Month: November 2018

Go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, “Thus says the Lord God,” whether they hear or refuse to hear. Ezekiel 3:11 Drug addiction is a fantastic – but painful – example of the destructive appetites of our flawed nature. It’s exaggerated, toxic behavior patterns are easily recognizable to…
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“Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. Ezekiel 3:1-2 I had my medical degree and license before I had children of my own, which means that as a Family Practice physician,…
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The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning . . . But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations. Lamentations 5:15-19 When my son was a toddler, he would often get his words a little mixed up. Fish became shiff. Gobble became boggle. And grandma became Manga. Ever…
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Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: “We have transgressed and rebelled . . .” Lamentations 3:40-42 I’ve heard Christians described as Sinners, Saved by Grace, and I’ve heard others object, insisting that we are Saints Who Still Sin. Do…
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The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25 In AA, part of the program is to find a sponsor – someone who is farther along in recovery – to help guide the process. Several years ago, when I made my first attempt at recovery, I approached…
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The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:21-26…
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Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and wandering all the precious things that were hers from days of old. Lamentations 1:7 What do we do with painful memories of destructive behavior? When we’ve hurt our loved ones, we now have agonizing memories, and even if we’ve repented, it still hurts. Do we simply dismiss…
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Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. Jeremiah 51:17 As I was leaving the house yesterday, I couldn’t find my keys. I had an inkling that they were in the garage. My son and I…
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I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon . . . Jeremiah 44:30 I have a weird diet plan that I always think is going…
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Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves . . .? Jeremiah 44:7 It’s always painful to watch others pursue their destructive appetites. Even as one who has known the slavery of addiction, it’s difficult for me to understand why some return repeatedly to drugs, food, or pornography despite knowing the disastrous consequences. In…
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