Tag: Hope

Pitcher throwing ball towards batter while catcher and umpire prepare at home plate in Cleveland stadium
A Date With Destiny

Embracing Divine Peace: Your Inner Umpire

lastwordrecovery

“May the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:26)

The peace of God serves as an umpire in your life.  It is the ruling authority in all your decision-making processes.

You know that if you do not experience a supernatural sense of peace when assessing options, your inner umpire has called it a strike.

Rather than giving up, you wait patiently for the next opportunity to try a different approach. That way, when the next opportunity arises, you are on deck, ready to take another swing.

It may be difficult for you to describe this inner peace to others, since it is so deeply personal between you and your Creator.

While this peace is beyond human reasoning or logic, you are aware when it is present, and you rely on its direction.

As you continue your journey, with peace as your guide, you become more attuned to it. This sense of peace, given by God, is as keen as any of your physical senses.

You recognize and appreciate the peace of God because it is the single, most relevant source of direction that you know.

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A Date With Destiny

Finding Jesus: Your Guide to Spiritual Clarity

lastwordrecovery

“The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake.”

(John 6:25 )

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.

You have been given special assignments, but you are unable to understand them until you identify Jesus in the details.

You find Jesus to be a loyal and devoted friend, defending you and keeping you from danger.

You look for Him when you feel lonely, scared, angry or hurt. You look for Him when you can’t find your way. You look for Him when you feel insecure or uncertain of your worth.

You also look for Him when you experience an abundance of joy and just need to express it.

You credit Him for the way you have been made whole and your gratitude spills over into heartfelt praise.

And just as the people in this gospel story found Jesus on the other side of the lake, you too will find Him waiting, when it’s your time to cross over.

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A Date With Destiny

Sheltered by Faith: Understanding Noah’s Journey

lastwordrecovery

“But I promise to keep you safe in the ship, with your wife, and your sons and their wives.” (Genesis 6:18)

The story of Noah began with a simple request from God to build a boat, long before the rain appeared. God selected a good man who was living in the midst of a violent, unjust, hate-filled world. 

Much like Noah, you are a good person living in a very hostile time. And, like Noah, God has selected you for a special task which will protect your family and preserve the values you treasure.

Knowing that it is the Spirit who protects you from evil, you and your loved ones remain in a position of safety and security.

The forces of darkness cannot overpower the Creator of the Light and in this light, you gather your family to safety.

No matter how brutal or relentless the storms of life may be, you and your loved ones are sheltered in the safety of God’s protection. 

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Tetelestai Recovery

Transcending Addiction: A Progressive Approach

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The Tetelestai Recovery Series is a collection of faith-based recovery books written by Marc and Lori Ridenour, based on their own experience with alcoholism and drug addiction. Rooted in the biblical declaration “It is finished” (John 19:30), the series offers a faith-based approach to finding lasting freedom from addiction and the emotional wreckage that accompanies it. 

Available in Paperback, Kindle, and Audiobook formats.

Volume 1: Tetelestai Recovery: It is Finished
Introduces the core concepts of the series. It targets suffering addicts, chronic relapsers, and their loved ones. The authors provide evidence of permanent sobriety by focusing on Christ’s ultimate healing rather than the traditional life-long struggle.

You can browse this volume on Amazon.

Volume 2: Our New Normal
Focuses on the often awkward and overwhelming early stages of sobriety. This book guides readers through identifying and resolving emotional and social dysfunctions, helping them navigate fears and resentments.

https://a.co/d/04079fyX

Volume 3: Leveling Up
A lifeline designed to assist individuals in achieving long-term, lasting victory over any addiction to reach their full potential. 

https://a.co/d/06VM8Qz1

Picnic on wooden table with bread, fish, butter, and mug by lake at sunset with group on shore
Tetelestai Recovery

The Feeding of the Five Thousand: A Lesson in Generosity

lastwordrecovery
Picnic on wooden table with bread, fish, butter, and mug by lake at sunset with group on shore

In the multiplication miracle of feeding the five thousand, we see that Jesus was happy to give the hungry people as much food as they wanted. They ate until they were satisfied, and there was plenty left over.

By this example, we can rest assured that Jesus is pleased when He is given the opportunity to be generous. He is not stingy or miserly when it comes to providing the necessities of life. He will not withhold the resources needed to fulfill our destinies. We know that He wants us to have everything we need to successfully complete our human journey. However, there are times we may feel uncomfortable asking, for fear our requests might be based upon selfish motives.

As we level up, we learn this is a needless fear. God is a loving Father. He will not give us something that is bad for us. We think back to the days when our children were young, and they asked for candy when it was time for dinner. We didn’t judge or condemn them. We simply said, “No. That’s not good for you,” and then provided them with a healthy option instead. We know that God will do the same for us. He won’t give us anything that will do harm. We trust Him to protect us; sometimes even from ourselves.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Rerouting Your Brain: Overcoming Circular Thinking Patterns

lastwordrecovery

“Be very careful about what you think. Your thoughts run your life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

To level up, we must evaluate the quality of our thoughts. There are established neuropathways in our brains that need to be rerouted. We do not wish to remain stuck in circular thought processes, like mental roundabouts, which have no outlet or resolution.

When suspicious thoughts come to mind, after an encounter with someone we don’t trust, we go into self-preservation mode and begin analyzing all the things they said or did that just don’t add up. We evaluate our observations to confirm our suspicions. We are angry that they think we can be so easily manipulated. We contemplate ways we can call it out and let them know we are onto them.

Our mental trails lead us into darkened paths, where we get tangled in the weeds of irritation and resentment. We are offended and angered by such a lack of respect. We vow to be more defiant and difficult, to prevent ourselves from being underestimated again.

By the time we cycle through the process described in the last two paragraphs, several hours have passed and we find ourselves in a depressive state of mind. The series of events that triggered the entire process are irrelevant. Our thoughts, fears, and imaginations merged into a twisted reality that we forced ourselves to endure.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding Tests: Patience as a Path to Growth

lastwordrecovery
Person hiking on mountain trail with wildflowers and distant mountains

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.

Sometimes, our tests are random and spring up like a pop quiz. Other times, an ominous test looms far in the future, and we struggle to avoid it. However, considering our passage from James, we need not avoid tests. They all have a purpose; even the ones we fail. If the test teaches us to be patient, with ourselves, with God, or with another human being, we have passed. With God, we are always in a win-win situation.

Our tests are to develop patience. The work of patience is to develop perfection. There is no fast track from one to the other. Each test takes time. That’s where patience does its work.

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Ripe and unripe tomatoes growing on a garden vine tied to a wooden stake.
Tetelestai Recovery

How Babies and Tomatoes Teach Us About Perfection

lastwordrecovery

People commonly use the word perfect to describe a newborn baby. Babies are inadequate in every way. They are unable to feed themselves, walk, read, or even roll over. Sometimes they cry or make messes. Yet, we say they are perfect. Every stage is perfect and necessary in the process of transitioning to the next stage.

A tiny green tomato on the vine is a perfect tomato, although it does not have the color, flavor, or texture of a fully ripened tomato. The tiny green fruit is perfect, but it is not yet useful for its intended purpose. If it remains on the vine, the perfect green tomato will grow into its full potential. And throughout each stage of its growth, it will continue to be perfect.

Thus, we conclude that perfection is about potential. Perfection has little to do with current behavior or ability, but a lot to do with our mindset. Perfection is a state of being which maintains continuous momentum toward progress…

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A man in simple robes gently comforting a distressed older man on a dirt path with olive trees and stone buildings in the background
Tetelestai Recovery

Embracing Confidence in God’s Perfection

lastwordrecovery

“Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

It feels wrong to say we are perfect. We aren’t quite sure how to align the character qualities of honesty and humility with such a bold statement. It seems like both a brag and a lie.

Yet, we believe in a God of faith, who “calls things that are not, as if they are” (Romans 4:17). His words make things happen and His words say we are being made perfect.

Therefore, if we remove the dimension of time, we can most assuredly say that somewhere in time, it has happened. Therefore, we step outside of time and claim it now. We call out what God has promised and continue declaring it until the truth becomes our reality… 

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Tetelestai Recovery

Can We Be Perfect? Exploring Jesus’ Challenge

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Therefore, be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

We wonder why Jesus would make such an outrageous suggestion. How could we possibly ever be perfect?

Ironically, when we claim that we are not perfect, we are speaking in direct opposition to these words of Jesus. We certainly don’t want to do that!

Since we believe that the words of Jesus are our truth, His invitation to be perfect sparks our curiosity and draws us into its multi-dimensional mystery. If He said it, it must be something reasonable and attainable. At least it is, somewhere in time.

When God said, “Let there be light,” He was speaking into the darkness. Therefore, when Jesus invites us to be perfect, He is speaking into our imperfections, calling for a manifestation of our original design.

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