Tag: Hope

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Trust More; Worry Less

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When has worry EVER made something better?  It usually makes us weak and sick.

We can overcome fear by looking to God and receiving his love. 1 John 4:18 tells us that “perfect love casts out fear.” 

Marcus Aureoles wrote, “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

We can choose to be fearful. We can choose not to be fearful.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

The spirit of fear doesn’t come from God and it certainly isn’t what He wants for you.

Fear, worry, and anxiety are silent killers. They shorten our lives and have a negative impact on those around us.

Tetelestai Recovery

Destiny

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We concluded that the Creator of the Universe would not waste time weaving intricate limbic, nervous, and immune systems into a human body, without giving it a reason to exist. It seemed to us that any created life, if not accompanied by a series of assignments designed to enhance the world, would simply be a waste of time.

Imagining that God would create a life without purpose and then place it into a magnificent universe, seemed like hanging macaroni pictures in an art gallery. We felt that God would not busy Himself with kindergarten crafts to decorate the door of His fridge. He would not create a living being which possessed no real purpose or direction, or worse, one with evil intent or the inability to produce a positive impact on the planet.

We acknowledged that the King of the Universe had a specific design for every human being when He placed their spirit into a body. We believed that by the time the organs were developed, and the heartbeat could be heard, each tiny body possessed a spirit with divine directives of cosmic proportions. We were saddened by the realization that if any spirit failed to be awakened to the Creator’s heart, it would be vulnerable to an enemy who would capture and use it for his own purpose.

In the hands of the Evil One, this fragile spirit would be destroyed, and a divine destiny would remain unfulfilled, leaving a gaping hole in human history.

We agreed that our divine assignments could no longer be viewed as optional. We were given life, and therefore, a destiny. The fact that we took another breath meant our destiny had not yet been fulfilled.

Tetelestai Recovery 2: Our New Normal; Chapter 8, The Open Road

https://a.co/d/9s0byPN

Tetelestai Recovery

Cognitive Distortions

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Examine the magnified photo of a scratched vinyl record (see visual aid 1).  Imagine the circular grooves in the album as healthy neuropathways of the brain.  The impact of living in an imperfect world inflicts wounds and distorts our thought processes; much like a scratch in the album distorts the quality of sound it produces. 

A scratched record will not produce the same quality of sound as the non-scratched original.  A vinyl album is fragile and can be easily scarred. If mishandled, it will become lined with grooves which go against the grain of its original design. Once this happens, the needle will frequently slip into the scratch-lines rather than gliding smoothly along the original sound wave channels. This creates audible effects and creates chaos for the listener.

  • Visual Aid 1: Scratched record album; magnified.
  • Visual Aid 2: A coin placed on the headshell above the needle. The purpose is to provide extra weight on the needle, so it doesn’t bounce out of the sound wave channel and follow the groove created from a scratch.
  • Visual Aid 3: Sound wave grooves magnified 1000 times.

The Takeaway

 By placing the weight of the Word on our cognitive distortions, the electrical impulses in our brains began to follow the original pathways designed by our Creator. The Word guides our thought processes and helps us stop jumping from distortion to distortion.

Tetelestai Recovery Volume 2 – Our New Normal; Chapter 3, Brainwashed

https://a.co/d/7q67TdX

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Redeemed

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If you have a coupon you wish to redeem at the store, you are expecting to trade a worthless slip of paper or digital image for something of value. In other words, the real value of your coupon doesn’t exist until it is redeemed.

We are not defined by our history, we are remade and redeemed by it. Our true value is revealed through redemption. Our history brings us into an even deeper relationship with our Maker. God takes our past and weaves a new narrative which brings new life and a DEEPER life with Christ as our advocate and example.

In 2nd Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Through faith in Christ, we are made new. This verse reminds us that when we are in a relationship with Jesus, our past no longer defines us. We are transformed into new creations, with a fresh start and a renewed purpose.

Regardless of our past mistakes, failures, or regrets, God’s grace and forgiveness are available to us. In Christ, we can leave our old ways behind and embrace the new life that He offers.

Tetelestai Recovery

Tetelestai Recovery

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Through their personal journey of recovery, the authors present indisputable evidence that total healing and release from the disease of addiction can be found through the final declaration of Christ, “It is finished!”

Whether you are a suffering addict; an exhausted 12-stepper; a chronic relapser; or a person who loves one, Tetelestai Recovery will open your eyes to the possibility of permanent sobriety without the struggle.

This revolutionary concept is bringing radical changes to the recovery community. Within the pages of this book you will learn how to move out of your addiction and into your destiny.

You are here for a reason and it’s time to find out why.

https://a.co/d/2K7xnab

A Date With Destiny

Never Alone

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A Date With Destiny – July 21 – Happy Birthday!

Deuteronomy 7:21

Don’t be afraid of anyone. The Lord your God is with you.

You enjoy a close bond with your Creator. You have a keen awareness of His presence when you pray. During times in your life when you have been most afraid, you sense His nearness so vividly that you can actually feel yourself wrapped in His arms.

You hear the rustle of angel wings in the melodies of old songs. Your emotions overflow when the gentle breeze of the Creator whispers your name while the music encircles you with the sound waves of comfort and love.

You have discovered the elusive tranquility that many seek but rarely find. You are reminded of it on a daily basis as you spend time with God in prayer. Your prayers are not traditional or eloquent. They are more like a casual running conversation with a close friend.  His gentle peace surrounds you as His presence lightens the atmosphere. Serenity is yours because you know that you are never alone and never forgotten.

https://a.co/d/0JwOcPq

Tetelestai Recovery

Stopped in His Tracks

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We noticed something remarkable about the ministry of Jesus. He had no schedule or agenda. His ministry was not directed by Himself, His apostles, or even by God. To our amazement, we realized that the ministry of Christ was determined by people. Without fail, when the slightest flicker of faith sparked, or a request for mercy was whispered, the Savior’s footsteps suddenly stopped.

Tetelestai Recovery / Chapter 8, Facts are Changeable

https://a.co/d/2g0nB5z

A Date With Destiny

Call of the Wild

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Genesis 7:15

The animals came to Noah in groups of two; every creature that had the breath of life.

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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 all of its inhabitants.

You care deeply about animals and you understand their significance in the ecosystem of this planet. You sometimes prefer the company of animals to humans, because you appreciate their authenticity and non-judgmental acceptance.

You realize that the human connection to animals is a symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship. You are grateful for the medical breakthroughs and scientific discoveries which have been made through the study of unique animal attributes.

You are amazed at the scope of human innovation which has been developed by observing the behaviors of animals. From the beginning of ancient civilizations in Noah’s day, to the modern era of technology, humans have relied upon the wisdom of the animal kingdom. It is a good person who values and protects the wildness of their world.

https://a.co/d/de7YYJV

Tetelestai Recovery

Dig Deep

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Initially, we feared awakening resentments and regret, but with God at our side, we grew confident that there was nothing we couldn’t face and forgive. As much as we felt our history was set in stone and fossilized forever, we claimed the following Sacred Text over our emotional excavation:

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

In time, we became willing to enter our valley of dry bones and speak life over what had been dead for so long.

We found the lifeless remains of enthusiasm, which had been suffocated by disappointment. We found fossils of unfinished projects, which might have been profound, had we not given up. We unearthed splintered fragments of gifts, talents, and abilities which had become casualties of our own sense of inadequacy.

Rather than viewing the carnage as evidence of a wasted life, we began to see it as dry bones coming back to life. By faith, we saw a powerful future rising up from the wreckage of our past.

In our New Normal, we spoke life over anything which reeked of death. In our New Normal, we commanded our dead dreams to rise up in service to our King. We did not think this was too much to expect, for we had been given the resurrection power of Christ. We had been urged to follow in the footsteps of our Creator, who…

Gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don’t yet exist.  Romans 4:17

Tetelestai Recovery Volume 2, Chapter 2 – Wake the Dead https://a.co/d/6JPl2Lf

A Date With Destiny

True Value

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Ecclesiastes 7:12

But wisdom is better than money because it can save a person’s life.

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Your life is much too valuable to waste time worrying about money.  God has promised to take care of your needs as you take care of His.

The value of your life is very precious. God designed you in a unique way so as to provide you with the proper skills and wisdom you need in order to accomplish the assignments He selected just for you.

Wisdom comes to you in many forms. Sometimes it comes to you through dreams, songs, support groups, and bible studies. Sometimes you gain it through conversations with family and friends. 

You see the true value of life from a spiritual perspective. You see treasures of the Divine sprinkled over the earth’s canvas in colorful wildflowers, spectacular sunsets, and twinkling night skies.

You enjoy the simple things of life. The basic necessities of food and drink are never taken for granted nor their preparation treated as drudgery. You do not worry for these basic needs, but rather, you celebrate them as gifts from God.

You believe the bountiful blessings God has given are meant to be shared with others. You have a warm and generous heart. 

You know that life is more important than mere possessions. The true value of life far exceeds the things which can only be measured by human currency.

Your presence on this planet is being developed into a remarkable blend of generosity, wisdom, and integrity.

As God carefully molds you into the image of His Son, you are being transformed into a wise and wonderful human being.

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