GREENE STREET LETTERS: Separated From....Or Separated To?

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Separated From....Or Separated To?

God bless the Apostle Paul (as I'm sure He has already and continues to do so).
Paul put into words the thoughts and ideas that run through my mind, in such a way as to bring clarity and comfort concerning my salvation.
Paul's writings to the Romans shows me that without a change of heart produced by the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to have a right relationship with God.

Paul lets us know that a life of righteousness could now be actuality through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. He enters the hearts of those who have embraced this salvation offered by God, to supply us with the life of Christ.

We now can live in the sphere or boundaries of the Spirit of God because we have been freed from the law of death. The Holy Spirit is now ever present to supply us with the POWER and determination to say no. You see, living a life of overcoming through Christ is more than a matter of self-will---it is living by an entirely new way ----it is life in the Spirit of God.

Paul states in Romans 1:1 that: He is "Separated to the gospel of God." Usually when you think of separation, you think of moving away from something...not to something. Yet Paul makes it perfectly clear that he was taken from one way of living to embrace another. Have you been separated to the good news of Christ?

I run into a lot of people who are intent on running away from their addiction. Intent on running away from that old life style. Intent on changing the way they live. Yet, with all this intention, they are clueless as to what to do. They know what they want to be separated from, but have no clue as to what they want to separated to. Here in Romans we see the truth. I give myself to God and commit to being bound to follow Him. Simple as that. I give will and life (Step # 3) over to His care. Now that I've done this, the best thing for me to do is get out of the way and follow. That means that I don't make any decisions without first praying, waiting for an answer and seeking council from others before I do anything. That sounds like a lot of hard work. Well, it is and it isn''t. By the way, how did you old way of making decisions work out? Not too good, huh?
Why not check out Jesus....He's got all the answers you've been looking for.

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.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Separated From....Or Separated To?

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD