Tag: Hope

Tetelestai Recovery

Faith and Doubt – The Alternating Currents

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We imagined an electric fan. We could manually spin the blades and create a slight breeze. Obviously, we would have to consistently place our fingertips on the top of the slowing blades to give it another spin. Our entire attention would be devoted to managing the spin of the blades. Our obsession with keeping those blades spinning would consume us, and we would be able to accomplish little else.

If, however, we became willing to plug the fan in to an electrical socket, the blades would spin without effort, in a smooth rhythm, independent of our attention. The effects would be much more noticeable, yet effortless. We could remain active and alert with the more important duties of life, comforted by the breeze of an unseen power.

Faith and doubt, while appearing to be polar opposites, are the alternating currents which work together, generating an absolute belief in Christ. We cannot fully resolve our doubts within our faith. That’s why Jesus tells us time and time again, “Only believe.”

Faith in wholeness, when we felt so broken, was more work than we anticipated.

We worked to believe that somewhere in time, we would possess this shalom which Jesus had bequeathed us before His death.

We worked to believe, when doubts bubbled to the surface after losing our temper, feeling depressed, or experiencing muscle cramps from the lingering effects of the toxins we had used.

We worked to believe our shattered lives could be put back together when legal issues remained unresolved and court cases loomed in our future.

We worked to believe that Jesus’ wholeness could restore us to our original value when we found ourselves faced with the wreckage of our past and the rejection from our families.

We worked to believe in the wholeness of Christ coursing through our veins, restoring the health of mind and body when our inner voice kept telling us we were being foolish and naive.

Finally, we concluded that the only way to test this hypothesis was to presume the words of Jesus were true and choose to believe that they might actually be able to work for us. It seemed worth a shot. After all, we were out of options, so what did we have to lose?

Tetelestai Recovery – Chapter 6, Shalom

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A Date With Destiny

Out of the Comfort Zone

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Luke 8:4

People were coming to Jesus from every town and city.

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Finding Jesus in ordinary places is not difficult for you. While it is true He is not on this planet in His earthly form, you are able to detect His presence when you distance yourself from places and things which tend to distract you.

In your birthday verse from the book of Luke, it states that the people left their towns on a quest to see Jesus.

In a similar pattern, you too have your most intimate encounters with Christ when you are away from the city lights and the chaos of human interaction. You experience the presence of Jesus when you are in a solitary space.

Sometimes this is a literal endeavor, when you get off by yourself into a open air setting to connect with creation. You see Jesus more clearly when you shift your focus away from natural events in order to catch a glimpse of the supernatural.

This is not a rational process, nor does logic come into play. To see Jesus, there must be faith that He will be there when you arrive.

As you practice removing yourself from what is familiar and stepping out in faith, you are able to recognize Jesus more clearly. Refreshed by His energy, you find harmony and healing.

When you leave all the distractions behind, you are open to the sense of His presence in everything you see.

Your desire to see Jesus, and the effect He is having on the world around you, is the driving force for your divine destiny.

You do not remain set in your ways, with a rigid schedule of daily duties.  You sketch out a tentative plan in your mind each morning, but remain open to changes as the Holy Spirit directs your day.

The terms chance and coincidence are not part of your vocabulary.  You set out each day to find new evidence of divine intervention in ordinary events and you are never disappointed by what you discover.

Jesus appears to you in many forms.  He weaves Himself in and out of your day, energizing you with a sense of love, power, and confidence.

Sometimes you see Him in other human beings. Sometimes you see Him in animals and plants. You see Him in science and are passionate about discovering the complexities of the Creator’s design on this planet.

You hear Him in thunder and the whistling winds. You hear Him in music and laughter.

You hear the rustle of angel wings in the melodies of old hymns. You overflow with emotion when the gentle breeze of His Spirit whispers your name in the stillness of the night.

You discover the presence of Jesus when you seek Him. You remain alert and aware of His influence and promptings on a minute by minute basis.

You are willing to walk away from what distracts you in order to get a clear view of His presence.

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 lights up the path where you walk.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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