Use your story to encourage others
 

Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. (NLT) Psalm 107:2

What a delightful feeling it is when we realize we have been redeemed by the Lord. These are the blessings we have received from God, but are not deserved. Our stories have a way of uplifting others as they are able to relate to our experiences. Some of the greatest Bible heros recounted the blessings of God for all to hear. Use your story to encourage others who are struggling on their journey.

Daily Bible Devotion

This was something I did to help other recovering and addicts in meetings, detox, jail, treatment centers, anniversaries, and one on one in person at my home, detox, and jail.

When I share with people in the church all I got was argument and called a sinner and going to hell. I was saved at the age of 10 and baptized at 14. I never lost sight of God unless I wanted to out of guilt and shame.

When I came into recovery, I made things right with God, went back to church, but in and of itself, it was not enough. A lot depended on the church I went to, but I needed the spiritual program of AA, NA, and Al-Anon in order to heal.

I never lost God, He was always there. If He hadn't been, I would be dead. As I heard today, ask for forgiveness and then forgive yourself.

I don't go to church for the same reason I don't go to meetings. Can't do steps, although they do have wheel chair access. I have trouble sitting for an hour, these days, even when I am posting, I have to get up and do walk about. I know I can do this at a meeting and at church, yet I don't like to distract people. The key thing is whether I can hear and concentrate through the pain. I can't take my pain out on others. I also don't want it to rule my life. I refuse to take medication to make it go away. My sobriety is more important than popping a pill, especially one for pain.

Years ago, because of the reaction I got from church people, I started calling myself a Godly Heathen. Today it doesn't matter what others think, I found my God, the one of my understanding, and together we have stay 22 years 11 months, and 5 days.

My doctor has me on Lyrica and I asked to be taken off of it and he suggested a little more time. I know the pain is still there, for one thing it is for neuropathy, and I have gout, pseudo gout, and osteoarthritis there too. Why take a pill that doesn't work. One is good, more is not better.

The good thing is that my pain draws me closer to my God.

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