THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: PEACE

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.

EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!

For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.

Today’s post is the twelfth and final post in this series. Join me as we learn about the Life Recovery gift of peace.

The gift of peace can be defined as the absence of conflict or violence; a state of harmony in personal relationships with other people and with God; a state of quiet tranquility.

I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. ~ John 14:27

The gift of peace is probably the most important gift the life of recovery brings. Most of us in recovery have spent at least some portion of our lives seeking peace through a substance or compulsive activity that we were addicted to. We might have found peace for a short time. But then the cycle of guilt and shame returned and the peace we thought we had found disappeared.

“The gift of peace can finally be ours when we have consciously connected with the person of God and with His Son, Jesus Christ. A peaceful heart is only possible when we have made our peace with Jesus, the Prince of Peace.” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

Absence of Peace

The world can’t give us peace. Though it may offer ways to find a false temporary peace. In reality, it actually takes peace away. Inner turmoil comes from a life not rooted in biblical truth or God’s Word and can certainly destroy our peace. Working the 12 Steps can help us deal with our inner turmoil and lead us to the peace we are desperately seeking. True peace comes when we turn our life over to the Pacemaker!

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7

The Foundation of Happiness

When our feelings begin to line up with God’s truth and His Word, our choices change, our actions change and the result is a peaceful life. As we deal with our past wrongs and accept Jesus’s forgiveness for our mistakes; then trust our future to God’s care, we will experience a peaceful life.

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life,then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

“The gift of peace is founded on a life lived to the fullest and built on our relationship with Christ.” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery.

Enjoy this great teaching from Stephen Arterburn Going Deeper with The Life Recovery Gift of Peace.

October 15, 2021September 26, 2021

THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: HAPPINESS

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.

EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!

For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.

This is the tenth post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of happiness.

Happiness is a gift given to all who make up their minds that they will enjoy life to the fullest. The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. ~ Psalm 86:4

Most people make searching for happiness the primary objective for their life. Happiness is never found when we are searching for it. True happiness is produced by a certain lifestyle. In other words, we can’t go find happiness in a person, place or a thing. We will only experience happiness when we choose a godly life.

The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. ~ Proverbs 10:28

As our hearts become more and more in tune with the heart of God, we experience the gift of happiness as a by-product of a godly life. ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

There are two critical things we must do be certain the gift of happiness will continue in our life:

- Avoid places or people that tempt us to fall back in old patterns.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:12

- Do your best to live Step 12. As we do we will stay strong in our recovery.

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. ~ Step 12

It’s not just a matter of removing bad habits and bad people from our lives. We must replace them with godly habits and godly, recovering people who are strong examples we can follow. Spend time with people that are involved with a life of recovery and are supportive to you. And remember, to work Step 12 and successfully help others in their recovery we must be solid in our own recovery success.

Be blessed by this short teaching from Stephen Arterburn Going Deeper on The Gift of Happiness.

August 20, 2021July 18, 2021

THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: SELF-CONTROL

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.

EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!

For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.

This is the eighth post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of self-control.

The gift of self-control is the ability to control our emotions, desires and actions especially during difficult situations.

When the Spirit of Christ empowers your life, you are not dominated by the flesh but by the Spirit. ~ Romans 8:9

When we give in to our weaknesses and system of addictions we are opening the door for the enemy to attack us and shutting the door to God’s protection over our life. This is very serious. God has called us to live in His kingdom not the kingdom of this world. We aren’t supposed to look like the other people or behave like other people.

As you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life. When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit you hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you! ~ Galatians 5:16-17

Self control isn’t something we have the power to create in ourselves. It’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit. When we make a decision to walk in our addictions we aren’t walking in the Holy Spirit. We’re actually grieving or squelching the Holy Spirit when we give in to our areas of weakness. We are preventing the Holy Spirit from having full reign or room to live in us.

God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. ~ Romans 1:24

If we continue giving in to our weaknesses God may eventually give us over to those fleshly desires and allow us to go down the dark spiral of death. Sure we might still make it to heaven. But we will have lost our witness and the opportunity to bring others with us.

The gift of self-control changes our orientation: Instead of seeking to accomplish our own will, we desire to understand God’s will for us. The more our desire to do God’s will overrules our own will the more our experience of self-control grows. It’s not our willpower that does it; it is God’s gift to us in our recovery. ~ The Life Recovery Bible

We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out. ~ Step 11

Let’s protect ourselves, our life, our family, our future and our testimony by leaning in to God’s loving hands. He will be with us and protect us as we do.

Be blessed by this short teaching by Stephen Arterburn on The Gift of Self-Control.

August 8, 2012June 25, 2016

BOOK REVIEW :: Healing is a Choice by Stephen Arterburn

Healing is a Choice:
Ten Decisions That Will Transform Your Life and
Ten Lies That Can Prevent You From Making Them

by @SteveArterburn
Thomas Nelson Publishers 225pp

I had originally planned to review a different book for August, but had problems with the digital photo of the cover. So at the last minute before publishing my monthly preview, I decided, or rather, God decided, this was the book I was supposed to read. I’ve been reading Stephen Arterburn’s work for many years. His books always bring conviction and comfort and this one was no disappointment.

Let’s start with these challenging words from the author:

I am asking you to give up your life as you know it so that you can find the life God has for you. Take hold of your future today and make the choices that will lead to your healing. ~ Stephen Arterburn

With touching personal stories, Mr. Arterburn shows us why we should refuse the lies we’ve been believing and how to make needed changes that will bring healing if we choose to do the work. As always, it’s our choice whether we want to be healed or not.

Here is a sample:

The Choice to Connect Your Life: We must branch out from the “I only need God” mentality; take a healing risk to connect with others who can help us experience life to the fullest.
The Choice to Feel Your Life: We must press past the habit of numbing ourselves. Once we can define and acknowledge our feelings true healing can begin.
The Choice to Investigate Your Life in Search of Truth: Take an honest look at your life in the past, where you are today and where it is leading for the future.
The Choice to Heal Your Future: When we stop dragging our past into our future we lose weight that slows us down and can rob us of a healthy future.
The Choice to Help Your Life: By choosing to reach outside ourselves we can help ourselves have the life God desires for us.

Healing is a Choice is full of valuable information that can help anyone no matter the life situation. As I said before, Stephen Arterburn’s books always help me. Even when I wasn’t looking for help, God knew what I needed. You may think you’ve got life figured out, but God may surprise you like He did me.

Buy Healing is a Choice.

You won’t be sorry!

April 11, 2012June 25, 2016

BOOK REVIEW ~ Feeding Your Appetites: Take Control of What’s Controlling You!

Feeding Your Appetites:
Take Control of What’s Controlling You!
by @SteveArterburn
Thomas Nelson Publishers 2006
206 pp

If you’re not familiar with Stephen Arterburn — check him out. He has been an incredibly important influence on me from the early days of my recovery. In fact The Life Recovery Bible, which he edited and produced with David Stoop, saved my life!

Stephen Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries and is the host of the nationally syndicated “New Life Live!” daily radio program. Steve’s also the founder of the Women of Faith conferences and has written over 60 books. This isn’t a Stephen Arterburn advertisement, but I want to put into perspective the value you will get from reading his book.

In Feeding Your Appetites Mr. Arterburn shows us in the beginning, at creation, all our appetites were intended for good. It was only after the fall of man that our natural appetites took on unhealthy purposes.

The career we choose…

the way we spend our money

how often we want sex and what kind we want

the types of friends we build relationships with

the amount of champagne we drink at a party

how we prioritize our activities

…all reflect our distinctive appetites and desires.

Our appetites motivate us to seek fulfillment, but they must be managed or they will lead us into a world of regret and tremendous emotional pain. When an appetite intended to help us survive is managed incorrectly, it may become a trap holding us in a deadly grip. Until we give ourselves and our appetites completely over to God, we will remain trapped. ~ Stephen Arterburn

While reading Feeding Your Appetites we will recognize the influences that have led to our poor choices, we will pave new pathways and learn how to fill these natural voids in healthy ways. We will begin to cultivate godly appetites and ultimately live a surrendered life. To ensure our success Stephen has a simple Twelve Step process to help us evaluate our circumstances and map the areas where we’re struggling. Also included is a study guide for use with family or small groups.

If you struggle with appetites that have grown out of control consider reading Feeding Your Appetites by Stephen Arterburn.