A New Day

I am taking a break from the series on addiction, one because I'm sick, and two because a lot of addiction happens because we want to escape from our own reality instead of changing it. Perhaps, living by this quote each day, or putting it in a place where it can be recited each day may help us take the first step towards changing the reality that we want to escape. A friend shared this with me today. I hope that it can be used for a brighter tomorrow.

"This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I'm exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it."
-Unknown Author... Shared by Javier

Do You Suffer with a Love Addiction?

By: Leah J.

A 'Love Addiction' is a real phenomena. I after researching it, I too consider myself a recovering 'Love Addict'. The term gained a lot of attention in 2010 when a doctor on a show called 'Celebrity Rehab' popularized the term, by diagnosing a case on TV. 

Beyond television, it is published by Psychology Today, in an article by Ann Smith, Licensed professional counsellor, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Master of Science.

Here is a summary of symptoms of a 'Love Addiction' as identified by Therapist Ann Smith:

1. Expectation of finding lifelong happiness from the love of a romantic partner
2. Absence of pronounced periods of being single since reaching 18 years of age
3. Struggle to take necessary time to heal after a failed relationship, before running out to find a new 'friend' or 'rebound'
4. Has stayed in a bad relationship or repeatedly returned to an ex partner to avoid loneliness
5. Expectation that a partner will deliver the feeling of being loved or being lovable
6. Coaxes oneself to love someone who does not seem like the right person to be 'in love with' because the result of being loved back is strongly desired
7. Cares to try to make over or change a partner early in a relationship instead of walking away
8. When in a relationship there is prevalent uncertainty that the current partner is the 'Right One' or there are fantasies of former partners that may have brought more happiness
9. Has used the words 'soul mate' in reference to how love should be
10. Preoccupation with notions of love expressed in music, movies, and fiction

Therapist Ann Smith ends the article published by Psychology Today by saying, "I won't ask you to score or rate yourself. You know who you are! If you suspect you are a love addict - don't feel too badly about it. I was a member of the love addicts club for a good portion of my life as well. I too was in love with love." There is a help section in the article as well. Read More 

There is a website called AllAboutLove.org a subsidiary of AllAboutGod.org identifies different symptoms of a 'Love Addiction' and discusses it from a biblical standpoint. 

• Is unable to trust in relationships
• Has an inner rage over lack of nurturing in childhood
• Battles with depression
• Tolerates high-risk behaviour
• May have other addictive or compulsive behaviours
• Questions values and life all the time
• May have a frantic personality
• Denies problems confuses wants as needs
• Replaces ended relationships immediately

AllAboutLove.org continues: 

Corinthians 13:4-8. Here, the Bible elegantly defines love in this way: ”Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever.” Read More

 In the 21^st century Hollywood and all of it's movies, shows, fantasies, and dreams have made it's mark on both adults and children alike as many children are growing up, or have grown up in front of some screen or another. The countless hours spent in front of the screen has helped to shape a certain sense of understanding of love, lust, and infatuation. Do we know love by its rightful name? Do we understand love the way God intended us to understand it? If you think you know love, ask yourself this, "Do you know God?" 

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-9 (in Context) 1 John 4 (Whole Chapter)

7 

Addiction 1

Here's a new topic... Can you guess what it is based on the picture?
The topic is addiction, and the odd thing is that is it is something that most people are guilty of.
This is something that I would love to spend some more time examining beyond this post. I would love for people to share their stories about personal addictions or addiction in the family.

I was at a coffee shop with a friend today, and I was talking about this blog topic and his first question was, "What is your addiction?" No hesitations, no doubt. Most people have past times that they are not particularly proud of, and would love to find a way to break free of them, but they find that it is easier said than done.

These addictive pastimes take away from the time that we spend in communion with God. These pastimes can suck up our lives, and our time, infect everything we love and care for, and we can make ourselves slaves to believing that these things are fulfilling our needs.

Read this verse from part Galatians 5:

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

It may sound silly to some, but to others there is the realization that these things can be idols that become the centre of our lives, the thing that we feel that we require for our existence, our master... or even held so highly that it may take the place of God in our lives and become a false god, something that we are serving.

Part of Psalm 40 says:

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

4 Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
    to those who turn aside to false gods.[b]

Let's take a minute and meditate on these verses and we will continue on this topic. Please share any stories you wish to share. 

TEN WAYS TO LOVE

TEN WAYS TO LOVE 

 1.     Listen without interrupting. (Proverbs18)

2.     Speak without accusing. (James 1:19)

3.     Give without sparing. (Proverbs21:26)

4.     Pray without ceasing. (Colossians 1:9)

5.     Answer without arguing. (Proverbs 17:1)

6.     Share without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15) 

7.     Enjoy without complaint. (Philippians2:14)

8.     Trust without wavering. (Corinthians13:7)

9.     Forgive without punishing. (Colossians 3:13)

10.        Promise without forgetting. (Proverbs 13:12)

Unknown Author - Posted by: Rose H.

STARTING FRESH

It is finally spring in Canada, and it has been a long cold winter. Easter is coming, and everyone is ready for the year to really start. This time of year we see images of eggs hatching into baby chicks, buds on trees that turn into flowers  -things growing and flourishing. It is about new beginnings or beginning again. 

Christians remember Christ's resurrection at this time of year, it reminds us that all things are possible through God. Jesus died to pay for our sins, and rose again. If Jesus Christ the son of God could give the life that he was given here on earth to his father -who are we to say no. Who are we to say 'THIS IS MY LIFE', and it is worth too much to give it back to our father who created us. 

It is a lot easier said than done, this is true. We are not perfect -none of us are. As the popular verse in Romans 3:23 says, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." and Isaiah 53:6 starts out saying, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way...". This is a simple enough concept to understand, but in sin there is shame, and in shame there is distance. Human nature has demonstrated this process since Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve realized that they have done something wrong they do something to save themselves from facing it, "And they heard the voice of God walking in the garden in the cool of day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8)

For people who believe in God, but who also sin, there is this immeasurable burden and guilt. There is also this fear that there will be no mercy; an anxiety. There always seems to be this process of sin> guilt>anxiety and fear that we won't be forgiven. God knows our sinful nature better than any being. If we trust in His capacity of love, and recognize that it is greater than our own, then we can begin to understand that He is far more likely to forgive us than we imagine. Living with fear and anxiety can set us back from following Jesus, and serving God. If we continue hiding our faces because of sin, we are hiding from peace, love, and service. 

David served as an example of a servant who overcame the anxiety that sin brought into his life, by trusting in God and continuing in service to God. David went through this process and with humble transparency he shares it with us in Psalms. In Psalms 38:18 David exposes this burden of guilt "For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin." Later, in Psalm 51:4 he admits guilt again, but he is full of repentance, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge." Later, we seeing David longing for God's forgiveness, "Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity." (Psalm 51:9 NIV) David recognizes God's mercy, and we can too, "You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. (Psalm 86:5-7 NIV)

We spend our whole lives being told to focus on what we want to be when we grow up. As children most people in Canada spend the majority of their days at school learning mathematics and chemistry, and things that can potentially make money. However, these subjects have nothing to do with knowing where we came from, and what God intended for us to do. Similarly, as adults many people spend the same proportion of time dedicated to making money, not thinking of where we came from, and what God intended our lives for.

When do we stop and decide to think about the gifts that we've been given? Short of counting our breaths in the wakeful hours of each day, should we not dedicate at least part of our life to saying thank you for all of the smiles that we had the opportunity to place on our faces, the moments of pride, success, laughter and love? We can do this by beginning again in service to God and serving him. Even if we stumble and fall we can take David's example and continue trusting in our God who is "...forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call (to Him)." Spring is here, and there is no time like the present to begin again!