Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Living a Changed Life


First, I want to thank all of you who boldly decided to say, "GOOD RIDDANCE!" to your past.  The responses for the January 1st post was overwhelming!  Many of you shared deep hurts and addictions.  We are praying for you as you conquer these issues in your life.  It's not too late to claim your life back!  If you would like to share and ask for prayer support, please leave your requests anytime or send an e-mail.

EXPOSING THE RECOVERY MYTHS 
How many times have you tried to break the chains of despair in your life?  A dozen... 20 times?  You fail every time only feeling worse about yourself than when you began the recovery process. Here are tested, real answers to living a changed life.

Recovery is a process.  Although helpful, it's not just a one-night conference or a book about recovery.  It takes conscious thought to make the right decisions.  It takes deliberate actions to change old habits into new.  It even takes strength to get back up when you fail.  Recovery is not a magic potion, that if you drink it, everything will instantly and magically get better (that would be nice though).

Recovery takes work.  Think how many years you've held on to your past pains.  Think how long the grips of your addictions have controlled you.  Years of deep wounds that have festered and spread over time.  Take all those years and think of the damage it has caused in your life and in the lives around you.  Logically, it will take hard work and time to begin the healing process.  There are no quick-fixes.  Only raw, straight-forward perserverance to take back the life you desperately deserve.

Recovery takes Humility.  Pride is the biggest offender that holds us back from obtaining the healthy life we are desperately needing.  Pride, you say?  Yes.  How long have you been telling yourself, "If I just try to read another self-help book I will find the secret formula to releasing my pain."  "If I just stop drinking, looking at porn, or smoking this stuff for a few weeks I will stop having the cravings."  As you try to be noble to your own cause, you fail every time.  Pride... your pride has told you that you can do this all on your own.  The reality is it's too big for you to handle.  Humility says, "I need help!  I can't do this by myself.  I need others to help me with my recovery."

Recovery takes God.  Here's the good news! God never intended you to go through life alone.  He created you because He wanted to talk with you, share with you, and help you through the most hurtful parts of your life. Turn to Him with all your needs. Pray and turn open your bible to see God's words of hope (Psalms is a good start). Combat your thoughts about yourself and your current situation with hope and promises from God's word.  Lastly, surround yourself around encouraging people who will support you and hold you accountable through your steps of getting healthy.

Look at what the apostle Paul said God revealed to him through humility, "But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

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Friday, January 1, 2010

How Are YOU Living the Minutes of Your Life?

525,600 minutes in the year.
How will YOU be using them?
Time is counting down...


What was 2009 like for you? If we are all honest with ourselves and took inventory of our lives, we will come up with several "mistakes" we've made. What areas of your life do you need to change?
  • Your marriage. Is it holding on by a thread of mercy? It's time to re-new your vows and start fighting for it. Do whatever it takes to gain it back.
  • Your boyfriend or girlfriend. Are you in a bad relationship? feeling used and tossed away? Stop settling for just anybody. Start asking for God's best for your life.
  • Your addictions. Does it have a lethal hold on your life? Take the right steps in conquering your addictions. Get the help you need. You deserve better!
  • Your finances. Do you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders? Get the counsel you need to budget better. Seek advice from successful people and don't be afraid to ask for help.
  • Your battered heart. Is there pain from your past? Feeling unloved, abused and broken. It may be time to forgive those that hurt you and start forgiving yourself. Try to let go and start a new life- boy, it's not easy but it is freeing once you do. Get connected to a Church or a small group.

Let 2009 be the "GOOD RIDDANCE!" Year.  It's time you rid all the garbage and "dead-weight" in your life.

Make a list. Release all the past pain and regrets with every word you write and with every thought that enters your mind. Talk it over with yourself and with God. Release all your mistakes, all your pains, and all your regrets.

The Bible says in Psalm 116:16 "... you have freed me from my chains."

Tear it up! (For a better effect, burn it!)  Yell out loud, "GOOD RIDDANCE!" Promise yourself that you will do whatever it takes to be successful in finding healing for your life. Find professionals, seek counseling, and surround yourself around people who truly want to see you succeed.

Make a pledge to yourself that God wants more of you and He will give you a new life.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

How Are YOU Living the Minutes of Your Life? . . .


** Many of you have shared some deep issues you are consciously getting rid of in you life.

THANK YOU for being brave and sharing your story with us.  We are praying with you!

Have a "GOOD RIDDANCE!" Story? Please share them with us.


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