Month: April 2018

Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations. I Samuel 8:5 In the throes of my addiction, I often sought to change the wrong things. Because I was using, I was miserable and depressed, so I went to my doctor to get something for my depression. I hated my life and…
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If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods . . . and direct your heart to the Lord . . .I Samuel 7:3 When I first encountered recovery, my commitment was less than stellar. I sort-of wanted sobriety, but I still wanted to be able to…
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And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10 Early in my career, we moved into a shiny new Emergency Room, complete with too many bells and whistles. At first, all the alarms were unnerving. Each time one went off, which…
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Her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. I Samuel 1:6 We recently watched a movie at home, in which several characters, born with congenital disabilities, were mocked mercilessly by others. Monsters, they called them. This, of course, provoked a visceral reaction in us, as we realized…
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Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once . . .Judges 16:28 Whenever I have caused myself and my family pain with my destructive choices, I have almost always tried to bargain with God. God, I will do whatever it takes to…
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Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.” Judges 16:6 God gave Samson, one of the Israelite leaders, superhuman strength, which was dependent on his long hair. Though he possessed colossal power, he also possessed profound stupidity. In the story,…
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I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines . . . Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes. Judges 14:2,3 At work one day, I saw a white cardboard box that obviously came from a bakery. As I have sworn off donuts, I had no plans to eat a donut, but…
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Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, “A woman killed him.” Judges 9:54 An alcoholic recently shared this thought with me – When I don’t drink, I do good. When I drink, bad things happen. My internal response was condescending – No kidding professor. Then maybe you should stop drinking. Though…
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You have not obeyed my voice . . . So now I say . . . they shall become thorns in your sides . . . Judges 2:2-3 Over the years, my family has made several attempts at gardening, with little success. Though we start out in the spring with good intentions, as June turns to…
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Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord. Joshua 24:23 When I first attempted recovery, well-meaning Christians told me, All you need is Jesus, by which they meant that I did not need treatment, 12-steps or counseling. Just go to church. That didn’t seem entirely right, but I…
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