Helping those. Trying to escape the grasp of addiction
Author: 2manyfaces
I'm a man of God. Trying to help those who suffer from addiction, and mental health issues that come along with drug use. I love sharing my message. Based on my experience, strength and hope.
Matthew 7:13-14. Enter through the narrow gate. For broad is the gate easy the path that leads to destruction and death. 14 But narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life. But few ever find it.
This is a powerful bit of scripture here. That path is everything that is not of God. All those things that we condone by not speaking up and doing hat is right. Not in mans eyes but in Gods. We all fall short, that is never an excuse to share the truth not only with our actions. But with dead’s. Are we willing to help those in need with a joyful spirit. Do you attempt to of correction to those that might not have the hope that is required to make a change by bringing God into the conversation. I don’t mean throwing religion do their throats. But with genuine affection for the people of God. Sharing your time and resources to help educate, encourage and uplift those that might just need a kind word and a hug. There is only one way to make it in and that is the belief in God and all the things he has promised. To those that choose to believe that he truly exists. So choose this day whom you shall server.
Today has been a very interesting day for me. I’m a people watcher. I like to set back and watch how people interact with one another. The games they play. The roles they take on depending on their environment. Always in pursuit of more this or more that. Never satisfied with the things they have or who they are. However the one thing I didn’t see, was people showing genuine affection for one another. Always taking never giving. I sat and I wondered where’s the joy. Where’s the hope. Where’s the laughter. Where’s God. Why do we try so hard to seek something that will never last and will only provide a fleeting moment of satisfaction before it becomes old and we’re looking for something else to fill the void in ourselves. I too have found myself never happy with the things I have. Until I was able to find what was truly important in my life. That one thing was a relationship with my Heavenly Father. I’m not trying to through religion down anyone’s throat. However, there has to be something inside of you that drives you to find something better. Some inner peace something that quickens your spirit. Something that wakes the spirit inside of you up. Makes the sky look a little bluer than normal. Makes the grass just a tad bit greener. Something that stops you dead in your tracks and makes you say. My God! My God! What a beautiful and perfect creation. In Genesis 1:26-31. I read out of a life recovery bible. And here’s the summary it gives. “God distinguished between the human race and the rest of creation. He made us in his very image, with capacities far beyond those of mere animals. God was (and is) excited about us! He gave us responsibilities to reflect his own nature in all of creation. When he had created us he was proud of what he had made!”WOW!! What a blessing. So in conclusion let me say this. The next time you see someone you might not like or agree with. Rich or poor. Try to see the God in him or her. Because by doing so, you will start to see the God in you.
Dealing with family after years of addiction is never a easy thing. The more you attempt to make things better the more the devil comes at you. I’m finding myself under attack. The devil is using my family to come at me. The devil is using the resentment that they harbor in the hearts for me as a vehicle to push my buttons. I will say this, I’m grateful that God is with me. I continue to believe that I continue to do the next right thing. By continuing to, keep him First in all my doings that everything thing will work out the way he planned. Dealing with mental health issues and recovery from addiction is only part of my struggle. I have to constantly remind myself that I received the therapy I needed and continue to receive to help me work through the pain and resent that I once carried on a daily bases. While they have not. I continue to pull understanding for the scriptures. In James 1:2-4 there is this constant reminder. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” So with that being said I continue to push through, with the understanding that God is with me. What a comforting feeling it is. So with all this being said I hope and pray there is something you can take for my experience that might help you in some way. Remember this one thing. Every day you have a choice to make. To server God or the devil. To be kind or wicked. To be loving or hurtful. To put God First in everything you do or not the choice is yours and yours alone so choose wisely. If no one had told you they love you today know that I do. Enjoy your day and continue to put God First
Last night was very difficult for me as a parent. May daughter decided to loose her whole mind. She coursed my wife out like she was some random person off the streets instead of her mother. When I step in to correct the issues as dad and as the men of the house I was met with, wAy are you escalating the situation. WHAT! She was raising up on my wife like she was going to put hands on her and I’m wrong. I just don’t know what to do. When I was high or drinking. When the bad behavior came about everyone was like your high or drinking that is why you are responding the way you are. But since I’ve been in recovery for some time. I’ve told everyone around me I’m done with the drama. I have set some boundaries in my life. I don’t step outside of them and I’m not going to let anyone cross them. Like I told my wife I will defend you tell the end. But don’t get upset, because I did. No won got hurt and the situation got defused after I put her out. But her mother let her back in to start the cycle over. Just can’t figure out what to do. My recovery comes first in my life. Because if I don’t have that. I lose everything thing else that I worked so hard to achieve. I’m praying and asking god for direction. But I’m feeling “Band new stupid” for counting to put myself in this situation. Sorry if I’m talking to much. Just needed to vent. 😎
Don’t believe for one moment that people that deal with addictions are not able to change. However that change comes at a price. Many family members of the addict are not willing to face their own struggles. The members of the family have to be open and willing to change themselves. Form their own addictive behaviors. We as addicts understand that there are a lot of people that may never forgive us for the things we have done to them and to ourselves. But it is that forgiveness that is required if long-standing recovery is possible. That forgiveness I’m talking about is the ability to forgive ourselves. To step past the shame and resentment that we hang onto. I personally had to come to grips with the sexual assault I received at the hands of a family member when I was young. The abuse that was inflicted on me by family members The lies that where told and believed because it was easy to believe do to my condition. So as an addict in recovery. I had too be willing to forgive, in order to be forgiven. But let me say this. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but it allowed me to grow. It also allowed me to be present in the moment. It also allowed me to mature. I was no longer trapped in my pain. I now find myself in a position to help those that fight the same fight. To show by example that there is a better way of life and that starts with putting God First in everything I do. So when they say people that deal with addictions can’t change. Look at those people with a forgiving heart. Then pray for them. Because they are more then likely fighting something themselves.
I hope and pray that your day started off the way you hoped. I’m sure that it has, because your reading to this blog.
We as church folk are always talking about the things the church needs to do. How the Preachers spending the tithe and the offerings. Always Complaining about something but never willing help with anything. Never willing to put some skin in the game or a dog in the race, or a paddle in the boat. Anything to help. Willing to take but never willing to give anything back. To save Gods people from themselves.
The point I’m trying make is every Cristian needs a ministry and a mission. You need a ministry and a mission. You need a ministry to believers and a mission to unbelievers. The mission in everyone’s life should be, not to tell people that they are dying and going to hell. But to go out and tell them, they can be forgiven.
I know that’s hard for some to hear but it’s the way God designed it. The apostle Paul states in Romans chapter 15: v20-22. My ambition has always been to preach the good news where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started, by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,
“Those who have never heard of him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand”
These passages of scripture should be taken as a blueprint of how we should pursue our own ministry’s because we all have something special to offer. Understanding what your mission is, is the start of fulfilling the command that Jesus had given to his apostles and the disciples to spread the good news and to heal the sick. Comfort those in need and to provide for the poor.
We stand in the congregation singing at the top of our voices. Dressed in the best we can afford. Claiming to be filled with the holy spirit. Giving just enough in the collection basket to make the rest church folks think they are good Christian. But their hypocrisy only goes so far. Because as soon as they walk out the door, they forget what they have heard and expect someone else to do the work. How many of us fit that mold? Most likely it’s the majority of us.
There’s a psalm: Psalm1:1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked; or stands in the way of sinners; or sits in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on this law, he meditates day and night.
I love these verses. Because this was the foundation of my recovery. It’s something I hold on too. As a constant reminder of where I have been and where God would have me go. I also say this every morning before I leave the house. For this is the day the lord has made. So, let us rejoice and be happy in it!
Thank you for joining my program. I hope something was said that you can carry though you day. Remember to be a blessing to someone and always put God first.
Anger can be a double-edged sword. This emotion may precipitate your drug or alcohol use—you may abuse these substances as a way to temper the effects of this emotion and other stressful situation (Self-medicating) or this emotion may arise from the drug use itself. As the substance abuse wreaks havoc on your life, you may become angry at yourself and feel responsible for the damage it’s incurring.
Unfortunately for, this anger doesn’t go away when a person stops using. Some people may have struggled with this emotion for a large part of their life, whereas for others the emotion may revolve around the lingering effects of the substance abuse—even though they are in recovery, many people still contend with the offer effects and emotional impact of the Substance abuse. For many this is because it is the first time in a long time that they are dealing with their life without the influence of drugs or alcohol, so they’re seeing and feeling things more acutely. The American psychological association.
The thing that I found difficult was dealing with the onslaught of new emotions the ones that I had abandoned for so long that I had forgotten that they where there at all. It made it hard just to watch a movie, talk to people about my pain inside without just breaking down in tears. It was also like that when I was happy. The emotions of joy were so great, that I couldn’t stop crying. It was a great feeling, but a scary one as well. The problem, I was facing was that I hadn’t learned to deal with my emotions as well as not knowing how to express them. This became frustrating. Which led me back to being angry because I felt no one understood and no one cared. They might not have understood how I was feeling. But I later came to the understanding that they cared. I just did not understand why.
Putting God First Minstry 