GREENE STREET LETTERS: DISCOUNT? REALLY?

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

DISCOUNT? REALLY?

Everybody loves a bargain. It gives us the feeling that we are getting something for less than the real value of the item we want. We are getting something that is important to us, but we are not paying the full price for it. Like I said, everybody loves a discount.

We have discount stores where (supposedly) every thing is marked down right there for us to scarf up and rush to the checkout so we can make our get away. In fact, part of human nature is to tell your friends about the "discount" you got, and how you didn't have to pay full price.

Reckon how we would feel if Jesus had operated in the same manner when it came to our salvation? What if Jesus was all about offering discounted grace, mercy, love and relationship? Would we want a discounted Jesus?

Part of what I'm trying to say is that maybe we don't realize the value of who Christ truly is. Maybe we don't find value in learning how to "listen" and then act upon what He tells us. Maybe we want a Jesus that we can control, pulling Him out to perform when life gets hard. That would be a discount Jesus. Some may proclaim me to be wrong in my assumption. Truth is, I have had to search my own heart to see what I truly believe in this relationship I have with Him.

I don't want to be like the Samaritan woman at the well who was having a conversation with Jesus. In her mind, it the topic was water. You know....the wet, liquid stuff that sustains life. But Jesus was talking about something far greater. In fact, in John 4:10 Jesus lays out to her what is truly going on in this conversation the two of them are having.

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

The woman did not see the value in the man she was talking to. But isn't this just like Jesus........He didn't scold her, or call her names. He spoke truth to her about what He had to offer. So I guess if I could say anything today. Don't settle in your mind or your heart for a discounted Jesus. Ask for the real deal Christ....and He will come to you.

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, November 3, 2020

DISCOUNT? REALLY?

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD