That Moment

I was filming recovery testimonies for our upcoming Easter service
today. I hear a lot of amazing stories throughout a year. But this
was different. We are filming what will be presented as a 5-7 minute
testimony. So I was able to get the big picture fast so-to-speak. It
occurred to me that we are all so much alike.

Negative stuff happens in our past. We all handle it different - but
not really. It affects us and then we affect others negatively as a
result. This continues on until we die as we carry bitterness, anger
and guilt.

UNLESS.

Unless God turns our vision from outward to inward. Basically,
circumstances come about that cause us to forget and remember. Forget
all of the reasons for which we have blamed our pathetic lives and
circumstances. Forget all of the excuses that we have clung to for
years. Then we remember. Remember that God exists and can restore us
to sanity.

Some come to Celebrate Recovery and get set free. Some don't. There
is no difference from the outside looking in. We all have great
denial coming in. We all have that hurting from our past. Then there
is that critical time somewhere in the future when the pressure is
less. The pain is less. Some codependent person is letting us off
easy again. Then, right then, is when we find out if we are going to
make it this time. We choose to go on. we choose to actually be
proactive. We choose to be concerned about ourselves and others. We
want to be pleasing in God's sight.

We are all so similar in how we got here. But we are drastically
different in or outcomes.

Fickle Emotions

Crazy how one day I feel great and everything is going to be okay. Then, it can happen in one conversation, then I can feel as if the sky is falling. Stepping back and looking in, I would think that I am crazy!

It would be like a river rushing through great twists and turns. Forming rapids and making great progress towards the ocean. Does that river get told something and just reverse? Does it even slow down?

I need more faith. For we walk by faith and not by sight. Philippians states that: He that hath begun a work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. The river will keep flowing until the day I see HIS eyes. That's His promise. That's not my hope. That's not my wishes. He will never leave me nor forsake me. That's HIS promise. It's inescapable. 

What was that I was worried about again?

keith winstead // director of celebrate recovery & worship arts
tel 910.454.9302 // fax 910.363.4097 // mobile 910.269.6738 // email // twitter // blog // www

Blind as a Bat

Amazing how difficult it is to walk by faith and not by sight. NOT by how I feel. My feelings will lie to me. The scripture in Hebrews 11:6 that states "without faith it is impossible to please God" is alarming to us control freaks. Blind and often not feeling anything, I endeavor to act on scriptural principals - and keep doing it when it is not easy.

I will lie to myself. Straight up believe the lie that I tell my self. But not when I'm blind as a bat, walking by faith, and not by sight. 

May the bible be the guide that I use daily. May my actions line up with scripture. I am finding out that God really did leave me the bible as instruction in all things. 

I want to walk by faith. Faith in the word. Not by how I feel at the time.

Feelings are much like waves, we can't stop them from coming but we can choose which one to surf.  ~Jonatan Mårtensson

How Do I know I'm doing the right thing?

By doing what is in front of me with all that I have. Straight up. Weakness and doubt are destructive to me. Listen. Watch. It's God's job. Thank Him it's not my job. The Bible states: "If you don't work, you don't eat". There is something to hard work. Not hard "works".

We are also told to take no thought for tomorrow. Plan. Be proactive. I can't let my fear or anxiety keep me from planning ahead. Fear paralyzes. Do today what we can do today.

 Lamentations 3:21 states:  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

I do not have control. I need new mercies every morning. I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me. This takes faith. This takes trust. I don't trust easily. I know that I need to trust God. "Without faith, it is impossible to please God".

Lord, hold my hand. I need to trust you.