It’s Time to Say Goodbye

There is a season for everything under heaven. Due to a lack of interest, the Renewal meetings have been cancelled.  Renewal began in May 2009.  Since its inception,  we have discussed issues regarding grief, anger and addictive behaviors.  I am thankful to have been used by God to serve in this area for a season in my life.  I will also discontinue posting on this blog.  The site will remain up for those wishing to view the archives.  I will continue posting on a weekly basis on www.redeemthetime.org and www.hillsidestudents.org . 

Thanks to all who have visited this site, or participated in the meetings.  May God richly bless you!

Replacing Grief with Joy

“In the time of the judges, Naomi and her family moved to neighboring Moab to escape a severe famine in Israel.  Naomi’s husband died there, and her sons married Moabite women.  In time, both of her sons also died, leaving Naomi destitute and alone, far from her relatives in Israel.  One daughter-in-law, Orpah, returned to her own family; the other one, Ruth, stayed with Naomi to comfort her in her grief. 

Grief is hard work; it is painful.  People who are grieving need others to grieve with them and comfort them.  Ruth’s faithfulness to her mother-in-law during this time is indeed striking.  She gave up the security of her family in Moab to move and face a future of probable loneliness and poverty in a foreign land.  But, Ruth’s faithfulness yielded the fruits of God’s blessing, and Naomi experienced God’s comfort and love through her. 

Together, Ruth and Naomi trusted God to help them, and God came through in his own time.  The circumstances through which their desperate needs were met reveal God’s unseen hand at work.  God led Naomi and Ruth back to Israel, where Ruth met Boaz, her future husband.  Not only did Ruth find security and love, but the sadness of Naomi’s heart was replaced with joy.

We have all experienced some kind of loss.  There are times when we might feel as if the future is hopeless, even after we have given it over to God.  As we grieve, we may feel abandoned and bitter toward God and the people around us.  But, we can rest in the fact that God is still with us—even when our emotions scream the opposite message—and that He is working on our behalf behind the scenes.”

(excerpt from the book of Ruth, Life Recovery Bible, NLT) 

The Shepherd’s Voice

“A day is coming when everyone will hear Jesus’ voice.  A day is coming when all the other voices will be silenced; His voice—and His voice only—will be heard.

Some will hear His voice for the very first time.  It’s not that He never spoke, it’s just that they never listened.  For these, God’s voice will be the voice of a stranger.  They will hear it once—and never hear it again.  They will spend eternity fending off the voices they followed on earth.  But others will be called from their graves by a familiar voice.  For they are sheep who know their shepherd.  They are servants who opened the door when Jesus knocked.

Now, the door will open again.  Only this time, it won’t be Jesus who walks into our house; it will be we, who walk into His.”

“A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live. . . ”  (John 5:28-29, NIV)

(In the Eye of the Storm)

You Were in His Prayers

“The final prayer of Jesus was about you.  His final pain was for you.  His final passion was for you.  Before He went to the cross, Jesus went to the garden.  And when He spoke with his father, you were in His prayers. . .

And, God couldn’t turn His back on you.  He couldn’t because He saw you, and one look at you was all it took to convince Him.  Right there in the middle of a world which isn’t fair.  He saw you cast into a river of life you didn’t request.  He saw you betrayed by those you love.  He saw you with a body which gets sick and a heart which grows weak . . .

On the eve of the cross, Jesus made his decision.  He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.” 

“Then, Jesus went about a stone’s throw away from them.  He kneeled down and prayed.”  (Luke 22:41)

(from Max Lucado’s, “And the Angels Were Silent“)

Happy Easter!

The Olive, Fig and Grape

  

  

Judges 9: 7-15 (The Message)

 7-9 When this was all told to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and shouted:
    Listen to me, leaders of Shechem.
      And let God listen to you!
   The trees set out one day
      to anoint a king for themselves.
   They said to Olive Tree,
      “Rule over us.”
   But Olive Tree told them,
      “Am I no longer good for making oil
   That gives glory to gods and men,
      and to be demoted to waving over trees?”
 10-11 The trees then said to Fig Tree,
      “You come and rule over us.”
   But Fig Tree said to them,
      “Am I no longer good for making sweets,
   My mouth-watering sweet fruits,
      and to be demoted to waving over trees?”
 12-13 The trees then said to Vine,
      “You come and rule over us.”
   But Vine said to them,
      “Am I no longer good for making wine,
   Wine that cheers gods and men,
      and to be demoted to waving over trees?”
 14-15 All the trees then said to Tumbleweed,
      “You come and reign over us.”
   But Tumbleweed said to the trees:
      “If you’re serious about making me your king,
   Come and find shelter in my shade.
      But if not, let fire shoot from Tumbleweed
      and burn down the cedars of Lebanon!” 

“Jotham told the story about the trees in order to help the people set good priorities. He did not want them to appoint a leader of low character. As we serve in leadership positions, we should examine our motives. Do we just want praise, prestige, or power? In this parable, the good trees chose to be productive and to provide benefits to people. Make sure these are your priorites as you aspire to leadership. (footnote, Life Application Bible)

In order to get oil out of olives, they have to be pressed. Figs have to be picked for you to taste their sweetness. Grapes are picked and pressed in order to make wine. They get stomped on so the sweetness of wine will come forth.

Sometimes the pressures of this life will press in on us. We get picked on. We may even get stepped over or stomped on. But, through the process, is there something good coming from it? Just like these three, will you ask yourself, “Should I quit doing what is good and right in order to ‘get to the top’?” They chose to stay and be productive. Will you—even if it means sacrificing a higher position?

Recover to Do What?

“The final phrase in the definition, develop a healthy, productive, and meaningful life, reflects that recovery is more than a radically altered pattern of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use.  The word develop is intended to convey movement forward—a ‘progress, not perfection’ framework.  Such progress can reflect internal changes,( i.e., values, thinking patterns, attitudes, skills, decisions, personal identity), or external changes (rituals of daily living, significant changes in interpersonal relationships, particularly with family and friends).  Healthy encompasses improvements in quality of life:  physical health, emotional health, and social relationships.  Productive suggests severe AOD problems will be replaced by behaviors that contribute to rather than wound the community.  Meaningful suggests that the new life of recovery is experienced as something of personal value—that one’s life was saved for some reason.”  (from the manual) 

We all want to feel we have a purpose in life.  What are some of your goals?  Where is your destiny?  Life was once all about the addiction.  Then, it was all about the recovery.  Now, life is all about you, beyond all that.  What will it look like?  You have some choices to make.  And, now that you’re on that journey, I hope you have invited Jesus into your heart and into your life.  He will be there beside you.  He will be there when the days seem hard.  John 10:10 states, ” The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”   The thief was the addiction.  It came to steal your life; it came to kill you.  But, Jesus Christ came to give you life.  He came to give you an abundant life, both now and eternally! 

Resolution

“One essential ingredient of recovery is problem resolution.  ‘To resolve these problems’  conveys that some repairs of the wounds to self and others have already been completed while others are likely still underway.  It conveys that the person, family , and community are in the process of freeing themselves from problems that have dominated their thoughts, feelings, relationships, and activities.  For recovery to occur, certain things must be absent and other things must be present — a measurable accounting of withdrawals and deposits. 

 ‘Resolve’ means that the destructive pattern of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use has been aborted, the problems resulting from such use have been or are being rectified to the extent possible, and the chaos and unpredictability that so often characterize severe AOD problems have diminished or been eliminated”  (from the manual).

There is a goal—there is a purpose.  Recognize the problems, and work to resolve them.  To ‘heal the wounds inflicted by AOD problems’ may take some time, but be patient.  God is there to bring healing and restoration.

Spiritual Restoration

Renewal meetings will resume Tues., April 13th @ 6:30 p.m.  I hope this allows you plenty of time to mark your calendars, and make plans to attend.  The focus of the upcoming meetings will be “Spiritual Restoration:  Healing for the Wounded Soul”.  We will be looking at different areas that are outlined in the book, “Soul Repair:  Rebuilding Your Spiritual Life”  by Jeff VanVonderen / Dale & Juanita Ryan.  You do not have to purchase the book in order to be a part of the class (not unless you choose to do so). 

The purpose of these meetings is to help individuals understand the difference between a healthy relationship with God vs. enduring a toxic one.  Many have been wounded by “religion”, and have been left with a distorted and inadequate spiritual life.  Each week, we will focus on a particular area, allowing time for participants to engage in discussion, as well as having meaningful prayer time.  If you have any questions, please contact me.

You’re Not an Island

When a person is addicted to alcohol or drugs, it not only affects that individual, but also all those around.  Families become disrupted.  Bitterness, anger and resentment often dictates the families’ emotions.  Financial struggles develop, leading to financial ruin.  In turn, the community in which they live may also feel a negative impact.  When illegal actions are transpiring, the crime rate will increase, thus impacting the local citizens.  Medical expenses are often incurred as a result of the addiction.  If the expenses are left unpaid, an impact is felt in the medical arena.  And, the cycle continues.

In turn, if so many people are affected when a person is in the addiction, then during recovery, many people may need to be involved as well.  “In the Red Road to Wellbriety, the individual, family and community are one.  To injure one is to injure all; to heal one is to heal all”  (White Bison, 2002).   The individual will need support from his family during recovery.  This may include group therapy for the entire family unit.  The individual/family will need support from professional counselors, 12-step programs and the church community.  Support from various resources will be vital to that person’s recovery. 

What can we as a church community do?  FIrst of all, we can love and accept the individual, irregardless of their issues.  Secondly, we can develop a support group network.  such as Renewal.  By meeting the individual where they’re at, opposed to condemning or judging them of where they should be, can help to lessen the stigma of addiction and recovery.  If they can’t find a loving, supportive family within the church, where can they find it? 

  “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.” 
  —  John Donne