GREENE STREET LETTERS: HOPE

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

HOPE

I have had the lyrics to a Mark Heard song running around in my brain for a few weeks now. Can't seem to shake it, nor do I wish too. Simple words.....easy words...But sometimes it is the simple words that carry the most power. The simple words that God speaks through to bring hope and light to a soul in darkness....

"When the weight of this world crashes down on you, He will listen to you. When your sky turns black and your thought's turn blue, God will listen to you. He will listen to you. Always listen to you. He understands how His children feel, He will listen to you."

More than just listen, He will act on the words of our prayers. He will move upon the pain we feel inside when we turn to Him. How empty and dark is a soul that chooses to wallow in the darkness of self despair. Sometimes life drains us to the point that we can't see beyond the pain and darkness. But there is this spark of light.... a small flame that draws our attention and whispers to us that "There is hope." Hope that sees beyond our situation. Hope that comes with healing to take away the mental anguish of the bondage we find ourselves in.

Times like these call for an honest cry of out heart. Not some "King James / Old English" prayers. But a prayer than may simple consist of two words..."Oh God...Oh God...Oh God.." Such prayers come from within, and it is our pain that God hears behind those two simple words.

I found myself in Lamentations this morning, in some verses that I have read numerous times.

Chapter 3:19-24

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I HAVE HOPE.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions NEVER fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, " The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for Him."

Maybe someone needed to read this today because of the things that are happening in their life. I know that these words spoke to me, as I remembered that God is greater than any situation I may encounter today. God is greater than my past. I recall His love, AND I HAVE HOPE.

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.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

HOPE

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD