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Post by rockwell on Nov 30, 2007 13:17:26 GMT -5
Before redemption we may well have asked Him, "How do You know what it means to suffer, Oh God? Did You ever feel hungry or thirsty? Have Your nights ever been full of fears and Your days long hours of painful endurance? Have You ever felt lonely or rejected? Has anyone treated You unjustly and have You ever cried? Has the powerful wind You created ever pierced Your bones and made You shiver with cold? Have you ever needed a friend and then, when he came along, watched him turn against You?"
His answer to all these questions would have been, "No." But now, we can no longer wonder, because His love has answered our unasked questions--has desired to feel what our nature feels--endure our weaknesses and limitations of our sinner condition--shouldered our yoke and shuddered from the cold wind.
"The birds have nests and the foxes dens," He told His disciples, "but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head." (Luke 9:58) The realization that the love of Jesus shared and continues to share in our sorrows and pain, gives us that joy "no man can take away." Our continual Easter joy is mysteriously woven and interwoven with the cross.
The Christian experiences and lives a paradox. He possesses joy in sorrow, fulfillment in exile, light in darkness, peace in turmoil, consolation in spiritual dryness, contentment in pain and hope in desolation. A dedicated Christian has the ability to take the present moment, look at it head on, recall the spirit of Jesus under similar circumstances and act accordingly. It is difficult, but He told us it would be, for the happiness He promised is beyond this life. We are given the opportunity to condition ourselves to live forever with Holiness Itself.
Excerpted from Mother M. Angelica, "His Pain--Like Mine", (c) 1976 Journey Into Scripture. All Rights Reserved.
Our Lady of the Angels Monastery 5817 Old Leeds Road Birmingham, Alabama 35210
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Post by rockwell on Dec 4, 2007 15:35:11 GMT -5
A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either command them, or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil.
-- St. Dominic
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Post by MrOuch on Dec 13, 2007 10:55:13 GMT -5
The denial of personal guilt makes men ready to surrender their liberty. Better it is for a man to realize he has evil tendencies which must be fought and combated in order that his higher self may emerge.
-- Archbishop Fulton Sheen
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Post by rockwell on Dec 13, 2007 17:32:01 GMT -5
Remember that he who will always walk faithfully in God's presence, always ready to give Him an account of all his actions, will never be separated from Him by consenting to sin.
-- St. Thomas Aquinas
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Post by rockwell on Dec 14, 2007 10:31:53 GMT -5
"Do not be conformed to this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
This is a quote taken from the New Testament that I memorized, but have no idea who said it or which NT book it comes from. Its a great quote for someone in recovery.
rockwell
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Post by MrOuch on Dec 14, 2007 13:27:03 GMT -5
"Do not be conformed to this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This is a quote taken from the New Testament that I memorized, but have no idea who said it or which NT book it comes from. Its a great quote for someone in recovery. rockwell Rock, FYI Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. -----Romans 12:1-2 Be well all. MrOuch
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Post by rockwell on Dec 18, 2007 11:26:56 GMT -5
Be to me a rock of refuge a strong fortress, to save me. For you are my rock and my fortress.
Psalm 71:3
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Post by byron1 on Dec 18, 2007 15:26:09 GMT -5
First i would like to say thankyou for this thread. I am Christian and a Fulltime Youth Minister and it goes without saying that i need some help. I am 24 years old and married to the greatest woman on the face of the planet (i am sure most of you feel the same way about your wives). Seven months ago i became a father to a beautiful baby girl. She the greatest baby on the planet. I have new working at this church nine months it has been great. But now my addiction is getting out of control.
It would seem like the devil had planned out for my life from the very start. As child a i was sexually molested (not by my parents) and my father is also a porn addict. I was not hard to find his movies. for 14 years i have been addicted and eight years had no idea of the effects. Now i am married and Supposed to be considered a man of Integrity instead i am filled with shame and lost hope.
I WANT NOT WANT PORN ANYMORE! I WANT TO BE RID OF THE FILTH IN LIFE SO I CAN BE A BETTER HUSBAND, BETTER FATHER, AND A MINISTER OF INTEFRITY.
I DO NOT WANT MY LITTLE GIRL TO SEE WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE OF ME!!!
PLEASE HELP ME!!! PRAY AND HOLD ME ACCOUNTABILITY!!!!! THANKYOU FOR LISTENING!!
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Post by MrOuch on Dec 18, 2007 23:09:59 GMT -5
byron1,
Through God all things are possible. Read here. Take encouragement here. Post here. I would also suggest checking out settingcaptivesfree.com. It is an online Christ centered recovery program that's FREE. Good luck. I'll pray for you.
MrOuch
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Post by sinner88 on Dec 19, 2007 9:15:28 GMT -5
Way to man up and take responsibility for your decisions byron1. I wish I could do the same. I posted on this forum for the first time yesterday. I am PA and MB addict but am also a christian and plan on starting a family soon. I couldnt even make it 24 hours. I woke up with such strong urges today that I felt if I didnt MB this am I would end up on the internet looking at porn all day today. That is called rationalization... At this point Im just happy not to be surfing. Small victories to start. I will pray for you and your family. Please do the same for me. I keep thinking of that verse in the new testament where jesus says if your right eye causes you to sin gouge it out for it is better to live without a body part ... I'm so desperate at this point I would almost consider it. PS. Isnt it funny that when your looking at porn you can sit for hours and not mind the time but when your doing something like trying to ensure your salvation you watch the clock like you have something better to be doing. Life is full of strange paradox. Good luck.
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Post by byron1 on Dec 19, 2007 9:47:36 GMT -5
i took some pretty big steps in the last 24 hours. I confessed to two close friends and asked them to be my accountability partners. Both my brothers and a older minister friend said yes. what is so funny is that for so long i felt that if i confessed people would shun and neglect me. This is a new day and a new chance to beat this demon. this time i have people who are going to help me.
P.S. and i'm putting two fliters on my computer today.
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Post by MrOuch on Dec 19, 2007 14:11:23 GMT -5
byron1,
Sitting down face to face with someone and telling them I was addicted to porn and mb was one of the most difficult and at the same time, one of the most freeing things I ever had to do. Congrats man on making this BIG step.
sinner88,
Like I suggested to byron1, take a look at the settingcaptivesfree.com website and enroll in the Way of Purity online course. I think you will find it very helpful.
Be well,
MrOuch
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Post by silentprocess on Dec 19, 2007 14:13:11 GMT -5
Hello everyone. I am glad I found this site and this thread. I also want to say to Byron1 Congratulations on the steps you made. Every victory, however minor we feel it is, is cause for celebration!
I've been a christian for a little over a year, I've been delivered from alcoholism and smoking as well as many other afflictions. Porn is one thing that I've found out was something that was much larger than I thought it was.. I initially thought my problems were just I was a drunk but after that has been taken away I realize how porn really messed my mind up and because of that I made decisions based off of lies I learned from porn.. I had a distorted view of women and love and alcohol turned from being a party use to being a means of killing the pain that I couldn't understand from every failed relationship... Sorry don't mean to go on. I'm just glad I found this site and forum and hope to be able to encourage, edify and lift up you guys as well as lift up my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because without Him as my foundation all is wasted..
Thank you brothers for reading and God bless you.
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Post by sinner88 on Dec 20, 2007 10:06:09 GMT -5
Thank you for your advice MrOuch. I appreciate that someone acknowledges my struggle. Having another tough day. Boy I really got myself deep in this hole and I really feel like an addict when i wake up needing it. I have made 48 hours without porn but MB I havent been able to make 24. This is the worst its ever been for me. Please pray that I can wake up tomorrow and not feel this urge with such intensity. Im going to check out that website today. Thanks.
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Post by rockwell on Dec 20, 2007 14:32:56 GMT -5
I am glad for all of you. Lets keep this thread for its intended purpose and use it to post inspirational messages from scripture, quotes from the saints, etc. Feel free to send each other PMs to keep your conversations going or start a new thread. I just want to keep this thread focused on its purpose and take conversational stuff offline or to another thread. Thanks.
rockwell
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