Tag: Hope

Tetelestai Recovery

Overcoming Adversity: The Power of Yes and No Choices

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We thought about our individual experiences with yes and no decisions, then shared them with the group.

One member who had been set free from an addiction to porn, shared his decision-making process when it comes to watching television. He knows which shows will trigger lustful thoughts, so he simply chooses not to watch them. He decides instead to watch sports, cooking shows, and science programs on PBS. He says yes to living free from shame which means he says no to shows that trigger him. Each time he makes that choice, he places himself in a position of power. He continues to pursue his destiny using the wisdom God has given. He is leveling-up into a mature, godly man who demonstrates great leadership skills.

Another member of the group shared about self-esteem issues. From childhood, he had been trying to cope with the confusion of trauma, unaware of what to call it. He struggled with feelings of unworthiness and was unable to feel a sense of value. That all changed when he made the choice to learn about trauma and its effects. He chose to develop a relationship with Jesus, his Healer. He made a choice to forgive and move away from the pain. Because he says yes to openness, and no to suffering in silence, he now operates in a position of influence and serves as an advocate for others. He has the wisdom of God and the heart of a servant.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Navigating Spiritual Highs and Lows

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Sometimes we make really good progress and are pleased with the distance we cover in such a short time. We feel that our relationship with God is in great shape, and we are motivated by our sense of accomplishment.

At other times, however, we feel as if we were trudging through mud, putting one foot in front of the other, lacking any drive or inspiration. We feel inadequate, overwhelmed, and disinterested. During these times, we don’t feel so great about our relationship with God. We assume He is disappointed with our lack of energy and enthusiasm.

These times are rare, but they happen often enough to make us question our stability and resolve. We wonder if one of these periods might last so long that we will just give in and give up.

We don’t want to lose what we have gained, and we don’t want to miss the joy of the journey, so the thought of trudging through the marshy swampland of doubt, discouragement, and disagreement feels very threatening.

We love the mountaintops and the flowery meadows, but we must face the fact that dry deserts and muddy bogs are also part of the expedition. We must make peace with both if we want to get where we are going.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Harnessing Divine Power

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The power of God flows into each person like an electric current. For it to have an effect, there must be a conductor to draw it out. Our beliefs create the cord that connects us to the Source.

An electrical outlet by itself will not turn on a fan. The receptacle may hold the promise of power to run the fan, but if the cord is not plugged in, the current cannot flow.

Imagine the outlet as God’s promises. The cord is our belief which connects us to the current. Sure, we can become shamelessly independent from time to time, using arrogance and aggression to empower ourselves, but in that frame of mind, we are turning the blades of the fan by spinning them with our fingers. It is neither efficient, nor productive.

Self-induced exhaustion is the result when we resist plugging in and letting the energy flow. We use our own manipulations and self-defense mechanisms, rather than just resting on the promises of a hopeful future, because of God’s goodness.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Leveling Up: Embracing Purpose and Power

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Leveling up means we are advancing in position, power, purpose, and experience. We are being promoted.

God is powerful and purposeful. All authority has been given to Jesus who is exalted over all things. He has bequeathed this status to us. However, He does not empower us just to make us powerful. He empowers us so we can be effective in taking care of each other and accomplishing His goals in this world.

The Christian faith assures us of eternity in Heaven at the end of our human experience. Most believe that our religious traditions and practices cause us to become better people. We believe we can find comfort, peace, and purpose through spiritual enlightenment. We trust in the comfort of our Creator as we encounter the difficulties of life. These beliefs serve as the pillars of our faith.

However, as we level up, we find ourselves not only looking inward at what God is doing in our own lives, but we are also looking outward to see what He is up to in the world around us. We notice a distinct sensitivity toward spiritual vibrations and are intrigued about what role God might want us to play in the grand scheme of His design. We stop focusing on our own performance and begin asking God, “What are you up to right now, and how can I help?”

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A Date With Destiny

Find Your Fearless Spirit

lastwordrecovery 
 Joshua 1:9  
Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. So don’t be afraid. The Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.

When faced with questions and uncertainty, you sometimes doubt your own ability to fend off the forces of fear.

However, the Spirit of God resides with you and around you. His protective bubble creates a force field which keeps you safe and unharmed while angel armies fight for you. 

As you encounter the icy chill of a society which applauds greed, violence, and distrust, you are warmed from within by the Holy Spirit’s flame.

Like a crackling fire on a cold winter night, the presence of God permeates the atmosphere and brings comfort to your soul.

God’s sovereignty is undisputed. His angels stand ready to rise on your behalf. You are therefore able to claim victory over any doubt, conflict, or difficulty which threatens to distract you from your true purpose.

Your soul is at rest, and your mind is at peace because you know the power of your position in Christ.  Since God is for you, and has promised to defend you, there is no need to defend yourself. 

Since God fights for you, the fear of inadequacy or personal failure has no place in your future.

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A Date With Destiny

Joshua 1:6: Courage in the Face of Adversity

lastwordrecovery 
 Joshua 1:6  
 So be strong and courageous, for you will lead these people.

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 that try your soul and require strength beyond any human support system.

These are the times when you must strengthen yourself in order to accomplish the assignments God has ordained for you.

Personal and spiritual strength come from daily diligence. You have dedicated yourself to a spiritual workout each day, in order to be strengthened for the journey ahead.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Navigating Feelings: The Search for Normalcy

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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 more intensely than others and we processed our problems with great difficulty.

We obsessively examined ourselves, looking for clues to solve the mystery and to find a key which would unlock some invisible door into normalcy. We noticed people we admired and made feeble attempts to imitate their personas. We sought out damaged friends who would validate us in our dysfunction. We pursued money to prove our worth. We questioned and we 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.

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Tetelestai Recovery

HAPPY NEW YOU!

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A New Year –

A New Start –

A New Normal –

https://a.co/d/6QtnnH8

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Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding Addiction: The Desperate Search for Relief

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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

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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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