CRA Christians in Recovery (anonymous)

[calibob]

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019

SUNDAY PSALM – WILL GOD ACCEPT MY PRAYER?

Our Psalm today tells of one who is in agony and deep sorrow over what he has done. How often have we called out to the Lord in our distress and struggled to put our thoughts together before Him?

I cry out to God for help. I cry out to you, God; listen to me! My Lord, in my time of trouble I came to you. I reached out for you all night long. My soul refused to be comforted. I thought about you, God, and tried to tell you how I felt, but I could not. You would not let me sleep. I tried to say something, but I was too upset. I kept thinking about the past, about things that happened long ago. During the night, I thought about my songs. I talked to myself, trying to understand what is happening. I wondered, “Has our Lord rejected us forever? Will he ever accept us again? (Psalm 77:1-7 ERV)

The person who wrote this Psalm is praying with great intensity that God would hear and listen to him. He is unable to put into words what he has done and how he feels about it. He keeps thinking about the past and perhaps God’s goodness to him. Because of what He has done, He wonders if God has rejected him forever.

Sometimes we make bad decisions that negatively impact our recovery and shame us before our loving God. Knowing that God is a Holy God we may feel that repentance is not enough, and we choose to beat up on ourselves. We may judge that we fully deserve that God withdraw His love and favour from us. God, however, has made provision for our forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. In God’s eyes the high price paid by Jesus is more than enough to forgive His children when they slip and fall into sin. Do we dare say that it is not enough?

Prayer: Gracious God, I am forever grateful to Jesus for coming into this world to pay the high price of sin. May my life always exhibit my gratitude. It is enough that He died for me. Amen

 

[calibob]

(For today from Partners in Hope)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

RAIN

Many ordinary everyday things can help us remember God's goodness and bring us encouragement in our life’s journey with God in recovery. Today we consider rain. The rain is meant to be a sign to us of God's goodness and generosity.

May the clouds in the skies above pour goodness on the earth like rain. May the earth open up to let salvation grow and may goodness grow with that salvation, which I, the Lord, created. (Isaiah 45:8 ERV)

The Bible uses the rain that comes in each season as an example of how God will keep His promises and always do what is right, at just the right time. When the rain comes everything gets watered and washed. God’s washing and forgiving is available to everyone no matter what the sin is or for how long it’s been going on.

Be joyful because of what the Lord your God has done. He has given you the right amount of rain in the fall. That’s because he is faithful. He has sent you plenty of showers. He has sent fall and spring rains alike, just as he did before. (Joel 2:23 NIRV)

Rain is often seen as a blessing because it softens the ground and provides the environment that is necessary for plants to grow. God wants us to flourish in our recovery. As we read His words and allow them to soak into our thoughts and soften our hearts, our broken lives will be transformed, and we will become fruitful in the ways of God.

The rain and the snow come down from the sky. They do not return to it without watering the earth. They make plants come up and grow. The plants produce seeds for farmers. They also produce food for people to eat. The words I speak are like that. They will not return to me without producing results. They will accomplish what I want them to. They will do exactly what I sent them to do. (Isaiah 55:10-11 NIRV)

Rain or shine today, let’s receive all the good things God is showering down on us to enjoy.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for rain that waters the earth and refreshes it. Help me to receive the washing that comes from reading Your Word and allow my thoughts and behaviour to be changed. Amen

 

[Lafftur]

Hi @calibob,

Those are beautiful daily readings! Thanks for sharing them and creating this thread. You are a blessing to many!

 

[calibob]

Today's meditation from Partners in Hope;


JUSTICE, JEALOUSY, AND DAY LABOUR

Jesus told a story of a man who was hiring day laborers. He hired some at 9am and agreed to pay them a fair day's wage. Others were brought in to work around noon, with the promise of being paid whatever was right. As the afternoon wore on and others were still without work, the man hired them as well. At the end of the day when the wages were being handed out, those who were hired first thing in the morning expected much more pay than those hired late in the day. They were quite upset when the employer paid each person the same wage regardless of the length of time worked. (Read: Matthew 20:1-16)

Any of us who have gone to a day labour office know that whether we are the first to get work or we have to sit in the office for a few hours, we all need to eat and pay for shelter. No landlord reduces the rent because we’ve found it difficult to get enough hours of work. We are all in desperate need.

The same is true for us as we come into life with God in recovery. Whether we sober up and turn our will and our lives over to God’s care at age 18 or 81, God promises us His forgiveness and life with Him forever. All are desperately in need of God’s saving and transformation of our lives. God’s generosity is not based on what we can do, it is based on what Jesus did for us on the cross and offered equally to all.

All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death. But God gives his people a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 3:23, 6:23 ERV)

It wouldn’t matter when we started, we never could do enough to turn our lives around by our own efforts. We are powerless and our lives are unmanageable. But our generous God, if we are willing to respond to his offer, chooses to be generous to all of us and provide exactly what each person needs. This is justice on God’s terms. There’s no place for jealousy that someone got the message earlier or only received God’s kindness minutes before they died. We just need to rejoice that God offered it and we got it when we did.

Prayer: Loving God, You know what we need and regardless of our age or our past, You offer us grace and forgiveness today. As I have been treated by You, help me to treat others in the same way. Help me always to be generous and forgiving. Amen

 

[calibob]

It's time for a comment;

It dosn't matter whether we com to the Lord today or 50 years ago the blessings are the same. Setting our pasts aside are likewise because in this new life we are on a continual journey the final rewards com later. Let us never look down our noses at those who are lagging behind, Rather, lend them a hand up. Like wise let us not be ashamed of needing a hand either. Let us remember that many have walked in our shoes and gave us a hand up too.

 

[calibob]

Todays meditation from Partners in Hope;
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019

LIVING BEYOND INTOLERANCE

An important character strength to develop is tolerance – being patient, understanding, and accepting of something different. We live in a world where there is a mixture of many cultures and behaviours, traditions and beliefs. The things one family values will be quite different than those of another. For many of us, part of the challenge to be tolerant is learning how to be around others who are at a different place in recovery than we are.

Too often we expect others to take our weaknesses into account no matter the impact, or we expect others to find a clean and sober life in exactly the same way we did. Truth is, we all come into this new life with God in recovery from different places on the path. God loves all of us. God invites all of us. Jesus paid the price for the wrong of all of us.

Jesus confronted a group of people, who themselves weren't perfect, yet who were condemning a woman for her wrongs, wanting to stone her to death. His advice to them was:

So he [Jesus] stood up and said to them, “Has any one of you not sinned? Then you be the first to throw a stone at her.” ...Those who heard what he had said began to go away. They left one at a time, the older ones first ... Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Hasn’t anyone found you guilty?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then I don’t find you guilty either,” Jesus said. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:7-11 NIRV)

Jesus calls all of us to stop sinning and receive forgiveness. To show respect and tolerance doesn't hide the need for change but it does help all of us to remember that we are all on equal ground. We would do well to focus on making an inventory of our own character defects and simply focus on loving others, blessing them and praying that they will find the forgiveness and healing Jesus is offering them.

Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. (Colossians 3:13 GNT)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, at my worst You treated me with compassion and mercy. Help me to walk with respect and humility among others who live and act differently from what I value. Help us all to come to You for forgiveness and new life. Amen

 

[calibob]

Todays meditation from Partners in Hope Ministries

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving, USA!​

HANDLING STRESS

Stress comes in many areas of life for all of us. We experience what seems like too much pressure at home or at work. Perhaps we can’t sleep, or we walk around with an uncomfortable level of anxiety most of the time. For a number of us, dealing with stress was a contributing factor in our drug and alcohol use and eventually led us to addiction. The key to effectively handling stress is to lean on God’s power at the initial stage of any problem.

The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:22-24 NLT)

God's strength comes as He stabilizes our emotions with His peace, infuses our hearts with His joy, and provides us with His wisdom to deal with any hardship in life. It’s important to admit we’re stressed, first to God, and then perhaps to someone we trust. God is with us. God cares. God has promised to act on our behalf when we give our will and life over to His care.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

When we are under stress, we need to be aware of things we tend to project into the situation, things that don’t exist but are the base of our worries and fears. We need to allow past events and hurts to go, and only concentrate on what today's real challenges are. Perhaps we need to set reasonable priorities and let some things go. Many of us dislike asking for help. This may be a time to live more realistically and reach out for help.

God says: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3 MSG)

Prayer: Loving God, you know me and the pressures and stresses I face. Help me to trust You and let go of these stresses. Help me to be realistic on what I can achieve. Strengthen me in my resolve to develop wisdom in the handling of all my affairs. Amen

 

[calibob]

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving, USA! ​

​

OOops,I should have said Halloween. But that's OK we should give thanks every day.

 

[calibob]

Partners in Hope meditation for November 1st

GROWING WISE​

Jesus is our role model for how to live well with God in recovery. The Bible tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom as He studied the scriptures, prayed, and paid attention to what was going on in the world around Him.

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. (Luke 2:52 NLT)

Thank goodness we are not expected to know everything the first day we come into recovery. We get to learn as we go. We do that through studying and observing; through listening to others; through putting healthy principles into action; and even through our mistakes. So where is our starting place if we are to grow wise?

Respect and obey the Lord! This is the beginning of knowledge. Only a fool rejects wisdom and good advice. (Proverbs 1:9 CEV)

The founders of the 12 Step program of A.A. got it right when they made Step One an admission that we are powerless on our own and without God our lives are unmanageable. As we learn to respect and obey God in all our affairs the fog starts to lift, and the things we are being taught begin to make sense.

Wise people who have walked with God in recovery for a time are valuable sources of wisdom and good advice. We do well to ask for and actually put into practice the advice we receive – especially when some of the recommendations don’t seem to make much sense. Sanity will always appear insane to those who are living in insanity.

The foolish things of God are wiser than human wisdom. The weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25 NIRV)

Recovery is about growing up, about growing wise, about living in peace with God and others. Am I willing to admit I don’t have all the answers? Am I willing to study the scriptures in the Bible and grow in wisdom as I obey what I am learning?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You know all things and are aware of what is still confusing to me about my past, my present, and my future. Help me to be humble and learn from Your Word, Your Spirit, and from other wise people you’ve put in my path. Amen.

 

[calibob]

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 - ​

BLESSING OTHERS BRINGS DEEP SATISFACTION​

Sometimes we choose not to bless someone because we judge them as unworthy. They may be in a lifestyle which does not meet with our approval or may have different opinions than us on religion, politics, cultural matters, or whatever we see as not meeting the criteria that we want to bless. Instead of judging others, blessings should flow from hearts that have been changed by the generous love of God for all people, including us.
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 CEV)

Accepting and receiving the love that God has for us will help us overcome our reluctance to be a blessing to others. If we feel we are lacking in love, we need to ask God to teach us how to love like He does. Blessings flow automatically from a heart that is filled with the love and kindness of God. Blessing others will bring peace and deep satisfaction to our own souls.
By everything I did, I showed how you should work to help everyone who is weak. Remember that our Lord Jesus said, “More blessings come from giving than from receiving.” (Acts 20:35 CEV)





The Lord is well pleased with us when we seek to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves. When we lived a dysfunctional lifestyle of addiction we were blessed when others supplied us with food and shelter. These people did not know us, but they cared about our needs. Now it is our turn to bless others. A gentle smile can lift someone’s spirit. An encouraging word may make someone’s day. Helping someone with what they are doing may lessen their load. Praying for someone’s concerns will show we care. There are so many ways we can bless others. Today, let’s look around and notice a person we can bless. As we lay on our beds this evening we can then reflect on and perhaps pray for those we have blessed and allow deep satisfaction to fill our souls.
Prayer: Gracious God, Help me to be less concerned with my own needs and agenda. Teach me how to love and bless others as You have greatly loved and blessed me. Amen
©2019 Partners in Hope

 

[calibob]

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2019 - SHOWING RESPECT
Audio for SHOWING RESPECT
Showing respect and being worthy of respect matters to God. All persons have value as human beings, regardless of their status or behaviour. We show respect by treating others as we want them to treat us. The “Ten Commandments”, (Exodus 20:3-17) given by God to His people, were instructions which empower God’s people to honour God and live respectfully with each other. The first four commandments were given to help people know how to respect and honour God, their creator. The following six were given to help them show respect to their parents and to live morally in peaceful harmony with their neighbours.
Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12 NLT)






It is God’s will that we be respectful of our parents, of people in authority, of people around us, and of their property. This is particularly difficult when we face those who have harmed us. No matter how badly others have treated us, God’s command does not change about the attitude we are to have towards them. It is God’s standard that as we forgive those who have been disrespectful towards us, God will forgive us for the disrespectful ways we have spoken and acted towards them. Forgiveness eliminates our bondage to the events that caused us to stray from being the person God created us to be. God is a righteous judge and He can be trusted to judge another person’s harmful actions. Each person is accountable to God for their actions.

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. (Luke 6:27 NIV, Proverbs 13:13 NLT)

As people of God we should be committed to showing respect to everyone. May we seek God each day for the grace to do that.


Prayer: Gracious God, I am thankful that You love and care for me. Help me to honour and respect You in my thoughts, motivation, and desires and in all I do and say. Strengthen and help me to show respect to each person I meet, even when I disagree with their ways. Help me to leave all judgment of others with You. Amen

©2019 Partners in Hope

 

[calibob]

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019 - HELP ME LORD

When we are in a place of despair, we often cry out to God for help but wonder if He is really listening. We feel unsettled and insecure. We wonder if God has turned away from us, but in hope, we cry out to Him for protection. The writer of the following Psalm called out to God for help when he was in similar circumstances.



Defend me, God. Argue my case against those people who don’t know you. Protect me from those evil liars. God, you are my place of safety. Why have you turned me away? Why must I suffer this sadness that my enemies have brought me? Send your light and your truth to guide me, to lead me to your holy mountain, to your home. I want to go to God’s altar, to the God who makes me so very happy. God, my God, I want to play my harp and sing praises to you! Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I tell myself, “Wait for God’s help! You will again have a chance to praise him, your God, the one who will save you.” (Psalm 43:1-5 ERV)

When we read this Psalm, we see how the writer is honest about the trauma he is experiencing. He recognizes that God is his place of safety but asks God why He has turned him away. He questions God about the reason he must suffer this sadness. Each of us has been in a similar situation at one time or another. Though Jesus told us we would have trouble in this life, we tend to think that suffering is for those who do not know God or are living in self-will rather than God’s will. We believe that God judges just like us. God, however, is much more gracious in His judgment than we are.


In the words that follow the writer’s plea for the Lord to help him, we see his attitude change as he asks God to send His light and truth to guide him. He also tells himself to wait for God’s help. When we find ourselves in trouble it would be good to follow the example set in this Psalm. Let’s tell God all about our troubles and then wait for Him to sort out all our concerns.


Prayer: Heavenly Father, When my circumstances cause me to be fearful, help me to trust that You are near and ready to help. Amen
©2019 Partners in Hope

 

[calibob]

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2019 - EXCELLENCE VERSUS PERFECTIONISM
Audio for EXCELLENCE VERSUS PERFECTIONISM
All of us want to be successful and to be able to do things well. We accept the affirmation we receive for a job well done or a goal achieved, and so we should. Unfortunately for some of us, we set goals that are unreasonable and then find it impossible to celebrate progress rather than perfection.


While it's important that we do our best within the limits we have of time, talent, and resources, we need to recognize that perfectionism is something quite different and is much more sinister. Excellence is the noble effort any of us make to "live one day at a time, one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace." Perfectionism is that fear-driven approval-seeking obsessive pressure that threatens to overwhelm us until we are defeated.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. (Hebrews 12:1b-2a; 5:8-9, NIV)

What comfort these words from the Bible give us. Only Jesus is perfect and we're not Jesus. We find our perfection by trusting in the finished work of the only person who was perfect. Jesus is the "perfecter of our faith." The Bible is full of imperfect characters like us who were loved and redeemed by the one true God.

God is not looking for perfection in us but rather that we have faith in the perfect work of His beloved Son. God desires obedience to His word as our focus. He wants us to acknowledge our failures and have an open heart to His forgiveness and cleansing and restoration. That is life at its best for whoever chooses it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to live well, but I know that I can't do life perfectly. You know that too and so You sent Jesus to suffer and die for my sins so I could receive forgiveness and healing for the failures You knew I would experience. I put my trust once more in You, for only in Your power can I live a life of excellence and joy. Amen

©2019 Partners in Hope

 

[calibob]

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019 - COMING CLEAN ABOUT IT ALL


Audio for COMING CLEAN ABOUT IT ALL
The exact nature of our wrongs is rooted in the lie that our problems are caused by what is around us rather than what is within us. It’s time that we admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being that our way of dealing with problems does not solve them. Doing things our way actually creates greater problems for us and for those around us. It’s time to admit that we cannot do life on our own and need to seek God’s help.

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as you promised." (Psalm 119:105-107 NLT)

God’s direction needs to be our first choice rather than our “choice of last resort.” We need to learn from God’s word and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us. We need to heed the advice of mentors and others who have faithfully walked with God for a time. With God’s help, we need to put into practice all that we have learned.
It’s time to agree with God about the exact nature of our wrongs. It’s time to admit that wrong is wrong and that we are guilty of wrong thinking and wrong behaving. When we finally face the reality of our sins, it is helpful to recall God’s kind and merciful nature. No sin is too great to be forgiven because Jesus paid the high cost of sin with his death on the cross.

"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (1 John 1:8-9 NLT).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I admit that I cannot do life on my own and that I need Your help. I repent and turn away from my independent, self-centered way of living and choose to trust You. Please help me find the path to a meaningful, purposeful life. Amen

©2019 Partners in Hope

 

[calibob]

We are CRA!
Christians in Recovery Anonymous
​

We are a Totally Christian 12 set group that have accepted Jesus the Christ as our one and only higher power.

We are nondenominational, nonsectarian, non racist or nationalistic. We don't consider door knobs, Buddha, the Pope, the Force, or red M&M's as a higher power. It's only Jesus that has the ultimate power.

We supply our own recovery materials, experience strength and hope. We are very Dual Diagnosis friendly. Addiction is a certified mental illness which combines with other illnesses within us and makes a mess out of life.

The twelve steps are reinforced with the bible here. If anyone wants a program devoid of God... There are plenty... This isn't it.

We rarely put the touch on people for money and we don't make a dime but Christian Chat needs money to operate. Considering how much money most of us have waisted in on poison in our lives. We encourage you to help support our mission by supporting CC. A cup of coffee runs $1.50- $5. A few bucks in the kitty may help many that we don't or won't meet. I've been tracking and the numbers are
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019 - COMING CLEAN ABOUT IT ALL


Audio for COMING CLEAN ABOUT IT ALL
The exact nature of our wrongs is rooted in the lie that our problems are caused by what is around us rather than what is within us. It’s time that we admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being that our way of dealing with problems does not solve them. Doing things our way actually creates greater problems for us and for those around us. It’s time to admit that we cannot do life on our own and need to seek God’s help.
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as you promised. (Psalm 119:105-107 NLT)




God’s direction needs to be our first choice rather than our “choice of last resort.” We need to learn from God’s word and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us. We need to heed the advice of mentors and others who have faithfully walked with God for a time. With God’s help, we need to put into practice all that we have learned.
It’s time to agree with God about the exact nature of our wrongs. It’s time to admit that wrong is wrong and that we are guilty of wrong thinking and wrong behaving. When we finally face the reality of our sins, it is helpful to recall God’s kind and merciful nature. No sin is too great to be forgiven because Jesus paid the high cost of sin with his death on the cross.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:8-9 NLT).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I admit that I cannot do life on my own and that I need Your help. I repent and turn away from my independent, self-centered way of living and choose to trust You. Please help me find the path to a meaningful, purposeful life. Amen

©2019 Partners in Hope

 

[calibob]

We are CRA!
Christians in Recovery Anonymous
​

We are a Totally Christian 12 set group that have accepted Jesus the Christ as our one and only higher power.

We are nondenominational, nonsectarian, non racist or nationalistic. We don't consider door knobs, Buddha, the Pope, the Force, or red M&M's as a higher power. It's only Jesus that has the ultimate power.

We supply our own recovery materials, experience strength and hope. We are very Dual Diagnosis friendly. Addiction is a certified mental illness which combines with other illnesses within us and makes a mess out of life.

The twelve steps are reinforced with the bible here. If anyone wants a program devoid of God... There are plenty... This isn't it.

We rarely put the touch on people for money and we don't make a dime but Christian Chat needs money to operate. Considering how much money most of us have waisted in on poison in our lives. We encourage you to help support our mission by supporting CC. A cup of coffee runs $1.50- $5. A few bucks in the kitty may help many that we don't or won't meet. I've been tracking and the numbers are 754 replies vs 9,665 views. People are watching and listening.

CRA logo.png

• calibob
• Apr 28, 2019
• 1

Forget other higher powers. Build recovery upon the Rock. Jesus is Lord of recovery.

 

[calibob]

We believe God has called us to live fully and freely. That requires us hearing a call from God, taking steps to respond to that invitation and then growing into the vision God has for life for us.
(co Partners in Hope)​

 

[calibob]

6


WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019 - MARKING MILESTONES

Audio for MARKING MILESTONES
Recognizing and marking milestones (clean time in recovery) is a way to celebrate our sobriety and give hope to those in our daily lives as well as to those who attend recovery meetings with us. Milestone celebrations help us remember the impact on our lives when we first turned away from our destructive lifestyle and sought God, finding in Him the new life we couldn't find elsewhere.
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trusted him with all my heart. He helped me, so I am happy. I sing songs of praise to him. (Psalm 28:7 ERV)

We celebrate belly-button birthdays because we are thankful for another year of shared life with family and friends. We celebrate sobriety milestones to give thanks for God's lavish love and grace poured out on us when we turned our will and life over to His care. God enabled us to see life with meaning and purpose. How else could we remain sober for even one day, let alone months or years?

He remembered us when we were defeated. His faithful love will last forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love will last forever. (Psalm 136:23-24 ERV)

Every day of sobriety is worth celebrating, which is why we celebrate many different time periods, from one day to multiple years, with chips, key fobs, medallions, and cakes.
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be happy today! (Psalm 118:24 ERV)

Registering our clean date and preparing to mark the milestones as they come along is one helpful tool in keeping us sober. Remembering our journey of one day at a time with God and celebrating how one day became one week, one month, one year, is a helpful deterrent when we struggle to stay clean.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NLT)


Prayer: Loving God, I thank You for this day of sobriety and each day linked to it. You’ve been with me through thick and thin and You will never leave me nor forsake me. I truly face each day with confidence because of Your unfailing love and care for me. Amen
©2019 Partners in Hop

 

[calibob]

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019 - INFIDELITY
Audio for INFIDELITY
For many of us infidelity in a relationship has harmed us. It doesn’t matter if we are the unfaithful partner, the uninvolved partner, a child of parents experiencing infidelity, or even an extended family member, infidelity harms all of us in ways that we never anticipated. Even after a divorce agreement between two partners has been agreed, in many instances the hurt continues. What would God say to any one of us who have suffered the pain of infidelity?
I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. (Isaiah 44:22 NLT)
Often our emotional response to infidelity will cause us to further add to the harm we have sustained. Hate rises in our hearts and we determine never to forgive the unfaithful person. Resentment and malice disturb our sleep. Our thoughts are obsessed with the situation and we are filled with resentment and bitterness. Previously we might have tried to cover up the pain and trauma with our medication of choice. How can we get relief from this situation and remain faithful to life with God in recovery?
Don’t let me do what I know is wrong. Don’t let sin control me. If you help me, I can be pure and free from sin. (Psalm 19:13 ERV)






Our God is a redeeming God and whatever painful circumstances we may endure, His love and comfort will sustain us. Infidelity in a relationship will harm many people and we will need to make amends if we have been an unfaithful partner. If we are a victim of infidelity, we need to bring our hurts before God, repent of our unforgiveness, and seek His healing for all our woundedness.

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. (Romans 4:7 NLT)


Prayer: Loving God, Thank You for loving and caring for me. I repent of any harm I have caused others due to infidelity. Help me to live in the joy that my sin record has been cleared by the blood of Jesus. Amen

©2019 Partners in Hope

 

[Prin8431]

I understand that some people will just wake up one day and say their done and they stop but no one has the same walks in life and judgment is a sin. I have mental problems from a young age and I have tried to end my life many times even when I was a teen. Add to that addiction and you get a difficult struggle. I have woken up many days feeling the need to be done wanting it with everything in me but dealing with my underlining issues trying to get help but all the free beds are empty and not having enough money to pay for treatment which the pay for it side always has beds available was hard. Humbling myself and asking for help from the lord is what has saved me. He saved me. Everyone has their own journey in life with there own trails and tribulations to face what does the road you take matter as long as you get to the destination. I still struggle with trying to stay in the right path when things gets stressful but the lord has my back and I go to him when I'm crying because I cant make ends meet, when temptation is at my door for anything. His grace and love has transformed my life and I give glory to him everyday!