Tag: Purpose

Tetelestai Recovery

Changing the Mind of God

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But Moses reasoned with God and eventually talked Him out of it. Surprisingly, Moses brought up some very valid points and God was open to his feedback.

Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.”

But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’”

So, the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people. Exodus 32:9-14

Moses took a bold approach. He had the courage of a junior executive pitching a new concept to the CEO. He had the heart of a quarterback who asked the coach to reconsider the play he had just called.

Based on the response God gave Moses to his input, what other events in history might have been altered, based on this perspective?

  • What if Noah had discussed the flood plan at depth with God and asked for more humans to be spared?
  • What if Abraham had continued his negotiations for the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, asking God to hold off if he could find just one righteous man?

On the other hand, what if the ones who approached God boldly had been more timid?

  • What if Jacob said when wrestling the Angel of God, “If you don’t bless me, that’s okay, I’m fine either way,” rather than making the risky move by saying, “I’m not letting go until you bless me.”?
  • What if Moses had just responded with, “Okay Lord, I guess you are just going to wipe out those people and start over with me. I don’t have any say in the matter.”?

Read more… https://a.co/d/6cXobBz

A Date With Destiny

A Date With Destiny Birthday Series

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What is unique about the day you were born and the scriptures that correspond with it?

The day you were born was a date with destiny, for it was on that day, you began a journey that would alter the course of history. You may have already sensed a divine plan and purpose for your life.

Examine the sacred text that aligns with your birthday. Ponder the descriptions following each selection. You will be amazed at the accuracy in identifying your unique character qualities and personality traits. You will be excited about your future and inspired by the divine destiny that is yours.


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

Find your birthday in the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/A-Date-With-Destiny/dp/B087QHB4PG

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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

A Date With Destiny

July 28 – A Date With Destiny

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https://a.co/d/i8g99xG

Ecclesiastes 7:28

I discovered that good people are hard to find. Such people are one in a million!

One in a Million

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, because you are a good person and according to your birthday verse, you are one in a million!

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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.

A Date With Destiny

Loved By God

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A Date With Destiny – July 20 – Happy Birthday!

2 Samuel 7:20

Lord God, you love me, your servant so much!

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You have a unique ability to internalize the insights which have come to you from the Spirit of God. This personal interaction creates a bond of admiration and affection between you and your Creator.

Your imagination is the canvass on which God paints a self-portrait, allowing you to see Him more clearly. In this sacred space, your love for Him grows deeper.

You recognize Him in places where no one else would think to look. You feel His supernatural strength propel you on your journey. You sense His compassion toward the hurting world around you. You recognize God’s goodness in your life and in the lives of those you love.

You know God is with you, even when you feel surrounded by darkness. You are confident that His light will always shine through, to guide and protect your path.

You identify God as a loyal and devoted ally who has your back and guards your future. You remember how He has appeared to you in some of your darkest hours. Therefore, you have no doubt He will always be there beside you, even when your perception of Him might be obscured by conflict, anxiety, or confusion.

God has always been your safe companion. From early childhood, you have sensed a supernatural bond between yourself and the Divine.

There have been times in your life when it seemed as if the skies opened, and you caught a glimpse of His majestic presence.  In those momentary flashes of clarity, you realized that God truly knows all about you, and His desire is for you to know all about Him too.

https://a.co/d/6czhw0u

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

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.

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

Tetelestai Recovery

Post-Traumatic Strength and Stability

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And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

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This came as a shock to those of us who grew up in the psycho-babble era, where therapists were gods who slung letter-label disorders at us like lightning bolts. Most of us had been zapped by at least one label or another which altered our identity. Sadly, that movement brought such a self-defeated attitude; many of us doubted the power of the cross over our disorders.

Thankfully, after receiving the message of Christ’s finished work, we concluded that our dysfunctional labels need not remain our identity.

  • We claimed the powerful promise from Romans 8:37 concerning our sense of powerlessness:

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.

We subjected our past trauma to the truth found in Romans 8:28:

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love Christ, who have been called according to His purpose.

Paul didn’t write ‘some things’ or ‘the good things’. No, he said that all things, even the least expected or most traumatic things, will work together for our good and for the Kingdom’s expansion project.

We realized that it wouldn’t benefit the Kingdom if its soldiers and ambassadors were traumatized, weak, and frail (either mentally or physically). No military unit would succeed with a platoon of disabled soldiers charging in to take a hill. Fighters in poor condition would be counter-productive to the cause. When charging into enemy territory, only the healthiest, strongest, and well-trained are called up to active duty.

Knowing that God has called us up to active duty, we also trust that He has given us health, strength, and solid training. We have discovered the spiritual law of the Kingdom where trauma turns to triumph and frailty turns to strength.

Chapter 4 / Post-Traumatic Strength and Stability

https://a.co/d/0G3atR1