Purity 383 04/03/2021 Purity 383 Podcast
Good morning.
They stayed until all
who sought a vaccine received one. After
their 12-hour day, the volunteers were shuttled the 20 minutes away to their
cars, so that those seeking the vaccines could park closer.
I know there are several
varying opinions about Covid-19, the vaccines developed to prevent it, and the policies
that are being suggested to prevent outbreaks in the future. The opinions vary
greatly depending on one’s political, social, educational, economic, and
religious worldview.
I believe that everyone
is entitled to their opinion but as someone who has friends and family that
have personally suffered, and or died, from the effects of Covid-19, I support
the efforts of those, like my friend, who have selflessly served to combat this
disease and to stop its devastating effects.
It is my prayer that this
weekend that instead of being divided by our varying opinions about the state
of the world that we can all thank God for His mercy and grace and that we can
be united in supporting the tireless efforts of those that are serving others
and meeting needs with love regardless of how they may personally feel about the
situation that they are in.
Christ didn’t ask how or
why people got sick, He just healed them. I feel that if we are to follow His
example we should seek to heal those around us through our efforts to love and
serve them regardless of our varying opinions.
So keep walking and
talking with God. If He calls you into service, answer the call. If you don’t
know what you should do, pray, and ask for His guidance. If we seek His wisdom, He will lead us into
good works that will reflect His love and give Him glory.
(An Audio version of this message is available
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This morning’s meditation
verse is:
Matthew 6:33
(NKJV)
33 But seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be
added to you.
Today we will share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Alcohol
& Drug Abuse: Breaking Free & Staying Free.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes
and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and
to support her work:
F. How to Set Beneficial Boundaries ... With the One Addicted
What Josh Hamilton clearly states, his wife, Katie, no doubt affirms:
"I put her through absolute hell for a long time."
And on January 22, 2009, Katie thinks she just may be taking a trip back to
the dark side. Sober and drug free for three years, a sobbing Josh calls her
from Arizona and says that after encountering a bar at a pizza restaurant he
has a drink, then another, then another. Later Josh and Katie's biggest fear as
a celebrity couple comes true. Seven months after the relapse pictures
emerge of Josh carousing with three young women.
Katie admits the boundary lines had become blurred. They had let their
guards down concerning the vulnerability and volatility of Josh's addiction. So
now, in addition to staying firmly grounded in Christ, Josh sets for himself
"double boundaries" to prevent another relapse. To minimize the
temptation to purchase drugs or alcohol, Josh carries no money at all. And
monetary allocations for his baseball road trips are always carried by someone
else.
Josh never goes out alone at night and never goes out with teammates. And
there is a certain someone ... who knows Josh's whereabouts at all times.
Johnny Narron, a former first baseman and batting coach who looms large in
Josh's life, serves as his mentor, confidante, chaperone, and stalwart brother
in Christ. The two always have adjoining rooms on the road, and Johnny stays
with Josh if Katie and their four daughters are away.
The boundaries must be firm, rigid, immovable for a recovering
addict, and Josh's life is testimony to that truth. "That's why I go to
the ballpark, and I go home," Josh says. "Park. Home. Park.
Home." Josh takes literally the following Scripture. ...
"Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who
heeds correction gains understanding."
(Proverbs 15:32)
Boundaries are barriers that protect from external harm and guard against
internal harm. Those involved with someone struggling with a chemical
dependency need to learn how to set appropriate limits on what they do for
their loved one. These boundaries will help prevent you from taking on
excessive responsibilities that belong to your loved one. Boundaries serve to
keep the addict's problem from becoming your problem. ...
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from
it."
(Proverbs 4:23)
As a rule, people like Josh who have chemical dependencies require a tough,
hard-hitting approach. Clear nonnegotiable boundaries are necessary to break
drug reliance. Addicts need the emotional support of those who will
consistently reinforce responsible choices and enforce repercussions of
irresponsible actions — thus providing the best opportunity for making positive
changes.
- Ask
yourself, "What is my role in this problem? Am I making it easy or
difficult for the dependence to continue?"
- Determine
to be a positive influence and plan ways to do that effectively.
- Write
out specific destructive events resulting from the dependency — include
everything!
- Say
to the loved one: "I have seen how your behaviors have negatively
impacted your life — it's not right for me to keep enabling you to harm
yourself. Tell me now that you 'will' or you 'will not' be committed to do
whatever is necessary to change."
- Beware,
you could be "loving your loved one to death."
You could be killing your loved one if you have no boundaries. As the Bible
says ...
"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to
death."
(Proverbs 14:12)
In your role as both a boundary-setter and boundary-keeper ...
- Give up
all expectations of the addict.
"Yes,
my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him" (Psalm 62:5).
- Learn
to detach from the addict's problem and maintain control of your own life.
"My
eyes are ever on the Lord, for
only he will release my feet from the snare" (Psalm 25:15).
- Shift
your focus from the addict's behavior to your responses.
"Let
us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord" (Lamentations 3:40).
- Learn
all you can about drug abuse.
"How
much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!" (Proverbs 16:16).
- Stop
acts that are enabling (making excuses, protecting) and hold your loved
one accountable.
"If
either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up"
(Ecclesiastes 4:10).
- Let
the addict know the effects of the addiction on you and on others.
"Each
of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully ..." (Ephesians 4:25).
- Pray
for and expect God to bring consequences into the addict's life.
"Your
ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all your paths"
(Proverbs 5:21).
Protecting
Yourself and Your Children
Question: "When my husband drinks too much, he
becomes physically abusive. What should I do to protect myself and my
children and still remain biblically submissive to my husband?"
Answer: The Bible never says that a wife — in the name of
submission — is to submit to abuse. A husband's substance abuse never gives him
the right to dole out any kind of abuse. Conversely, the Bible says, "...
do not associate with one easily angered" (Proverbs 22:24).
Therefore, communicate your boundaries. Tell him that if he is abusive again,
you will call the police. ... He can no longer live at home. ... You will leave
with the children. Then you must follow through if he violates the boundary.
Realize ...
"A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you
will have to do it again."
(Proverbs 19:19)
Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys:
Alcohol & Drug Abuse: Breaking Free & Staying Free.
----------------------------more on Monday-------------------------
God bless
you all!
Join our
Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class via the mt4christ247 podcast!
at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D
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at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be
encouraged.
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