Dear friends,
As Carole and I were reading scripture the other day, this passage jumped out at me. It was such a leap, that I just had to share it, and see if anybody out there agrees with me that this may make a good name for our ministry. The name I am suggesting is Living Stones. Here is the scripture:
1 Peter 2:4-12: (NIV)
4. As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– 5. you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6. For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”[1] 7. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone,[2] “[3] 8. and,
“A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”[4] They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for.
9. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
We are all at different points in recovery in our lives. The one thing this group has in common is that we have come far enough in the process of our own recovery that our desire to help others. When we were at our worst, we felt rejected, broken, fallen. But Christ saw in our brokenness a powerful brick that he could use to build His Kingdom.
We are now living stones building the Kingdom of God for others to enjoy. The strength that we have brings protection, grace, healing and strength to others, and so the Kingdom is being built just as it has for the past 2000 years.
We are so blessed to have each other. I hope to see some of you at our home July 4th. Don’t forget about our next meeting on July 11th. If you want to read this mail again, or make comments, You may do so at www.recoverme.org. Just enter the WebLog.
May God richly bless you and your family!
-Ron