CIR KBs

Christians in Recovery Knowledge Base article

The Half Empty Glass Is Leaking

Do you consider yourself an optimist? Why (or why not)?

I’m doing a talk this week for an Optimist Club, so I’m thinking about optimism. I did a little research to find out what optimism is, where it originates, why some folks have it and some don’t.

Frankly, for much of my life I was a confirmed pessimist. I not only saw the glass as half-empty, but I was certain it was leaking and eventually would be completely dry.

I was the second person in this exchange.

Optimist:”This is the best of all possible worlds.”

Pessimist: “If that’s the case, then things can never get any better.”

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Learning God’s Purpose for Your Life

But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves,
not having been baptized by John. Luke 7:30, NASB

We hear a lot about the importance of “purpose-driven lives,” but is it enough to follow any purpose… or does it matter whose purpose we choose to follow?

The above verse in Luke tells us that the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God’s purpose for their lives. Why? Because they hadn’t been baptized by John. What does that have to do with it?

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Why Read The Bible?

Why do you read the Bible?

I suppose answers vary with individual needs and life’s seasons. At different moments we seek knowledge, inspiration, encouragement, comfort, and guidance.

When I thought through this idea (I actually do that occasionally) I wondered if there was a single, best, right answer. Since The Bible Is About God I was going to offer something profound like “…acquiring a better, more intimate knowledge of God” (thanks Clark).

It’s always comforting to have a nice, tidy answer to such a complex question, even if it’s far too simplistic.

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Do You Love Well?

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister…This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil. Romans 12:9-11

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12:9-10 NRS

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The God of All Comfort: Grief Share

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to… the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

When a neighbor lost her husband two years ago, many comforted her.

Those who had lost a loved one were able to comfort her with the comfort they had received from God.

Grief Share is a support group for those who have lost a loved one.

The facilitators and small group leaders have all experienced at least one significant loss.

They first went to Grief Share for the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort to comfort them.

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Think You Can’t Read the Bible in a Year?

Think You Don’t Have Time to Read the Entire Bible in a year? Think again!

I was a bit daunted at the thought of reading the entire Bible together with my CIR friends and family this year. How will I ever find the time? Well, it takes about 20 minutes per day. You can also listen to the Bible in your car, while doing housework or chores.

Audio Bible prices are VERY reasonable. These are entire Bibles:

The NKJV Word of Promise: Complete Audio Bible On MP3 CD-ROMs
Christians in Recovery highly recommends this!

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He is All

You’re my music in the morning
You’re the joy that brings the dawn
You’re the sun that warms our faces
When the winter’s bearing on
Warm me ’til my lonely shivering
Heart’s inspired to kneel and pray
And I look to joyful dawning
On that final brightest day.

In tumultuous times of trouble
May we still Your songs employ
To dispel the growing darkness
That would all our faith destroy
When we feel our strength receding
May we still then seek Your face
In the midst of our heart’s bleeding
Send us oceans of Your grace.

You pour out Your sweet libations
Lord how great Thou truly art
Onto thirsty errant nations
Your sweet fragrance You impart
Lead us to the Living Water

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Obtaining a Meal Plan

While in eating disorder recovery, it is often helpful to obtain a meal plan. Some with eating disorders suffer serious health consequences that sometimes even become life threatening. Meal plans can help to restore their health, and in some cases, even play a part in saving their lives. Even so, some eating disorder sufferers resist obtaining them. If you feel hesitant yourself, please know that obtaining a meal plan can help you get back in control. Also, please know that a meal plan can be made to fit you as an individual.

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Benefits of Having a Meal Plan

Meal plans can play a vital role in eating disorder recovery. Regardless, some eating disorder sufferers resist obtain a meal plans. If you are one of them, please consider the benefits of having a meal plan.

While in the throes of an eating disorder, we lose touch with the appropriate amount of food to consume. Our perception of a healthy amount of food to eat in a day becomes distorted. Having a meal plan helps us to balance our food intake.

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