I always ask people how many friends do they have, and sometimes I get…”Oh I have a lot of friends, maybe a dozen or so”  Well i’ll tell you what, when your money and health runs out, and your really down and out, then you will truly learn how many “True friends” you really have.

It’s not easy getting up out of a bed at 3 am in order to console a friend who is having a tough time…but that’s how friendship is defined…sacrificing for the people you love.  Christ sacrificed his time and energy on those around him…he spent TIME with his friends praying and discussing life issues.   

Try adding God to your “support system” today.  Go to him in prayer, and start reading the bible. At times verses will jump out to you like they are just meant for you alone. God is there 24/7 and even on holidays….you can’t go wrong with making him the biggest focus of you life…

Here’s another great devotional from intouch.org…stay well

In our culture, God’s name is oftentimes mentioned with little reverence. In fact, many people actually use it as a curse. Even among those who love Him, it is far too common to use His name casually, without taking time to ponder who He is. When you say a blessing at mealtimes, for instance, do you realize that you are talking to the almighty Creator God who rules over all things?

Our view of the Lord impacts three areas of life. First, it affects our prayers. As we come to know Him better and better, our desires will start to look like His goals for us, and our petitions will align more closely with His purposes. Furthermore, as we recognize His greatness and power, we’ll become more confident that He can accomplish mighty things—and we will venture to “pray big.”

Second, our understanding of His righteousness and goodness influences our behavior. If God has these attributes, surely it is in our best interest to obey gladly. We will desire righteousness and be quick to repent of sin.

Third, our faith is impacted. Grasping that Jesus is holy, good, and powerful grows our trust in Him. Knowing our awesome God and remembering His great works will further build our confidence in Him.

Do you personally know our loving and holy heavenly Father? He invites you into an intimate relationship with Him. But, as with any good friendship, time and intentionality are necessary to understand Him and learn His ways. The more you do that, the more your prayers, behavior, and faith will be impacted.

At Christian Help For Addiction Online, we continue to pray for you and the struggles you might be having….No matter if it is a drug addiction or an alcohol addiction or whatever addiction life challenges you with, God can help you overcome them…Pick up an inexpensive bible and began reading it…the messages and stories just might make a difference in your life…God Bless…

Our thoughts can be quite powerful….and sometimes if we continually dwell on the “negative” aspects of life…we tend to get depressed, anxious, and frustrated.  Unfortunately, “stinking thinking” can sometimes become a habit…as our first waking thought could be..”ok..another day…I wonder what’s going to happen today?”…

Changing habits can be troublesome for many….but if we include God in the equation…we could have a better chance of success…try starting your day with a morning prayer….I start mine with..”thanks Lord for another day…being here with family and friends…help me to be a positive influence for others…and stand by me during difficult times”….

Our prayers don’t have to be some scholarly recital meant to impress somebody….God takes us just as we are…no matter how bad we have messed up….So tomorrow morning try saying (even if you have to pretend and force it out)…”Thanks God for another day…I feel stronger and am going to have a great day”….give it a try for a few weeks and see what happens…..you really have nothing to lose…

Here’s a daily devotional from intouch.org….stay well and God Bless

When life falls apart, how do you cope? All of us face circumstances that challenge our peace—and some of these situations are very painful and prolonged. Unless we have purposeful focus, joy fades and hope seems unattainable.

King David experienced extreme hardships, including the profound grief of losing a child and a best friend. And King Saul, for selfish reasons, pursued him in an attempt to take his life. Later, David’s own son led a rebellion against him. As drastic as these trials are, they were just four of the many difficulties he endured. Yet even in times of deep suffering, David found hope and peace in God.

How was his soul sustained when others in similar situations would have drowned in despair? David knew how to meditate. He focused his mind and spirit on God—His character, ways, and will—in order to know the Lord better and to obey Him.

We should be following David’s example. Our role during difficulty is to set our eyes on our heavenly Father and meditate on His Word. The Psalms document the depth and passion for which the shepherd and soon-to-be king delighted himself in God. By continually pondering the attributes and ways of the Lord, he found solace in the midst of turmoil.

What subjects consume your thoughts during the day? Do you have time set aside to dwell solely on the Lord? Perhaps you can remind yourself periodically to bring your attention back to your Creator—one way is to read several of the Psalms and notice how the author refocuses on the almighty God.

Here at Christian Help For Addiction Online…we pray that you not only get stronger each and every day…but get closer to God as well….Meditate, pray and call out to God for strength….Life can be a challenge at times….and we need 24/7 support that we sometimes can’t get from friends and family…..However…God is there 24/7 365 days a year….and he is waiting to lend some support…stay well…..

Making matters worse is our own attempts to alleviate the anxiety by self medicating with alcohol or drugs. We think we get some relief, but in the end, our conditon just worsens….There are a lot of different ways to deal with anxiety…A friend of mine started  “meditating” and he said it worked wonders for him…another person I spoke with started a “yoga” group, and had some positive results…..the bottom line is you have to do something to alleviate the constant anxiety…or it will take its toll on your overall health…

I enjoy praying wjen I’m stressed….I guess it’s a form of meditating…except I’m focusing on God and all the good things he has done in my life…I know what you are saying…but what if I can’t think of any “good things” that happened to me…well I’m sure if you really think deep enough and possibly go back a few years…you will be able to recollect some good days….and focus on them….try rearranging your thoughts and think in terms of hope and overall health….close your eyes and visualize yourself as a healthy and sober person….sometimes your unconscious will help move you towards that “healthy” person that you are visuzlizing research has shown….

Here is another great devotional on anxiety from intouch.org…let us know what you think…

Stressful situations come in a variety of forms and intensities, and in this earthly existence, we will never be totally free of them. However, the important issue is, What are we going to do with our anxiety? If we let it dominate, fretfulness can become a way of life. But if we believe what the Bible says about God and His care for us, we will experience an awesome liberation from worry.

Do you sometimes doubt whether our heavenly Father really cares about the ordinary things that cause you anxiety? After all, He’s got the entire universe to run, and your issues are so small in comparison. Consider how inconsequential birds and flowers are, yet Jesus says that the Father cares for them (Matt. 6:26). Don’t you think you are worth much more to Him than they are?

At times we let ourselves get all worked up and stressed out because we’re trying to change something that is beyond our control. Just as no one can add a single day to the length of his life, so there are some situations that we are powerless to alter. But the sovereign Ruler of the universe loves us and holds everything in His hands—including our stressful and seemingly out-of-control situations. Therefore, we have no reason to fret or fear.

Perhaps the biggest reason we worry is because we don’t trust the Lord. Anxiety is no more than unbelief. The Bible is filled with God’s promises to provide, but so often we doubt that He will. If you can trust Him for your eternal security, can’t you also trust Him for your earthly needs?

Again…we continuously pray for our readers here at Christian Help For Addiction Online…be it a drug addiction, alcohol addiction or some of the new addictions such as prescription pain medications….we understand your pain…..Buy yourself an easy to read bible….and start reading some healing scriptures….God speaks to us through his word…and when you believe in him and his word….a new hope develops that will help you overcome your struggles…God bless….

Others will be watching us for the progress that we have made.  It is important to portray our “new” healthy lifestyle to others, and allow them to see how God is now a part of our life by the way we act and live.  Here is a great devotional from intouch.org.  Let me know what you think.

God displays His children to the world like a city on a hill (Matt. 5:14). The light from a thriving metropolis can be seen for miles. Likewise, believers are to “shine” in such a way that others will observe our good works and honor God.

A Christian’s “faith light” is evident through his deeds. We want co-workers, friends, and others in our sphere of influence to sit up and take notice of the way that we live. The reason? Because once they see we’re not simply “out for number one,” they’ll want to know why. And that’s when they will begin to connect the dots, with thoughts like: He helps others even when it’s difficult . . . He says he does this because he’s a Christian . . . His God must by worthy and good.

The more people see believers doing good works, the more glory goes to God, who is the Author of our service record.

To balance the command to shine, however, the Lord did give an admonition in Matthew 6:1: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.” In other words, be mindful of the motive. If we’re performing in order to get a pat on the back or the attention of others,we will lose out on a heavenly reward. That fleeting bit of worldly appreciation is all we’ll get for our efforts.

Believers are here to point others to the Lord whom they serve. We are a reflection of His light and glory. It is He who not only gives opportunity to shine but also equips us with the strength and gifts to work for the kingdom. As bright as we may be, we are nothing apart from the Lord.

Here at Christian Help For Addiction Online, we will continue to pray for you. Remember, the greatest story ever told is in the bible. It is a guide for life. Get yourself an easy to read version and start reading. It will truly make a difference in your life. Stay well…and God Bless you…

This new trend hit home closely, as a friend of mine (Frank), became addicted to vicodin within one years time. Frank blew out a disc several years back, and put surgery on the back burner. His physician, meaning well, began prescribing vicodin, along with some other addiction pain killers. Frank recollects starting at (Vicodin 5mg/325), which killed the pain for about 3 months. Frank noticed after the three month period that the 5mg wasn’t cutting it. His physician up it to 7.5 mg, and from there it was the point of no return for Frank

Pain killer addictions, just like any other addiction, are life changing, or worse yet, life destroying. Names such as Vicodin, Oxycotin, and Percocet come to mind. The prescription for these can be justified and obtained quite easily, so be careful! Sometime you have to be your own physician, and think of the consequences of using these addictive medications.

Here at Christian Help for Addiction, we strive to provide our readers with relevant and up to date content that will help them not only improve their lives, but help them avoid situations that might become detrimental over time. Help for addictions, be it pain killer addictions, internet addictions, sex addictions or whatever blank you can fill in, is usually a phone call away. If you are struggling, join a local support group, and get God into your lives. He’s there 24/7, and is an anchor during life’s storms. Stay well….Vic