Years ago when I first started CR (Celebrate Recovery) I started a step study (I have done the step study 3 times - as you work the program you learn a lot about yourself, and that each vice has its own set of circumstances and gunk to work through). I don't believe I'll ever be done with CR, and I don't want to be - it literally saved my life and helped me to get to know my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so very well.
In a step study one of the steps is forgiveness. Some of these life experiences seem impossible to forgive - those that know me well, the girls I now try to love on in Velocity, a teenage ministry - where I know I started to feel my most worthless, and where I wanted to be because these young women need to know they are worth it, they are worthy, they are loved - know my story - know that if I can forgive, so can they, and so can you.
While walking this step, literally the first time I worked through forgiveness it took me a year to do so. It was intermingled, tangled, enmeshed, messy, and incredibly ugly. One night, around 3AM, I was awoken by "Read Romans 8." I thought, OK. I tried to go back to sleep, but kept hearing it. So I said, I promise I'll read it, but first, please let me sleep. I read it the next day, then tried to find a good way to describe it, quickly and concisely. What I found was almost too simple: God's grace is never ending.
Here's a bit more to help you: http://www.jcblog.net/romans/summary
"God's Amazing Story of Relentless Grace
The book of Roman is a masterfully written exposition on grace. This letter to the believers in Rome has changed the hearts of many as they read and understand the wonderful truths nestled inside. Paul wrote this letter to these Christians to explain his revelation of grace."
What was most difficult for me was forgiving one specific person that forever changed my life when I was 7 years old. I would sob, argue with God, not understand WHY should I forgive something so incredibly earth shatteringly disgusting. Finally, I came to understand, it wasn't for him, but for me to forgive - I needed to be freed from his hold. Not living my life to the fullest with Christ at the helm was a sin far worse than the sin originally committed - because I was giving my life to this person - I was giving him my all when I should give Jesus Christ my all. Plain and simple. But it wasn't simple, and it was incredibly painful. But I made it through to the other side, and I can tell you it is so worth it! God is waiting - He will not let you down. His grace is never ending.
Now, we come to today, and the vote for marriage equality. I'm personally confused by the anger. My husband brought up that people that stand by their faith - that marriage is between a man and a woman - may have their livelihood attacked. Such as a baker - if you're a baker and say that you believe in marriage between a man and a woman but not a same sex marriage - you may be sued. My take on that is this: We do not have the information about every single person we serve in this world. What about the man or woman purchasing a cake for their child, but every single night they may abuse this child, we are not privy to this knowledge. If we were privy to this - would Christians fight as wholly for this child as they would against a same sex marriage union? I don't know. I do know my personal experience is I was left to my own devices - church people included - God never left me - but Christians did. To me the abuse of a child is so much worse than a same sex marriage. At least they're living honestly.
Hot issue debate, no doubt.
Here's the reason for this - I again dreamt last night and God told me to read Timothy 3 and 4. Now, there's a 1 Timothy and a 2 Timothy. He didn't specify which. That's for me, and perhaps you, to decide. It depends on how you read it, I would assume. In reading it out loud, I thought it was 1 Timothy, my husband thought 2 Timothy.
I do know that at the end of the day, the bottom line is: Live honestly, live kindly, live with Christ at your side, live with Christ within you, Live as much without sin as you possibly can - live praying ALWAYS.
Here are the Timothies, they are in the form of the Message. I like the Message because it's to the point, it's plain language, it's modern day language - they don't pull any punches - they say it like I need to hear it.
God Bless Your Day - Remember, it was always between you and God anyway.
1 Timothy 3-4The Message (MSG)
Leadership in the Church
3 1-7 If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.
8-13 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.
14-16 I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I’m delayed, I’m writing this letter so you’ll know how things ought to go in God’s household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:
He appeared in a human body,
was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
believed in all over the world,
taken up into heavenly glory.
was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
believed in all over the world,
taken up into heavenly glory.
Teach with Your Life
4 1-5 The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they’ve lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They’ll tell you not to eat this or that food—perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God’s Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.
6-10 You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.
11-14 Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use.
15-16 Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.
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2 Timothy 3-4The Message (MSG)
Difficult Times Ahead
3 1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
6-9 These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.” They get exploited every time and never really learn. These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax.
Keep the Message Alive
10-13 You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.
14-17 But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
4 1-2 I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.
3-5 You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.
6-8 You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.
9-13 Get here as fast as you can. Demas, chasing fads, went off to Thessalonica and left me here. Crescens is in Galatia province, Titus in Dalmatia. Luke is the only one here with me. Bring Mark with you; he’ll be my right-hand man since I’m sending Tychicus to Ephesus. Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment notebooks.
14-15 Watch out for Alexander the coppersmith. Fiercely opposed to our Message, he caused no end of trouble. God will give him what he’s got coming.
16-18 At my preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn’t matter—the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! God’s looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes!
19-20 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila; also, the family of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed behind in Corinth. I had to leave Trophimus sick in Miletus.
21 Try hard to get here before winter.
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all your friends here send greetings.
22 God be with you. Grace be with you.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
