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Embracing Life Journal
January/February 2012  
 


  Living Courageously ~ Transforming Lives

 

 

Greetings!  

Jonathan intro pic 02 2012
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 After viewing the greeting, return here to the Journal for articles covering the latest news from Embracing Life Ministries. Various members of the ELM team will be contributing each month.

Check it out.    

  

 

HROCK ENCOUNTER WEEKEND COMING
IN MAY 
Embracing Life Series Fastrack
Presented by Jonathan Hunter 
Embracing Life Ministries
 
 May 11th and 12th
Friday: 9am-10pm, Saturday 9am-10pm
 
The Embracing Life Series (ELS) Fastrack offers participants a condensed version of our 14 session healing, discipleship program - ELS. Over our two days together the ELS Fastrack will address the healing needs of people with various life-altering conditions such as cancer, lupus, diabetes, depression/anxiety, etc. Caregivers or anyone with a non-specific condition are also welcome to attend.
Please call our office if you have any questions. (626) 798-7398
 

                   Quote of the Month 

The symbol of the cross stands for 'hope'- all God intends for us is truly ours. In a sense the cross is a tree of life we learn to embrace, enjoying its life-giving fruit and allowing it to satisfy the deepest needs and longings of the soul." "Embracing Life Series" by Jonathan Hunter p.80)

 

The Cross and Healing

  By Glenys Brookbanks      

The Cross Booklet

 

[Note: The following article is from the booklet, "THE CROSS" by Glenys Brookbanks.  Glenys has overseen ELS groups in New Zealand for many years and is a gifted teacher in transformation ministries. Additionally, she is a nationally recognized artist and painter in New Zealand. The booklet is an expanded teaching from the ELS guidebook and can be purchased through ELM.]

 

The cross is the ultimate EMERGENCY ROOM of all time. It is the great refuge, the asylum, the resting place, the hospice for the sick, the suffering and the dying. In this living engine of power we find the destruction of long held despair and hopelessness. Those beliefs and predictions set up by words of fatalism and death are dismantled by the working power of Christ's victory for us IN THE VERY PLACE OF DEATH. "Death is unmasked before Him. Destruction is uncovered" (Job 26:6)...

 

Even the most frail person can know the power of His name. How does this happen? Even if we cannot easily focus and hold the impression of His presence in our hearts GOD DOES NOT ABANDON US IN PAIN. We can call Him by name, even saying His name and calling out to Him will bring His healing presence by the Holy Spirit...

 

Through the work of the Holy Spirit we are empowered to come to Jesus with an open heart and securely deposit our burden into Him - the unbearable receiving, in exchange, the grace and power of His life. Let us practice this healing exchange of our pain for His comfort and our sickness for His healing power...

 

In His death, Jesus carried all the sin and sickness of the world into hell. He deposited it there and rose again out of hell. There is no place of personal death or hell in our lives that He cannot inhabit. From every death there is a resurrection, every tomb becomes a temple through the mighty victory of the CROSS and the glory of His resurrection power. "Know you not that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit?" (1Cor. 3:16). We can boldly proclaim:

"I AM NOT A TOMB, I AM A TEMPLE."

 

To order The Cross booklet Email 

or call us at 626-798-7398   

 "The foundational scripture for Embracing Life Ministries is John 10:10 where Jesus says: 'I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.' Ever-increasing life in relationship with Jesus Christ is the focus and goal of Embracing Life Ministries."
In Gary's Words
Gary Greeno 2008

Pain and Suffering

by Gary G. Greeno

In a previous essay I said that God is not afraid of pain, neither ours nor His. Sometimes this lack of fear is viewed by those currently in pain as a lack of concern for the hurting person or a lack of compassion for those who are enduring the suffering. "After all wouldn't a loving God stop the suffering?" That sounds like a no brainer.  But, things are not always what they seem. Read on.

Pain: From our viewing point.

As we look up, we see the problem of a good God allowing pain and suffering as insurmountable, unmanageable. It is bigger than our power to control or fix. All we know for sure is that we are effectively powerless to solve the problem of pain and suffering, which by the way is a direct result of the enemy's presence in our world. Therefore we fear pain and are led astray by listening to the enemy's lies about "A loving God this... and a powerful, caring God that." We need a new point from which to view the problem.  

Now, let's find God's viewing point.

The truth is that God doesn't need to fear pain or suffering. He has already fought them both and won. On the cross he endured the ultimate, (i.e. the worst there could ever be) pain and suffering. Jesus, God's perfect, immortal, all wise, all knowing Son allowed mankind, His creation, to murder Him. The all powerful God allowed His ant-like, dirt crawling creation to torture and kill his Son. Therefore, He not only has the right to say, but also He speaks from experience when He says, "All things work together for good, for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose."

Pain: From God's viewing point.

God looks down on pain as a defeated enemy who can still cause serious discomfort (i.e. pain and suffering) but who CAN NOT win. God is Good. He makes even the bad stuff work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Evil is still evil. Pain still hurts... Suffering is still... indescribably horrific. But, God has been there... done that... His presence and strength is our way through that we may be able to bear it.

 

God

Help me to walk and live in the victory you won on the cross over pain and suffering.                            

Give me compassion for others as we walk down that road side by side.

 

�10-2011 Gary Greeno.

 

We hope you will consider sharing this email with friends and loved ones whom you think would benefit from the ministry of Embracing Life. This is a good way to introduce the material and we would appreciate your passing it along. Thanks!
Sincerely,
 
Jonathan Hunter
Embracing Life Ministries
(626)798-7398
ELS "OPEN SATURDAY" AT 
VINEYARD ANAHEIM
March 10th
9:00am-3:00pm
Room 265
 
On this Saturday we will open up the Embracing Life Series to all who are interested and wish to experience the group and it's format. There will be 2 sessions from The Series: "Forgiveness, the Beginning of Healing" and "Shame and Self-Hatred" along with prayer and small groups. Please join us for this day of healing and transformation.
Contact: Debbie (714)777-4777 ext. 3014 
"Something to Say" 
Glenys Brookbanks
Click On Picture
Featured:
Glenys Brookbanks
Embracing Life, New Zealand
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"HEALING PRESENCE"  NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES

 

Produced in 1994, this album benefits Embracing Life and features Marty Goetz, Wendell Burton, Alice Echols and Rick Norris among others. Hard copies sold out early on, but now you can download it digitally and take a journey of faith, prayer, forgiveness, thanksgiving, encouragement and worship. 

Healing Presence more than lives up to its name.