April 21, 2009

  • One Moment…



    Is it possible that in one moment that hurt and heartache can disappear?  Or at the very least significantly diminish? 

    Within
    the past week, (but specifically since Sunday morning) God has brought
    many messages to me and they all have an unmistakable theme – truth and
    revelation.  Knowing the truth of who He is.  Understanding who I am in
    Him.  Reconciling the truth of who others truly are rather than who
    they presented themselves to be.  Recognizing and accepting that we are
    all fallible and that pain, just like joy, is an expected part of life,
    but our God will use these times to develop strength and character (if
    we let Him).  I’m not saying I’m healed, but acknowledging that I need
    healing.

    As
    one of my “resolutions” I was going to participate in bible study and
    specifically a Celebrate Recovery group.  I finally joined yesterday. 

    ………………..
    Celebrate Recovery 12 Steps and their Biblical Comparisons

    ……..


     1….


    We admitted we were powerless over
    our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become
    unmanageable.
    I know that nothing good lives
    in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is
    good, but I cannot carry it out.
    Romans
    7:18
    ….


     2….


    We came to believe that a power
    greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
    For it is God who works in you to will and to act
    according to his good purpose.
    Philippians
    2:13
    ….


     3….


    We made a decision to turn our
    lives and our wills over to the care of God.
    Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s
    mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -
    this is your spiritual act of worship.
    Romans
    12:1
    ….


     4….


    We made a searching and fearless
    moral inventory of ourselves.

    Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
    Lamentations 3:40….


     5….


    We admitted to God, to ourselves,
    and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
    Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for
    each other so that you may be healed.
    James
    5:16
    ….


     6….


    We were entirely ready to have God
    remove all these defects of character.

    Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
    James 4:10….


     7….


    We humbly asked Him to remove all
    our shortcomings.
    If we confess our sins, he is
    faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

    1 John 1:9….


     8….


    We made a list of all persons we
    had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
    Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31….


     9….


    We made direct amends to such
    people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
    Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar
    and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your
    gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother;
    then come and offer your gift.
    Matthew
    5:23-24
    ….


    10….


    We continue to take personal
    inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
    So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful
    that you don’t fall!
    1
    Corinthians 10:12
    ….


    11….


    We sought through prayer and
    meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for
    knowledge of His will for us, and power to carry that out.
    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3:16….


    12….


    Having had a spiritual experience
    as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to
    practice these principles in all our affairs.
    Brothers,
    if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore
    them gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be
    tempted.
    Galatians 6:1….


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