GREENE STREET LETTERS

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Matthew 16:1-4

Some Pharisees and Sadducee's were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them. He told them, "You have a saying that goes, 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight, red sky at morning, sailors take warning.' You find it easy enough to forecast the weather----why can't you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you'll get is the Jonah sign." Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

I can't help but believe that most people cannot read the signs of the times.

Oh there is one side that I would classify as "hyper" prophetic. Every time something happens in the natural they are all over it. Dissecting it, turning the Greek to Hebrew and back again trying to dig up something "new" in Scripture. Is there really anything new? I think not.

But according to Jesus, he compared seeing the signs to reading the weather. Is not the weather all around us? Is it not evident when the weather changes? Which draws our attention quicker a thunderstorm on the horizon or a spring day when everything is peaceful? Of course the thunderstorm.

I believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit given to all believers is the most valuable asset we can possess. He is the voice of truth that will speak to us concerning spiritual "Weather" that may be coming our way. We are simply to watch and listen. Instead we run around listening to a million different voices all prophesying multiple things. Each voice trying to cry the loudest so it can be heard above all the others. In the midst of this cauldron of voices, one speaks quietly and with assurance......the Holy Ghost. He speaks truth from what has been told to him. Why would we not listen? This is the instruction that will define and discern for us the signs of the times.

One other thing.

What good is knowing the signs of the times if you aren't given instructions on what to do?
It's not enough for someone to cry out, "HEY! The Train is coming!" if you don't have plans to either get on or get out of the way. Signs and prophetic words are always followed by instruction.

Listen.

Learn to hear.

Learn to discern.

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.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD