"The morning after" and "not disqualified" are the titles of two Life Recovery Journal sharings relating to Peter's handling of denying his Master three times and his being sought out afterward by his Master to continue the work that they had started.
These great demonstrations of unconditional love are powerful reminders for me that no matter what I have done, will do or am doing, that God accepts me and wants me as a partner in His journey anyway.
The sequence of events is beautiful
-Jesus tells Peter you will deny me three times (He knew)
-Peter denies the possibility of any denial
-Peter denies Jesus three times after seeing His Master crucified
-Peter weeps bitterly (his humanity/fear won out) THIS IS THE MORNING AFTER
-Peter restarts his fishing business thinking he was disqualified even when Jesus rose.
-Jesus comes to him again when Peter is fishing and for the second time says "follow me" NOT DISQUALIFIED
The writer drew these conclusions: God's love for us does not skip a beat for any reason and God's gifts and His call (on us) can never be withdrawn!
AS WE PARTY TONIGHT TO BRING IN THE NEW YEAR, LET'S LOOK FOR THE ONE WHO LOOKS UNCOMFORTABLE AND THEN GENTLY BE WITH HER/HIM IN A DEDICATED WAY.
Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Generational sharing at Christmas dinner
Photos, eating, gift opening, playing games and I notice the different perceptions of each generation from the newest on up to the great gran who is visiting from the nursing home!
GENERATION THE SENSE IN BRACKETS
-#1 generation, quiet pensive, visiting from the home (not in control and feel it too)
-#2 generation, active and interested in all three other generations (time is passing)
-#3 generation, hosting and busiest (cannot possibly complete all tasks)
-#4 generation, opening gifts and no time for wonder or ponder (what can I do next that will be most fun?)
A family at Christmas time, sharing space and being together to celebrate, to eat and to give to one another as an act of love.
May the Good Lord bless our efforts to be good functional people in a world so consumed with the movement of products, pretty bodies and performance-based worth.
Merry Christmas and may each member fully enjoy, explore and be mindful of each and every other member of his/her family!
God bless!
GENERATION THE SENSE IN BRACKETS
-#1 generation, quiet pensive, visiting from the home (not in control and feel it too)
-#2 generation, active and interested in all three other generations (time is passing)
-#3 generation, hosting and busiest (cannot possibly complete all tasks)
-#4 generation, opening gifts and no time for wonder or ponder (what can I do next that will be most fun?)
A family at Christmas time, sharing space and being together to celebrate, to eat and to give to one another as an act of love.
May the Good Lord bless our efforts to be good functional people in a world so consumed with the movement of products, pretty bodies and performance-based worth.
Merry Christmas and may each member fully enjoy, explore and be mindful of each and every other member of his/her family!
God bless!
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Evidence follows freedom
"I must give it away in order to keep it!" We mean that wherever we have been able to overcome a wrong behaviour, be it criminal, illness, addiction or whatever; when we seek out another sufferer and share our success story, we greatly increase our ability to retain the gift of freedom
The early over-comers of addiction were unsuccessful until they shared their way of overcoming with another. The more people who were helped, the further away that draw to relapse seemed to go. When we look for a way to be of service, we cannot be creating resentments the number one trigger for relapse.
I believe it is intelligent to take our serious difficulties in life and treat them as seriously as those who have overcome addiction did! When one has been freed of a vice, there is a NEW ability to serve, as the preoccupation with the vice no longer dictates life's direction. Those who choose to serve in the effort to free others seem touched by God's grace! They seem to know their freedom has been granted supernaturally and that although they do not do it for that reason, there seems nothing more satisfying than to see another find that same freedom!
The decision to seek out a hurting soul and offer a hand up is great evidence that a life has changed!
The early over-comers of addiction were unsuccessful until they shared their way of overcoming with another. The more people who were helped, the further away that draw to relapse seemed to go. When we look for a way to be of service, we cannot be creating resentments the number one trigger for relapse.
I believe it is intelligent to take our serious difficulties in life and treat them as seriously as those who have overcome addiction did! When one has been freed of a vice, there is a NEW ability to serve, as the preoccupation with the vice no longer dictates life's direction. Those who choose to serve in the effort to free others seem touched by God's grace! They seem to know their freedom has been granted supernaturally and that although they do not do it for that reason, there seems nothing more satisfying than to see another find that same freedom!
The decision to seek out a hurting soul and offer a hand up is great evidence that a life has changed!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Developing Sharing-Power?
So we have worked a program to the best of our ability for the last 12 months.
WE recognized how powerless we were to fix ourselves with will power and we accepted that God could!
WE asked God to take over the reins in all areas moving ahead!
WE took inventory of our lives to date, realizing we had fallen short in many areas just like everyone else who dared to look, would also discover!
WE admitted or confessed the worst of ourselves to God and at least one person!
WE moved on to amend our past and ask for forgiveness from anyone we may have harmed.
WE practised regular inventory-taking (daily or weekly) and with God's help, corrected our wrongs as we went along.
WE learned the meaning of two way prayer by learning how to listen to and experience God while seeking His will and not our own!
WE sought out others with whom to share our experience, strength and hope by telling our stories of overcoming and survival wherever we felt guided to do so. We also remembered that the key to it all was that we were always at least three (God, ourself and the person with whom we shared).
The original formula really started to spread when three (God and two vets) ministered to a fourth!
In our own groups we have found that this principle holds especially true in prayer sessions where someone is asking for specific direction in an area of life. Mystically the Spirit works more powerfully when at least two persons go to a third!
GRATITUDE MEETING TUESDAY DEC 17, POT LUCK, ALL WELCOME!
CONTACT SCOTT FOR DETAILS scott@sharingtheburden.ca
So we have worked a program to the best of our ability for the last 12 months.
WE recognized how powerless we were to fix ourselves with will power and we accepted that God could!
WE asked God to take over the reins in all areas moving ahead!
WE took inventory of our lives to date, realizing we had fallen short in many areas just like everyone else who dared to look, would also discover!
WE admitted or confessed the worst of ourselves to God and at least one person!
WE moved on to amend our past and ask for forgiveness from anyone we may have harmed.
WE practised regular inventory-taking (daily or weekly) and with God's help, corrected our wrongs as we went along.
WE learned the meaning of two way prayer by learning how to listen to and experience God while seeking His will and not our own!
WE sought out others with whom to share our experience, strength and hope by telling our stories of overcoming and survival wherever we felt guided to do so. We also remembered that the key to it all was that we were always at least three (God, ourself and the person with whom we shared).
The original formula really started to spread when three (God and two vets) ministered to a fourth!
In our own groups we have found that this principle holds especially true in prayer sessions where someone is asking for specific direction in an area of life. Mystically the Spirit works more powerfully when at least two persons go to a third!
GRATITUDE MEETING TUESDAY DEC 17, POT LUCK, ALL WELCOME!
CONTACT SCOTT FOR DETAILS scott@sharingtheburden.ca
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Our newest meeting in Scarborough proves to be fascinating as we evolve into the true place for all to share safely. We were found last evening by a lady who picked up a brochure in a hospital, made a phone call, was pleased with the sound at the other end of the line and showed up. She simply said "It just all seemed to come together as it should and I believe God has guided me here tonight".
Her courage to share created a transparency in us all that allowed greater unburdening for many! The power and the sense of love and family we have with such new friends is not short of miraculous!
Two people will bring their daughters next week and we hope and pray that the age barriers will be eliminated with the power of sharing and identifying with feelings, as we sense how others have always gone before us and created a path to follow!
I have seen this identification happen in the past where an older person would speak to young people about his/her own pain in youth as he/she grew up in dysfunctional or unhealthy type atmospheres where such as addiction, mental illness or alcoholism controlled the home. Those who relate emotionally sense no age boundary as they share tears and heartfelt moments together!
SHARING POWER CREATES MIRACLES
Her courage to share created a transparency in us all that allowed greater unburdening for many! The power and the sense of love and family we have with such new friends is not short of miraculous!
Two people will bring their daughters next week and we hope and pray that the age barriers will be eliminated with the power of sharing and identifying with feelings, as we sense how others have always gone before us and created a path to follow!
I have seen this identification happen in the past where an older person would speak to young people about his/her own pain in youth as he/she grew up in dysfunctional or unhealthy type atmospheres where such as addiction, mental illness or alcoholism controlled the home. Those who relate emotionally sense no age boundary as they share tears and heartfelt moments together!
SHARING POWER CREATES MIRACLES
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