Tetelestai Recovery

Finding New Life After Addiction: A Faith-Based Journey

As we called an end to our addiction, using Christ’s words, “It is finished,” our recovery took root and began to grow into a new life filled with promise. We began to detect subtle changes in our thoughts and behaviors, but they often fluctuated so rapidly, we sometimes wondered if they were real or imagined. We understood that the development of our new life would take time, but the changes we had hoped would happen quickly seemed to be taking forever. Many of our old habits, we desperately wished would vanish, continued to linger. And some of the expectations we set for ourselves just weren’t happening.

However, we also noticed that some of our undesirable behaviors that we previously accepted as normal (or just being human) had disappeared without any effort on our part. In fact, there were some attitudes and mindsets which were so deeply ingrained in our personalities; we didn’t even think they could be removed. Yet, they disappeared without a trace, and we knew it was a God thing.

We realized that our relationships improved as we lost our drive to maintain the upper hand. As our lust and greed began to diminish, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we had the ability to connect with others in an honorable manner. We enjoyed the responses we received. Where we once bristled at pushback and rejections, we began to enjoy camaraderie and companionship. Where we once used and abused others, in order to assert our power, we found that we grew to appreciate the strength of unity and the influence of a cooperative spirit.

A Date With Destiny

The Spiritual Bond Between Humans and Animals

Happy Birthday 1/28

  Genesis 1:28  
God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.”

You care deeply about animals, and you understand their fundamental value to the ecosystem of this planet.

You sometimes prefer the company of animals to humans because you appreciate their non-judgmental acceptance.

You realize that the human connection to animals is a deeply spiritual bond.

Medical breakthroughs and scientific discoveries are dependent upon the animal kingdom to guide the way.

Animals play a vital role in the development of life-saving medical procedures.

Throughout the centuries, animals, both domestic and wild, have been the inspiration for  countless human inventions and technological advancements. By studying and mimicking the unique traits of other species, humanity was able to survive.

You are intrigued by the interconnectedness of the ecosystem. You hold a deep sense of honor and respect for conservationists. You admire people who preserve the natural habitats of untamed creatures who reside on this planet.

You live in harmony with creation and the Creator, because you hold deep reverence for the wild world.

A Date With Destiny

Sharing Divine Light: A Guide to Spiritual Influence


Genesis 1:27

So God created human beings in His image.

The relationship you enjoy with God as your Father creates an aura of warmth and light in the atmosphere surrounding you.

This glow of God’s reflection in you, illuminates spaces which were once dark and gloomy. People are drawn to your light and seek to experience it for themselves.

The wonderful thing about the radiance of this light, is that it can be shared freely without losing its intensity. The glow of God’s likeness radiating from you is like sunshine.  There is no limit to the number of recipients who can receive the warmth and comfort it brings.

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

You carry a big responsibility, for without the image of The Father shining through you, some of His wandering children who are searching for the light might never find their way home.

Tetelestai Recovery

Level Up Your Decisions: Embrace Responsibility for Change

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 bad decisions, expecting different results.

When leveling up, we must accept our own responsibility for the choices and events of our lives. We must realize that our decisions, even in little things, matter.  Whether it is getting a good deal on a laptop we suspect is stolen, or working the system to get benefits we don’t really deserve, every decision sets off a chain reaction of negative results and consequences.

A Date With Destiny

Finding Purpose Under the Stars: God’s Message in the Night Sky

Genesis 1:17
God put all these lights in the sky to shine on the earth
.

You see the magnificence of God as you gaze into the sky. When surrounded by the wonders of the universe, you stand in awe of the Maker’s design.

You love to examine the night sky. You are are captivated by the phases of the moon and marching constellations as they glide across the atmosphere.

It is in this upward focus that you gain perspective. When you look at the sky, the purpose for your earthbound existence becomes clear. 

It excites you to realize that you have been offered a divine destiny by the Creator of the Universe; the God of the Galaxies.

As you look at the vast expanse, you are in awe that the Creator calls each star by name.

This offers you great comfort because it reveals how intimately the Creator knows and values each component of the Great Creation.

This gives you a sense of security and safety. You understand that your Maker designed you for a specific purpose, and just like the stars, you light up when He calls your name.

Tetelestai Recovery

Understanding Unmet Emotional Needs: A Spiritual Approach

Considering this list of our emotional needs, we realize how unfair it would be to expect another human to meet them. We think about all the times that we scroll through texts on our phones, looking for reassurance that we are worthy, needed, loved, approved, or any number of the other emotional needs we have at the time.

Ironically, it seems a bit ridiculous that we place more hope in a text on our phone than in Sacred Text filled with the love of God. One connects us to other flawed humans; the other connects us to the Creator of the Universe who loves us dearly. 

As we evaluate our unmet emotional needs and identify the ones which cause us the most pain, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us to our truth.


  • Have you ever been pressured to meet someone else’s emotional needs? How did that make you feel? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  • Have you ever pressured someone else to meet your emotional needs? How did that work out?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  • Name some specific emotional needs you have. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  • What are some scriptures you can claim over them?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Excerpt from: Tetelestai Recovery 3 – Leveling Up; Chapter 2: No Need

A Date With Destiny

Spiritual Perception

Then Jesus turned to His followers and whispered without anyone else hearing, “Happy are those who see what you see!” Luke 10:23

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You have a unique ability to visualize the insights which have come to you from Christ. Your imagination is the canvass on which He paints the portrait of your future.

You believe that God provides spiritual vision to those who seek His wisdom. This supernatural perception allows you to see clues and insights that you might otherwise have missed.

Through specific life events, your spiritual intuition has been fine-tuned. You enjoy insights and awareness which extend beyond natural human perception.

It is quite possible that many of the lives you touch and the wisdom you share will prove to alter the course of history for generations to come.

In detailed, methodical steps, God is bringing you to new levels of understanding. Each day, you gain clarity and vision into your divine destiny.

Little by little, you discover your true purpose and become more comfortable with your place in His Kingdom. You are learning that your position in His family comes with a deep sense of responsibility.

You see a hurting world around you, yet you also see the heart of God which seeks to deliver the light of His wisdom to anyone who is tired of stumbling through life in the dark.

Many of God’s children remain unable to walk in the light of God’s wisdom, but they can see His light shining through you. 

You see Jesus at work, even when you feel surrounded by darkness. You are confident that His light will always appear to guide and protect your path.

You see Jesus, loyal and devoted, taking care of your past, present, and future. 

You know He has appeared in some of your darkest hours, and you have no doubt He will always be there beside you, even when your vision of Him is obscured by conflict, anxiety, or confusion.

Jesus has always been there in your peripheral view. From early childhood, you have sensed a supernatural bond between yourself and the Divine.

Your spiritual perception becomes clearer as you peel back the layers of doubt. Through this process, you are beginning to see that Jesus’ vision of you is much more remarkable than anything you’ve seen in yourself.  And His vision for your future far exceeds anything you might have ever imagined for yourself.

A Date With Destiny

Starry Night

And now look at you; you look like the stars in the night skies. And your God did it! Deuteronomy 10:22

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You see the goodness of God as you gaze into the night sky. When surrounded by the wonders of the universe, you stand in awe of the Maker’s design.

You love to examine the night sky. You are are captivated by the phases of the moon and the marching constellations as they glide across the atmosphere.

It is in this upward glance that you gain perspective. When you look at the sky, the purpose for your earthbound existence become clear. 

It excites you to realize that you have been offered a divine destiny by the Creator of the Universe.

As you look at the vast expanse, you are in awe that God calls each star by name. This offers you great comfort, for it reveals how intimately and personally the Creator values what He has made.

It is in this realization that you find security. Your Maker designed you for a specific purpose, and like the stars, you light up when He calls your name.