Early morning....
Cups of coffee all around...
Seems to me that recovery and coffee go hand and hand.
Suiting up for the day...this meeting is a much needed thing.
Even to those present who may not ever be aware of their need for a meeting.
Most everyone knows each other.
"Howdy's" and "hugs" all around.
Lot's of "Good to see you!"...such is heart felt and genuine.
But as we sat down, there was one thing that was on our collective minds. This was a safe place to share, but the sharing had to be honest. No pretense here. No games played. This was a meeting of a group of men who were, and are, in the process of being healed by turning to a power greater than ourselves. That Power has a name, and that name is Jesus.
Honesty and transparency has to be center and at the forefront of any healing that is going to take place.
"Rarely have we seen anyone fail who has thoroughly followed our path".
encouraging words....
That by following a simple plan, you can be transformed.
Turning to Jesus, as the answer to our dilemma, we begin to do the ground work...the scud work...the dirty work of coming face to face with the real "US".
But the work isn't really in our hands, in our strength or ability.
The work is to daily turn loose and cooperate with God as He changes our character and nature.
See, God doesn't make the old better....
He doesn't refurbish our old nature....
He kills it!
Replacing it with a new nature...a new character, if you will.
Our call is to not deviate from the course and path that has been laid out.
One who was present at the meeting shared his story.
He was holed up in his apartment, going through detox. Not a pretty sight sometimes. At one point he had sweated, ached, threw up and about a million other physical torture that comes from withdrawal. He'd had it....
He said that he was so mad and angry, not to mention hurting, that all he could pray was the serenity prayer. Nothing else would come out...so he prayed it over and over and over.
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change....The courage to change the things I can...and the wisdom to know the difference." At one point, he screamed out at God..."C'mon God, I've done what you wanted of me! I'm trying to get clean! Do something!" This man was at the point where his basic cry was "Hey God---either heal me or kill me--but do something".
That was 18 months ago...
He has not used...
I would say that God answered that prayer, and continues to do so, wouldn't you?
As we sat around that table, and each one gave a part of their story, there was encouragement from the others to keep on. Would it not be great that church operated on the same principal? That you could bring your hurts and sins, and freely share your pain in order for you to be healed. I think maybe that is the way it should be for all our gatherings. To admit our darkness..and receive light in exchange for it. Healing by a Power that is greater than ourselves.
It works if you work it...
If you work it, it works...
So it is worth it.
Keep coming back....
God on you...
mbb
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