Moment with Marlene:                          

Do you sometimes feel God can’t use you in great ways? Me too! Well this information may be familiar to you, but as I stumbled across these words today, they not only comforted me but delighted me to the point of giggling. So I decided to share this truth with you today. 

Imagine what God did through these men and women who were either a big mess, or had so little to offer at the time. So the next time you feel like GOD can’t use you, just remember… 

• Noah was a drunk!
• Abraham was too old!
• Isaac was a daydreamer!
• Jacob was a liar!
• Leah was ugly!
• Joseph was abused!
• Moses had a stuttering problem!
• Gideon was afraid!
• Samson had long hair and was a womanizer!
• Rahab was a prostitute!
• Jeremiah and Timothy were too young!
• David had an affair and was a murderer!
• Elijah was suicidal!
• Isaiah preached naked!
• Jonah ran from God!
• Naomi was a widow!
• Job went bankrupt!
• John the Baptist ate bugs!
• Peter denied Christ!
• The Disciples fell asleep while praying!
• Martha worried about everything!
• The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once!
• Zaccheus was too small!
• Paul was too religious!
• Timothy had an ulcer!
• Lazarus WAS DEAD!  

Ha! This does my heart good! How about you? If God can value and use these characters, He can use you and me!!! Right? Let’s make ourselves available everyday and see what happens. I want Him to use me in new ways. How about you?

“If you can do anything Lord you can use me. Take my hands Lord and my feet. Take my mouth and speak through me. If you can do anything Lord you can use me!!” Amen

Remember, you are uniquely equipped to serve God. He wants you! He needs you! Be assured today! 

Marlene

What do we do when we forgive?
I see three stages in every act of forgiving: suffering, spiritual surgery, and starting over. The first stage, suffering, creates the conditions that require forgiveness. In the second stage we do the essential business of forgiveness; the forgiver performs spiritual surgery in his own memory by the power of the Holy Spirit. We complete the action and bring it to its climax at the third stage, when the forgiver starts over in a new relationship with the forgiven person- the whole Christian development is based in relationship, one cannot have a relationship with Christ with out  having a relationship with those He died for.

Suffering-
No one really understands forgiveness unless he has been hurt. We turn the miracle into a cheap indulgence when we pretend to forgive people who have never hurt us. I do not mean that you can forgive only people who has laid  hands on you. You can be hurt when you suffer at the hands of people you love. But unless you are hurt, speak of something other than forgiving.

But not every hurt needs to be forgiven. There are some hurts that we can swallow, shrug off, and chalk up to the risks of being earthen vessels in a crowded world. We should not try to forgive when all we need is simply a little spiritual generosity. Consider the following hurts:

Annoyances. People. Annoy us by being late for appointments, by telling boring stories at dinner, and by cutting in front of us at the checkout stand.

Defeats. Some people succeed when we fail; they get promotions when we are ignored; they get the glittering prizes we want; they always seem to be there ahead of us—and to make things worse, these people who beat us are our friends.

Slights. People we want to notice us ignore us; teachers we adored forget our names two years after graduation; pastors we love never invite us into their special circle; and the boss does not even invite us to a BBQ at his house when others have.

These are all hurts, but they are not the kind that needs forgiving. Such bits and pieces of suffering require tolerance, indulgence, humility—but not forgiving!

The kinds of hurts that need forgiving are both deep and moral. They are deep because they slice the fiber that holds us together in a human relationship. They are moral because they are wrongful, unfair, and intolerable. We cannot indulge them or ignore them; we cannot shrug them off- for a bond has been broken. We cannot just chalk them up to the human condition. The sorts of hurts that need forgiving are the ones that tend to build a wall between the wrongdoer and the person he wrongfully hurts.

There are two kinds of hurts that must be answered with the miracle of forgiving. They are acts of disloyalty and acts of betrayal. Maybe there are hurts that need forgiveness that do not fit these categories, but most do.

I will be using the term” Some one that belongs to you”, I use this loosely no one owns anyone; I use it in terms of a relationship- and that my friends will be next week, love ya.

Marty Lee Herrick

martyh@trm.org

Prov.27: 17

We have a problem here at the Mission – one of those “good” problems.  Here it is: we need Bibles.  More specifically, we need study Bibles.  It is a good problem because a request for Bibles indicates a desire for the Word!

Here at the New Life Program (NLP) we immerse ourselves in the Word of God.  We use the Word to address all things here: to begin our road to recovery; to resolve the conflict within ourselves; to resolve the conflicts that arise out of relationship with others; to be forgiven; to forgive; to face those things within us that we have suppressed through drugs and alcohol; to reconcile; to…

So, as many of the men are new to the Word of God and getting acquainted with the nature of Jesus Christ, they have questions.  They seek answers to the things on their hearts.  They seek more knowledge.  One of the most frequent requests from new men in the program is the use of a study Bible while they are enrolled in the program.  We have three that are kept in the CLC library.  They would like to be able to have one for their duration in the NLP.  So, if you are willing and moved to do so, please consider the donation of an NIV study Bible to us here at the men’s NLP.  I will sign it out when they enter, and collect it from them when they graduate.  Upon graduation we give them a gift of a Life Recovery Bible, with their name engraved on it.  If you’re interested, please feel free to contact me at 253-383-4493.  God Bless you, and thank you for your continued support of the program.  – Les Doyle

Moment with Marlene: 

We were created for intimacy! But we sometimes struggle with that and get it all messed up don’t we! We build walls to hide behind so we don’t get hurt! We give just enough of ourselves away to pretend we are being intimate. . We play act because we believe if you knew the real me…you would not like me.  We do a little dance to test the waters…two steps closer….10 steps back! We twirl around and scan other possibilities. We flirt with the idea of intimacy and then head for cover! Or we’ve been closed for so long….we do not even know how to open up! What does true intimacy even look like?

When Adam and Eve were walking around with God in the Garden of Eden, the intimacy was perfect! Nothing was hidden. As soon as sin entered the picture, perfect intimacy was gone! We see this peaceful man and woman who were full of trust and delight as they enjoyed their warm chats with God, frantically dart here and there hiding behind bushes. They gasped with horror because they were “naked” and began designing the first wardrobe covering suddenly “private” parts of their bodies with leaves and vines. They felt shame! They pointed fingers with blame. They lied, and then lied some more spinning a tangled web of deceit. 

Well friends because of disobedience, we’ve been running and hiding ever since. We have intimacy issues! Do I hear an Amen?  We may even have a sick distorted view of what intimacy is! But I repeat….We were created for intimacy! We were made to love and be loved! So do you think this should be vitally important to figure out? 

Let’s look at Matthew 22, when Jesus was confronted by the religious “experts” of the day:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

Love God with ALL your heart! ALL your soul! All your mind!! And then turn around and love others! 

Intimacy is nurtured by walking together on the long road of every day life. Sometimes through laughter, sometimes through tears. Sometimes through delightful joy, sometimes through devastating sorrow. Sometimes through hard headed lessons, sometimes through mature and loving response. But the common denominator is time! Intimacy is trust that is build over time and continued with frequent investment. That is the rich fiber which weaves the intimacy of a relationship. Any relationship! 

When was the last time you had a good cry with God? Or a good laugh? Have you ever allowed yourself to feel a warm hug of comfort from the Holy Spirit?  In intimacy with God, we can feel safe, loved, and unafraid to be honest and vulnerable. If our prayers are all talk….we are missing out on a priceless gift of who God is. Take the risk to love and be loved! Allow God to teach you what true healthy intimacy is. Believe me, you will reap the benefits in every relationship you have. Take the time to invest your ALL! Then enjoy His company.

Warm blessings to you as you grow in trust and love,

Marlene

Before I begin let me say that the word promise is likened to keeping one’s word, not a vow-

Two anxieties dominate most of our lives. We are anxious in the face of our unchangeable past; we long to recreate segments of our private histories, but we are stuck with them. We are anxious in the face of our unpredictable futures; we long to control our destinies, but we cannot bring them under our management. There are two basic longings lying at the root of most people that are frustrated: we cannot alter a painful past or control a threatening future.

God offers two answers to our deepest anxieties. He is a forgiving God who recreates our pasts by forgiving them. He is a promising God who controls our future by making and keeping promises. By forgiving us, he changes our past. By promising, he secures our future.

By his grace we participate in His power to change the past and control the future. We, too, can forgive, and must forgive. We, too, can make a promise and keep it. Indeed, by sharing these two divine powers, we become most powerfully human and most wonderfully free.

Forgiveness and keeping promise’s are the two most powers that are neglected in the human spirit, concluding that only when we act after our Lord Christ Jesus can we overcome our darkest hidden pains and resentments. There is only one remedy for the inevitability of history: Forgiveness. There is only one-way to overcome the unpredictability’s of the future, which is I believe: to make promises and keep them 

These two powers of the human spirit are, I believe, two things necessary to keep life human. If we lose the art of forgiving, and if we lose the power of promising, we will let life become brutish. To the extent that we let these divine gifts waste away, we will forfeit the right to be called children of God.

The only remedy for the inevitability of history is forgiveness. I mean that in the natural course of things we are stuck with our past and its effects on us[initially]. We may learn from our history, but we cannot escape it. We may forget our history, but we cannot undo it. We may be doomed to repeat our history, but we cannot change it. Our history is an inevitable component of our being. One thing only can release us from the grip of our history. That one thing is forgiveness.

We have sound reason for revisiting this human potential. But Jesus, far earlier, urges a still more compelling reason, not merely for thinking about but for praying for the power of forgiving. In my past the words that some resentful spirit in me would rather ignore, Jesus tells us that if we do not forgive our fellow man, we should not expect God to forgive us (Mark 11:25). Here is even more reason, then, to try to rescue forgiving from the cluster of clichés that often obscure the outrageously free and the offensively gracious act by which one human being forgives another.

Marty Lee Herrick

Prov.27:17

martyh@trm.org

http://www.rescuetacoma.com/recovery/

Synonyms to the word stimulate include: to animate; incite; encourage; impel; urge; instigate; irritate; exasperate; incense. [1913 Webster].  As we can see, there are both positive and negative aspects of the notion of stimulation.  In a given day, we can receive a variety of different stimulations that elicit differing responses from us.  I contend that although the “specificity” of the response may differ from stimulation to stimulation, that the “sensitivity” of the response remains relatively constant and drives the nature of the response.

By specificity I mean the “who, what, where, when, why, how” of the response.  By sensitivity I mean the “nature” of our response based upon our value system, our character, our integrity.  Here at the New Life Program (NLP) I constantly speak to the men about responding and not reacting to various situations as they arise.  My encouragement to them is to incorporate a consistent process as they respond or go through a decision-making process.  That consistent process revolves around one question, “Do I trust Jesus?” When we ask ourselves that, things start to happen.  Our attention and focus are drawn to our relationship with Christ.  The question requires an answer.

If the answer is yes, the outcome will be blessed by God.  Psalm 27 is a beautiful song of trust in God and I recommend singing it frequently.  Verse 14 says, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (KJV).

If our answer is no, we need to pause.  Pausing allows us to deliberate and consider other questions and things before we react.  Pausing allows us an opportunity to not react in the flesh, but rather seek His face.  Pausing prompts other questions as well, like, “Do I love my brother?  Do I care about his recovery? Is he important to me?” Pausing allows us to respond and not react.  Galatians 5:16 says, “…Walk in the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (NASB).  Allow the Spirit to be the foundation of our “sensitivity” to the stimulations of life.

Blessings, in His name,

Les

By Julie Washburn

Recently I visited the Visitor’s Center at Ground Zero in New York City.  When you step into this facility, you are surrounded by memories and tributes from that horrific day.  However, as you approach the final area of the building, you also see detailed drawings and models of the buildings that are being constructed on top of such a tragic scene, including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.  This memorial has 2 pools inscribed with the names of every person who lost their life from the September 11 tragedy.

Still, the visitor center and memorial have an unmistakable air of hope and restoration despite tragedy.  The purpose of all the design and display is to ensure we never forget the greatness and courage that can be brought out of any tragic situation.

This memorial is such a great reminder to make monuments in our life to memorialize the moments of greatness.  In times of trial and difficulty, it can be so easy to forget these moments.  We must create ways to mark and memorialize God’s goodness in our life so we can hold fast to these monuments during times when it’s hard to remember such things.  It is so easy in times of trial to quickly forget the rich goodness we have experienced in life, we need monuments of hope from our past to fall upon in faith.

In Genesis 28, we see Jacob build a pillar as a monument to remember the time when God appeared to him. How can you memorialize the good things that God has done when they happen so that you can hold fast to them in times of trial?  Write them in a journal, frame a picture of the time, mark it on your calendar.  Do whatever you can to memorialize the good things God provides when you experience these!  Never Forget God’s goodness, even in times of trial.

Moment with Marlene:

There is a deep place within each one of our souls that desperately cries out to be filled. It cries out to be loved! Be respected! Be heard! Be needed! Be content! Be happy! Be secure! We spend our life trying to fill that sometimes empty and  hurting place. We long for a better day. We try and scratch the itch we don’t even understand and can’t seem to reach. 

We try filling it with substances, possessions, relationships, thrills. We try ignoring the gnawing pain of emptiness by self medicating with excessive drugs, alcohol, sex, work, sleep, play, toys, and internet. We look beyond the horizon of our humdrum continuing existence and see the attraction of greener pastures…only to experience once again a temporary rush leaving us even more depleted. 

It is said that within each of us is a “God shaped hole that only He can fill!” Well I agree. That is true! But my personal experience screams “It’s not that simple! Let’s get real!” We can be strong Christians who read Gods word, attend church regularly, do good deeds, and appear like we have it ALL…and yet we are desperately lonely or hurting and extremely out of balance in our life. To me that is what makes us vulnerably human! To me that is not failure, that is how we are wired! To me, that means we must learn to tap into His riches and soul refreshment continually. To me that means we must understand what makes us tick uniquely and what brings us great joy with true measure. To me that means we must step back regularly and analyze the balance of our life.  Are we creating our own Gods trying to fill that God shape whole? If so, all we are doing is trading addictions that soon loose their luster.

 Friends, let us learn and daily practice the art of digging past the head knowledge and bathe in the wellspring of God’s deepest soul-fulfilling riches. Isaiah 45:3 “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places that you may know that I, the Lord who called you by name am the God of Israel.”  

“He brings our soul out of prison that we may praise Him.” Psalm 142:7 

Learn the art of living in the 23^rd Psalm and allow God to fill what only He can fill……

“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul…….”  

Surely goodness and mercy WILL follow you all the days of your life friends, and you WILL dwell in the house of the Lord forever! 

I pray deep satisfaction and refreshment that only God can bring… fills you with pure joy,

Marlene

As I continue in this ministry of recovery at the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s New Life Program, a recurring question and issue that we deal with is one of identity, self-worth, and worthiness.  It is difficult (for me at least) to describe the depth of the love that God has for us – a love that we have done nothing to deserve nor can do to deserve.  The best analogy I can come up with is that of a parent toward their child.  I love my son and daughter simply by virtue of their conception and birth.  I didn’t wait to see how they “turned out” before my love and devotion to them was unconditional.

This note is taken from a commentary on the book of Romans by John MacArthur (Volume 1).  It begins:  One cannot help wondering why God would condescend to bring good news to a world that rejects and scorns Him.  No one deserves to hear it, much less be saved by it.

The noted expository preacher Donald Grey Barnhouse told the fascinating legend of a young Frenchman who was dearly loved by his mother but in early manhood fell into immorality.  He was greatly enamored of an unprincipled woman who managed to gain his total devotion.  When the mother tried to draw her son away from the wicked and debased association, the other woman became enraged.  She railed at the young man, accusing him of not truly loving her and insisting that he demonstrate his commitment to her by getting rid of his mother.  The man resisted until a night when, in a drunken stupor, he was persuaded to carry out the heinous demand.

According to the story, the man rushed from the room to his mother’s house nearby, brutally killed her, and even cut out her heart to take to his vile companion as proof of his wickedness.  But as he rushed on in his insane folly, he stumbled and fell, upon which the bleeding heart is said to have cried out, “My son, are you hurt?”  Dr. Barnhouse commented, “That is the way God loves” (Man’s Ruin: Romans 1:1-32).

Amen.

Les Doyle

“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” –Jeremiah 31:25

Les here – a personal message today.  I was in devotion this morning with my wife, Kay, and discussing how difficult my last week seemed here at the New Life Program.  Challenge after challenge; struggling with myself; fatigue; pressing in; searching; grasping; trying to rally; the list could go on for quite a while.  I explained to Kay that I needed to post a recovery blog last week to stay on-schedule, and no matter how hard I tried I had no inspired word to share.  My well was dry.  Kay said, “Well, why don’t you speak to that?”  (One of the myriad reasons I love her…)

So, what about those times when our well seems dry?  Since the beginning of time people have explored, travelled, and settled based upon the location of an available water source – where the wells are.  Military campaigns, particularly in desert and arid regions, have been planned around the availability of refreshment.  Think of the bloody battles fought within a day’s march of a beautiful oasis.

As I consider this, I see that all along my “divining rod” for refreshing sits right in front of me – the Word of God.  But I was in the Word daily last week, so what was going on?  Well (no pun intended), I need to allow myself to be taught by the Holy Spirit how to “rest”; how to indulge silence; how to quiet my spirit; how to reflect; how to meditate on the things of God.  My exertion and pursuit of these disciplines causes me to wander aimlessly at times.  I can go for a while, but the gas runs out quicker than I realize.

So my answer seems to be right in front of me.  It is God’s Holy Word.  It is fellowship with my wife who knows me better than myself.  And it is trust in the Lord and His promises.  But sometimes I get in the way and just don’t get it.  Let me be still now and allow…

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.  –Matthew 11:29 (Amplified)