The Serenity Prayer

On this journey of community and leadership development on the West End I have had to come to terms with some of my own issues and in doing so I've learned a lot about myself and those in the community in which I serve.

For a long time I couldn't figure out why I would get so frustrated with people and how they were living.  My whole reason for being here was to show them a "better way".  It just didn't make any sense to me why people would keep on doing the same thing over and over and expecting things to change.  It wasn't until I began attending celebrate recovery meetings 6-1/2 years ago that I figured it out.  I was just like them and in order to help them I needed to first help myself.  At that point I made a decision to learn and accept the 12-Step process as a lifestyle. I believe the 12-Steps are God map for getting ourselves right God, ourselves and others.  The 12-Steps are not just for drunks, addicts,  they are a way to clean ourselves out  with the help of others so that we can interact with people through our spirit instead of through the issues of our soul (mind, will and emotions).

After all these years, I still get frustrated with people, however I have learned to accept where they are and chose to love them anyway.    And one way I've been able to make this change is through the Serenity Prayer.  The first two lines of this prayer have been used on plaques, jewelry, bookmarks, etc.  But it is the whole prayer that leads me to a place of Serenity and Peace where I am able to offer others grace. 


So next time you get frustrated with yourself or others, pray this prayer:

Amen.

Reflecting on "The Cycle"

This is a note that I wrote on Facebook on March 29,2009.   These words fit how I feel today.  There is only one word I would add to this montage in several places is the word WAITING.  I feel like I am always waiting.  Waiting on  something or someone.  The silence of waiting is sometimes unbearable.  But I am reminded in Isaiah 40:31 (AMP) it says, " But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.


"Go to God, check myself
Pray
Spend time in the word
Rest in God
Seek Him daily for direction and answers
Am betrayed
Have to fire people
Correct people
Raise money
Spend money
Other’s expectations
My expectations
Staff issues
Board issues
People offended left and right
Problems of others…everything from children issues, addictions to suicidal thoughts and tendencies
Calls all day long
Meetings all day long
People dropping in
Thanking God always
Remaining faithful in spite of what you see and definitely in spite of what other’s see
Believing God when others can’t or won’t
Answering for what you can’t control
Criticized and laughed at
Mocked
Lied to
Not being able to focus at times
Time flying by seems like you never get anything done
Growing Big and it’s out of your control because God is doing it…
No answers.
People arguing with you
Questioning your faith
Questioning your words and their intent
It’s all so stupid
Drama, day in and day out
Why can’t people just get along?
Egos
Pride
Spirituality
Having a form of godliness but denying the power
No one wants to take responsibility for their choices
And they don’t want to make decisions, they want you to decide
Fear
Doubt
Go to God, check myself
Pray
Spend time in the word
Rest in God
Seek Him daily for direction and answers
Then it starts all over again.
Just want some relief…
I know that this note is a little weird, but I have had one day this year with no drama. One day.
I think I need a hug."

Taking the Limits Off

Since May I have been in an internal struggle believing God about the "exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask, think or imagine".  A friend of mine would say, "you have to take the limits off God".  As I tried to do it in my own strength, fear would set in...what if what I "ask, think or imagine" doesn't happen? 

Sometimes it's easier to believe God for failure than to believe Him for success.  

However, my faith increased after spending the day reading all the verses in the bible about God's faithfulness. The more I read and began to think back over the last 9 years of my life with Urban Connection and the work on the West End I began to see just how faithful God really is. 

He is not like man that He should lie. 

He NEVER forgets.  

From that moment, I have taken the limits off of God.  And if you want to see what taking the limits off of God can and will do for you and the community around you, keep watching what happens on the West End of San Antonio. 

 The Lord replied, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed!  

For I am doing something in your own day, 

something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.

Habakkuk 1:5

Today, my husband, Craig Grubbs the Pastor of New Hope Covenant Church wrote a blog about Taking the Limits Off...check it out.

   
http://nhcm2011.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/taking-my-limits-off-of-god-flip-the-script/