GREENE STREET LETTERS: Say It Loud

Monday, July 28, 2008

Say It Loud

Mt. 11:28-30 (Msg.)
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me---watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

What if we truly lived according to Scripture?
I mean lived it for ourselves.
We didn't seek anyone else to tell us what Scripture said?
We didn't discard the Bible in favor of the latest, hot book on the Christian market.
What if we took Jesus at his word and came to Him.
Came to him burned out and beat up in need of healing.

I'm not talking about a fuzzy feel good healing.
I'm talking about a radical, God-transforming touch that reached from the soles of our feet to the crown of our heads. Changed by the Holy Spirit.
I can think of a million reasons why it shouldn't happen.
But I can't give you one why it couldn't.
My lack of trust? Maybe.
My lack of faith? Probably.
But that is no obstacle to God.
When?
When will I turn loose and fall into the hands of the living God?
IF I fall.......................
Will it be fearful to do so?
In those hands is the only place I can survive.

I do not want my walk with God to be shallow and empty.
A cardboard cut out of the real thing.
I realize that even as I write these things, I am assailed by the enemy trying to show me my past.
The blessing that comes is that my past has been put under the blood of Christ.
Forgiven
Forgotten
Free.

Seems as though I walk a tight rope between reaching God's glory and falling into my past.
Balanced there between the two, I surrender to God.
Life is a daily battle, but we win.
Those who overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
Do you see that?
Those who overcome.
It doesn't talk about success.
It didn't mention being the best or number 1.
It simply says, 'Those who overcome".

God on you..............

mb

1 comment:

A.J. said...: Hey Mike,

Miss you guys. Wanted to be there the last couple of weeks but just havent been able to get there. I am praying for you however! Hey man, I posted a new video on my blog of people getting dunked by Todd Bentley...I think you might really enjoy it =)

It is a really good video!

Love you man,

A.J.; July 29, 2008 at 12:07 AM

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.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Say It Loud

1 comment:

THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD