GREENE STREET LETTERS: I Saw The Kingdom Last Night

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

I Saw The Kingdom Last Night

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like the children."

The room was alive.....
The room was filled with life....
Rhythm's and sounds....
Voices and dancing.....
Movement and heart's being quickened by God's Holy Spirit.
We were all gathered together in one place...
Covered by the Spirit.

Last night, I saw the Kingdom.
A group of Haitian orphans came to the "land of plenty" to give of themselves.
Those who had nothing came to minister to us who have everything.
Very humbling.....
Perspective became very clear last night at Gadsden Vineyard.
The Gospel was seen in the actions of these children who were far wiser than some adults I know.

It was a concert...
Yet, it wasn't a concert...
At one point, they sang a song--"I Need You, You Need Me To Survive"...and at the end, these children came down off the stage and moved through the room to individuals, and began to pray for them. They prayed in their native language so we could not understand the words being lifted to heaven. But one would have to be stone dead to not sense and feel the presence of God. Children, ages 4 and up, filled that room with prayer last night. These were not short "Thank You Jesus" prayers....these prayers went on for a while. My mind flooded with the words..."And A Little Child Shall Lead Them".

These children have seen and experienced things that no human should ever have to. But here they were, smiling with a joy that goes beyond human comprehension, because the joy that filled them was not of this earth. The one thing I went away with is how truly unimportant "things" are in this life. That a full life consist of the people we love, and the people we come in contact with daily. Do I let my "Day" overshadow their need? Am I so single minded and self-focused that I miss an appointment set up for me by God Himself? I don't want to live like this. I don't want to be tied to this world, and I definitely don't want this world tied to me. Riches and fullness belong to the Lord, and He gives freely to those who desire Him above all else.

Yes, sir....
I saw the Kingdom last night.
I want it for myself, so I can give it away.
God on you....
mbb

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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.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

I Saw The Kingdom Last Night

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD