GREENE STREET LETTERS: Step # 12

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Step # 12

As we enter into December, we will be finishing up a complete years teaching on the twelve steps. You can find all the messages in the podcast section of this blog. Please take the time to listen if you can. I confess that there isn't any eye-opening-blow-your-socks-off insight, but plenty of teaching that will help to focus you on your journey.

Step # 12
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Your life.....
My life.....
Is the message. The message of what God has brought forth out of the destruction of our self-will and self-rule. God cleans up our mess. God empowers us to move forward and in the process of this forward movement, we tell our story. Don't ever discount the story God has created in you as you have worked these steps and fell into relationship with Him. Don't ever discount the impact what has happened to you on the lives of others who are struggling with addiction.
What I have found is that people are hungry to know that what we have found in God is real. That it isn't about church or religious activities or dry, dead Bible studies, but a relationship with the real-deal God that is ever changing. People are hungry for something real. We have that "something" to offer them.

Mark 16:15
And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere."

That is what I try to do daily.
Share with others the hope that I have found in God.
That is the purpose of this blog.
It isn't about great theology...there are others better than me at teaching that.
It isn't about great doctrine....there are others more knowledgeable than me.
It is about a simple truth.
I was blind, but now I see.
I was lost, but now I am found.
It is the grace of God that has saved me.
It is the faith that burns in my heart that led me to Jesus, through a call by His Holy Spirit.
Because of these things....
I have to tell my story.
I pray that you come to know Jesus.

God on you.....
mb

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Step # 12

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD