“Straining at the Oars”

Being in a storm is bad enough, being in a storm on a lake or ocean is downright frightening. The disciples experienced being in a storm a couple of times with Jesus. Mark 6:45-52 gives the account of the disciples in the boat going to Bethsaida after Jesus had sent them ahead (on the Sea of Galilee). Jesus went to pray and was to meet the disciples later. In the evening Jesus saw the disciples in the boat and saw that they were “straining at the oars” (NIV). Around 3am Jesus (who had been on land) went out to them and was about to pass by them-or as some have suggested- “come beside them”. The disciples didn’t recognize him and were terrified and cried out in fear! Jesus of course calmed them down with his words- “Take courage! It is I. don’t be afraid. ”
Has 2008 been a year of “straining at the oars”? Have your efforts seem futile against the storms of life? What I like about this account is that Jesus saw the disciples straining with the oars. Many times we strive and struggle and don’t believe or forget that no matter what the situation is – “Jesus still sees us”. It seems that we sweat and toil and give it all we can and we don’t seem to be going anywhere. We make some progress in our recovery and then another storm comes and we are back wrestling with the oars against the wind. Those around us can’t seem to understand why we can’t and don’t get it together. Sometimes we get so caught up with our straining and toiling that we don’t recognize Jesus- just like the disciples did. The text says “they thought he was a ghost and cried out”. Christ’s words come to comfort us- “Be of courage! It is I” Jesus enters the boat with the disciples and the wind dies down.
This has been a year of “straining at the oars” for me. Many days I believed the lie from Satan that God has forgotten about me and I strived to bring about change on my own and when he did come to my boat - I didnt recognize him.
No one can promise that 2008 won’t be filled with storms and high winds of life. My prayer for you is that you and I weather the storms of 2008 and let God do only what he can do. And like I heard my Pastor say – “Sometimes instead of asking God to calm the storm and waves- Ask him for a bigger boat to match the sea you are on!”
Whether it’s your recovery or just life itself you are not alone- He sees your straining!
Tim

Walls that wont come Down !

Have you ever come to a wall in your recovery that wont come down or you cant get through for whatever reason ? Sometimes those walls can be- waiting for a wife or husband to take us back, or "if our job situation changes-then we can recover", or waiting for our children to forgive us or say they love us no matter what. What if those things never happen ? What if the wife doesn't take us back, or the kids don't say what we want, or the job we want dont come when we want it? So we stand at that wall- staring up- waiting for it to come down so we can really recover.

Gen. 49:22- tells the story of Jacob addressing his sons before he dies. He addresses each one about their future as it relates to their past, some of it, of course ,is not good. He comes to Joesph and says:

"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. (NIV)

There are some walls in our lives that for what ever reason are NOT coming down or changing! Satan will have us to believe that we cant recover or change until certain certain situations are the way we think they can be.

Jacob says "Joseph is a fruitful vine..near a spring whose branches climb over a wall" Joseph had many obstacles that he had to get over. Some of those things werent his fault and maybe contrary how you have read the story-some of the things were in his control. As my Pastor recently preached - "Joe had :

• Bad make up (favortism vs favor)
• Bad set up (shouldnt really have been a supervisor over his brothers-showing off his new coat)
• Bad followup

However as our picture above indicates, "walls dont stop vines". We can love "over the wall", "recover over the wall", forgive over the wall" Once we are planted where we can grow in our recovery walls cant stop us as we totally surrender to only what God can do in our lives.

Do the walls in your recovery seemed unclimbable? Too high ? Got you just staring up? Allow God's love to plant you near a spring where you can grow and recover-not matter what the wall is or how high it is.

Tim

Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks-Retreat

What a Awesome time we had!!!

God showed up and showed off at our Second Recovery Retreat. Pastor Haman Cross Jr from Rosedale Park Baptist Church in Detroit and Pastor Marquerite Blitch from Life Spring women's Center and Grace Deliverance Ministries in Aurora surpassed our expectations in bringing the message that God had given them for us! Our theme was taken from Matt.12:20- "A Bruised Reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out

Haman spoke to us about being "Stuck in the Shadows"- I couldnt do justice in my writing about his message about living and being stuck in your shadow-instead of where God really wants you to be. Marquerite's message of "Setting your affections on things above" also took us to another level along with her powerful personal testimony of where God has brought her and what he is doing in her life!

The rain didn't damper our spirits as we worshipped, fellow shipped (is there such a word!!) and entered his presence. We brought our hurts, habits and hangups- God supplied us with hope, healing and happiness!!!

To all of you who prayed and supported this effort-thank you for listening to God and responding either financially or through prayer.

We are already looking forward to next year!

Tim Cross
Ananepho Ministries
Ministry of New Life Christian Fellowship
1-888-AMI-HEAL

Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks

" A bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick (flax) he will not snuff out" Matt.12:20

Bruised and Broken ? Feeling useless ? God has not forgotten about us.
Reeds were used to make flutes by Jewish children. When they were broken they were discarded and thrown away. A smoldering wick -was a ancient bowl of olive oil with a little fax floating in it for a wick. As long as the lamp had enough oil, the wick would soak up the oil and serve as a catalyst for turning it into light. But when the oil was gone, the flax would begin to burn. Flax doesnt give much light- just fills the room with smoke and stinks up the room. the solution would be to throw out the smoking flax and start over with fresh oil and a fresh wick. It take a lot of patience to make a smoldering wick burn bright again. God has the patience to stick with us when every one else has given up. He certainly looks beyond our faults and sees our needs. (Glen Penton)


Hope you will join us in August for our second recovery retreat- this year at Bair Lake Bible Camp in Jones, Mich. Our retreat speaker will be Rev. Haman Cross- Senior Pastor of Rosedale Park Baptist Church in Detroit, Mich . Our theme: "Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks" We will have more info as we get closer or call us -1-888-AMI-HEAL

Tim Cross

Ananepho Ministries

This is from Dale and Juantia Ryan- Christian Recovery Network:

Our healer is gentle
He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.Isaiah 42:2-3
Cheer up! Snap out of it! I thought you would be better by now! What's your problem?!
When we have been badly bruised, we have an increased sensitivity to noise. Comments like these - which many of us have heard even from people who genuinely love and care for us - are a kind of 'noise' during recovery. Because we have been bruised, these comments often feel like 'shouts' or 'raised voices in the street.' They are a kind of public shaming because of our inadequacies and neediness. And this feels like it will do us in - like the tiny recovery candle that we have just managed to light is being snuffed out by the wind of the shout.
And so when God responds with gentleness we are surprised. No shouting. No yelling. No hurrying to get better. Instead, we find compassion and tenderness. Our Healer sees that we are like a bruised reed. He will not break us. He will patiently restore us. He sees we are like a smoldering wick, ready to go out. Others might give up on us. But he will work with us until we burn brightly again.
Gentleness. Patience. Persistence. We need all three. These are the gifts offered to us by our healing God.
I am bruised, Lord. I am smoldering. And, I am so accustomed to shouting. It's so noisy that I don't always hear your voice. I don't expect your gentle ways. I expect you to yell, to be impatient. I expect you to give up on me. But you do not yell. You are not impatient. You do not give up. Thank you. Gentle Healer, teach me to be gentle. Teach me to be compassionate with myself and with others. Amen.
Copyright 1991 Dale and Juanita Ryan

Hope House Men's Choir at Celebrate Recovery

Come join us at Celebrate Recovery on April 26th !

Our special guests will be the Men's Choir from Hope House of Lawndale Community Church

Come and experience God's Healing and Blessing !

There will be food at 6:00 pm- Celebrate Recovery will start at 7:00pm

Call 1-888- AMI-HEAL (264-4325) for more info

Pastor V. Rick Thomas

Ananepho Ministries welcomes Pastor V. Thomas to the Chicago area. Pastor Thomas is the Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle Church in Highland Park , Mich

He has written a book - "Prodigal Son" "From Dope Dealer to Hope Dealer" that chronicles his life on the street, his struggle with addiction and how God's restoration and grace has brought him to where he is today. He will be at the Village Bookstore in South Holland, Il. Pastor Thomas will be speaking Saturday -March 17th at the Give Hope men's breakfast at the Prisco Center 150 S. Illinois st. in Aurora and visiting New Life this sunday.

You can visit his website at : http://www.prodigalsonministries.com/

For more on this event and other recovery events- call us 1-888-264-4325

The purpose of Celebrate Recovery @ New Life Christian Fellowship Church is to fellowship and celebrate God’s healing power in our lives through the 12 Steps and Eight Recovery Principles.

This experience allows us to “be changed”.

We open the door by sharing our experiences, strengths and hopes with one another.

In addition, we become willing to accept God’s grace in solving our lives’ problems.
By working and applying these Biblical principles, we begin to grow spiritually. We become free from our addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy and most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others.
As we progress through the program we discover our personal, loving and forgiving Higher Power—Jesus Christ.

Welcome to an AMAZING
SPIRITUAL ADVENTURE!

Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday- 7:00pm- 9:00pm.

Call - 1-888-AMI-HEAL (264-4325) or 708-755-7900