied ever knowing Christ, doubted the power of Jesus on a number of occasions, and almost always completely missed the point Jesus was trying to make. And all Jesus did was walk with him, love him, DIED for him and used him in an amazing manner.
As I reflect on this, I see myself. I do the exact same thing. When I get into my habitual sin, persistent failures I try to hide from God. Rather than say "PLEASE GO AWAY FROM ME," I just run the opposite direction. I should be an Olympic medalist by now. I would rather hide my face from him and live in darkness, than come to him with my shame and guilt. Problem is, He is IMMANUEL! He is with me, even when I can't sense him because of my stubborn and foolish pride. King David said it best...
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
f I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalms 139:1-12
There is nothing I can do, nowhere I can hide. He is after all IMMANUEL! How awesome!
So am I in recovery? YES! My name is Mike and I am addicted to sin.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
What is in a name?
Wow, it has been a minute since I have posted. I guess I got crazy busy or crazy and lazy. Any who, a lot has happened since my last post. For instance, I am no longer living in the DFW metroplex. I officially have moved out to the dusty west Texas plains and reside in the bustling metropolis of... that's right, LUBBOCK!!!!! I have an awesome new job working as a collegiate counselor at the Ranch at Dove Tree, a residential treatment center for substance abuse and chemical dependency. I love it! I am not so sure about Lubbock though lol. Time will tell. All I can say is that God has his hand in all this, not exactly sure how yet, but what can I do but trust?
Well with this change, I decided to start a new Bible study. It has always been a desire of mine to grow more intimate with God and I felt the best way to do this was to become intimate with the characteristics and qualities of who He is. I plan on doing this through a study of his many, many, many names. I found this study on www.crosswalk.com entitled "Praying the Names of God." I thought I would share my journey with you... (whoever you are). So here we go!
GOD/JESUS
ALIAS 1: IMMANUEL- God with us
Matthew 1:18-23
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiance, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David" the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet:
"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and they will call him IMMANUEL, which means 'God is with us.'
There was a time when God walked with his creations, however this has not occurred since the Garden of Eden. This time ended when sin entered the world. Because of this sin, we are separated from our creator, deserving a fate far worse than death... eternal separation from God. Paul states in Romans that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and because of this we deserve our fate. "for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" This too me is overwhelming. Every time I screw up, every time I feel helpless or hopeless, tangled by my own evil desires and sinful nature, I can't help believe the lie that God doesn't love me and that I have f***** up one too many times for him to bring me back to restoration. But then I remember, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him, shall not parish but have everlasting life." Once again, our God came to walk among us, to be with us. How awesome is that! Even now, as Christ is with the Father, he gave us the Spirit to be with us, to guide us, to help us. Our creator loves us that he chose to be with us that we may be redeemed and restored. This is our Immanuel! I hope you will take time to reflect and remember that God is with you and will always be with you!
Well with this change, I decided to start a new Bible study. It has always been a desire of mine to grow more intimate with God and I felt the best way to do this was to become intimate with the characteristics and qualities of who He is. I plan on doing this through a study of his many, many, many names. I found this study on www.crosswalk.com entitled "Praying the Names of God." I thought I would share my journey with you... (whoever you are). So here we go!
GOD/JESUS
ALIAS 1: IMMANUEL- God with us
Matthew 1:18-23
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiance, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David" the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet:
"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and they will call him IMMANUEL, which means 'God is with us.'
There was a time when God walked with his creations, however this has not occurred since the Garden of Eden. This time ended when sin entered the world. Because of this sin, we are separated from our creator, deserving a fate far worse than death... eternal separation from God. Paul states in Romans that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and because of this we deserve our fate. "for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" This too me is overwhelming. Every time I screw up, every time I feel helpless or hopeless, tangled by my own evil desires and sinful nature, I can't help believe the lie that God doesn't love me and that I have f***** up one too many times for him to bring me back to restoration. But then I remember, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him, shall not parish but have everlasting life." Once again, our God came to walk among us, to be with us. How awesome is that! Even now, as Christ is with the Father, he gave us the Spirit to be with us, to guide us, to help us. Our creator loves us that he chose to be with us that we may be redeemed and restored. This is our Immanuel! I hope you will take time to reflect and remember that God is with you and will always be with you!
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