He Calms the Storm©
Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil.
A few years ago two of my good friends deeply offended me. I felt completely betrayed. The more I thought about the offense the angrier I got. And because I was incapable of dealing with my feelings, I got drunk. In my drunken rage I went through my house demolishing everything I could get my hands on. I broke jars of food on my carpet and smashed beautiful ceramic dishes into the walls. I broke expensive sunglasses and items that were very special to me. I took valuable gifts received from loved ones and sent them crashing to the floor. The next morning I was horrified at what I had done. What a mess I had made. And so many irreplaceable items were completely destroyed. I was overwhelmed with guilt, regret, remorse and shame. I had done something I never would have done sober, all because I was angry and drunk. Situations like this prove my need for a power greater than myself. Had I turned to God in my anger and not to alcohol the end result could have been a whole lot more desireable. I need a God in my life who can help me during times of darkest despair. I need a God who can turn my mourning into dancing. A God who can lift my sorrow and replace it with peace. After a few years of sobriety I don't take my anger to the bottle anymore. Today, I take my anger to God.
Thought to meditate on:I have heard it said that worry can kill you. Worry is like a cancer and will eventually make you sick. But my experience is that anger is more destructive than worry. Not that worry is advisable but when I worry I tend to hide under my blankets and disappear. Anger tends to lead me into violent fits of rage. It is important to control anger lest it consume us and cause us damage. Damage to ourselves, to our family's, and in my experience, damage to our stuff. How many holes do you have in your walls?
http://www.personaladdiction.com
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Sunday, December 11, 2005
When it all seems hopeless! Turn to the one who brings hope!
I Am Not my Own©
1 Corinthians 6:19,20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
My friend Jim had a number of extra marital affairs. He blamed his lack of self control on his rock cocaine addiction and his alcoholism. He told me when he drank and used drugs, he looked for sex. He craved it. He said he wasn't proud of what he did, but was glad today to be sober and self controlled. God had delivered him and the urge was gone. My friend Bob also committed adultery. He could not find the strength he needed to be faithful to his wife. No matter how hard he tried, he always gave in to the desires of his flesh and allowed women to lure him into their rooms. Although he was in therapy for his problem he still fought the battle daily. Both men suffered from a sex addiction. It was just as hard of an addiction to break as drugs or alcohol. I read a book called the Bondage Breaker where they discussed sexual urges and it helped me to understand the sickness behind the behaviors. Fortunately there is a program to help people with this problem, just as there is one for alcohol and drugs. Nobody has to remain in the grips of the sin. God can and will break the chains. I believe the devil uses our weaknesses to keep us down, under his control. He discovers what we are driven by and dangles it in front of our face until we give in to the desire. The Bible says the devil is the god of this world and so he does have the power to destroy us. But we have to let him. For every force against us God makes a way of escape. The Bible also says, if God is for us nothing can be against us. That means no power in hell can keep us down.
Thought to meditate on:
When we gave our life to Jesus He took up residence in our hearts. That means we have given Him control of our bodies as well as our minds and spirits. We have an obligation to God to refrain from sin that destroys us since we no longer belong to ourselves. God bought us with a price when He sent Jesus to save us and it is our duty to properly care for His property. And it also never hurt to have a little self respect and dignity. Don't you think you deserve it? I do.
My thoughts and revelations:
http://www.personaladdiction.com
http://www.lacysjourney.com
1 Corinthians 6:19,20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
My friend Jim had a number of extra marital affairs. He blamed his lack of self control on his rock cocaine addiction and his alcoholism. He told me when he drank and used drugs, he looked for sex. He craved it. He said he wasn't proud of what he did, but was glad today to be sober and self controlled. God had delivered him and the urge was gone. My friend Bob also committed adultery. He could not find the strength he needed to be faithful to his wife. No matter how hard he tried, he always gave in to the desires of his flesh and allowed women to lure him into their rooms. Although he was in therapy for his problem he still fought the battle daily. Both men suffered from a sex addiction. It was just as hard of an addiction to break as drugs or alcohol. I read a book called the Bondage Breaker where they discussed sexual urges and it helped me to understand the sickness behind the behaviors. Fortunately there is a program to help people with this problem, just as there is one for alcohol and drugs. Nobody has to remain in the grips of the sin. God can and will break the chains. I believe the devil uses our weaknesses to keep us down, under his control. He discovers what we are driven by and dangles it in front of our face until we give in to the desire. The Bible says the devil is the god of this world and so he does have the power to destroy us. But we have to let him. For every force against us God makes a way of escape. The Bible also says, if God is for us nothing can be against us. That means no power in hell can keep us down.
Thought to meditate on:
When we gave our life to Jesus He took up residence in our hearts. That means we have given Him control of our bodies as well as our minds and spirits. We have an obligation to God to refrain from sin that destroys us since we no longer belong to ourselves. God bought us with a price when He sent Jesus to save us and it is our duty to properly care for His property. And it also never hurt to have a little self respect and dignity. Don't you think you deserve it? I do.
My thoughts and revelations:
http://www.personaladdiction.com
http://www.lacysjourney.com
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