Tag: Purpose

Split image showing a happy woman hiking with 'YES Paths and Possibilities' and a sad woman sitting with 'NO Hesitation and Regret'
Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding the Power of Yes and No

lastwordrecovery
Split image showing a happy woman hiking with 'YES Paths and Possibilities' and a sad woman sitting with 'NO Hesitation and Regret'

As we level up, we begin to view every decision as both a yes and a no. Every yes carries an implied no, and every no carries an indirect yes. 

  • If we say yes to the blue shirt, we are also saying no to the red one.
  • If we say yes to a shower, we are also saying no to bad hygiene.
  • If we say yes to watching TV, we are also saying no to going outside.
  • If we say yes to healthy habits, we are saying no to junk food and laziness. We are also saying no to medical problems and poor self-image.
  • If we say yes to wasting time at work, or stealing from our employer, we are saying no to a clean conscience and integrity. As a result, we will develop resentment toward our boss to help alleviate our guilt.
  • If we say no to flirtations from a co-worker, we are saying yes to the trust and respect of our spouse.
  • If we say yes to gratitude, we are saying no to discontentment.
  • If we say yes to good manners, we are saying no to boorish behavior.

If we say yes to forgiveness, we are saying no to the weight of being easily offended, resulting in freedom and peace of mind.

 

Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.  Matthew 5:37

For every yes, there is a no; and for every no, there is a yes. As we level up, we become aware of our personal guardrails and use good judgement concerning what to accept and what to reject.

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Land Rover driving through muddy off-road trail during sunset
Tetelestai Recovery

Mastering Personal Growth Through Mindful Decisions

lastwordrecovery
Land Rover driving through muddy off-road trail during sunset

Just as potholes, ruts, mud, and carelessness are a bad combination when driving on muddy country roads, relationships and personal growth can also be messy, so we can’t afford to be careless with our decisions. We might not be able to control the storms of life, but we can control our focus and reaction.

When driving on a muddy road, we need to be precise in our movements, grasping the steering wheel securely, scanning the horizon, watching for standing water, and making conscious, deliberate adjustments to speed and direction. And above all else, never get too close to the edge.

As we level up in our new normal, we must adopt that same type of mindset with our life choices as we do for driving flooded roads. Our decisions and actions need to be precisely calculated to achieve the results we want. Just as it would be foolish to walk carelessly along the edge of a ravine, it is also foolish to see how close we can get to temptation without giving in.  

To level up, we must acknowledge that every action starts with a choice. And every choice carries two equal and opposite decisions. In other words, every choice carries both a yes and a no decision.

If we say yes to sobriety, we say no to chaos and destruction. And visa-versa. If we say yes to a drink or drug, we say no to hope and sanity. When we say yes to thinking about our choices, we say no to making the same dumb decisions, expecting different results.

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Winding mountain road with cars and sun rays breaking through dark clouds
Tetelestai Recovery

Finding Joy in Trials: Embracing Life’s Challenges

lastwordrecovery
Winding mountain road with cars and sun rays breaking through dark clouds

When the roads are easy, we feel joy in looking back to see how far we’ve come. When the roads are difficult, we seem to take one step forward, two steps back. Sometimes we slip and fall. Sometimes we just stand still and shrug. Even when we do finally get on firm footing again and start to move forward, we scold ourselves for not being stronger, more resilient, or more determined.

We aren’t sure what to call these moments of uncertainty. The word ‘backsliding’ seems way too judgmental. The last thing we need is to feel more isolated and cut off from God than we already do.

One evening without notice, a moment of grace fell on our Friday night group. One member shared a passage from the book of James. It altered our perspective about these irritating, uninspiring days when we are simply putting one foot in front of the other.

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

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Young woman spinning glowing LED ribbons outdoors with blurred person holding lantern in background
A Date With Destiny

4/27 How to Recognize Divine Helpers in Your Life Journey

lastwordrecovery

Exodus 4:27

Meanwhile the Lord said to Aaron, “Go out into the desert to meet Moses.” When Aaron went, he met Moses at Sinai, the mountain of God, and greeted him.

You have always known that God has a special plan for your life, but the questions of what, when, how, and where, remain unanswered.

Like Moses, you have a burning desire to impact the lives of others, bringing social justice to a world filled with inequalities.

You faithfully spend your days tending to the duties of life, while watching for opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of those you encounter.

When the time is right, you will experience your own ‘burning bush moment’.  It may come in the form of a dream, an event, a chance encounter, or an angelic appearance, but when it happens, you will know it.

The encounter will be powerful, surprising, and life changing.

When your burning bush moment comes, you may feel insufficiently equipped for the task God is asking of you. Don’t worry. Moses had the same response.

Thankfully, God in His divine wisdom and mercy, had already picked out a helper for him. Moses’ brother Aaron was called by God to bolster his confidence and help him succeed at the mission for which he’d been called. 

In the same manner, you too will be aided by others whom God has called to assist you in your call.

Keep watching for these helpers as you continue your journey. They may cross your path at the least expected moment, bringing clarity and confidence to your mission.

Your call is genuine, unique, and totally out of the ordinary.

God’s plan for you is exciting, terrifying, and truly satisfying.

Your life on this planet is destined to make a significant impact on the lives of many who don’t even know you.

Your burning bush moment is sure to change the trajectory of your life and give you a divine sense of purpose.

Wait for it.  Be prepared to do whatever God asks of you, even if you feel inadequate, intimidated, or unprepared.

God will empower you to pursue His call and He will give you the helpers you need to make it a stunning success.

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Small fern with glowing blue and yellow roots in dark forest soil
A Date With Destiny

4/26 From Darkness to Light: A Seed’s Journey

lastwordrecovery
Small fern with glowing blue and yellow roots in dark forest soil

Mark 4:26

Then Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground.”

From this birthday verse, you are reminded that all seeds are planted, anchored, and supported in dark, rich, soil which is filled with nutrients and hydration. Lush green leaves, hearty vegetables, fragrant blooms, and delicious fruits are sustained by a crucial process which occurs just below the surface, out of view. What looks like ordinary dirt, becomes a food and flower factory, once the tiny seeds split open and take root.

Functioning in the image of your Creator, you spend your time planting seeds of hope and promise into the world around you.

Many of the seeds you sow are done in secret and remain hidden. You are not boastful or arrogant about your charitable contributions or personal sacrifices. You attend to the needs of your family and community without recognition or fanfare.

Sometimes you may feel as if your efforts are unappreciated or even unwanted.  There are times you are tempted to believe that you are wasting time and energy because you can’t see the fruits of your labor.

Thankfully, you have the Word of God and His wonderful creation to remind you that a seed hidden in the darkness is a harvest waiting to happen.

As trees mature and produce seeds, their tiny promises of life are dropped into the surrounding soil where they remain unseen during the germination phase. In the dark, a seed breaks open and new life is begun. There is a waiting time before the shoot appears. There is another waiting time before the harvest comes.

In the same way, your good works and loving efforts may often be hidden in the dark for a time, but this doesn’t mean they will remain unfruitful.

When the time is right, God will bring your results into the light, much like the tiny plant which emerges from the dark soil. Your random acts of kindness and quiet loving gestures will not remain hidden in the darkness. The results will become visible, and each tiny sprout will deliver the promise of a bountiful harvest.

You may not always receive human recognition or praise for the contributions you make. Sometimes your good intentions may even be misunderstood. God knows what is in your heart and He promises that someday you will enjoy a beautiful harvest which far exceeds your expectations.

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Person hiking on mountain trail with backpack and trekking poles during sunrise.
A Date With Destiny

4/25 Creative Collaboration: Fulfilling Your Destiny

lastwordrecovery
Person hiking on mountain trail with backpack and trekking poles during sunrise.

Proverbs 4:25

“Keep your eyes focused on what is right. Keep looking straight ahead to what is good.”

You do not consider your life to be your own. You know that your life is set on a specific course designed by God. Your existence holds significant implications for future generations and you do not take this responsibility lightly.

This knowledge doesn’t indicate an attitude of presumption or arrogance, but rather, a position of humility. You know that your role is one of duty, rather than that of comfort and self-indulgence.

You know that without God’s gift of guidance, you would be wandering through life unsure of your purpose. Without knowing your purpose, you would be subject to life on the proverbial hamster wheel, struggling to find meaning for your existence.

You are grateful for the destiny you have been given and you know that there is nothing you lack in order to fulfill it.

Contentment comes easy to you, because God has enabled you to see through the deception of greed and envy to find the true meaning of life.

God has provided you with clarity of mind and purpose. Your work is an expression of your gifts and talents. You do not compete for other positions or titles.

You are content with what you have and enjoy working toward something greater than personal happiness.

Your deepest satisfaction comes when you confer with God in creative collaboration. You function best when you are working to improve the world you live in. You find that this is what generates your passion and creative expression.

Your willingness to follow God’s plan and timing is evident in the paths you take, and those you don’t.

God has given you a creative mind which empowers you with enthusiasm and fervor. You dedicate your days of human existence working for the greater good.

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Brown leather sandals on a dirt path with dry grass and trees
A Date With Destiny

4/24 Understanding Holiness: Beyond the Common Misconceptions

lastwordrecovery

Ephesians 4:24

“You were taught to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God – made to be truly good and holy.”

The word holy has often been misinterpreted as someone who is grim, dutiful, and devout; one who maintains a high standard of pious behavior and has little patience for those who don’t.

However, in many scriptural passages, the word holy is defined as that which is uncommon or extraordinary.

You have been declared holy by the Creator of the Universe. God has proclaimed that your existence is extraordinary, and your life is far from common.

There is significance in everything that you do.  There is nothing ordinary or common about you.

You are holy. You are wisdom. You are free to talk openly with your Creator. Your life in Christ is a spring of living water, making ripple effects on the world around you.

Every place your feet touch becomes sacred ground, because you carry the Creator of Life within you. The significant impact you make during your years on earth will pale in comparison to the lasting effect imprinted on the planet because you once walked here.

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Supportive man comforting distressed young man in recovery support group
A Date With Destiny

4/22 The Power of Your Testimony: Healing Through Words

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Proverbs  4:22

“These words are the secret to life for those who find them. They bring health to the whole body.”

When you see someone who is struggling, it is your natural instinct to use the testimony of your own struggle in order to help them find victory.

While others may use critical words to analyze weakness, or sling accusations, you use the words of your own story to offer reassurance and hope.

Your enthusiasm for distributing God’s words of love and compassion makes you a valuable asset to your family, friends and community.

Like a cool, clear mountain stream, the story of your own deliverance brings healing and refreshment to weary travelers.

As a human host for God’s Spirit, divine spiritual energy flows from you. Through the words of your testimony, mercy is dispersed, harmony is restored, and healing is delivered.

God has given you the unique desire to generously distribute words of victory to everyone you pass on your journey through this portion of history.

Although you may not realize the full impact of your words, their ripple effect will continue long after your time on earth is over.

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Lantern hanging from tree branch glowing in dark forest with birthday message
A Date With Destiny

4/21 Shine Your Light: Sharing God’s Goodness

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Mark 4:21

Then Jesus said to them, “Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lamp stand.

The goodness of God in your life creates an aura of warmth and light in the atmosphere surrounding you.

This glow of the Spirit illuminates spaces which are dark and gloomy. People are drawn to your light and want to experience it for themselves.

The wonderful thing about this light is that it can be shared freely without losing its intensity. Since God’s goodness is like the sun, all of creation can bask in its warmth. There is no limit to the number of beneficiaries who can receive the sustenance it offers.

 As this warmth and light of God’s goodness shines on you and through you, healing comes.

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

You carry a big responsibility, for without the goodness of God shining through you, some who are searching for the light would remain lost in darkness.

This light you carry is warm and inviting. It brings healing and comfort. It is the goodness of God shining on you and through you, which illuminates the path that others will follow.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding Divine Timing: Strategic Waiting

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Waiting on God and being certain of His blessings is not pie-in-the-sky or wishful thinking. This faith choice is not presumptuous or improper. Blessings are the divine energy of God empowering us to succeed because we choose to believe in His goodness. He has equipped us with a divine destiny. He wants to see us succeed as much as we do.

And so, we wait for what God has promised, in the same way we might wait at a bus stop, in eager anticipation. We aren’t sitting at some random corner, hoping a bus might drive by. We are positioned at the right place at the right time, waiting for what we know is on its way. We aren’t waiting to see if a hopeful future will appear. We are waiting with confidence, certain of it.

Obviously, it would be silly to wait on a country road, expecting the city bus to magically appear. In the same way, we do not wait for God, based on our own whims and wishes. We examine His words when we are waiting for our miracles, just like we would examine a bus schedule to be sure of our direction.

We don’t hop on the bus headed east, when we are trying to go west. In the same manner, we don’t claim a scripture about healing when we are trying to find a job. Specific promises deliver specific results, so we search our Sacred Text to find the words we need…

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