GREENE STREET LETTERS: Day After

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Day After

We are always trying to see what is next.
What is God doing? What part do I play in this?

We had our second Saturday night meeting yesterday. I knew going in it would be hard. Just from the sheer fact of having one meeting under our belts, whether we mean to or not, it becomes the measuring stick for other meetings.

I love how the men are trying to hear God. To others it might appear to be a hodge-podge of non related behaviors, but I could see God at work in the lives of the ones who are buying into God by surrendering themselves. One man in particular was lead to take a white t-shirt and write on it.When he came into the chapel, there on his shirt were the words HEAVEN AWAITS YOUR HEART. This particular individual has been touched in a mighty way by God and he was doing the only thing he knew how......simply do what he was hearing.

I spoke on restoration last night, defining it as "the setting right to original order or life". I felt that God is stepping up restoration during this season and that He very much wants this to fall to those in recovery.

We had visitor's from Illinois and that was good. I wasn't sure how they would take our brand or style of service, but they seemed to be at ease. They even participated during the sharing time, thanking God for leading them to Rapha to seek help for their son.

We saw restoration at work as one man had a praise report. He has struggled for a time over losing his children to DHR. It has been a battle, but he has done everything that God has directed him to do. Now he is beginning to see the fruit of his changing. He is beginning to understand the reality of who God truly is.

I think that thing that is most important to me is that those who come to the meeting realize that as believers, we are part of something that is bigger than our understanding. We are a part of the body of Christ and as such, we have brothers and sisters we have yet to meet.

As hard as last night was for me, it is one more stone in place of what God is doing at the CHURCH@RAPHA.

until next time....
God on you....

1 comment:

bill said...: Thank you Jesus!
Our family came to visit our son for the weekend, and what a surprise he gave us when he asked if we would attend the saturday evening service at Rapha, with him. Having seen the positive changes Jesus was working in his life, through his workers at Rapha, there was no second thought considered but to agree and look forward to the service that evening. Being there with our family together was and unexpected and wonderful experience. A time to rest, worship and be in the presence of our God is something I am very thankful for. Thanks to all involved, in allowing yourselves to be instruments of Jesus in bringing healing, hope and new life to those seeking Him. Yes, He is very capable of working in all circumstances to bring about good for those who are or would be His family. May God continue to bless His works and workers, as He is lifted up!; June 13, 2008 at 10:47 PM

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.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Day After

1 comment:

THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD