Posted on July 24, 2022 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
Greatest Of All Time: Work in Progress
By Chris Woodward
I have a great life, I really do. As a substance abuse treatment provider, I’m privileged to lead people back to their most productive and healthy selves. Somewhere in their past my patients developed mal-adaptive coping skills. They developed skills that allow them to work in and under the negative things that occur in their daily lives. Sometimes it’s a “fix” for the moment. Most of the time it is distracting ourselves from the moment, the pain, or the unknown. It is in many cases a life long struggle, constantly reaching out to things that have immediate responses. In the long run, these behaviors keep them from emotional development, healthy relationships, and a full life. Sound familiar?
At the start of the journey, I find myself giving this wisdom, “This is the hardest thing that you will do. You are in the process of changing the reactions in your body, your mind, and your emotional soul. This is the “long game.” The work we do today will allow us to have success many years down the road.”
The truth that I see in them is a calling back to their Creator. A calling to have complete recovery and restoration in the working out of their faith. My joy is to be there for the work, a person that is the cheerleader, the coach, and the mentor. We work towards creating a community and a support network they can build on, people that will add experience and wisdom in moments where they would return to their old behaviors. Sometimes it is to challenge with love and logic the negative thoughts, the using behaviors and the reasons for change. Watching their life put back together piece-by-piece, restoring themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually, is for me a work of God. Some may never call the name of Jesus as Lord or Father, but they are still a work in progress. Continuing to work themselves toward healthy outcomes and healthy behaviors.
My role as a counselor, friend, and father is to provide space and grace for everyone I meet to work on themselves, and find their way towards God. That is a promise that I trust.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: God will finish what he started. He will continue the work to its completion. Where are you doing the work for God? Where could you use a refresh in your partnership with God? Where do you need encouragement that God will finish?
{action idea}
If you want to practice increasing your engagement with Jesus, join us for Day With Jesus, August 5 or 6. This is a self-guided time with a workbook we provide that is designed to help you spend extended time reading, pondering, praying and connecting with Jesus. We will kick off and wrap up on Zoom, and give you two hours on your own to work through the exercises. CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up.
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This month we are focusing on the many promises of God. Each day you will have the space to consider one promise, and how it has impacted your life, or could impact your life should you choose to follow Jesus. We’d love to hear from you and share in what we are all learning together. You can email us at story@heartlandchurch.org.
"Teach them all that I have commanded you.” Teaching is the long game. Occasionally we, focus so much on the initial change, the choice to follow Jesus. Many times, we lack in our teaching of how to follow Jesus. In what ways are you teaching others as you follow the commands of Jesus and build a Jesus first life?
We live in a world where trouble appears to follow us daily. Jesus tells the disciples that he left the for them and for us. What is the peace that Jesus has for us? Peace for some is space, outside, open air and calm. For others it is care, concern, a hug, or a kind word. Are you making space for peace in your life? In what ways will a peaceful life lead to a Jesus first life?
So many of us fear: fear the future, fear the unknown, fear following God. The context of Jesus telling his disciples to “do not let your hearts be troubled,” comes in the last days of his life. Sometimes the best work we can do is to know that Jesus has a place for us, both righter here where we are AND where we are going. What fears have you overcome in your relationship with Jesus? How can that faith help you overcome the fears of today?
Knowing that the father is good is reassuring for all of his followers in this statement to the disciples. Jesus opens up the book and wants us to search out answers in him . . . to knock, search, and ask. Jesus then turns the page and promises that the door will open, the answer will come, and the search is worth it. Where are you seeking and asking for Jesus’ help? Who can you share your search with to receive encouragement along the way?
“Those who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways.” The writer appears to have a cause and effect in mind, when the chosen people made a choice to move back to God the father by doing what he had asked they will be healed. In what ways this week do you need to turn to God and work on health and healing?
Isaiah might not be the poster child for bringing good news to the people, but he does. In the midst of awkwardness he brings good news to the humble, the people who have an ear to hear, the people who need a good word in the midst of their spiritual need. That there will be healing and there will be a rebuilt people. Who in your life needs to hear that there is healing, hope, and future?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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