JOY!

 Many thanks to everyone  who came out for the meeting last night, especially Debbie H. for filling in and teaching for me. I had the fluid drained yesterday and after such a procedure I am usually wiped out and good for nothing. Hopefully I will be back next Thursday.

I've mentioned on several occasions that because of my health, I've developed a new found love and view of scripture. One verse that has spoken to me is found in Hebrews 12:2 - "For the joy set before Him he endured the cross....." I think the reason this particular verse has stuck with me is the word "Joy." I've tried to rationalize the word "joy"and what it means, but I think the power of the word coupled with what Jesus was facing (the cross) is something that none of us can truly understand until we weigh the glory of heaven and being the the presence of Christ with the struggles and dark things of this world. The comparison of the two words (joy and glory) is where our real struggle lies. But Praise God we have a Savior who truly understands us an desires us to look beyond our 'Today" problems so we can see the hope and promise of Christ that has been afforded to every believer. 

Today I will embrace my "here problems" as I look to the eternal things that await me. I trust you will find comfort in these words, and that you also may lay hold of the person and presence of Christ.

God on you....

mbb

I HAVE MET THE ENEMY....AND HE IS ME

 

Recovery Basics:101 -  You are who you hang out with.
Everyone who comes into treatment or begins a program to deal with their addiction knows this. But what most people don't realize, is that they themselves are the number # 1 person they don't need to hang out with.
In other words, isolation is the killer to any recovery.

When I'm left alone with my thoughts, I will lean toward going to that dark place where using or drinking is probably going to happen.
When I'm alone at home, I will more than likely give in to the emotional thoughts that come up in my mind. We will perceive the pressure we are feeling from life is greater than it actually is. We will feel that the slights and hurts from others is like a open wound with salt in it. All of these will be compounded by the isolation and the very simple thought of "I can get away with using. No one is around and no one will know." Truth is, God is there with you. He is not silent and if you listen for Him, you will hear Him bringing encouragement and help. 

We can come up with a million reasons why we don't need to be around others, but none of them are valid. We need community. We need people around us who are like-minded. Who can encourage us to keep on this journey with Jesus and our sobriety. There is strength in numbers....there is safety in the group....there is encouragement from each other. Sounds like church doesn't it? 

The very first word of Step # 1 of the Twelve Steps is "WE".
Not "I" or "me".......but We.
We have the collective experience that can be drawn from to aid us in this new way of living.
We can point each other to the Christ who IS the only Higher Power.
After all....
We really don't have an alcohol or drug problem....
We've got a living problem.
Somewhere along the way, we have allowed our hearts and character to be deceived. Just like the woman in Genesis 3, we have bought the lies of the devil.
We have tasted the fruit and it was sweet, and it was good.
But the consequences that followed our choice have brought utter destruction into our lives.

This is why God lead me to start Vineyard Recovery.
A place where we can gain strength and courage for the journey.
A place where we can grow in our understanding of who this Jesus really is.
A place where we can experience that change of character we all need to walk out this new life and relationship with Jesus.
A place where we can connect and realize what an incredible family God is providing us with.

STAND

 

Adversity......
Trials...........
Problems......
Situations.....
Circumstances.
All a part of life. But in the life of someone coming our of addiction, such are usually self-inflicted. The dark thoughts and negative emotions cloud and color the choices that are made. What this means is that sometimes a bad choice turns into a terrible choice, as one choice piles up on another in an effort to deal with life.

I have been in the middle of these type situations for a long time. Watching someone make a bad choice because it seemed like the easier, softer way, rather than the right way.
Someone chooses to drink, knowing full well what is going to happen.
They drink anyway.
One drink leads to twelve, all the while putting the addiction stamp of approval on the decision to start. At the same time, the truth eats away at every decision. "You know better than this! Don't do this." But with every drink that voice is replaced with an accusing, sarcastic voice that demeans the individual with guilt and shame. These two wonderful emotions only fuel the cycle to drink so that you don't feel. Funny part is that the more you drink (or use drugs) so that you don't feel....the more you feel all the negative garbage that is being heaped on you.

God's plan to deal with such emotional baggage is pretty amazing.
Once a person is saved, they have deposited in them God's Holy Spirit.
I know this term doesn't fit Him well, but think of the Holy Spirit as a type of "SUPER" conscience. Yet more than simply sound the alarms and whistles when we are headed toward making a bad choice, the Holy Spirit will direct us in our choices. All the while, He begins the process of changing our character so we don't live the old life style.

I love James 1:2-4 in the Message Bible.
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it (the situation/ circumstance) do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way.

Instead of cutting and running back to the darkness, we take hold of Jesus' hand a little tighter. "I will not run! I will stand!" As we declare our intention, God's Spirit will strengthen us. It will be a storm to weather, but as with any terrible weather pattern, there is always a break and the sun comes shining through. Same with this new life we are trying to lay hold of. The storms of life will come and buffet us, but the SON, Jesus, will come shining through. That is a promise.

During the darkest time of world war II, when England stood alone against the German War machine, Prime minister Winston Churchill told the people that when history looks back at their struggle, it would declare "This was their finest hour."
Such will be recorded for everyone who lays hold of Jesus, and does not let go but pushes forward to face the day.

God on you...
mbb

STEVEN

 

He was a regular to our Saturday "breakfast give-away." He loved the social aspect to coming and being with a group of people. He would stay to the very end before we took him home. Health issues limited his mobility and there were days when I would give him a ride to the meal where I knew he didn't really feel like being there.

He was always telling me that he wished he could do more to help with the meal, and I always assured him that his just being there, sitting and talking to the others was a big help.

He came to the meal this past Saturday and in fact told me that he felt pretty good that morning. He seemed to be getting around a lot better and didn't appear to be in any pain. He ate breakfast, talked with the ones seated near him, and just seemed to be his old self.

As we were finishing up and getting ready to go, several of our group came by and prayed for him, hugged him and let him know how much we loved him. He was one of those rare individuals that God puts in our path that teaches us more than we taught him. That was the last I saw of Steven Redman.

Received a call from Barry Hooks yesterday morning. Barry told me that Steven had died the night before. I sat there with a couple of thousand questions running through my brain. "But we just saw Steven less than 24 hours earlier!" Now he was gone. I could ponder that greater questions about life, what does it mean, why are we here?" But I chose to pray and than God for bringing Steven into our life. 

I do know that Steven clearly knows the truth that you and I claim to believe. All of his questions have been answered and he sees Jesus in way that we haven't. If you would please pray for Steven's family, that the Holy Spirit would bring peace and comfort them during this time. Also pray that if there be any among his family who doesn't have a relationship/salvation with Christ,  they come to a saving knowledge of their need to give themselves to Christ.

Steven...........I will miss you my old friend.

God on you...

mbb

REVISITING THE PATH TO RECOVERY

 Addiction: 

Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Romans 7:15 - For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.

These two verses show the power and lie that an addiction has over an individual who has started down that slippery slope of using. You can blame the substance all you want, but at the heart of it all is a broken relationship with Christ. A heart that is not connected to the very one who gave it life. A heart that is driven, ruled, and influenced by a nature....a behavior that society refuses to admit to. We call it a sin nature. I don't sit here this morning posting this entry with the idea that I am above such nature. I'm not. I came into this world with the bent in my character...my heart...and my thinking that affected my life. Every human ever born comes equipped with such a nature. You see, it isn't the deeds we do because of this nature that we refer to as sin. Sin is the heart (the center of will, emotion and intellect) of who we are. We carry this death sentence around with us. Some folks are good at not allowing this nature to run rampant (such as drugging and drinking)...other aren't. No matter what the evidence is in your life of that nature....we are all still in need of having that animal destroyed so we could live life on Jesus' terms. So in one sense, recovery is more than simply "not using" or giving into that old desire that captured us in the first place, recovery is establishing a real relationship with Jesus, our Creator.

Recovery - The entire process of healing from the painful effects of dysfunctional behavior. 
Healing....real healing that affects every area of our life comes through a relationship that we come to with Jesus Christ. God created us with a glorious purpose in mind. Sin has warped and twisted that purpose. Recovery is the process of restoring what sin has taken away.

So, bottom line is that the goal of recovery is to live a life of joyful obedience in this relationship we have been given through our salvation with Christ. To maintain abstinence because we want to, not because we have to. Recovery is the process of developing a Christ-honoring lifestyle that meets the needs we tried to satisfy with drugs and/ or alcohol.

All recovery (no matter what the focus of your problem is...drinking...gambling....drugs...sex) begins at the same place..at the same point...with the same confession.
We call it Step # 1!

We admitted that by ourselves, we are powerless over our compulsive behavior (no matter how it may manifest in our life)---that our lives have become unmanageable.

We have looked inside ourselves for the answer to our problem, and we cannot, nor did we, find it. With this reality, we begin the search for the answer to our problem. Until I can admit my need and that I am not the answer to my problem, I can never break free of this beast that controls my life.
Today, know that there is an answer.
There is a Power that can free you.
The Power has a name.
That name is JESUS.

God on you...
mbb

THE REAL DEAL

 

John 15:1 --  "I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."

Words of Jesus.

Jesus identifies himself along with his relationship with his Father.

He understands the exact nature of his position in the Godhead.
He is the Son and is submissive to the Father.
What the Father asks....

The Son does.

Oh that I could learn and understand my position in Christ.

I fit into this wonderful hierarchy of heaven, based solely on my salvation.
I am a son.
I am an heir.

I am a friend.
I am a servant.

Jesus, in the opening words of John 15, makes an interesting statement.

He says, "I AM the true vine."

Why would he have to say this?
Why would He say this?
Why identify himself?

Because Jesus knew that there were false vines out there.
He could distinguish them, but he knew that we lacked discernment and would fall prey to these "false" vines.

It is written in Romans 10:17 that  faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Do you realize how many voices are out there today all claiming the same thing?

Do you realize how easily people are swayed by the mannerisms and image of those who belong to the false vine?

Jesus simply and clearly states....."Hey guys...I'm the one you're listening for."

"I am the true vine."

Jesus is the complete that my can fill my soul.

Jesus is the complete that can satisfy a hunger that will not go away.

Jesus is the complete that can bring rest to my wandering eyes and feet.

He makes me lie down in green pastures to rest and be restored.

He is the true vine that keeps every promise the Father has spoken.

This is why King David could write, "The Lord is my shepherd...I shall not want."

Do you really understand the words that David wrote?
DO I really understand the words that David wrote?
Read again the words of Ps. 23...

The Lord is my shepherd.....I.....SHALL......NOT......Want.

There is a satisfaction that we do not realize when we come to Jesus.

There is a wholeness that comes to our spirit, soul and body when we come to Jesus.

I....shall....not....want.

Wow!
Father God...
Help me this day to truly realize that I shall not want in this relationship with you.
Lord, I know that it speaks not of material things that would only stir my flesh, but of the eternal things that you have promised to those whose hearts are totally committed to you.

Lord, plant us deep in your vine today and receive the nourishment only you can give.

Thank you...
In Jesus name..

amen!

God on you...

mb