Archive for the ‘For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People’ Category
Tuesday, June 11th, 2013
Isaiah 57:18: “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners.”
When I talked with a woman at a retreat and prayed with her, she admitted feelings of sadness and desperation about her marriage and her family.
I encouraged her to pray daily, to memorize Isaiah 57:18 and pray it aloud to God several times a day.
Memories of the past surfaced. I told her and the other women how I had prayed this verse hundreds of times after my son turned away from the Lord. I also told them how I wrote this verse on sticky notes and posted them on the bathroom mirror, the kitchen cupboard, my desk, and the dashboard of my car.
My son returned to the Lord and called me tell me. This good news encouraged that woman at the retreat to continue to pray for her husband and family. It also encouraged the others at the retreat to pray for their needs.
The woman signed up for my weekly devotion in motion and has kept in touch with me via email, as some of the others have.
After some time, she joyfully told me how God had transformed her marriage. Yes, there is power in the Word of God.
Then that woman bubbled over with excitement as she told me about the miracles in the lives of her children. We were both ecstatic.
God knows our circumstances. He promises to heal and restore. In his time and in his way, God will answer our prayers and comfort us, the mourners.
Dear God, help me pray Isaiah 57:18 for me and my family. Amen.
Application: Where will you post this verse in your home this week and how often will you pray it for you and your family?
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Copyright 2010-2013, Yvonne Ortega, LPC, LSATP, CCDVC
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Yvonne is a Speaker, Author, Counselor, Cancer Survivor and
serves on the Board of Directors of Christians in Recovery.
She is the author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer.
If you would like to have her speak for your organization or church, please contact her through
her website: http://YvonneOrtega.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, God's Love, hardship, loss, Pain, peace, Responsibility, worry
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Anxiety, Assurance, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, Renewal, Responsibility, Step 2 | Comments Off
Saturday, June 8th, 2013
“Behold! I have engraved you on the palms of My hands!” Isaiah 49:16
“Behold,” says Immutable One, “I have engraved you on the palms of My hands!”
Not on the mountains, as colossal as they are–for they shall depart;
on no page of nature’s vast volume–for the last fires shall scorch them;
not on blazing sun–for he shall grow dim with age;
not on glorious heavens–for they shall be folded together as a scroll.
But on . . .
the hands of might and love,
the hands which made the worlds,
the hands which were transfixed on Calvary,
–I have engraved you there!
No corroding power can efface the writing, or obliterate your name!
You are Mine now–and Mine forever!
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
no one can snatch them out of My hand!” John 10:28
~ John MacDuff
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Tags: Attitudes, Choices, Forgiveness of God, God's Love, peace, strength
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, General Recovery, New Beginning, Renewal, Step 12, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Monday, June 3rd, 2013
There are unexpected depths in human beings, and abilities beyond the world’s imagining. We all ride the same road, and if we ride it together, we can get where we want to go. ~Charles Kuralt
You can learn a lot on a bike trail.
The way the other folks choose to travel mostly doesn’t impact your ride. If you work hard and make good decisions, things generally go pretty well.
Sharing the trail means occasionally yielding or slowing down. Crashes happen if everyone insists on always getting their own way.
A skinned knee is a big price to pay for being right.
Sometimes you encounter a problem. When that happens, it’s nice to have other folks stop and help. Remember that when you see someone else struggling.
Diversity is part of the attraction of the trail. If everyone rode the same bike or walked the same speed it wouldn’t be as interesting.
There’s not much point in telling others how they should ride, unless they ask.
Just because someone else travels differently doesn’t make them, or you, wrong. There are lots of ways to move along the trail.
It doesn’t make much sense to compare. There’s no such thing as “best” or even “normal.” Everyone’s got their own reason for being there. Some are working out, some are socializing, and some are just enjoying the scenery.
Kids—and those who act like kids—seem to have the most fun. There must be something to learn from that.
Old or young, fast or slow, bike, rollerblade, walk, or wheelchair, we all travel the same road.
Things might be smoother if we learned to appreciate the folks with whom we share the trail.
When Jesus called little children to Him, he didn’t say only rich children, or children with two-parent families, or children who didn’t have a mental or physical handicap.
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Luke 18:16)
What’s your observation about the diversity you encounter on the trail?
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Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of: 
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, fellowship, judgement, relationships, respect, Responsibility
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Family, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Friday, May 31st, 2013
As a teacher I was never a fan of hypothetical situations.
I don’t believe there’s much value in “What would you do if…” questions. I frankly believe it’s dangerous to force students to stake out and defend a position without the risk of facing the real-life consequences of their choices.
Recently my friend Jon Swanson proposed a much better alternative to “What would you do if…?”
Jon suggested considering opportunities in the form of “What if …?”
Some examples:
- What if … you rode your bike a few miles each day this summer?
- What if … you read a chapter in the Bible each day this summer?
- What if … you spent some time with a lonely kid this summer?
Get the idea?
Instead of locking you in, these questions open doors and invite us to consider possibilities.
Think about different aspects of life—physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, relational. What might happen if you intentionally explored your dreams and goals?
What if…?
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
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Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of:
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, ministry, motives, New Beginning, Responsibility
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Thursday, May 30th, 2013
Everybody knows we tend to lose our memory as we age. Old guys like me get a pass for forgetting simple stuff like phone numbers and anniversaries.
But we seem to have no problem remembering when someone hurts us. We appear to have an almost supernatural ability to remember others’ mistakes. I may not recall the name of the guy I just met, but I can recite intricate details of how someone let me down years ago.
Am I the only one whose hard drive is programmed to forget his wife’s birthday but store wrongs and hurts forever?
Maybe we need to pay attention to the lists we keep.
Blessings, gifts, and acts of kindness—it’s probably a good idea to keep careful account of those so you can dig them out occasionally when memories fade a bit.
But perhaps I’d do better to keep a shorter, less permanent list of others’ mistakes, their hurtful acts, the times they let me down. Maybe I ought to invest less energy in recording and preserving those memories.
After all, I am getting older. Do I really want to squander my declining supply of brain cells on that years-old feud or that decades-old pain? Why waste my remaining memories by clinging to ancient hurts?
When it comes to wrongs, maybe I need to keep shorter lists.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
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Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of:
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, criticism, forgiveness, relationships, Responsibility, unforgiveness
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, General Recovery, Responsibility | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013
2 Corinthians 2:14: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”
Do you spread a fragrance or a stench? When we are God’s children, “[He] always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”
Verse 15 tells us, “We are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” That aroma is gentle and compassionate. The aroma of Christ looks for common ground rather than attack like a bulldog. Later the aroma of Christ explains differences.
In verse 17, the Bible says, “We speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” When we talk with unbelievers, we need to remember we are speaking “before God.” He is listening. That phrase, “with sincerity,” doesn’t allow for hypocrisy or wavering. We have a sacred trust because we are “sent from God.” How often do we keep in mind that God sent us?
What happens if we don’t allow God to lead us, and we go our own way? We become obnoxious to the non-Christian. We do not reflect God’s love. We are judgmental and self-righteous and ruin our reputation with the unbeliever.
If we spread a stench, why would the unbeliever want to be a Christian? If we are obnoxious, what can we offer the unbeliever? If we lack love, how can the unbeliever know God’s unconditional and eternal love?
When we allow God to lead us, we will walk in “triumphal procession in Christ.” I’d rather triumph than fail any day. Wouldn’t you?
Dear God, help me allow you to lead me in triumphal procession in Christ. Amen.
Application: What will you do this week to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ?
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2010-2013, Yvonne Ortega, LPC, LSATP, CCDVC
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Yvonne is a Speaker, Author, Counselor, Cancer Survivor and
serves on the Board of Directors of Christians in Recovery.
She is the author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer.
If you would like to have her speak for your organization or church, please contact her through
her website: http://YvonneOrtega.com
Tags: Attitudes, Choices, fellowship, humility, relationships, Responsibility
Posted in Attitudes, Choices, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Responsibility, Step 12 | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
Proverbs 15:13: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”
My stomach hurt because I laughed so much. I had listened to a CD by the Christian comedian, Ken Davis.
Ken makes strange noises and transforms the ordinary into hysterical situations.
As I listened to Ken Davis’ antics, I laughed all the way to the grocery store and back. When I looked in the mirror, my eyes sparkled, and my face glowed. Yes, “A happy heart does make the face cheerful.” According to the Bible, happy means blessed. Ken’s humor blessed me.
So that I don’t forget to laugh each day, I watch comedies like the Bill Cosby Show and listen to CDs of humorous speakers like Ken Davis, Mikki Williams, and Luci Swindoll. Mikki says, “He who laughs lasts!” At the Women of Faith Conference, Luci quoted her grandmother and said, “A day is wasted if you don’t fall over in a heap laughing.” Mikki and Luci always bless me.
A lady I know listens to the Captain’s Club on the radio for the riddles. Her children are grown and married, but she enjoys the humor of the riddles. She demonstrates a cheerful face as she repeats the riddles to anyone who will listen.
Proverbs 15:15 says, “The cheerful heart has a continual feast.” The word, cheerful, means noticeably happy and optimistic. I’ll choose a feast over famine any day. I’ll do what is necessary to be noticeably happy and optimistic. What about you?
Dermatologists say that one of the ways to prevent wrinkles is to be happy. I say, “Away with the wrinkles! Be happy.”
When was the last time you laughed until your stomach hurt or you fell over in a heap laughing? What do you and your family do to have a happy heart?
Are you blessed? Does your face reflect a happy heart?
Dear God, help me have a happy heart. Amen.
Application: What will you do this week so that your happy heart will make your face cheerful?
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2010-2013, Yvonne Ortega, LPC, LSATP, CCDVC
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Yvonne is a Speaker, Author, Counselor, Cancer Survivor and
serves on the Board of Directors of Christians in Recovery.
She is the author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer.
If you would like to have her speak for your organization or church, please contact her through
her website: http://YvonneOrtega.com
Tags: Choices, hardship, healing, New Beginning, Pain, Responsibility
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Attitudes, Choices, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, New Beginning, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Renewal, Responsibility, Step 12, Step 2 | Comments Off
Monday, May 20th, 2013
My friend Jim has an incredible way of verbalizing his faith using simple, profound stories.
We’ve been together in a small group for a number of years. We’ll be immersed in some tangled discussion, and Jim steps in and offers a word picture that leaves everyone saying things like “Wow” and “Very cool.”
The other night our study asked a question. “When you envision Jesus acting as your mediator, what do you envision Him doing?”
After several folks fumbled with responses, Jim provided one of his gems.
# # #
“I always picture myself sitting in front of God, and Satan’s there listing all the things I did wrong. And it’s horrible, because everything he says about me is true.
“Then, just when I think I can’t take it anymore, Jesus walks up, wraps His arms around me, and sort of covers me with His cloak.
“And he says, ‘It’s okay. He’s with me.’”
# # #
I smiled when Jim told the story. I’m smiling as I write it.
We make theology pretty complicated sometimes. I suppose there’s a place for that, but I wonder if we’d do better if we focused more on something more basic.
Jesus loves me, this I know.
“It’s okay. He’s with me.”
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2008-2013 by Rich Dixon, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.Rich is an author and speaker. He is the author of:
Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance. Visit his web site www.relentlessgrace.com
Tags: Abuse, failure, forgiveness, Forgiveness of God, God's Love, hardship, healing, loss, Pain, peace, reconciliation, slip, temptation, worry
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Anxiety, Assurance, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, General Recovery, New Beginning, Pain, Renewal, Step 12, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Saturday, May 18th, 2013
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten. (Joel 2:25)
Yes, those wasted years we regret will be restored to us. God can give us such plentiful grace that we will crowd into the remainder of our days as much of service that will recompense for those obstinate years over which we mourn in humble penitence.
The locusts of backsliding, worldliness, lukewarmness, are now viewed by us as a terrible plague. If only they had never happened!
The Lord in mercy has now taken them away, and we eager to serve Him. Blessed be His name that we can raise harvests of spiritual graces so that our former barrenness disappears. Through rich grace we can turn to account our bitter experience and use it to warn others.
We can become more rooted in humility, childlike dependence, and penitent spirituality through the experience of our former shortcomings. If we are more watchful, zealous, and tender, we will gain by our lamentable losses.
The wasted years, by a miracle of love, can be restored. Does it seem too great a blessing? Let us believe it and live for it, and we may yet realize it, even as Peter became all the more useful a man after his presumption was cured by his discovered weakness. Lord, aid us by Your grace.
~ Charles Spurgeon, Chequebook of Faith {adapted}
Tags: Forgiveness of God, God's Love, healing, humility, loss, New Beginning, reconciliation, salvation, sin
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Assurance, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, General Recovery, New Beginning, Renewal, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
Isaiah 40:29: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
As I get older, I don’t have the strength I once had. Can you identify with me? I used to clean the entire house in an hour and a half. I would dust, vacuum, clean the bathrooms, and mop the floors. With a half hour more, I would get the laundry done too.
My strength seems to have diminished. Now I clean two rooms a day. By the time I finish cleaning the house, it’s time to start over.
A friend of mine is married to a retired military man. They recently moved from a large home in VA to an apartment in Florida. She feels overwhelmed with the boxes. I reminded her that she’s not as young as she used to be and moving is hard work.
And yet God says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Will we believe him? Will we continue to be weary and weak, or will we accept his strength and power?
God states the truth in verse 30, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.” One time at an amusement park, I asked my son if he was tired. He said he wasn’t. However, when we sat down to watch a show, he fell asleep. He didn’t wake up until the next morning when we were back home.
For strength and power, I will continue to hope in the Lord. He will help me get up day after day and keep going in this world.
Dear God, I feel weary and weak today. Amen.
CIR Members can share their thoughts regarding this blog
HERE
Don’t miss CIR’s Daily Article !
Copyright 2010-2013, Yvonne Ortega, LPC, LSATP, CCDVC
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Yvonne is a Speaker, Author, Counselor, Cancer Survivor and
serves on the Board of Directors of Christians in Recovery.
She is the author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer.
If you would like to have her speak for your organization or church, please contact her through
her website: http://YvonneOrtega.com
Tags: failure, God's Love, hardship, New Beginning, Pain, serenity, strength, worry
Posted in Ability to Overcome, Assurance, Faith, For Friends & Family of Dysfunctional People, General Recovery, Pastors & Recovery Pros, Renewal, Step 2, Step 3 | Comments Off
