When The Walls Of Stress Tear You Down

Tags

Addictions, Battlefield of the Mind, Depression, Faith, God, Hope, Jesus Christ, Life, Life Issues, Living Life On Life's Terms, Loneliness, Porn, Pornography, Prayer, Recovery, Sexual Addiction, Sexual Integrity, Sinfulness, Struggles, Walls

Do you remember the smell of that new house or apartment you moved into?

Do you remember the sense of security you felt knowing the walls would not cave in around you?

Do you remember putting things in the house that made you feel good even if it did not go with the decor of the room?

Have you ever removed something, boxed it up, put in the closet just in case you decided to pull it back out and use it again at a later date?

What happened to the house as the years past by?

Yep, the newness is gone as is the new smell. The walls become miscolored from kids scribbling with pencils, crayons and markers. If you are a smoker they become stained with nicotine. They lose their luster. They start to wear down.

Those new things you bought have been replaced with different things over the years, though the familiarity is still there. Maybe you are holding onto some of those old items even still.

And as the house continues to age you become worried about whether or not the house, the foundation, and the walls are still stable enough. Then doubt can rear it’s head and you start to have concerns and fears.

This all so parallels our lives in some many ways.

We all have this little house that we live in. The one in our mind.

The one where we store all our memories, concerns, frustration and current thoughts. And at times those walls within said house feel like they are caving in around us with all the stressors in life.

There are so many factors that can make you feel this way….

If you are a recovering addict of anything you feel overwhelmed, as you are trying to quit and all the stressors of life are pressing in. More often than not, you feel as if you just want to scream at the top of your lungs. I get it…because I’ve done it…many times.

You know what though? It’s in those moments when I do scream and cry out to God the He steps in and calms my nerves.

There was a time, when I was trying to stop watching porn and life just seemed to be falling in around me. I had issues at home and work, bills overdue, car issues, depression, loneliness and sexual thoughts all the while trying to help others overcome an addiction I, myself, was trying to overcome. And the desire to give in and just watch porn to escape the reality of everything was so strong.

One day I had had enough, so I went out to the woods and screamed out to God…how the hell am I supposed to handle all this at one time. I’m physically tired, emotionally drained, spiritually tired and I don’t know if I can do this.

I still remember that still small voice that said you can’t. Quit trying to do everything by yourself. And let me help.

So, I did. I sat there on that fallen tree for what seemed like hours just laying it all out there…my concerns, my fears and God calmed me down.

He renewed me right there and then. My mind was at peace. He helped me stabilize the walls in my mind to where I didn’t feel the pressure of collapsing under the pressure anymore.

The concern of going in to that closet and pulling out that box of past bad habits subsided and I moved forward.

And to be completely honest those walls have pressed in around me several times…especially in the last year. Sometime things I wish I had never seen just jump out of box and say hi..but instead of feeding on them I just ask God to take the thoughts away.

Guys, we all have those moments where we feel like the walls are caving in around us. But if, we as followers of Christ, will just call on God and ask Him for help…He will. I promise.

It may not be overnight. It may take a few days. But that’s why hope is always so important. Hope in knowing that through our faith in God we can press on and keep going.

Hope in knowing that through the renewing of our mind that the walls will not press in and crush us.

Hope for a better tomorrow.

God bless,
Stu

 

 

 

 

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Do We Cheer Or Condemn With Our Words And Actions?

Tags

Addiction, Adultery, Condemnation, Freedom, God, Grace, Jesus Christ, Life, Sin

There is this beautiful portrait of Christ’s forgiveness found in scripture that I want to discuss today. A picture of a young woman caught in sin. A picture of condemnation and grace that is still being painted today.

One day Jesus was in the temple teaching when all of a sudden a group of scribes and Pharisees bust in. They have with them a woman who was caught in the very act of adultery.

I see them throwing her down half-naked since she was caught in the act. Looking at Jesus they said that the law tells us that such a woman should be stoned. What do you say?

Jesus does the coolest thing ever. He just stoops down and starts writing in the dirt in from of him. Now, it doesn’t say what he wrote but I see him writing down the name of the man who was committing adultery too.

Since he didn’t answer them right away they kind of hound him for the answer. Finally he looks up and says this…He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Jesus, then looks back down and starts writing in the dirt again. I think he was writing some sins down that the people had committed.

But anyway, after a bit all the scribes, Pharisees and the others, starting with the oldest to the youngest, left. One by one the rocks fell…but not on her…they fell to the ground because each and every one of them knew they had sinned.

After a while the only two left were Jesus and the woman, who I am sure was still was cowering in fear waiting for the stones to fall upon her.

But instead Jesus says to the woman “Where are your accusers? Hath no man condemned you?” She tentatively looks up and sees no one but Jesus and says “No man, Lord.” Jesus responds by saying “Neither do I, go and sin more.”

Jesus didn’t bring up her adultery. He didn’t bring up her past. He didn’t condemn her, for he did not come into the world to condemn it but rather that through him the world might be saved.

So where is the beauty in this picture? It is in the fact that Jesus did not condemn her. Jesus, holy and without sin said “Neither do I.”

I wish we, as followers of Jesus, did not condemn people. But we do.

There can be many reasons for this too. We can see ourselves as the high and mighty, having it all together, like the Pharisees did.

For some, it could be that we see someone else’s sin as worse than ours. Yet, all sin is the same….sin.

For some it can be a way of controlling a person by always reminding them of their past.

Some of us actually condemn ourselves by our way of thinking. Especially in regards to self-worth.

I hear people say things like once an addict always as addict all the time. Or once a whore always a whore. Or here’s one even better…people don’t change. Really?!?

No!!! Addicts find deliverance from their addiction through the same grace that said “Neither do I.” That same grace that came to save the world says no, you are not a whore…you are a child of God, you are priceless and I love you. That amazing and wonderful grace does change people…from the inside out.

I believe that we, as a people, will always have a tainted picture of ourselves if we continue to allow the words and accusations of others to influence our view of ourselves. I know from my own experience. For I was the addict that Jesus came to save just like ha came to save the adulterous woman and everyone else. And I did change! But sometimes, I do allow my past shame and guilt to creep back in. Then Jesus lovingly reminds me who I am now.

He doesn’t bring up my past!

And as followers of Jesus we should not bring up the past of others either, but rather cheer them on in their journey.

 

Don’t Allow The C Word To Keep You From Your Potential

Tags

Jesus Christ, Life, No I can't, Phillipians 4:13, Struggles, Yes I can

Let me just go ahead and get this out in the open…..I LOVE my son!

Brandon has been going to Celebrate Recovery with me a little here lately and the impact he has inadvertently made on some of the adults has made me so proud. His first night with me had me in tears. You can read about that experience HERE.

One of the other nights he came was just…another wow moment.

I knew he was playing basketball with the other kids because I saw him. What I didn’t know, until a little later, was that he had asked a young lady to come shoot the ball with him.

Well after shooting the ball, the young lady comes up to me and tells me that Brandon had asked her to come play and that she had said no because she can’t make the basket.

Well….Brandon had told her not to say the C word and come on. So she did shoot the basket and guess what? She made it.

She then shared with me that she took Brandon back to the worship area with her and got a blue chip with the promise of not saying the C word anymore.

Brandon was so excited for her! He was like see I told you.

I don’t know how it has been for you in the past or even today but for me I used the phrase I can’t a lot. There’s a line in the movie Home Run where the main character cries out saying “I can’t stop.”

There was a time in my life if you had told me I needed to quit watching porn, my answer would have no I can’t. I’ve tried and I just can’t stop. But you know what? I can and I did!

There have been so many I can’t moments in my life. It would take years to tell

One of them was being a dad. I was never truly shown how. But again I can and I have, despite what I would call failures on my part. And I will continue in this journey of dadhood because it is my calling.

But enough of me…

What about you? How many times do you use the C word in your life? Ponder on that for a moment or two.

Have you thought of writing them down? May be a good idea and then on the next page, opposite the I can’t statement page, write this verse down. Make it big. Highlight it! Color it with crayons if you want to.

Are you ready for the verse? Good.

Here ya go:

Such a powerful verse! One that lets you say Yes, I can!

The Wonderful Power Of A Testimony

Tags

Blood Of Jesus, Celebrate Recovery, Forgiveness, God, Healing, Jesus Christ, Love, New Life, Revelations 12:11, Struggles, Testimony

Oh boy, do I love hearing someone give their testimony. To hear how they hit rock bottom, call out to God for help. To hear how the blood of Jesus washed over them to bring forgiveness, healing and a new life is such a joy.

Each time I hear one I can’t help but to stand up and clap. Clap to praise God for who He is and for them for sharing and letting God have control.

Everyone has a story to tell. It may not be like mine or yours, as each one of us have different struggles. But that’s just it…we each have struggles.

And it doesn’t matter what struggles that person had or still has…it’s the fact that if God can forgive them and change them then God can change you and I.

By calling out to God and allowing Jesus’ blood, that was shed for you and I, to wash over us and cleanse us of ours sins we become a walking testimony of God’s grace and mercy. That is when we become a overcomer and a conqueror, never giving up on our faith because we know that God is faithful and will finish the good work He began in us.

Please share your story with others! Give them hope! Give them a reason to call on God in their own lives for healing, forgiveness, newness, and love.

 

Be The Light In The Darkness For All To See

Tags

Compassion, Jesus Christ, Let Your Light Shine, Life, Love, Struggles

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
I’m gonna take this light around the world and I’m gonna
Let it shine.
I’m gonna take this light around the world and I’m gonna
Let it shine.
I’m gonna take this light around the world and I’m gonna
Let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
I won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine.
I won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine.
I won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Every day, every day, I’m going to let my little light
Shine.

I have sung this ole Sunday School song so many times in my life. And honestly, never fully understanding what it meant as a child. But as an adult I get it, on a two-fold level.

The first one being that I have Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, living in me via the Holy Spirit. A light that should always be lit so the world, through my works and good deeds, will see Christ in me everywhere I go…even around the world.

A light that shines so bright during my journey that people ask the question “Why is he like that?” or “How can he smile…I know what he is going through?” Maybe even that question from my friends while we out somewhere “Dude she’s hot, why are you not looking?”.

I’m sure many of you have seen photos or paintings of lighthouses. Maybe you have even been lucky enough to have visited one and walked the stairway to the top. Man, I have always wanted to do that since I was a child. It would be so cool to be there at night when the light comes on and to see how far out it reaches.

A lighthouse shines it’s​ light to warn the Mariners that are at sea during a storm of impending rocks or a landmass. And just as the lighthouse, I should also allow my light to shine so others can see the potential hazards they could end up running into if they are not careful. For sometimes we can’t see the perils ahead when we are blinded by lust, fear, anger and such.

So now, I try my hardest to walk with integrity in every aspect of my life. I try to show respect, compassion and love to all. I share what Christ has done in my life with others and how He brought me through my struggles. Not to say look what I did, but rather look what He did in me.

May we all be that little light shining in the darkness. There is no better time to start than now.