Author: lastwordrecovery

Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding Addiction: The Desperate Search for Relief

lastwordrecovery

As far back as we could remember, we felt different, damaged, and just plain wrong. We did not know exactly what was wrong with us. We only knew that we felt things more intensely than others and we processed our problems with great difficulty.

We obsessively examined ourselves, looking for clues to solve the mystery and find a key to unlock some invisible door which kept us perched precariously on the outside edge of normalcy. We noticed people we admired and made feeble attempts to imitate their persona. We sought out damaged friends who would validate us in our dysfunction. We pursued money to prove our worth. We questioned and blamed. We fought with ourselves and resented God. We learned how to act right, but we didn’t know how to feel right. Eventually it was our feelings which became our undoing.

The presence of unwanted feelings such as insecurity, inadequacy, fear, anger, and other social phobias, coupled with our inability to manage or control them, unleashed within us a desperation for relief at any cost.

We soon learned of a temporary reprieve which occurred when our brain chemistry became altered. We didn’t care that the relief would be short lived or cause irreparable damage to our relationships, our finances, and our minds. The momentary relief of rightness, contrasted against the life-long agony of wrongness, offered such an enchanting embrace, we surrendered without a fight….

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Tetelestai Recovery, Chapter 2

Tetelestai Recovery

Breaking Free from Addiction: A Journey to Redemption

lastwordrecovery

Addiction is stealing the lives and destinies of so many of God’s children who can’t find their way out.  Many good people suffer in silence from the effects of this deadly disease.

We were addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years. The disease tried to kill us, and we thought there was no hope.

We finally hit rock bottom (incarceration) and found a word that would change our lives forever: Tetelestai.

Tetelestai is the Greek word that means, “It is finished!” It was the final declaration of Jesus from the cross.

We watched the power of Tetelestai play out in a courtroom verdict that no one saw coming. The shock and disbelief gave way to hopeful anticipation as we enthusiastically came into agreement with Jesus and declared our addictions FINISHED.

Living clean and sober in the power of Jesus’ words ushered us into a life that is better than we ever thought possible.

This program was developed by addicts, for addicts. God redeemed our past, gathered the broken pieces, and made us into something useful for His Kingdom.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Escaping the Cycle of Despair and Addiction

lastwordrecovery

Have you ever felt stuck? I don’t mean stuck in prison, stuck in a ditch, or stuck in the mud or snow. I also don’t mean stuck in an unfulfilling relationship, stuck in a job, or stuck with your kids.

The kind of stuck I’m talking about has to do with feelings of despair, dysfunctional behaviors, addiction, or anything else that impacts your life negatively, leaving you feeling hopeless about getting unstuck.

Sometimes we become stuck due to an obsession of the mind. It’s something that we just can’t let go of. We want to break free, but it seems to have an unshakable hold on us. What do we do?

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A Date With Destiny

Finding Clarity in God’s Expectations

lastwordrecovery

Happy Birthday 12/28 

   Mark 12:28  
One of the teachers of the law came to Jesus. He saw that Jesus gave good answers to their questions, so he asked Jesus, “Which of the commands is most important?”

You recognize the clues to your destiny which come to you from Jesus. Your imagination is the canvass on which He paints the portrait of your future.  However, your spiritual journey of discovery often starts with more questions than answers.

Like the teachers of law in Jesus’ day, you have questions about the expectations of God. Rather than discussing them with other humans and risking heated arguments or controversy, you take your questions directly to the Source. You aren’t afraid to ask Jesus for reassurance and clarity…

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A Date With Destiny

Thoughtful Reflections: A Meaningful Christmas Gift for Self-Discovery

lastwordrecovery

What does your birthday reveal about your spiritual gifts, character, and calling?

This unique devotional uses your birth month and day to guide you through key passages of scripture, using the chapter and verse numbers that match your special day.

What’s inside:

  • Ancient verses matched to your birthday
    • month=chapter, day=verse
  • Reflections on your personality, strengths, and values
  • Encouragement and inspiration for your walk with the Divine
  • A powerful tool for self-discovery and growth.

Perfect as a Christmas gift, Birthday gift, personal devotional, or keepsake.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Unlocking Miracles: The Spiritual Meaning of Tetelestai

lastwordrecovery

Tetelestai is recorded in the original Greek text describing what Jesus said from the cross in His final moments of mortality. The English translation, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), is the basis for this program.

We believe that Jesus’ words hold miraculous power. We speak these words into our own lives and into the lives of others. We are confident that a spiritual principle is set in play when our statements come into alignment with the words of God.

So also, will be the words that I speak: it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do. Isaiah 55:11

Since Jesus gave witness on the cross, “It is finished,” we align with Him in calling an end to our addictions and dysfunctional behaviors. We testify in agreement with Jesus and thus, the matter is resolved. 

Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.   
2 Corinthians 13:1
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A Date With Destiny

Finding Strength in Solitude: A Spiritual Journey

lastwordrecovery 
Hebrews 12:12
So take a new grip with your tired hands. Stand firm on your shaky legs.

While it is true that there is strength in numbers, there is another type of strength which is required when you must stand alone.

Your path is not always the one of least resistance. You are often led across barren deserts and through dense forests. These are times which try your soul and require strength beyond a human support system.

These are the times when you must force yourself to fulfill your duties, even when you feel too tired or too weak for the task at hand. You do what is required, relying on the power of the Spirit to keep you strong and steady.

Excerpt from: A Date With Destiny – December 12

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Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding Unmet Emotional Needs: A Spiritual Approach

lastwordrecovery

Considering this list of our emotional needs, we realize how unfair it would be to expect another human to meet them. We think about all the times that we scroll through texts on our phones, looking for reassurance that we are worthy, needed, loved, approved, or any number of the other emotional needs we have at the time.

Ironically, it seems a bit ridiculous that we place more hope in a text on our phone than in Sacred Text filled with the love of God. One connects us to other flawed humans; the other connects us to the Creator of the Universe who loves us dearly. 

As we evaluate our unmet emotional needs and identify the ones which cause us the most pain, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us to our truth.

  • Have you ever been pressured to meet someone else’s emotional needs? How did that make you feel? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  • Have you ever pressured someone else to meet your emotional needs? How did that work out?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  • Name some specific emotional needs you have. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  • What are some scriptures you can claim over them?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Excerpt from: Tetelestai Recovery 3 – Leveling Up; Chapter 2: No Need

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Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding Emotional Needs: A Path to Healing

lastwordrecovery

When we pull away from relationships because the emotional cost is too great, we feel like a bad person. We want to follow the leadership of Jesus. We want to be the kind of person who turns the other cheek and goes the extra mile. But being that person takes its toll on our sense of well-being. Our trust turns into suspicion. Our self-sacrifice turns into self-defense and self-preservation. We become discouraged and frustrated. Our personal investments don’t always pay off and it seems pointless to throw any more emotional currency toward relationships that are bankrupting us.

With our emotional center depleted, it is easy to just shut down and go dark. For some of us, the darkness is called depression, and we struggle with thoughts of self-harm. For some of us, the darkness is shoved aside with distractions. We bury ourselves in work, entertainment, shopping, or anything else that will keep us from dealing with our unmet emotional needs.

These needs keep us running from one relationship to another; one career path to another; one church to another; one substance to another. We play the blame game, accusing our parents, our partners, or our culture. We know we have unmet emotional needs, so we are naturally drawn toward people and situations that promise to meet them. Of course, it is only a matter of time before they fail us. No human can fully meet our deep emotional needs. It is a painful lesson we have to learn time and time again, until we begin to understand what it means to level up…

Excerpt from Tetelestai Recovery 3 – Leveling Up; Chapter 2: No Need

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A Date With Destiny

Unlocking the Gift of Teaching: Your Path to Effective Communication

lastwordrecovery

Happy Birthday 12/10

Ecclesiastes 12:10   
The teacher looked for just the right words. He wrote teachings that are dependable and true.

You are a gifted teacher. You are able to transform thoughts and ideas into clear, concise phrases which are easy to understand. This makes you an amazing communicator.

Whether you are aware of it or not, there are many people who learn from you.

Not only do you excel at conveying facts and ideas, but you are also willing to take the extra time to patiently explain what they mean. You are great at problem-solving, organization, and thinking outside the box.  Your mind is active and alert to the world around you. 

With an open mind and a willing spirit, you seek fresh insight when solving difficult problems. Sometimes the solution comes as a sudden divine download, while other times, a fellow problem solver joins you in collaboration efforts.

Many of your teaching moments come in ordinary daily events, so the practical application of your guidance becomes easily incorporated into the everyday lives of those who learn from you.

You are both humbled and honored by this daunting task assigned to you by the Great Teacher.

You remain open to new learning opportunities. You enjoy doing the research and never fail to finish an assignment.

Excerpt from A Date With Destiny – December 10

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