GREENE STREET LETTERS: NO NEED TO CONTINUE IN THE DARKNESS

Thursday, January 20, 2022

NO NEED TO CONTINUE IN THE DARKNESS

Found myself in the book of Jeremiah this morning. The heading to the chapter I was reading was "Deception by false prophets". It caused me to think about how we all are influenced by things we hear, be they true spiritual leading by God, or the dark voices of our society and culture.

God speaks to Jeremiah and gives him a message for the people, and to me it sounded just like a description of someone who is following the dark path of addiction.

"When people fall down, don't they get up again? When they discover they're on the wrong road, don't they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back?"

"They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don't hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, 'What terrible things I have done"?

No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!

That is why our teachings on recovery and this relationship with Jesus is most important. He IS the highest power. Each time we do a teaching, we should spend time in prayer asking God to open hearts and minds to receive the truth. Sometimes when we are confronted with truth, it is painful, especially when the truth hits home and we are uncovered. But this is what is needed so that truth can do its work. Truth does not simply accuse and then disappear leaving the individual wallowing in self pity, despair and hopelessness. God's truth uncovers so we can see ourselves and our need for Him....then offers us a way to freedom, leaving this old life behind.

Too many are walking headlong into the darkness....

Too many are not coming back.....

Too many are spending their final hours and days clinging to the lies of the devil....

Oh God, let your truth fall upon any who may come across this posting today. Let it strike their heart and allow your Holy Spirit to lead them into a new way of living. Mercy and grace be upon those who find Your truth today...

God on you....

mbb

1 comment:

Ty said...: Good stuff I miss y'all; September 28, 2022 at 12:49 PM

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.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

NO NEED TO CONTINUE IN THE DARKNESS

1 comment:

THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD