Power---The Divine Utility Of God

II Corinthians 12 (Message Bible)
Paul writing what God communicated to him concerning a "Thorn in the flesh".....
"My grace is enough...it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness."
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take my limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations tat cut me down to size-----abuse, accidents, opposition, and breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

What would I be if I didn't let the POWER of God keep me.
Hold me in place....
Focus me..?
What would I be? What things would I  do if I turned away from God and went back to running my own life? The prospect is so scary that I don't even want to think about it.

This POWER that God possesses, and yet freely gives to those who come to Him, is amazing.
It is a POWER that extends to my heart and thought patterns. It over rules old thoughts and leads me to a new way of thinking, acting and living. After all, Jesus did say, "I am the WAY!"
Any other way beside Him is death. Simple as that.

Paul found that his weakness and his inability actually become a strength in the hands of God. Isn't that the heart of recovery? Realizing that we have become powerless......that our lives had become unmanageable? I think so. 

At last night's VRC meeting, we focused on turning our will and life over to God.
Barry Hooks had mentioned something long ago that I have never forgot. He said, "Wouldn't it be nice if we could just get rid of our self-will? Wouldn't it be great that when we came to God, He just ripped it out and took it away? That is why we don't surrender our will....we can't....But we do turn it over to God's care." We turn it....We move from one way of making choices and seeing the destruction because of them, and we turn and head toward a new way of living. 

I referenced Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before He was crucified, as being a dark time when Jesus chose to embrace the Father's will. The whole "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me....not My will but Yours be done."   That is a place and a point that we all travel to at one time or another.  The place where life decisions have to be made. No one can make them for us...no one can take our place....it is on us. Such is the ground where we truly need to turn our will over to God and simply follow Him.  But such places are also where the devil hides in the shadow's and tries to overwhelm us with memories of our past.....
"Remember how you always fail!"
"What makes you think you can do this now? Look how many times you've promised before to quit and go straight?"
And the litany of accusation goes on and on....
Yet through it all, there is the loving voice of God reminding us....."Not your will be done...but MY will be done in you."  As the big book of A.A. states..."God does for me what I cannot do for myself." That my friend, is power!
Find it for yourself today...
Don't wait....

God on you...
mb

Deb Hook's : "Mike Bites"

Post by Vineyard Recovery Church.

Simple Is Good

Psalm 119:130
The entrance of Your words gives light. It gives understanding to the 
Simple.

adj. sim·pler, sim·plest

1. Having or composed of only one thing, element, or part. See Synonyms at pure.

2. Not involved or complicated; easy: a simple task. See Synonyms at easy.

3. Being without additions or modifications; mere: a simple "yes" or "no."

4. Having little or no ornamentation; not embellished or adorned: a simple dress.

5. Not elaborate, elegant, or luxurious. See Synonyms at plain.

6. Unassuming or unpretentious; not affected.

I do consider myself to be a simple man. I don't take that as a put down or a criticism at all.

I lead, what I consider to be a simple life. I don't  need a lot of stuff to feel good about my existence. I find joy in what some refer to as life's simpler pleasures.

I love a good cup of coffee. Coffee that doesn't have to be flavored or dressed up. Don't mind others who like theirs that way, but it's not for me.

I love me some "grand baby" hugs. Never tire of them. I love to hear my grand kids call my name when they come busting through the door. Nothing like having a lap full love when they crawl up to hug your neck.

I like a firm handshake.

The smell of Honeysuckle is good also. I especially like it when the day is over and the sun is going down.

Freshly mowed grass and freshly turned earth are the two best smells in the world, because they represent work that has been done.

I like a good laugh, even at my own expense. If you can't laugh at yourself, you better go sit in the corner and do some thinking.

Thunder and lightning are the best show ever. Standing on the porch waiting for the rain. You can smell rain. My wife taught me that one. Bless her heart, she can sniff out a storm a hundred miles away. 

I love to see my wife in new ways. You know what I mean. I'll be going through my day doing all the little tasks that have to be done to keep a household running, and I'll  be walking through a room and catch a glimpse of her. And for a brief moment, it's like I'm seeing her again for the first time. It kind of catches your breath and makes your heart skip a beat. I silently throw up a prayer thanking God for the life He has given the two of us.

I love Roscoe. He's the camp dog out at Rapha. I don't care how many times you run into Roscoe through the day, it's like he hasn't seen you in years. Truth be known, he's looking for a cookie you might have hidden in a pocket, or some other treat. But Roscoe is alright in my book. Nothing like the love of a good dog.

I love to worship.

I love to sing and pour out my heart to God. I love to worship when Debbie Handy is leading. She can take us into the presence of God faster than any other person I know of.
I love it when God comes down and fills the room with His presence during worship. I simply love to get lost in worship. Get lost to the point that there doesn't seem to be anyone else in the room except for God and me.

I love it when the Holy Spirit lets me see a verse in a new way. One that is applicable to me. One that I need to read and apply. It's like the verse stands up on the page and screams my name out..."Michael! Pay attention! You need to understand this."

I never tire of seeing someone saved.
I never tire of baptizing people. I will stay in the water until I'm pruned....but nothing beats being a part of baptism. For me, baptizing in the creek at Rapha is the best. Usually Wayne Wimpee helps me when we have one to do. Afterwards, he and I will stand in the water praying and talking. Just taking in all that has happened, thinking back over the years at all the other baptisms we have done in that creek. Asking ourselves how many more years will we be able to get up and down that creek bank. I still have a whole bunch of years left in to climb that bank.

I appreciate you letting me ramble this morning.
I was feeling grateful for all that God has allowed me to see and experience.

It has been a great ride so far, and I look forward to seeing it all the way to the end.

In case I haven't told you lately....
I love you and so does God.

God on you...

mb

It Was A Thursday Night

(Last night's entry into my journal)

7:41 p.m.
It as been a long day and I am weary. I have one last class to tech @ 8 p.m. and I am taking nothing for granted. Now is no time to coast or go through the motions to simply leave and go home.
God has brought me this far today and has given me great grace to see it through.

"Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" is playing on my stereo.
Oh God, that is me....
"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it."
"Prone to leave the God I love."
This knowing of what lies dark inside me keeps me close to the cross and to Jesus. 

"O to grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be."
It is the grace of God....
The empowering presence of God in my life that enables me to be who God created me to be, and to do what He has called me to do...
Such is what brought me to Him.
IT was the grace of God that grabbed my heart and, with much love, made me see the extent of my sin. The extent that hell was my reward if I continued on the path I was on. Love that whispered to me "It doesn't have to be this way."
Oh God, I owe You everything. I am nothing without You

My heart is full when I think on Your love.
So great that it is beyond my comprehension.
That You would love me into Your family despite my sin (Which you cancelled at the cross).
What love is this? What manner of love burns white hot for those who don't even recognize it much less acknowledge it? Love that cannot be stopped by rejection, but continues the pursue us no matter how far we run. 
Perfect love...
Pure love....

More of You in me, Lord. More of You and less of me. Lord, if it be possible, kill me even more to rid myself of that which comes to draw me away from You. That I might in new ways to Your call. Let it be so. Part the heavens and come down and take me....I cannot survive without you. 

Marie Barnett spoke what should be on every believer's heart...
"You are the air I breathe"....."You are my daily bread".....And I....I'm desperate for You."
May I be lost in You. May I not live to satisfy any selfish desire or motive. But may I give away daily that which You have given to me.

Keep me near Your cross, and any glory that may be given to me...let it only be placed at your feet. Tonight, my body is weary and my brain tired, but I am refreshed by Your Spirit.

At the Bible study that followed this entry, God came.
There were only 4 who attended but there was such an awareness of His presence that, for the most part, we simply laid in the floor worshiping and praying. One who attended was healed from emotional pain. One rededicated his life to Christ. We all went away knowing that we had been in the presence of God.
It was a good night.

God on you...
mb

Come And Die

There are very few books that I read over and over in an ongoing basis.
Of course the Bible is one that tops my "to read" list.
Watchman Nee's "Spiritual Authority" is another. Given to me by a friend when I was ordained, it has provided much needed direction in times of conflict with authority. It helps me to keep my mind focused on what is important, and my need to submit to the authorities over me.
But probably the one book, other than scripture, that has influenced me the most is Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Cost Of Discipleship."

To some, Bonhoeffer is seen as a religious zealot whose ideas of how to live this life as a follower of Jesus are too far fetched and beyond the reach of common every day folk. Well, truth be known...his ideas are beyond the reach of common every day folk. That is why Jesus calls us to come and follow Him and die.
Die to self....
Die to the this world....
Die to religion.....
But be resurrected to new life to a relationship.
Seems to me that the message being preached today is come and figure out a way to take Jesus and make Him work in your current lifestyle. Oh you might put up a religious painting or two....keep a Bible out in plain view for others to see when they come to visit. You may even say grace at mealtime. But deep inside, there is a part of you that you are not willing to let Jesus have. You are not willing to turn over that last vestige of self. Self control....self will........self seeking....you are not willing to let go of that little part. And you argue with God's Holy Spirit when conviction comes on you for thinking such. "Come on! I've given every thing else. I don't watch R movies....I don't frequent the old hangouts I use to. I am not going to surrender this part. There will be nothing left of me if I do."  As Bonhoeffer writes, "All along the line we are trying to evade the obligation of single-minded literal obedience." Do we not realize that this arguing about following the call of Christ is one of the devil's most dastardly weapons. He is encouraging us to keep throwing up objections to Jesus leading...and we will escape the necessity of being obedient.

Bonhoeffer goes on to say, "When you are disobedient, you are trying to keep some part of your life under your own control. That is the very thing that is preventing you from listening to Christ and believing in his grace. You cannot hear Christ because you are willfully disobedient."

Now, for me, I believe that obedience is an ongoing work. Once we make the decision to turn will and life over to the care of Jesus.....we begin to learn how to follow Him. But obedience must be the hallmark of this new life we have received. The moment that self steps back into the picture, we have taken a side trail off the path we are being lead down. We revert to a Genesis 3 mindset...."If I eat the fruit, I'll be like God....If I'm like God........then I DON"T NEED GOD!!!"  Such is why, in Mark 9:23, Jesus tells the crowd that anyone who wishes to come after Him must deny themselves and take up their cross daily."  Don't you know such was offensive to that crowd listening to Jesus that day. The cross! It was a part of every day life in Jerusalem, as daily men were paraded through streets only to be taken away and hung on their cross.

That "daily taking up of our own cross" is a reminder that when we receive the call to follow Jesus...we are called to come and die. Die to our old nature, our old ways, our old thinking.
Such is the foundation for new life.
Such is the foundation for recovery.

God on you...
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Snap Beans? Yes....Snap Decisions....No!

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Snap decisions......
Decisions made in haste....
Following emotion rather than waiting....
These are the downfall of many a person in recovery.
I saw it happen this last week.
He had collected and maintained over 7 months clean time.
Had a good job....
Was getting his GED...
Life was as good for him as it had ever been.
Yet because he allowed his emotion to rule his thinking, he threw it all away and left.
Such is the danger and destruction of living by snap decisions.

In the Philippians verse, Paul writes that we are to be anxious for nothing.
And what falls under "nothing"?
Everything.
It doesn't matter what it is...or how important we think it may be to our well being, we are not to allow anxiousness and anxiety to rule our hearts. When I do this, I put myself at risk for not hearing God and His directions. I place myself in a hazardous situation that has the potential of not ending well.
Be anxious for nothing.
In this moments of anxiousness, we find out what we really truly believe about God. Such moments reveal who it is we turn to when real life "stuff" comes up. We find out exactly how much we have either grown in Him, or are simply playing at the religious game.
Such is the love and heart of God. He allows us to be uncovered and seen for what we truly are. Not to embarrass us or punish us, but to simply say, "Here..this is the real you...now let's work on this and correct it." 

The right way to handle any situation where our flesh gets all up in our decision's, would be to acknowledge our desire to run things outside of God's instructions. Our desire to be selfish and want what we want when we want it. 

Paul goes on to write in verse 11, that he'd learn the secret of being content in every situation. What was this incredible secret? That he could face anything that comes his way. He could exist in any situation that he might find himself in. That he'd learn that with Christ in charge of his life, he could do all things. In other words, living in this way, there was no room for anxiousness or anxiety. No place for snap decisions. It was truly a way of life where "slow and steady win the race." 

Don't fall prey to snap decisions today.
Recognize the pressure that comes when you have to make a decision. When you feel it, pull back and spend time in prayer. Tell God about what your feeling. Tell Him you don't want to make any decision based on your own emotion or fleshly nature. Tell Him that you will wait until He has told you what to do...................then do it!

God on you...
mb

Changes.......Real Changes.......Life Changes!

Day after day she made the trek to draw water.
Noon time heat....
Noon time cold....
Noon time dry and Noon time rain...
No matter what, noon was her time to fetch water for her and her family.
If you could call it a family.
Several children by different husbands...
This was never part of the future she had wished for her life.
So many husbands that she completely gave up on marriage.
Marriage was for other women. It wasn't to be for her.

The man she was living with simply tolerated her. As long as the meals were prepared and the living quarters kept clean...she could stay. To him, she was nothing more than a house servant. She tried to imagine her life as being better than it truly was. After all, she did have a roof over her head and she was not cast out into the streets to become simply chattel. 

She heard the whispers of others when she went out.
Whore....
harlot....
No good......
Faces turned the other way when she stepped out into the streets. After all, she had a reputation. She was one of those women.
She had lived through five husbands and was now simply living with another man. Such was never a part of the life she'd hoped for as a little girl.

Day after day, she went by herself to draw water.
She went at the one time of day she knew no one would be at the well. It was one of the few moments she could enjoy by herself. But really there wasn't any peace....the memories seemed to chase after her, calling her names and reminding her of how far she'd fallen in life.

This morning was no different than any other. Or at least she thought it to be that way. But little did she know that she was going to run into a man at the well who'd change her life forever. Little did she know that she was going to run into Jesus...the Messiah. Her....a Samaritan woman with a bad reputation was going to have an encounter with the Son of God. Truly life would never be the same.

Now whether we want to believe this or not, such still happens to this day.
You never know when you will run into Jesus. Oh, He won't appear before you as a man....but it will be the real deal Jesus none the less.
You may suddenly have a fleeting thought pass through you mind of Jesus. A verse....a song.....the idea that God loves you. Such as these are encounters.
Lay hold of such things, for heaven has come to you.
When having thought, you may suddenly be aware of a sin or attitude...some harsh word you spoke...or thought you had against someone and, because of it, suffer a twinge of guilt or shame. Know that it is Jesus' way of lovingly letting you know that such does not belong in your heart.

You may be driving to work enjoying your cup of coffee, as well as the song on the radio, when suddenly you find yourself feeling joy or peace deep inside. That is a call to worship in the moment. So cut loose and yell out a a hardy "Thank You Jesus!!!" Don't worry no one is watching you. Besides, even if they are, they'll think you're listening to classic rock and are singing along with the radio.

Truth be known...
Jesus is all around us and for the most part, we miss him as we move through our day.
Keep your heart focused, ready to see Him...
Ready to hear Him....
Ready to talk with Him....
Ready to give yourself completely to Him.
No matter what you current state is in life....
He is ready to embrace you and take you on the greatest adventure you could ever hope to experience.
Not one of lollipops and puppy dogs.....rainbows and unicorns.....
But of truth and power and His Kingdom being brought down square into your life, changing you in ways that you could never imagine.
As Larry Norman wrote, " Why don't you check into Jesus....He's got the answers!"

God on you..
mb