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NorthStar Community | 2531 Buford Road | Richmond | VA | 23229 |
Daily Devotional for January 2, 2008
Daily Devotional for January 1, 2008
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NorthStar Community | 2531 Buford Road | Richmond | VA | 23229 |
Daily Devotional for December 31, 2007
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NorthStar Community | 2531 Buford Road | Richmond | VA | 23229 |
May 17
May 17
Recommended Reading Psalm 33 and Mark 6
One time I had something tough that I needed to admit to another human and I chose poorly. Here’s just a sample of what I heard that day. “I can’t believe you did that. What were you thinking? I’m very disappointed in you. You call yourself a believer? If you just read scripture and prayed more – none of this would have happened!”
I didn’t give up. Armed with what I knew from God’s word, I just had a feeling that this was not the response God would have wanted me to receive. This time - Eureka! I can’t say it was fun, but it was fantastic. My second friend had what it took on that particular day to not let me off the hook of my wrong doing and yet somehow managed to not skewer me with the hook’s pointy edge. In fact, I felt as if my friend deftly and gently acted as God’s assistant while He performed open heart surgery, healing my aching broken heart.
Sometimes we shop around, looking for people to tell us what we want to here. This is not what I’m talking about. I’m asking you to shop ‘til you drop – until you find the person that can tell you what God wants you to hear – without blame, shame, or condemnation. This takes a very special person. (The very kind of individual that you are growing into!)
Thought for today: Hebrews four makes reference to scripture being sharper than a two edged sword. Some translations say it is sharper than the sharpest knife. I’ve heard theologians speak about how the words used in this passage are surgical terms. Certainly that’s what I experienced during my fifth step process. It was like surgery. We’ve been pretty skilled at medicating our aches and pains hoping to avoid suffering. A step five affords us the opportunity to begin healing the sore that so desperately needs medical attention – a wound that is hurting our spirit.
Thought for tomorrow: For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done. This is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:12-16 NIV
May 17
Teresa McBean
May 16
May 16
Recommended Reading Psalm 32 and Mark 5
In Drs. Dale and Juanita Ryan’s bible study called, Recovery From Guilt, which you can find at www.christianrecovery.com, they speak of the two reasons why we need to admit the truth about ourselves to ourselves. “First, admitting our wrongs to ourselves means that we are no longer deceiving ourselves. This admission involves embracing parts of ourselves that we have rejected. It involves a complex process of integrating what some have called the shadow parts of ourselves into our self understanding. Second, admitting our wrongs to ourselves means that we need to show mercy to ourselves. We need to stop demanding perfection and face our human failings with the same compassion for ourselves that God extends toward us.” (p.5)
I wonder what’s lurking in your shadows, waiting to be exposed to God’s warm and gracious light.
Thought for today: Have you ever thought it odd that God forgives you but you refuse to forgive yourself? What does that mean? Would that imply that you’re more just then God? (That can’t be the answer…) So what does it mean that it’s ok for God to extend forgiveness but for us to refuse to extend it to ourselves?
Thought for tomorrow: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:19-21 NIV
It’s a common complaint. “I just can’t forgive _______ .” So we sigh and move along the same dark paths. It’s just too much, too hard, this forgiveness gig. But pause to prepare. Stop and reread John 3. Read that last sentence over and over until you see it. Do you? When you forgive – whether it is yourself or someone else IT ISN’T YOU DOING IT AT ALL!!!!! God is doing it through you. And the facts are in – God is in the forgiveness business – He knows how to do it and He practices what He hopes we’re preaching. Admission moves us closer to forgiveness.
May 16
Teresa McBean
May 15
Step 5: We admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
May 15
Recommended Reading Psalm 32 and Mark 4
I suppose most of us think that the easiest part of this admitting wrongs deal is to ourselves. I wonder if you’re tempted to skim over that little two word phrase “to ourselves” because you think you already did your fourth step, what more is needed?
But lest we forget, most of us are masters at deception, especially self-deception. For instance, I was out shopping for some new wardrobe editions, which is not my favorite thing to do. Fortunately, I ran smack into a good story – which made the whole trip worthwhile.
I was in my changing room, minding my own business, when much to my dismay another customer began berating the sales person. Normally, I ignore berating. But this particular sales person happens to be a personal friend. And I can speak with complete confidence on this one – she is an awesome help if you’re stuck in a changing room trying to find a new outfit that you’ll wear for ten years – and you only have ten minutes to look, decide and purchase the thing.
“What’s wrong with these manufacturers? They keep making these clothes smaller and smaller. I’ve been a size 8 for 30 years! Take it all back – obviously, this has become a cheap store with tawdry merchandise.” Seriously, she than flung a pile of clothes at my friend and stormed off.
Ok, I looked. All I can say is that from my viewpoint, that woman is definitely not a size eight. That’s all I’ll say on the subject. My lips are sealed.
But the moment inspired me to flee my shopping nightmare and return to my studies. Truthfully, we can all relate to this woman who can’t quite admit to herself that she is no longer a petite size 8.Thought for today: So I think sometimes this is the hardest part of step five -telling ourselves the truth.
Thought for tomorrow: All a man’s ways seem innocent to him but motives are weighed by the Lord. Proverbs 16:2 I also like how the New Living Translation words this verse…People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
Tomorrow, I’m going to borrow liberally from some advice the Drs. Ryan offer in their bible study entitled “Recovery from Guilt” – I think they have a lot to say to us that might help us over this particular recovery hurtle.May 15
Teresa McBean