World War II Remembered

"Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." These were the opening words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speech to the United States Congress the day after the Japanese conducted a sneak attack on the Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was this event that threw the United States into World War II. 

The devastation of Pearl Harbor was massive. So many lives were lost. To this day, there are many ships underwater with their contents forever embedded to the ocean floor. There were also bodies that were never recovered. Loved ones were left to wonder if their family and friends were alive or dead. 

The attack happened early on a Sunday morning. At that time, most were in church or had yet to start their day. Soldiers had only begun to file into their ships. Had this attack happened later in the day, more lives would have been lost. 

People tend to overlook the fact that this war had started years previously in Europe. Hitler was on the march seeking to obliterate all Jews. Germany was left vulnerable and broke at the end of the First World War. This left them with a shattered economy and devastated towns and cities. Work was hard to find and food was in short supply. Hitler's promise of prosperity grabbed the nation, giving it hope. However, no one could have predicted what Hitler's reign was going to do. Rather than enriching their country, providing a more stable government, and boosting their lagging economy, World War II had a further devastating effect on Germany.

Newspaper article reporting on the Nazis
 "Kristallnacht" (The Night of the Broken Glass)

United States citizens were only partially aware of the atrocities happening under Hitler. There were murmurs of attacks on Jews. There were rumors of the concentration camps, but that is just what it was... rumors. No one could believe that something that horrible could happen. Why would anyone want to exterminate an entire race of people? It was unheard of. Yet, it was happening. 

As men marched off to war, it left a huge gap in the work force. No longer were there men working in the factories, working in the fields, working in domestic service. It was the women who jumped in to take over the reigns. Not only did they fill necessary employment opportunities, but these jobs helped the women to not only support the troops fighting in the war, but also to support themselves and their families. Women worked in factories helping to manufacture airplane parts, tank parts, weapons manufacturing. Wherever the need, the women were there to fill the spot. These jobs also empowered women. This was a time when many women stayed home to raise the children while their husbands' toiled away at work to support their family. Women took great pride in their work. They were lauded by the government for their willingness to work long hours in an effort to help in the war effort.

Europe saw even more change. They had to cope with enemy attacks on a daily basis. Women and children were sent to countries were there was less of a chance of an attack. There were also children being separated from their families in an effort to keep them safe. Transportation to these outlying places were sporadic at best. Parents had to make a gut wrenching decision. In the end, as parents will do, they decided that what little means of escape there were, the children needed passage more than the adults. Still, though, many families could not make the escape. They were left to deal with war on a daily basis. 

The aristocracy in Europe were not exempt to the ravages of war. Often, their domestic staff were conscripted into the war. Large country homes and estates were commandeered to be used as hospitals and rehabilitation services in which wounded soldiers would receive care before either being shipped home, or sent back to their units to continue the fight. Many a noblewomen became volunteer nurses or any kind of help that was needed. There was no surprise in seeing a Baroness carrying linens or emptying bed pans.  

Once the war ended, Europe had suffered such damage. Entire cities were wiped out. Nothing but bits and pieces of houses remained. Buildings stood precariously, with their blown out walls and fractured foundations. The war may have ended, but the struggle was just beginning. The Soviets took control of Eastern Germany, further declining their war wounds. The Americans were marching through towns where the concentration

Jews being herded into cattle cars being 

sent to the concentration camp

in Auschwitz, Poland.

camps were and were immediately overcome with such heart break to see all these people who were emaciated, who had been victims of cruel "experiments" at the hands of Nazi doctors and psychologists. Whole generations of families were expunged. And the conditions inside the camps were horrific. Huge buildings that served as pyres for burning Jewish bodies once they were of use no more. The soldiers were stupefied and horrified. Who would do such a thing? What kind of sick and twisted mind did these Nazi's have? To this day, you will hear stories denying the fact of the attempt at wiping out the Jewish race.

We need to take cautious steps in this day and age in order to not repeat what happened in World War II. Unfortunately, with weapons and armaments that are able to attack half a world away, if a war were to break out, World War II would seem like a small skirmish compared to the global damage that could occur in this day and age.

I pray that this post will encourage you to look further at the details of World War II. Then, take a good hard look at what is going on today. Winston Churchill used a statement  originally coined by George Santayana, who was a philosopher and literary critic, that says "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". 

A New Creation

When my husband and I got together, we had to get used to each others' ways of doing things. We were both in our 40's with baggage from previous marriage and relationships. I had one way of doing things, and it seemed like the way I did things just didn't gel to his ways. As my husband explained to me, he was "set in his ways". This caused no end of friction and arguments in the beginning. It made me feel like a failure because it hit a nerve with me. I had come from one failed marriage and failed relationships. I had scars from verbal and psychological abuse. My husband was a "druggie" who also liked to drink....A LOT (however, I didn't find this out until AFTER we had had an argument and he disappeared for a few days with what little money we had in the bank). So, more stress was added to the relationship. But we knew we loved each other, so we'd get through this together. It wasn't easy. There were relapses and drunken nights. There were fights and secrets. This was not going to be an easy road, I thought to myself.

It took a lot of compromise, a lot of understanding and patience to make it work. There were still more fights. Still more secrets. I still felt like a failure. All the "I love you"s didn't mean a thing to either of us. It took another major drug relapse for things to change between us.

We had been together just over three years. My ex-husband had passed away and we now had my teenage daughter living with us, which caused even more stress. I had been debating on walking away. No amount of work and prayer were going to change this situation. He saw the rolling down hill of our relationship as well. But we kept trying. Just a few nights before he left, we were at bible study and somehow got on the topic of relationships and other things. My husband had admitted in front of everyone that he was a recovering drug addict, but with all the damage that was done to our relationship, he wouldn't risk ruining everything by going back to drugs and drinking. He promised.

I came home from work that Friday evening to an empty house. No husband, no daughter. Just my cat and my dog. I began getting that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. I'd been down this road before. But I chose to think that maybe he was just out drinking with his buddy. Which just served to make me angry. I sat looking at the clock. The hours passed by. Still nothing. My daughter called and told me she was spending the night at a friends' house, but if I wanted, she would come home. I told her that it wasn't necessary. I didn't want her to be witness to yet another drunken argument.

The next day I started calling around. I tried everyone I could think of. I posted stuff on facebook, hoping that someone knew something. One of my sons' came down to stay with me. My step-daughter came to spend some time with me. We had a full house and yet I was a miserable wreck. My neighbor across the hall came over to listen to me cry and offer some motherly advice. She'd been down this same road with her ex-husband so she knew what I was going through all too well.

By the time I went back to work, I was an emotional wreck. I couldn't concentrate. It took all my energy just to make it through. I had vowed that when I got home I was going to the police station to file a missing persons' report. I knew he was out on a drug binge. But I started to become really scared. What about his asthma? What about his high blood pressure? What if he were dead somewhere from an overdose? My mind went into a whirlwind of negativity.

About mid-way during my day, he had messaged me on facebook. He was home. I was frantic! I wanted to leave right then. But I couldn't. I had written him a letter and left it on the coffee table in hopes he would finally come home and read it. I poured out my soul. When he messaged me, I asked him to please read the letter and to not move. I would be home in a few hours.

When I got home, I dropped everything in front of the door and just threw my arms around him. We were both in tears. I was so afraid. I was so disappointed. I don't remember much from that night. I know at some point my daughter came home. I remember one of her pastors' coming over because they felt she was in danger. He talked a few minutes with my husband, and then left. I don't remember if my daughter went with him or not.

I told my husband that the only way I would let him stay is if he went to drug rehab. I promised I would support him every step of the way. The next day we went down to outpatient rehab center together. As I sat listening as the counsellor interviewed him, I got shaky and that fear went right into the pit of my stomach. I didn't want to hear what he had done. I didn't want to know. But it was important that I did so I could understand the extent of his addiction and what triggered this latest relapse. We went through the whole process together. Even my husbands' father was extremely supportive. And I believe that between prayer, support from family and friends, and a lot of deal making with God turned it all around.

Today, my husband has been clean for 14 months. He no longer drinks to get drunk. My trust still isn't all there, but he makes sure to reassure me whenever I run into panic mode. He understands. I think it took that horror to reaffirm our relationship. I knew that I loved him with all my being. I knew I still wanted to spend my life with him. He worked hard to change. He's still working hard to change. But we're in a better place now. Things are still tough. Money is tight. Now we have two of my children living with us and we are grandparents. My husband loves being a grandpa. We love spending time together and with  the whole family.

The point to this story is this.... no relationship is perfect. It takes a lot of work to overcome what seems like insurmountable obstacles. It takes love and commitment. It also takes change. It's not good enough if it's one person changing while the other one doesn't. AND... you need to leave it with God. He comforts the sorrows and hurts. He restores hope and love. He guides and supports.

When I set out writing this I was going to talk about our differences in habits, home life, etc. How the little things drove us up a wall. About all the petty arguments and disagreements. The whole shebang. But God stepped in and told me to write about this..a painful memory that brought about growth and change and love.

Our relationship with God is much like this. We can run. We can forget. We can turn our backs. But God is right there, waiting for us to come back to Him. He waits patiently like I waited for my husband to come home. He helped us mend and heal and grow.

When we become new believers, we have to change our old ways. As my husband likes to say "If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep get what you get" In other words, if we keep living in the past, if we keep doing the same things, we're still going to get the same result. A life away from Christ. An emptiness that we seek to fill with damaged relationships, drugs, alcohol. You have to be willing to change. You have to allow God to lead you into this new life. As we do this, we'll see a change. A better, more fulfilling life. A path to the future. Hope.

We are reminded of this change in our lives and ways in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (nlt). We've changed. We're not our old self with the same old ways that just got us further and further from God. He has given us a new beginning. He gives us a clean slate in which to write our new history. It doesn't mean we've forgotten the lessons we learned as our old selves. We use those lessons on which to build our new selves.

If any of you are on this path to destruction, I urge you to seek help. Seek change. Seek hope. It's not an easy process. You have to be WILLING to want to change or else it will never work. And families, if you have this kind of person in your lives, I can tell you that they will need all the support and love from all of you to get it together. Don't keep reminding them of the wrong they did. Encourage them in this path. As painful as it can be, it will be worth it. And they will succeed and thrive. 

I pray for all of you. 
God Bless.
Linda.

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 1 "Why Easter Matters"

This is the reading for Wednesday, 4/2.

Read: Matthew 26:21-25 (The Message)
During the meal, he said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators."  They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, "It isn't me, is it, Master?"  Jesus answered, "The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures - no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man - better never to have been born than do this!" Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" Jesus said, "Don't play games with me, Judas."  

S: "In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures - no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man - better never to have been born than do this!"  

O: It is clear here that Jesus is dismayed and somewhat angry. One of the people whom He trusted would turn against Him. Even though Jesus knew for a long time that this was what His fate would be. But somehow, I don't think He knew it would come about by one of His followers turning Him in. Jesus is saying that whoever betrays Him would wish he were never born. 

Can you imagine someone you trust with your life, betraying you? If you've had this happen, you know how hurt it makes you feel. Can you imagine how Jesus must've felt? Even though this fulfilled the prophecy, I would imagine Jesus was hurt down to His core. 

But imagine the guilt that Judas must've felt afterwards. He was a follower of Christ. He was one of His disciples. And here, for a pittance of money, turned Jesus over to be crucified. Was it really worth it? If I could talk to Judas today, that's exactly what I would say. Was it really worth it Judas? What did you get out of it? I bet Judas wished he were never born after that.

A: I've had my trust betrayed numerous times. But this last time has left me angry and hurt. You are always full of questions. Why? How could you? I hope you're happy with yourself Oh, I could go on and on. 

But remember this little phrase.."Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Wow. BUT there's one little phrase that seems to always get forgotten. "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" (Mark 15:34 The Message) Even Jesus had a moment of weakness when He thought that God had abandoned Him. 

Those are some tough emotions to wrestle with. And believe me, every single one of them is at war in my head. Everything from I hate you for what you did to I love you. 

Human emotions dictate how we handle things. But sometimes those emotions can be damaging. They can cloud our judgement. The Bible tells us we are to be level-headed and in charge of our emotion. I found this on a page from Joyce Meyer "First Peter 5:8-9 teaches us to be well-balanced and temperate (self-controlled)"

I need to get my emotions under control. I need to lose the anger and work on controlling how I feel. It's not going to change the situation. What's done is done. All we can do is move forward.

P: Lord Jesus, help me to remain even tempered. Help me to remove my anger and turn it into compassion. You asked Your Father to forgive those who persecuted You; if You can do that, then I can forgive those who have hurt me. I pray for peace in my soul and in my heart. And I pray for those who have hurt me. I pray all this in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8: Our Health Thursday reading

Since our reading and scripture verse is just this one verse, I decided to add the graphic and go right on to the "O" part.

O: This reading is an interesting one. This is where mans downfall happened. We see Eve giving Adam the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, of which they were not supposed to eat. The serpent promised Eve that if she ate this, then she would be as wise as God. What a mistake! But, Eve, human as we, gave into the promises of more. 

How many times have we eaten something that we just knew that it wasn't good for us? But it just looked too good to pass up. Hence, Eve's dilemma. Oh, that apple looked good. The serpent promised her it would bring wisdom. Oh... just one bite. 

And so the fall of mankind happened. All because of an apple. That's all it takes. Just that one thing that is forbidden. And the more we are told we can't have it, the more we want it.

I've been learning a lot about addiction lately. It's just that one hit, that one toke, that one drink that starts it all. It's all downhill from there. The addict KNOWS it's not good, but they do it anyway. It's fueled by emotion and sensation. It's a way to not feel anything for a while or to forget for a while. They don't think of the long term consequences. They don't think of the people and the life they will lose. 

It's like that a lot in our earthly lives. The promise of better, younger, thinner, richer. It's all of what the flesh says we want. But it's not what God wants. We don't consider the consequences. We're willing to give in to that craving. It's Satan whispering in our ear. In that one moment we fall from grace.

We don't have to give in to that temptation. We can be stronger than Satan's whispers and promises. It's not worth that fall. It's not worth the guilt. When those promises of more start, pray. When Satan starts tugging, cast him out. Tell him to go. Ask Jesus to make him go! It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.

A: This is a good lesson to remember. Change doesn't come easy for me. It fuels my anxiety. It makes me feel uncomfortable. But it is in those times that I need to hold onto my faith, the promises that Jesus made for me. Those are the only ones I can believe. 

Everything in my life has been a struggle, a fight. But all of that has made me stronger. It made me rely on Jesus a whole lot. 

I will take things one day at a time. I won't believe the lies that I play out day-to-day in my head. I will believe in what Jesus has promised me! (And, if I'm lucky, as I repeat that over and over, maybe I'll even believe it! lol) And if I do fall, I know Jesus will be there to pick me up and make me start over. 

P: Lord Jesus, You never promised us that it would be easy. This life we are given is precious. You told us how we are to live it,  yet sometimes we fall into the trap of believing the lies we hear. When those negative thoughts start, when the promise of more and better are thrown at me, I pray for You to give me the strength to turn away from them. You are the rock on which I stand. It is through Your Holy Grace that I am still here. I have come too far to give up now. Jesus, give me the strength to stare temptation in the face and say no. I am Your daughter. Your creation. I want to live as You taught us to. I know with You I can do all things. And all the people said AMEN! 

Life's Healing Choices. Healing from lifes hurts, hang-ups and habits Step 2

This program was intended for small-group study, but you can do it alone or with a friend or with a group. I'm going back and doing this by myself as I missed the first 6 sessions. All it takes is a little determination and A LOT of faith! Blessings to you all. 

Catching Up:

In our last session, we prayed for God to give us the willingness and courage to admit we are powerless. How did the concept of admitting powerlessness impact you this week?

Key Verse: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." [Philippians 2:13 NLT]

Acknowledge God's ____________________.
Anyone who comes to [God] must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. [Hebrews 11:6 NIV]

The question for most people is not "Is there a God?". The real question is, "What kind of God is He?".

Understand God's _______________________.
Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God. [Colossians 1:15 PH]

THREE THINGS WE LEARN ABOUT GOD'S CHARACTER FROM JESUS CHRIST.

1. God ______________ about my situation.
You...have seen the crisis in my soul. [Psalm 31:7 LB]

You know how troubled I am; You have kept a record of my tears. [Psalm 56:8 TEV]

O God, You know how foolish I am. [Psalm 69:5 NLT]

2. God _________________ about my situation.
He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic. [Psalm 103:13 LB]

He knows what we are made of; He remembers that we are dust. [Psalm 103:14 TEV]

"I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with faithful love." [Jeremiah 31:3 NIrV]

God's love never fails. He loves you on your good days and your bad days, when you serve Him and when you don't, when you're right, when you're wrong. God even loves you when you're angry, or selfish, or out of control. He loves you even when you're breaking His heart. Why does God keep on loving you? Because His love is unconditional. It is not based on what you do; it's based on who He is.

God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [Romans 5:8 NLT]

3. God can___________ me and my situation.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! [2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT]

ACCEPT GOD'S _____________ TO HELP YOU.

It's not enough just to believe in God. You've got to plug into His power.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. [Philippians 2:13 NLT]

The only way to get God's power is to surrender to Him and let Him fill you with His Spirit.

The Spirit that God has given us....fills us with power, love and self-control.

You're not really in control until Christ is in control. How do you plug into God's power? Real simple. Believe and receive. First, believe that God exists and that He knows and cares about you, and has the power to help you. Then receive Him into your life--simply say, "Jesus Christ put Your Spirit in me."

There is a higher power you can plug into. His name is Jesus Christ. Make the Hope Choice. Believe and receive. Open your heart and life to Him today.

"Happy are those who mourn, God shall comfort them!" [Matthew 5:4 TEV]
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." [Matthew 5:4 NKJV]

"When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up." [Isaiah 43:2 NLT]

Discovery Questions
1. Pastor Rick said "The question for most people is not "Is there a God? The real question is "What kind of God is He?"  What do you believe about God?
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________

2. What part of God's character gives you the most hope?
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________

3. God's love for you is not based on your performance. It is based on His character. The Bible says "God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." [Romans 5:8 NLT] What does this truth tell you about the nature of God's love?
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________

4. "The Spirit that God has given us...fills us with power, love, and self-control." Talk about a time in your life when God gave you power, love, or self-control when you faced a tough situation .
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

>>LIVING ON PURPOSE: Fellowship
Like physical health, spiritual health is often easier to maintain when you are working out with a partner. As you work out what God is working in you, sometimes you need someone to encourage you and help keep you on target. Prayerfully consider which member of your group you might ask to become your Accountability Partner. Men partner with men and women partner with women. Commit to meet and pray for each other regularly for the duration of this study. Check in throughout the week by phone, or perhaps over coffee to see what each of you is learning and how you can pray for one another.

>>PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
In our last session, you admitted you are powerless. In this session, you discovered God is all-powerful. Think of a challenge you are currently facing: relational, emotional, financial, a hurt, a hang-up, or a habit, etc. How will you apply God's power to your situation this week?

>>PRAYER DIRECTION
Begin your prayer time by thanking God that He is powerful enough to handle any situation you are facing. If you feel comfortable, share your current challenge with the group and pray for each other, inviting God to bring His power to bear in one another's lives.


(c) 2009
John Baker and Rick Warren
Saddleback Resources.
purposedriven.com/recoveryconnection 

Life's Healing Choices. Healing from lifes hurts, hang-ups and habits Step 1

I'm going to add something a little different. For the past two weeks hubby and I have been going to this recovery program at a nearby church. I really enjoyed it. If you can find one in your area, I highly recommend it. It's called Celebrate Recovery. It's not just for alcohol or chemical addictions. It's for any bad thing you may have in your life that you want to be rid of. 

Pastor Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life) guides you through this 8 week program. 

I enjoyed this so much I want to share it here. Also, I came in on the end, so I have 6 weeks of catching up to do. I think it will be beneficial.

**Note: everything here is directly from the study guide. You'll be able to fill in the blanks while watching the video.

 

 

The Beatitudes

"Happy are those who are spiritually poor...Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Happy are the meek...Happy are the pure of heart...Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires...Happy are the merciful...Happy are those who work for peace...Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires."  (Matthew 5:3-10 NIV/TEV)

The root cause of your problem: Trying to ___________________.

HOW WE PLAY GOD

1. We try to control our _______________ by wearing masks, playing games, and hiding the truth about ourselves.

2. We try to control ___________________ by manipulating each other through guilt or shame or praise or even through silence.

3. We try to control our ________________ by saying things like: "I can handle it; it's not really a problem. I don't need any help. I can quit any time."

4. We try to control our _______________ by avoiding it, denying it, escaping it, medicating it, drowning it, or postponing it.

But the first step toward recovery-the first healing choice you have to make-is The Reality Choice, where you realize and accept the fact that you are not God, and you need help from someone much greater than you to overcome your hurts, hang-ups, and habits.

Consequences of Playing God

1. ______________________________________________

We fear that someone will find out who we really are and reject us.

2. ______________________________________________

I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can't. I do what I don't want to---what I hate. I know perfectly well that what I'm doing is wrong....But I can't help myself...It is sin inside me that is stronger than I am that makes me do those evil things. [Romans 7:15-17 LB]

My dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. [Psalm 32:4-5 LB]

3. _______________________________________________

My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide them.  

[Psalm 32:4-5 LB] 

4. ______________________________________________

You'll never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up. Then God will show mercy to you. 

[Proverbs 28:13 GNT]

We don't change when we see the light. We change when we feel the heat. God whispers to us in our pleasures, but He shouts to us in our pain. The fact is that if you could solve your problems, you would have done it a long time ago and you wouldn't have them anymore. You can't get fixed until you 'fess up, face your faults, and admit, "I am powerless."

Three Important Facts of Life

1. I am powerless to __________________ my past.

2. I am powerless to _______________ other people.

3. I am powerless to _____________ with my hurts, hang-ups, and habits.

• Good intentions are not enough.
• Willpower is not enough.
• You need another source of power.
• You need God.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. [James 4:5 NIV]

• Grace is the power God gives you to make the changes in your life that He wants you to make. How do you get God's grace? There's only one way. God gives it to the humble. 
• What needs to change in your life? Make the Reality Choice today.

Discovery Questions
1. We all try to play God by attempting to control our image, other people, our problems, and our pain. Why do you feel the need to be in control? List some ways you try to control your image, your problems, your pain, or other people.
_______________________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________

2. Read the passage again from Romans 7:15-17. Can you relate to that? Share your experiences with this kind of tension.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

3. The first healing choice is to admit you are powerless to change your past, control other people, and to cope with your problems. Which of these do you struggle with the most?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

4. The Bible says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." [James 4:6 NIV] Why do you think God "opposes the proud"? What does it mean to humble yourself before God?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

5. Where are you in learning to trust God? Share honestly with your group and ask for prayer to grow in this process.
___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

>>Putting It Into Practice
C.S. Lewis said "God whispers to us in our pleasures, but he shouts to us in our pain." That pain can be physical, emotional, relational, or financial. What might God be saying to you through your pain right now? We are all powerless over something. This week, take the first healing choice, and admit to God something you are powerless over.

>>Prayer Direction
Pray for God to give you the willingness and the courage to admit where you are powerless.


(C) 2009 Rick Warren and John Baker
Saddleback Resources
purposedriven.com/recoveryconnections