My God's Not Dead

Perhaps you have heard the song on the radio “My God’s Not Dead” by the Newsboys.  The song says this in the chorus:  “My God’s not dead he is surely alive.  He’s living on the inside, roaring like a lion.”  I love that line in the song that reminds me of this Scriptural truth:  “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep!  See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.” (Rev. 5:5) Jesus Christ is that Lion of Judah.  He is that Root of David, and he lives in our hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17).  So, let me and the apostle Paul ask you this question: “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)    

God is alive and well in each one of us! He is roaring like a lion, living like a burning flame in our hearts.  And it is through His mighty strength that we can do anything in this life.  If He is for us, than who can be against us?  So, what is it that you are battling today?  Is it death?  Jesus promises each one of life out of death.  Are you sick?  Pray to the ONE who can heal you and give you strength to make it through the tough time.  Is it addiction?  Surrender your life to the ONE who can set you free!  Is it a dysfunctional relationship?  Ask for wisdom and courage to do the right thing from the ONE who loves you unconditionally and gave up His life for you.

Whatever your battle is today, you can certainly rest assured that the Lion of Judah is not dead, he is alive and he is on your side!  Turn to him today and find freedom and hope for your hurt, hang-up or habit.

Grateful believer,

Micah    

One Step in My Shoes...

I recently got a new pair of shoes.  A pair of Vans, they were in style when I was in high school.  I’m not into fashion, so I have no clue if kids today wear them or not.  A friend of mine designs shoe tattoos and he designed a pair just for me.  There is no other pair out there like them, because these shoes are about my steps, the steps I take one at a time, striving to make it in this world.

Living one day at a time, one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace…  Not an easy thing to do!  The concept sounds so simple but letting go and accepting the difficult times while seeing challenges as a way to peace are both counterintuitive in my head.   Once I walked into the doors of CR, I clearly knew my life was unmanageable.  The degree to which I was out of control was out of my realm of comprehension and believing that I mattered to God flew in the face of my depression.  I stuck with it, to be totally honest though, I mostly just liked the music.  

Twelve steps, that’s a lot of steps when the second one is easy to own intellectually, but feels impossible to emotionally grasp.  I was willing to try though, and I had a lot of people on my side.  I had entirely nothing to lose, because at that point my life had absolutely no value to me at all. My part is to walk one moment at a time, one step at a time, carrying the smallest amount of faith and I am able to lie down and sleep in peace because He keeps me safe (Psalm 4:8).

I have only been able to sleep well in the last 6-8 months for the first time in about 6 years.  At first doctors didn’t even believe me when I told them I averaged 3 hours of sleep per night.  To finally be able to sleep, that is a blessing that came along with a lighter load in my heart.  It is for this reason that Psalm 4:8 is so awesome to me. 

So, I do sleep better, but there are still so many struggles surrounding me.  Some are temptations, those sins that I have such a hard time of breaking free from; however, 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells me that the temptations in my life are no different from what others experience and God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than I can stand. When I am tempted, he will show me a way out so that I can endure. 

Some of my struggles though had nothing to do with me avoiding temptation, but rather accepting the things I cannot change.  I want to fix things and I want to do it NOW.  I struggle with PTSD which is by far my greatest hurdle.  I feel like a flailing octopus with feelings and fears headed in every direction.   God is on my side, but I need the tools to attack that octopus.  Celebrate Recovery gives me the support of a fearless piranha to go after those struggles with vigor. 

Even sharks and barracuda will typically attack smaller prey.  With my team of support that has been formed through this Friday night blessing, God has provided me with a piranha, together we form the most ferocious fish in the entire world to rip its teeth through the flesh and bone of my greatest struggles.  Together we are powerful enough to tear apart whatever life brings.  If you are reading this and don’t yet have a team of support, I encourage you to get one as no one succeeds as a lone fish in the sea.

Grateful Believer,

Jennifer

Recovery - It's a New Year!

Obviously this video by The Skit Guys was intended for the New Year, but when I watched it I immediately thought of the journey of recovery. 

Each week we have people that stand up to receive chips for 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, one year and then multiple years - which means at some point those people stood up that FIRST TIME and took a blue chip and said "this year will be different".  We are so blessed that each week we have the chance to start a NEW YEAR!



Will this year be different for you?

Grateful Believer,

Karyn

My Name is the Syrophoenician Woman

In Mark 7:24-30 we learn about a Gentile mother with a demon-possessed daughter.    Jesus was focusing on training his disciples and preparing for his return to his Father by way of the cross and the resurrection and ascension.

 

The woman learned of Jesus’ presence and with much determination begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.  Jesus was busy.  Tending to the Gentiles was not yet on his agenda; however, she had much humility and begged for even a crumb from under the table of his saving grace so that her daughter’s starving soul could be healed.  Jesus granted her petition and she returned home to find her daughter delivered from the demon.

We don’t know what ultimately happens to the woman’s daughter.  I have two children, one of whom has some pretty serious problems.  Some parents have children with addictions or other obsessive behaviors that make it very easy for them to become codependent.  I can’t fix my child.  No one can.   Only God can change my children and they have to want that change. 

I must follow the example of the Syrophoenician Woman and meekly fall at the feet of Jesus and voice my petitions to Him.  At that point I must let go.  I take actions in my daily life responding to my loved ones with appropriate boundaries while putting all of my hope in Jesus.  I seek change in my life and share my pain with other parents experiencing similar struggles and I walk together hand in hand praying that my faith will increase and my heart will begin to heal.  I then live this before my children with the hope that they will one day embrace hope in Jesus and take their own first steps toward recovery.

That’s my version of the Syrophoenician Woman.

Grateful Believer,
Jennifer