RU Recovery Program Statham, Ga

Happy Thursday! Hebrews 13:1 "Let brotherly love continue." So as we begin reading this chapter the author, like many of Paul's writings explains how to live in light of what was read in the previous chapters. So this love we are to have is one of our main virtues in our life. And, if we don't live in this light together, then how are we to expect to finish this race. We are in this together as Heb 10:24 says as we spur one another on to love and good works. So this wor...d spur - yes the little pointed piece on a cowboys boot to hasten the pace of his horse. For us this word is used to incite excitement and/or call for immediate action. This is how the people of God are to love one another to boost our excitement, our actions to the glory of God. If we truly love God then we will truly love our brother or sister in Christ (1 John 4:20). It doesn't mean we will do it perfectly, but it does mean we should alway seek to grow in love for other believers. Be encouraged. See you Friday evening @ 7PM

Happy Thursday! I'm continuing in Hebrews 12 verse 14. I've been doing a word study and looking at the word "strive", because of Luke 8:1 "Strive to enter in at the straight gate" This word means to struggle in opposition, to contend, to make an effort with exertion. So first thing on my mind is thinking about that marathon God has me running, now I also have to fight to enter a small straight gate??? So the word strive is used here in Heb 12:14 - strive for peace with e...veryone... Wow how do you expect me to do this when the world has gone insane? Let's start at Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. So after the fall it was God's aim to bring peace back into the world through redemption in Christ. So to prove we are children of God, we must live our lives peaceably in this world. And in Romans 5:1 & 12:18 we are enabled to live peaceably in Christ with others, but remember it is not to be done at any price either. So be encouraged as the scriptures gives us more specific guidance for pursuing our Lord together with excellence. See you Friday evening @ 7PM

Happy Thursday. Hebrews 12:3-4, remember last week we talked about our race before us, and how Jesus is set before us and whom we should look to in faith to be able to finish this race. Jesus is the premier example, as he died for His faithful witness to God, refusing to do anything but tell the truth about God, to even those who hated him. These versus talk about how Jesus endured such hostility from sinners, so that we would not grow weary or fainthearted in our struggle...s. If you read the rest of these two versus - are we willing to resist the sins (as bad as things are looking in the world today) that may even tempt us to fall away. I say resist!!! Even if you must resist unto the point of the shedding of your blood. Whether we ever reach this point in our live, we must stand fast just as Jesus did against apostasy. Be encouraged you are not alone, look to your heavenly home. See you Friday @ 7PM

Happy Thursday, so I continue to read through Hebrews and I get to 12:1-2 and stop... Last week I talked about faith being a test of trust. I thought I was out of school and I'm being tested. Now I find that I also have a life time exercise program. OK all kidding aside - I have this cloud of witnesses that help me see that I need to lay that weight aside (good no weight lifting), & sin that clings tightly. But I am to run this race alone? I've not worked out for a mara...thon in decades. What does God want from me??? He wants me to look to Jesus, the founder, perfecter of our faith, he is also the joy set before us. OK Paul I get the metaphor here, so it gave me a picture of a young child who sees their parent (with out stretched arms) and runs in for a hug and comfort or protection. We should be doing this every day as we look towards our heavenly home. So I encourage you to continue to run this race of faith, trusting in the one that is with you each step of the way, along with your brothers and sisters running with you. See your Friday evening @ 7PM

Faith at Jericho - Hebrews 11:30-31 One of the recurring themes in Hebrews 11 is that true, saving faith involves trust. We trust God to keep his word. Noah was moved to build the ark when the Lord said He would send a flood, but they had never seen rain fall from the sky before this ever! How about Abraham & Sarah had nothing but God's promise of a son. So now Jericho, the people had God's word only, and yet their strategy was to march around the city for 7 days, on the... final day blow the trumpets, and shout. What???? Would we have the faith to trust in these events? Come on - a trumpet or shout to bring down a stone wall? How about a prostitute and her family being saved because she believe the God of Israel was stronger than the gods of the Canaanites? So be encouraged - God accepts anyone who trusts in Him through Christ alone, no matter their past. See you tomorrow @ 7PM