CRA Christians in Recovery (anonymous)

June 29, 2020 here...visited the methadone clinic for the last time September of last year

Even after committing to Christ back in 2015, allowed myself to go down that road again. By the Grace of God, no more.

Amen sister, and thank you!!

"Amen"

June 21, 2022
“Although we can borrow from religion, medicine, and psychiatry, we are not any one of them. We cannot run hospitals nor half-way houses, nor marry the group with a religious sect. We cannot send lobbyists to Congress, and we don't mix AA with banking enterprises. We aren't educators nor counselors. We cannot lend our name to any other cause except our own. The more we mind our own business, the greater our influence becomes; medicine, religion, and psychiatry start borrowing from our experience and ideas. So do the fields of education, research, and rehabilitation. All kinds of groups based on AA's Twelve Steps have evolved, groups that deal with gambling, eating, drug addiction, mental illness, divorce, etc. They've borrowed from the AA program and made their own adaptations. We didn't have to endorse them or lend our name. This tells us strongly that the more AA sticks to its primary purpose, the greater will be its helpful influence.”

San Antonio, Texas, June 1996, “Simplicity Works Best,”, AA Grapevine

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022 - RECOGNIZING JESUS
Audio for RECOGNIZING JESUS

Jesus came to earth when the nation of Israel was under Roman rule. We know from the Bible that the Jewish leaders did not accept who Jesus was and conspired to have Him killed. The Jewish leaders should have been familiar with the events of the day because they were foretold in the Scriptures. However, they saw Jesus as a threat rather than a redeemer.

Why are the nations so angry? Why are the people making such foolish plans? Their kings and leaders join together to fight against the Lord and his chosen king. They say, “Let’s rebel against them. Let’s break free from them!” But the one who rules in heaven laughs at them. The Lord makes fun of them. He speaks to them in anger, and it fills them with fear. He says, “I have chosen this man to be king, and he will rule on Zion, my holy mountain.” (Psalm 2:1-6 ERV)

We know that Pilate, the Roman governor, recognized that Jesus was spitefully accused of wrongdoing. Pilate said He could find no fault in Jesus, but he gave in to the Jewish leaders and to public opinion and sentenced Jesus to die.

What do we do with Jesus today? Do we recognize Him as the one who gave His life for us and willingly surrender our will and our lives into His care? God loved us so much that He sent Jesus into the world, not to judge us for our wrongs, but to save us. Do we recognize how much Jesus suffered so that we could be set free from the power of sin?

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the
word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (John 12:48 ESV)

Not only do we have the benefit of history and the story of Jesus written in the Bible, but we also have the experience, strength, and hope of so many who found sobriety and new life by following God’s principles. If we do not believe what Jesus has done on our behalf, the Bible says the words that God has spoken will judge us on the last day. How will we measure up when that day comes?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I repent of my sin and accept Jesus’ death on the cross as the payment for my sins to make me whole. I proclaim that Jesus is my Lord and King. I choose to give my will and my life into Your care. Please strengthen me to live for You alone. Amen

©2022 Partners in Hope

So true!

When I was saved, 42 years ago, God took away any desire or need to drink. I had been trying for years to stop. In the snap of fingers, the alcoholism was gone!!

Jesus is still delivering people from addiction. Read Magenta's post again. Are you living for Christ? If not, the door is wide open, and Jesus is waiting for you to repent and turn to God.

Great post!

FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2022 - DEALING WITH INSULTS AND LIES
Audio for DEALING WITH INSULTS AND LIES

Jesus always spoke the truth. He encouraged people to follow Him because He is the way, the truth, and the life. He said some things that are very difficult to do and may not seem to fit into the category of comfort and encouragement.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,
because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9 NIV)

Does Jesus really mean this? We see examples of situations like road rage and know that quick-flash anger lives in most of us and can be triggered very quickly. Isn’t it enough that we don’t act violently in response to what others say and do or spread vicious rumors about them to others? Not only does the Bible teach us to not react and return evil for evil but it challenges us even further when we are taught to find a way to bless the one who is speaking badly about us.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me. (Matthew 5:11 NIV)

As Jesus hung on the cross, He blessed and forgave those who put Him there, even while they were busy mocking Him and making fun of Him. Jesus knew it was better to focus His actions on fulfilling what God wanted Him to do rather than be distracted by the cruel words or behaviour of others.

God will help us when we choose to stop the cycle of insults with kindness. This does not mean that we smile while our fists are clenched. It does mean that we give up the desire for revenge. We let God speak truth to our hearts and give us peace within, so the insults and evil lies of others wash off us like oil on a non-stick pan surface. When we’ve done this, we can then ask others to tell us what their problem is. Sometimes we will be able to mutually resolve the problem. At other times it may be the right thing to simply walk away in peace and pray a blessing on the wounded angry person. Either way, God will bless our sincere efforts to end insults and lies.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I can’t imagine not insulting someone back when they insult me but I’m willing to do things Your way. With Your help I will do my best to bless someone who, either in the past or even today, speaks evil to me or about me. Remove all lies from my mind and heal my wounded heart and help me to see myself and others as You see us. Amen.

©2022 Partners in Hope

"Amen"

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2022 - TRANSITION
Audio for TRANSITION

Transition is difficult. It requires that we leave something behind and move into something new. What is known to us is comfortable, even though it may not be good for us and certainly is no longer what is best for us. Everything that grows goes through transition. A seed is put in the ground and it dies in order that a new life form can begin to grow. A flower or fruit develops and is picked and unless the fruit is used for food, both will wither and die. On a farm, dead plants are often plowed back into the ground to provide nutrients for the next crop to come. Transition takes place from one season to the next.

The Lord will lead you. He himself is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. Don’t worry. Don’t be afraid! (Deuteronomy 31:8 ERV)

In recovery we are transitioning not only from the misuse of substances, but also from things like a lifestyle of isolation to one of looking for and accepting peer support. We’re moving from trying to figure out the "big questions of life" about meaning and purpose on our own to consulting God and learning how God answers those questions. We are transitioning from avoiding the pain in our hearts to confronting it and receiving comfort and healing. We are moving away from impulsive and obsessive thinking to gratitude and solid solutions which develop as we pray and learn – and the list goes on.

The Lord says, “I will teach you and guide you in the way you should live. I will watch over you and be your guide. (Psalm 32:8 ERV)

Without God's promise to teach and guide us in the way we should live and watch over us, the burden of this new way of life would be too great for us. That is why it is important to remember every day of our lives that we are powerless and that on our own our life is unmanageable. Each day it is necessary for us to take time to read the Scriptures and to get to know the God who can restore us to sanity and moment by moment, day by day, practice turning our will and our life over to His care.

Prayer: Loving God, as I face this day, give me the strength and courage to make whatever transition is necessary in my heart, in my thinking, and even in my circumstances so that my character defects will go and Your will becomes the desire of my heart in all my affairs. Amen

©2022 Partners in Hope

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 - GETTING IT RIGHT
Audio for GETTING IT RIGHT

God wants us to “get it right.” If we will pay attention and obey what we
learn from God’s Word, God’s Spirit will lead us on the right path every time.

We may think we are doing the right thing, but the Lord always knows what is in our hearts.
Doing what is right and fair pleases the Lord more than an offering. (Proverbs 21:2-3 CEV)

Too many of us prefer to figure things out on our own, give it our best shot, and then we wonder what went wrong when things don’t work out. We bring our failure to God and remind Him how hard we worked in our effort to get it right. We often think we know what the right thing is without checking with God, the One who has wisdom and knowledge beyond all that we could think of or imagine. He knows our motives, our abilities, our limitations, and even factors beyond our ability to grasp. It’s always the wisest move to include God in our plans. Not only will God share with us what we need to know but we will give Him pleasure when we ask for His guidance.

If you try to be kind and good, you will be blessed with life and goodness and honor. (Proverbs 21:21 CEV)

How reassuring it is to know that we don’t have to get things right in order to be blessed. God’s word reminds us that it is the person who tries who is blessed with goodness and honour. There are many things going on in other people’s hearts and in their circumstances that are impossible for us to know and plan for. Our responsibility is to make our best effort and be honest about what we know and don’t know. Unexpected things will take place. More details will be revealed as we proceed and may cause us to change course. However, if we are sincerely seeking to know and follow God’s plan, we will find ourselves on the winning side.

Wicked people bluff their way, but God’s people think before they take a step. No matter how
much you know or what plans you make, you can’t defeat the Lord. (Proverbs 21:29-30 CEV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to take time to plan my day with You. I admit that I don’t know everything I need to know, but You do. Help me to humbly surrender my will together with my thinking and plans into your care, for You alone know everything. Amen

©2022 Partners in Hope

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 - LIVING A FRUITFUL LIFE IN RECOVERY
Audio for LIVING A FRUITFUL LIFE IN RECOVERY

All the promises of God are for those of us who have given our will and life over to the care of God. God will be faithful to do what He has said if we are faithful to do our part and follow His principles in all our affairs. In order to follow God’s principles we need, through prayer and meditation on the Scriptures, to improve our conscious contact with God. Daily reading of the Bible and praying to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus will be the soil in which we can grow in our faith and be strengthened to carry this message to others.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepare it to produce even more. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything. (John 15:1-2, 5 ERV)

Jesus is the vine and through faith in Him we have been given everything we need to live a meaningful, purposeful life devoted to God. We are the branches and as we remain in the vine, we will grow in the sap flowing from our spiritual life. When a baby is born it has everything it needs to be a human, but it must be fed and cared for by its caregivers if it is to grow up to be a healthy adult. When we are born again, we have everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We are be fed by the Scriptures, cared for by our Heavenly Father, and supported by the experience, strength, and hope of those God has purposefully placed around us.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)

The more we know about Jesus, the more we will understand the faithful promises of God and be able to live as fruitful people.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am thankful that everything for a life devoted to You
has been given to me. Please help me be a ‘branch’ that bears much fruit. Amen

©2022 Partners in Hope

I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.
Much improved.
Thnx all

Does anyone have an explanation as to why some of the desperate wishes of our childhood strike us in later years? Is this what is meant by '2nd childhood'? Just this morning as I was eating a nuked tortilla with Mozzarella, (out of Cheddar), the recollection of my wish that Loretta Young would come and 'rescue' me came to mind. I may have previous to this time prayed that Jesus would come 'rescue' me and gave up on that and may possibly have started to develop my atheistic views at that time, Not that this kind of thinking was totally conscious. Devils' work perhaps. If Jesus isn't coming how about Loretta Young? Since I can't recall with specificity the date I checked the 'almighty' Wiki and according to the post there figure I may have been pushing 9 yrs at that time. The Loretta Young Show is an American anthology drama television series broadcast on Sunday nights from September 2, 1953, to June 4, 1961

I recall how she would come through a door and dod da soft spin to close it winding up full fronting the camera. WhaI didnot recall was that she always changed her attire. Funny, the very last entrance she said something like, how many times have you wished the right person would show up in the right place at the right time? Was she speaking of our blessed Saviorr? No, but it is an appropriate question for many.

Blow me away! That last entry! But seems the entrance I best recall is coming down a staircase dressed in white. Maybe a later season?

"Mile by mile, life is a trial.

Yard by yard, it's not so hard.

Inch by inch, it's a cinch".

--Proverb

Step Three with Loretta Young

I at times talk to a Mennonite preacher and he goes to ACOA. He told me that the Mennonites are trying to meld with Catholics. He mentioned the Oxford group being the roots of AA. Wikipedia says Oxford group of 19th century was trying to get Anglicans and Catholics together. Some thing afoot it seems. I haven't attended AA for 5-6 yrs maybe. Put my time in. Thankful they were there. Regular loony bin. Just what I needed.