GREENE STREET LETTERS: Turn The Page...

Friday, April 30, 2010

Turn The Page...

One thing that I have learned over the years, is that when dealing with God......trying to follow his direction......doing what he says to do......Nothing is forever.

By that, I meant whatever you are called to is for a season.
Sometimes we think we are taking part in a particular work that has lasting value. The work indeed is for the Kingdom. The work you are participating in is for God, but I don't know that it will extend for season upon season.

I remember when we started House of Blue, a recovery meeting at Gadsden Vineyard. It gradually grew and grew and then became this "thing" that was bigger than all of us who were participating in it. The place would be packed on Saturday night, ministry was happening everywhere around us. The worship was off the charts and God, as one person put it, was in the House. Then came the day when God told me, "It's time to put it to bed." No way! That couldn't possibly be God, or could it? Turns out is was. When I made the announcement that we were shutting House of Blue down, there was an outcry from many that I couldn't do it. It wasn't right, it wasn't God telling me to do that. I knew better.

We shut it down and God moved us on to the next thing.

I have written all of this to get to this point.

Today, a page is turning here at Rapha.

Steve and Marilyn Yarbrough have sold Rapha and are moving on to a new phase of their life.

IT was time.

God has been leading in this direction for a number of months and so we simply submit to his plan.
Rapha has become the premiere faith-based recovery center in this state, but as Steve put it, "I've taken Rapha as far as I can. I came here and built on another man's foundation. It's time for someone to build upon the foundation I have laid." Sounds like wisdom from God doesn't it?

What does this mean for me?
I'm not sure.

I don't have a leading at this time to pursue something else, so until then I will remain here and carry on with what God has called Vicki and I to do.

Whatever happens, I know it will continue in the area of recovery.

So pray for all of us here at Rapha. That we would simply wait for God's instructions for the next season.

No matter what, the Greene Street Letters will continue to go out.

I will see you tomorrow.
God on you................

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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.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Turn The Page...

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD