Recovered In Christ

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

The Truth…

Only God can “convert” a person’s heart by opening their eyes to the truth, I understand why people don’t want me to talk about it – because I was ‘allowed’ to have my own experience when I was a ‘non-christian’…when really I was an anti-christian, defending my right to be wrong…and people allowed me to do that – but it NEVER stopped them from sharing the truth.

I couldn’t ignore the fact, that I had never met anyone who was truly ‘clean’ and living a life of power who wasn’t a follower of Jesus Christ. Reading all of the first hand experiences of the people who started the recovery fellowships showed me by their own words how each and every single one of them suffered horribly and could never retain their state of grace when they pursued their own conception of God. I have never met anyone in recovery who had lasting peace, emotional recovery and the Spirit of God dwelling in them who were not SAVED by Christ.

It is usually through a deep experience with God, and True Repentance (which is what the recovery steps really are) that they are set on a path that if they truly follow through with earnestly seeking The Truth about God – always find Jesus.

You can believe in whatever you want – I won’t stop you or argue with you, or refuse you my friendship, but does that mean if I am asked point blank what I believe is the Truth I would deny Him, in the hopes of winning someone over? No. Never. Those games people play are evil. Alot of people have tried doing that to me. They want what I have, they want to work with me, but they don’t really want to change. They don’t follow through with the real work of repentance (Being HONEST, taking inventory, making amends, helping others, seeking God) instead they want to feed off of me, and when they can’t they turn on us and accuse us of trying to convert them! LOL.

You can have what I had before I knew Jesus Christ. I had true repentance, I recovered. I changed. I was healed, and set free from addiction. I had an experience with God, the Father. And I was given hope of something greater to come. That is all we have as non Christians. But people are not satified with that, not for very long. They want the LIGHT that they see in me now. And the Truth is, 100%, that the Light that is in me now, the power and authority that I have, is the Light of Christ. The Son of The Father. The Truth.

100%  no matter who you are, or what you believe, if you consistently ask God to Reveal the Truth to you, unadulterated, you will come to know it!

It blows me away, how many people I meet who are not in a life and death crisis, who enjoy a successful and stable life – and yet, are so willing to set aside their prejudice and talk about Jesus.

It equally blows my mind, how many people I meet in ‘recovery’ who claim to seek the Truth about God, who are adamant about respecting other people’s faith – deeply hate Christ. It makes me laugh to remember that about myself..I was a champion for freedom of religious expression, a warrior in defending people’s right to worship their exclusive God and express their beliefs that I didn’t share – except of course if it was Christianity!

When people got up and shared and spoke and went on and on in specific detail about their various religious and spiritual practices and how the rest of us should keep an open mind to trying what they did, we’d all nod in respect at how spiritual their twist on things were…but when someone got up and simply said, that the recovery process was helping them to become better Christians…we hit the roof. We recoiled. We squirmed. We started looking for some wood and nails to crucify and slander them, or at best roll our eyes…

Looking back – I am so grateful that I had that reaction…to me it was extra proof that Christ truly is a threat, to the darkness within, it was not because we all had negative experiences with ‘horrible’ Christianity. It’s because The Truth is uncomfortable when it confronts our secret desire to make up God instead of Seek Him. The non Christians in the room who were not offended were usually the ones who were more interested in seeking the Truth rather than defending their position.

At the time, that wasn’t me. At the time, I wanted my truth, rather than The Truth..and I can tell you in all sincerity, that I now, have never been more happy to have been wrong!

Jesus is The Son Of God, not because I am right, and not because someone else is wrong, but because He Is The Truth.

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

My City In A Nutshell…

You know who you are that are holding fast…keep holding fast…

“I know your tribulation and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life…The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death…I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth…to the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it…

…I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast to what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:9-29

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Go Back…
Riding on the subway..crying into my Bible so that no one would see..heart burning with anger at people I had called my friends who were now slandering me, and making up lies so fantastical I could not believe that these were the same people to eat our food, and sleep in our homes, and live like family…I was Stalked by evil. Sworn at. Spit on. And on that subway ride, God showed me that He had seen it all, and that He knew the whole Truth – and that He was with me, but He wanted me to leave behind the anger and sadness and go back to my first Love. To the time when I loved Jesus openly and boldly..no matter who rejected me! He told me to go back, to the innocence of the day I sat on the bench breathing in the spring air, looking at God’s green everywhere, and seeing the tiny yellow flower – and Jesus telling me that He had made that flower just for me. He told me to go back to that Love. And I did.

Who knew that tender, innocent Love could forge the greatest armor that now shields my heart from all evil! God knew, that’s who!! Thanks for the Flower Jesus, I love you. Amen.

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” Revelation 2:2-7

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Wake Up, And Strengthen What Remains And is About To Die…
Wow! How many fellowships have I sat in that had the reputation of being “thumpers”, “on fire for God”, “hardcore recovery” etc. when in simple truth they were dead. At best – animated corpses worshipping a book or parroting a false prophet, not realizing that in order to keep the spiritual experience that began in them they had to complete their works in the sight of God – not preserve their works as is. Jesus says to Wake Up! So let’s Wake up!

“I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:1-6

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

I Know Your Works…
Jesus is pretty clear what He thinks about our accomplishments! ALL OF THEM. Even the spiritual ones! Even our best motives, in all of our success, and ridiculous religion of “I need nothing, I am complete and One with the Universe..in this present moment” …if our works don’t come from a genuine collaboration with the Holy Spirit – He’s going to spit us out…don’t shoot the messanger..read it for yourself!

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing”, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:15-22

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Workers Of Lawlessness…

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7: 21-23

His words not mine! I am so tired of hearing people talk about Jesus and the Bible as if their opinion is equal to the truth! Safe in your arrogance that if you just keep quoting one thing He said “Judge not!” or “Love everyone!” somehow that will shut the real Christians up! Like – oh my! We’re waiting for a bunch of angry blind pharisees to misquote Jesus – take things out of context and clear it all up for us!!

YES – there is mercy and forgiveness for everyone. If. You. Repent. If you want to continue your evil lifestyle that contradicts the Bible then no, there will be no mercy or forgiveness for you! It’s the same as wanting to stay sober without prayer and amends. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Not if you’re a real alcoholic!

If you are a real sinner, of the hopeless variety – there is no wide road solution for you friend! Meditating on one thing Jesus said while denying the Will of His Father – which is to obey All of His commands will be as if you never knew Him.  Good luck doing to Jesus what Satan did in the desert – throw random Bible passages at Him to sneak in your hypocrisy. Whether or not you accept this makes absolutely no difference to me – we just shake off the dust from our shoes and move on! But it will make all of the difference to you!

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7: 24-27

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Are You Ready?
13“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Matthew 7:13-20

What’s your fruit? Do you even have any? Are you full of anger? Hateful? Terrified? Are you exhausted from trying to keep your head above whatever addiction/acting out/sin you’re hooked into? Are you thick and slow from the hypnosis of mediocraty? Are you sedated by the comfort and convenience of your life?

Are you so crazy and dead inside that your life sucks – but you still have an opinion? Personally I don’t want any advice on rescue from someone trapped on an island! Seriously! Wake up!! What are you fighting? What are you defending? Your right to kill yourself? Slowly by suffocating the light right out of you – or quickly by the accelerating violence of darkness inside you?

Wake up! There is another way! But it doesn’t include your bullshit opinion. Did you really think that the Jesus of your depraved consciousness could save you? NO! But there is another Jesus. That God Man, who died on a cross bearing the weight of the filth of humanity. The one who was raised to life and is willing right this very second to smash the chains that you’ve been living in all of your self-willed life. Are you ready?

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Pearls Before Swine…
Let God, who is Holy and perfect do the judging. Brothers and sisters – just step back and watch it unfold. Act when the Spirit of Christ prompts you to act – and hold back when the Spirit of God within you holds back. Work with the Holy Spirit, not against Him. Be on guard for the false teachers who twist Jesus’ words to excuse the rabid and depraved way of life they live. Don’t back down from standing in the Truth. Don’t be deceived by the glittering words of evil. Read the Bible yourself – not the opinion of it from angry deluded atheists in sheep’s clothing. Keep your pearls safe – and know that as TRUE Christians, those who dwell with the Jesus Christ of the Bible walk with the Truth Himself. Amen

1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

6“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Matthhew 7:1-8

Thank you supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible! Friday, February 24th, 2012

Our Loan Sharks

Sometimes people ask me why it’s not a good idea to go to  ‘psychics’ to get information about your life – or channeling or trancing meditations or ‘3 way guidance’ sessions, etc. ect. My most simple answer is: Just read the Bible. It’s all there, the why, who, what and when..and where!! If you really want to know the truth – the Holy Spirit will show you – in your heart of hearts, the Bible’s absolutely authoritative answers to those questions. If not – and you’d prefer years of confusion, spiritual attack, and basically an all out war for your soul, then do what I did! Experiment with it all! Believe that there’s no such thing as evil – and wait and see!

It isn’t that God didn’t want me to have this ‘information’, He did, He just wanted me to have the truthful information – and trying to access spiritual/supernatural knowledge without the Holy Spirit will cost you dearly! It’s the difference between a son asking his Father for money versus going to a vicious mafia loan shark! You are completely deceived when that loan shark shows up in a shiny suit and soothes your fears by telling you that there are MANY WAYS to get what you want – not just going to dad! It’s a lie, and it will infect your life, hopefully quickly so you might start questioning what you dabble and believe in. But for most – it will be on to the next guru to help them ‘create a new reality without the self created anxiety impeding their glorious manifestations of their inner God-ness’, while doing their best to ignore their deadness.

God – I ask you please, to open our eyes to the reality of good and evil that many of your people are blind to. For whoever is willing – let your Holy Light show us the deception in our lives. In Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Thursday, February 23rd 2012

Do Not Lean On Your Own Understanding…

I have glimpsed the mind of God, I have received divine vision and understanding, not from an angel or a book, but from the Son of God Himself – His Holy Spirit dwells within me -and yet, the greatest wisdom that I have is that I do not lean on my own understanding. My wisdom is not my support. My great understanding shaped and built by Christ Himself, is still, not the foundation that I walk on. It is Christ Himself who is The Way. He is the one my eyes are fixed upon. His understanding is the one  I lean on.

No matter what you’ve learned, no matter how gracious God has been to allow you to continue in your feeble efforts – it is foolishness to think it is a worthy substitute to his wisdom. Why wouldn’t you trade your human understanding for His?

Simply -it’s idolatry. You still worship yourself in some ways. Your intellect, your ‘progress’, your efforts. They still satisfy you. A for effort right?  If you only knew that your ways compared to his, are like a candle to the flames that rages on the sun. Yet your arrogance has eclipsed his power.

The only antidote to self-sufficiency is the communion that is with Jesus Christ. You will no longer look for ways to build your own home, or steal trinkets from the palace when you move into God’s Kingdom. You will start behaving like a citizen rather than a gawking visitor.

The words from Proverbs 3 below will TRULY be written on your hearts rather than just words to bolster your own self driven life!

I LOVE you God – and your WAY! Amen

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success^a in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh^b and refreshment^c to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. 19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin^d of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^e when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. 33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.^f 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get^g disgrace. Proverbs 3