........and when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him.....
Spoke last night at Celebrate Recovery Centre, Alabama.
This is my tenth year to be going there.
It has become home...a place where friendships have been formed and nurtured.
It is a huge Christmas Present to me each time I go.
Friends....
What an incredible, lovely word God created to describe those dearest to you.
These are not Facebook friends that are scattered all over creation that we only connect with through a computer or smart phone.
No, these are flesh and blood, give-me-a-hug people who truly love Jesus.
It is a messy place when you go to visit CR Centre. You have to watch your step because love is spilled all over the room. You step in it....you get it on your hands.....you can't seem to escape it. The love is everywhere. It isn't an exclusive love that is only shown to those who have attained a certain status in church or the Kingdom of God. It is love that is poured over every person that comes through the door to the meeting. You may not remember much about what was said, or the worship music that was played...you may not remember what the meal was that you ate, but I guarantee you, you will remember that you were well loved when you leave that place. Isn't that what the Kingdom of God really is all about? Loving and being loved? Sure it is. But not love that is defined by society or the world. Not the syrupy, mushy, fake kind of love. It is a caring about your soul kind of love. They have learned their lessons well in Centre, and they are having an impact on the community and the county.
So here's to Donnie and Shelly George and all the good folks at Celebrate Recovery Centre!!!
Merry Christmas and keep loving as we move into 2015.
Let's do another ten years! What do you say?
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Prayer request:
Just received a call from my son, Joshua, concerning Heather, his wife, and her father.
Her dad has been taken to a hospital with a medical condition that is pretty serious.
I am asking for prayers on behalf of Galen and the family.
Prayers for healing and total restoration.
Prayers for comfort to the family as they move through this event.
Thanks...
mb
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VRC Saturday Night Meeting:
December 20th will be our candle light service at VRC.
Debbie Handy, Carrie Elrod and Liz Wood will be leading the worship, as we gather to celebrate another year of life.
Grateful for what has come, looking forward to what next year may hold. Service starts at 7 p.m. / Everyone (and I do mean everyone) is welcomed.
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I want to thank each of you who take the time to stop by the Greene Street Letters.
Whether you are an every day follower of the blog...
Or an occasional drop in to see what's going on...
Thank you.
Please pass this blog to anyone you may think might find it to be an encouragement and beneficial. The one thing I've always tried to do is speak encouragement about the simplicity of the Gospel and of following this Jesus.
Should you ever have a prayer request, or a need...feel free to leave a comment here. I check them every day, and my wife and I promise to be diligent about your prayer needs.
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Haggai 1:14
So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God.
Lot of stirring going on......
Do you think maybe these folks knew they were being roused by God to move forward in a work that was on His heart? I don't know.
But what if that is still true today? What if God really wanted us to pray, "Lord --- stir up my spirit to do Your will!" ? Doing His will could incorporate a lot of different things for a lot of different people. It might be that God wants you to feed some folks...take them some groceries. It might be that God wants you to give some of your money to that guy that sits by the interstate holding the "I am homeless" sign. It might be that God wants to stir you to go next door and invite your neighbor over to have a cup of coffee and to just talk.
Now let's go out on that limb a little farther to a place that most of us find uncomfortable. It might be that God wants you to go over to that lady you see in Walmart....you know the one I'm talking about. She looks distressed and is covered with a cloud of despair. She may even be riding one of the motorized shopping carts because of a physical condition. God might be stirring you to go over and show her love because everyone is trying to avoid her. There are shelves she can't reach seated in the cart. There are items that are beyond her reach. God may even want you to pray healing down on her. Healing for her spiritual condition...healing for her emotional condition.....healing for her physical condition. I know....I know what you're thinking and what you're feeling. "Not me! I cant' do that. I wouldn't know what to pray." Guess what. You don't have to know what to pray. God will give it to you. It's not about the words, whether they are in the right order or even the right ones...it's about the language of the heart. If you have been stirred for this person, then take a risk and go over and simply ask, "Can I help you? Would you mind if I prayed for you?" I don't think I've ever had anyone say "NO" when I asked if I could pray for them. You might discover if you step out to love others, you will get the greatest, biggest, most stupendous gift in the world. The feeling that comes from knowing that you have extended the Kingdom of God a little farther out than it use to be.
Merry Christmas from the Bynums!
God on you...
mb
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