Tag: Bible

Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding Tests: Cultivating Patience

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My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  James 1:2-4

When caught up in a moment of testing, we must resist letting our feelings and circumstances serve as a litmus test for our faith. It is not healthy, nor is it accurate.

Tests are for the express purpose of developing patience. Whether the tests come from internal or external forces, they have a purpose. Some of the tests we face are due to our own weaknesses and might easily become our demise, but even then, God always has a better plan. Any test that activates patience is beneficial. Guilt and blame serve no purpose.

Patience tells us that tests are only temporary. Patience tells us that God is doing a good work in us, and He will complete it. Patience tells us not to judge our walk by one random stumble. Patience keeps us steady as we wait for the storm to pass.

It is patience that we lack when we throw up our hands and give up. It is patience that we lack when we question our progress. It is patience that will get us to the finish line. It is patience that will help us be gentle with ourselves.

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A Date With Destiny

Harmony with Earth: A Gardener’s Journey

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Then the Lord God planted a garden in the East, in a place called Eden. He put the man He had formed into that garden. Genesis 2:8

You enjoy a close bond with nature and find peace in the Great Creation. You have discovered the elusive tranquility that many others seek, by walking in harmony with the earth and its inhabitants.

You enjoy tending gardens and working with plants. You also find a deep sense of satisfaction from sharing your harvest to nourish others.  You delight in feeding birds, animals, and fellow human beings. 

Growing plants from seed and watching them mature into life-sustaining trophies of God’s goodness, is an assignment you willingly accept.

To you, the privilege of sharing the abundance of your harvest is one of life’s most enjoyable experiences.

You function in harmony with the earth, finding both spiritual and physical nourishment from this connection to the Creator.

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A Date With Destiny

Unveiling the Harmony of Science and Faith

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  1 Corinthians 2:7   
  I speak God’s secret wisdom, which He has kept hidden. God planned this wisdom for our glory before the world began.

The secret wisdom of God’s Kingdom is revealed in nature. Many may find it difficult to comprehend the magnitude of what they are witnessing, when viewing a starry night or a blazing sunrise. However, you are fully aware that each element of nature contains vital information about your Creator.

You have a persistent drive to push past surface layer facts to discover the deeper secrets hidden behind them. You have a curious mind which seeks to comprehend the secrets of God concealed in the world around you.

You remain keenly aware that all understanding comes from the Creator, and you derive great pleasure discovering the intimate secrets of His character revealed in the beauty of nature.

You deeply and fully appreciate a belief in intelligent design. Profound revelations that you encounter, while observing the world around you, unlocks a supernatural enlightenment which reaches far beyond human understanding.

You are enamored by the evidence of God sprinkled throughout the universe. You possess great wisdom and understanding when sifting through the clues to uncover hidden mysteries.

As each layer is peeled back, through scientific research and discovery, the wonder of the universe reveals the magnitude of its Creator.

 You easily make the connection between Creator and Creation. You have been given a gift of divine understanding which enables you to live life in both the natural and supernatural, simultaneously.

A life of dual loyalties to both the scientific and religious communities is rarely an easy path to walk. These two entities are often perceived to be in opposition to each other.

However, you have the gift of divine wisdom, so you perceive it much differently. You find insurmountable evidence to the contrary.

You see a spectacular harmony between both the spiritual and the scientific realms.  You can quickly detect synchronized cooperation between these two dimensions and are equally comfortable in both worlds.

This is an exciting lifestyle that few can understand. You comprehend it well because it has been your reality for as long as you can remember.

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A Date With Destiny

Living Testimony: How Your Story Can Inspire Change

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    1 John 2:6  
   Whoever says that God lives in him must live as Jesus lived.

The story of what God has done in your life is a profound message of hope which will change lives. It cannot be kept quiet. It is not meant to remain private.

The exhibition of Jesus’ healing, deliverance, and renewal in your life will be shared as a lasting legacy long after your days in the human realm of space and time have ended.

Not only are you a living display of grace, through your kindness and compassion, you are carrying the teachings of Christ within your own being.

Your message from God is one of forgiveness, love, and empathy for those who struggle.

God has revealed this to you in such a personal way; it seems as if it is simply part of your personality.

Your ability to follow the unique level of Christ’s teaching is a special gift that not many possess. Despite numerous wrongs done to you, forgiveness and the refusal to carry a grudge, is the deliberate response you choose.

The teaching and actions of Jesus concerning forgiveness are part of the mysterious message of truth that God has called you to communicate to his hurting children.  His message of mercy is one that most people find difficult to receive until they see it in action.

You are given amazing opportunities to share this mysterious message of the healing power of forgiveness with those who seek what you have found.

Your living example of Jesus’ teachings speak volumes to those who interact with you during your allotted time on this planet.

Additionally, your written words will influence those you never meet. As a lasting legacy, your writings will offer God-given insights to those who enter the human realm long after you have lived out your days.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Discovering the Power of ‘It is Finished’ in Your Life

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Whether your it is a little problem or a big one, the proclamation of Jesus, “It is finished!” gives you the power you need to move out of this prison and into the open space of grace.

Like a blank check, Jesus gave us, “It is finished!” His words have the power to put an end to anything that is an obstacle to your best self. 

When He said, “It is finished!” He knew it would be specific and unique to every person on the planet. To identify your own, it that may be causing issues, try asking yourself these questions:

  • What consumes your thoughts and energy?
  • What worry keeps you up at night?
  • What behavior makes you feel powerless?
  • What thought paralyzes you with fear?
  • What things about yourself make you cringe?
  • What secret struggle do you keep hidden?
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Tetelestai Recovery

Sometimes Anger is Appropriate

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We felt certain that we could justify anger when it came to certain evils in the world. When we checked the Sacred Text, we found proof that anger can sometimes be appropriate; perhaps even righteous.

Jesus went into the Temple. He threw out all the people who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables that belonged to the men who were exchanging different kinds of money. And he upset the benches of those who were selling doves.
Jesus said to all the people there, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be a house where people will pray.’ But you are changing God’s house into a ‘den of thieves.’  
Matthew 21:12-17

So, after reviewing some of Jesus’ moments of fury, we concluded that there may, in fact, be times when anger would be an entirely appropriate reaction.

His reaction was more than simply a display of righteous indignation. It was a display of self-restraint. The Son of God, with an army of angels at His disposal, simply flipped over a few tables and ran people out of the temple. He could have whistled for an asteroid to hit the coordinates where they stood. He could have summoned a flesh-eating bacterium to consume them or an earthquake that would bury them beneath tons of rubble. He could have destroyed them in a million different ways, but he chose rather to use words, with a controlled show of force for emphasis.

We came to understand that when Jesus was angry, His methods were measured and restrained.

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A Date With Destiny

Sharing Divine Light: A Guide to Spiritual Influence

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Genesis 1:27  

So God created human beings in His image.

The relationship you enjoy with God as your Father creates an aura of warmth and light in the atmosphere surrounding you.

This glow of God’s reflection in you, illuminates spaces which were once dark and gloomy. People are drawn to your light and seek to experience it for themselves.

The wonderful thing about the radiance of this light, is that it can be shared freely without losing its intensity. The glow of God’s likeness radiating from you is like sunshine.  There is no limit to the number of recipients who can receive the warmth and comfort it brings.

 And as the sunshine persuades spring flowers to emerge, you too carry the ability to encourage the colorful expressions of God’s creative design to blossom in the lives of those you influence.

You carry a big responsibility, for without the image of The Father shining through you, some of His wandering children who are searching for the light might never find their way home.

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A Date With Destiny

The Promise of a New Day in Christ

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  Genesis 1:13  
  Evening passed, and morning came.

The Lord cares deeply about you. He surrounds you with compassion when you are going through times of discouragement and exhaustion.

Although these experiences may feel like endless nights of the soul, you rest assured that morning will come. You know that  when the light breaks through the darkness, and you have had some rest, you will see things clearly once again.

God sees that some of the things you go through are difficult.  He is there to help you endure the darkness. He keeps you safe when the shadows fall and brings you through the lonely nights. As the darkness passes, your soul is refreshed by the dawn of a new day.

Knowing that God has designed nature with the assurance of a sunrise, you rest assured that after the darkness  passes, the light of a new day will drive it away.

Assured that the Creator of the universe is interested in your emotional well-being and is willing to listen as your pour out your heart, you are able to move through the stages of melancholy with calm acceptance. You know that God keeps you protected in the darkness and it will always pass.

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A Date With Destiny

Happy Birthday 12/1

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Genesis 12:1
Then the Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family. Go to the land I will show you.

Following God is not always easy, but you are convinced that is the only way to real life and true joy. 

As a follower, you are attentive to the One who is leading. You wait eagerly for His signals which indicate the need to slow down, speed up, or make a turn. Occasionally, you must even make a U-turn, which makes you feel as if you went the wrong way. However, even wrong turns are part of the journey, and the experience gained becomes a valuable reference point for the remaining journey ahead.

Since God designed you specifically for the road you will travel, equipping you with all the necessary provisions for a successful journey, the only thing you lack is the knowledge of where it might lead.

As you move toward your destiny, you learn that God does not reveal everything all at once. Your journey is one of personal discovery and growth.

You keep your undivided attention on the sound of God’s voice and you are always moving toward it.  Sometimes it is a song, sometimes it is the wind, and sometimes it is the still small voice whispering your name in the midst of a storm.

Following God is a pleasure for you. As he directs, you happily tag along, never letting Him out of your sight.

As you remain alert to the changing landscape and split-second directives, you are able to avoid the pitfalls and potholes which may have caused injury.

You experience life in a more abundant way, thanks to your choice to travel the road that God chose just for you. The horizon is often hazy and uncertain. God usually doesn’t reveal the next step until you have picked up your foot from the last one. Yet, every stride becomes a place of new promise.

Letting go of what you are used to, and stepping out into the unknown is one of life’s most challenging experiences.

However, as the voice of God’s calls to you from the realm of the unknown, you cannot resist. Your heart is anxious, yet you are intrigued. Stepping out into the unknown, you find that the promises of God are waiting.

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A Date With Destiny

Limitless

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Numbers 11:23
“Is there a limit to my power?” the Lord answered.

You have invested your most valuable assets into the spiritual riches of God’s Kingdom. Your contributions of trust and loyalty are given freely to God and His returns never disappoint.

Unflinching faith comes to you like a divine download and you are often amazed by a sudden level of confidence which seems to appear out of nowhere.

You actively seek help from God because you know His power has no limit. As a reward for your humility and authenticity, the Holy Spirit infuses you with wisdom and power that far exceeds your natural human abilities.

You are able to accomplish things others have deemed unattainable and you give all the credit to Jesus who turned your impossibilities into possibilities.

You find that this realm of ‘ridiculous faith’ has proven to be the most exciting and fulfilling method of maneuvering through this human experience.

As a world of miracles opens before you, you scale to heights you never dreamed possible.  And as your confidence in God grows stronger, you see your life filled with the reality of His limitless power.

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