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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2015 21:48:30 GMT -7
Mike has offered a free 100 day Devotional or a free copy of his first book.
If you would like a copy of either one of those, Private Message Mike and give him your address. I just got our copy of the 100 day devotional. We've got Mike's first book and it's good. We've only been able to get through about half of it tho. We're going to read a book on raising teens. We need some help in that area pronto LOL. Next month, I will have three teens, Lord help me!
But, there good kids. I'm proud of how their turning out. I just want to learn to communicate better with them.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2015 17:36:31 GMT -7
Three teens! If you can manage that you can do anything! I've got a 5yo and a 2yo, that in itself is hard enough:) Well worth the grey hairs though.
Thanks for the advice HS3
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2015 0:07:43 GMT -7
LOL! Yeah, my mom always says, "I earned these gray hairs."
They grow up so fast, don't they??!! My oldest graduates this year and now she's working.
I'm just going through Mike's 100 Day Devotional, and it's nice. He's got a verse for each day, and then a few paragraphs about how God will help and heal SAs.
The first verse for day one is Heb. 13:5b..I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
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KevinesKay
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Interests: weight lifting, singing, playing the guitar
Days of Integrity: 1 year
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Post by KevinesKay on Jun 10, 2015 15:56:03 GMT -7
Bravo Charlie, I haven't heard from you in a while. How's it going? Please check in. Thank you. KK
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2015 16:58:12 GMT -7
Hi KK, yes I haven't been here for some time but thank you for the message. My lack in visiting has not been due to my actions with porn etc, in fact I have been too busy studying for a simulator at work that I haven't really had the energy or desire to look at porn, which I suppose is a good thing! On the other hand it has also affected my bible reading / prayer and coming to these sites which isn't so good. The good news is my simulator is done, and being stress free for a while a good test will be over the next few days as I fly out to Honolulu tonight. I'm looking forward to escaping the cold but also know there is going to be immense temptation. However, I can do it! Thanks for the support, I hope to read more of your and others posts while I'm away to catch up on things.
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KevinesKay
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Posts: 1,741
Occupation: Balloon Artist
Interests: weight lifting, singing, playing the guitar
Days of Integrity: 1 year
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Post by KevinesKay on Jun 13, 2015 2:12:45 GMT -7
BC,
That is so great hear you checking back. I was honestly getting a little worried for you. My hope is that you'll be encouraged to rekindle your relationship with the Lord. You know how it important that is. But it is encouraging to know that the Lord has shown you great favor. He's kept you safe.
Hope to hear back from you soon. Way to go checking back in when you had the opportunity.
KK
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2015 20:31:18 GMT -7
I'm glad that things are going well for you Brother BC, Keep hanging in there
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2015 13:12:35 GMT -7
Thanks KK and Steve. Hanging in there is one way to describe it. Whilst I am certainly doing a lot better than I have on previous occasions, I have found myself grabbing "quick peeks" at P the last few days, just for seconds or a few minutes at a time. I am not surprised though, it's like I'm delaying my prayer life or bible study just so that I'll have an excuse when I fail. I recently got back from work and it was a disaster in terms of lust. It seemed there were women walking around in bathers everywhere my eyes landed, even in the hotel lobby and lifts!
I have read and listened to Mike's articles on this site and I found them very relevant and close to home. I definitely think that to defeat this, for me anyway, is not about just committing to stop looking at P or stop M. If that's all I'm doing and not changing other priorities in my life I know I will fail, either very shortly or some time down the track. The key for me is I MUST put Christ first and take up my Cross each and every day. I have delayed this for so long, because I know it means pretty major changes to my life. It's going to mean getting up early and worshipping God and prayer, rather than doing what I always do and snooze the alarm and sleep in. It's going to mean saying to my wife when our favourite tv show comes on, "sorry I haven't had quiet time with The Lord today, so I'm going to study my Bible". It's going to mean not being embarrassed to declare my faith to other crew members if the opportunity arises.
I am so disappointed in myself in a way, on my last trip one of the other Pilots was incredibly anti Christian and had no issue in calling Bible believing Christians Bigots as well as all sorts of other names under the sun (he had no idea I am one them). Rather than defend my faith and offer explanations on some of our views, I simply nodded and avoided confrontation. I felt like Peter denying Jesus.
I am also reading a book at the moment that has spoken some quite obvious things to me, but I've refused to act on them previously. There is quite a difference in having Jesus as our saviour, and Jesus as our Lord. As saviour, He dies for us, but as Lord, we die for Him. I definitely have not had Jesus as Lord of my life for some time.
The author also mentions that all of us have a "tree" in our garden that we are not to eat from. We will be tempted to "eat of that tree" again and again however to us, it is forbidden. For us here that tree is P, M,lust etc.
I guess what I am trying to say is that until I make Jesus my Lord, I am always going to go back to P etc. And I have known that, I've just refused to do it because I haven't been prepared to make the sacrifices. So instead of counting how many days have I been free from everything s*x, I am going to start counting how many days have I made Jesus Lord of my life and taken up my Cross.
KK and Steve etc, if I can put in half the effort you guys have to turn your lives around, that'll be a great start. That completes today's essay!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2015 23:03:46 GMT -7
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KevinesKay
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Occupation: Balloon Artist
Interests: weight lifting, singing, playing the guitar
Days of Integrity: 1 year
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Post by KevinesKay on Jun 19, 2015 15:19:27 GMT -7
BravoCharlie wrote:BC, This post has got to be probably one of the top ten posts I have seen on this forum. It took me a long time to learn this valuable lesson. God doesn't give a flying hoot about my sobriety until I give a flying hoot about making Him Lord of my life. And you said it so well. You know where your priority is. It's about blessing the Lord, not receiving blessings or sobriety from Him. You know, when I made my first post of this year on January 6, 2015, I not only was barely sober for 2 days, I had no relationship with the Lord. Compared to now, I was completely dead spiritually. I went to church. I prayed before my meal, and before I went to bed. But God was not my priority! And I knew it... Guilty as charged. Now, I would never think of going out into this world without God by my side. Without God, I stand no chance whatsoever. Many years of relapse have taught me that well. And I believe and hope that you and others like yourself will grasp that lesson sooner than I did. When I let God take a front seat in my life, it changed things completely. It's only been less than 6 months ago that I was binging on P in my basement using a secret tablet, and missing out on Christmas with my family. And now, God is using me in a huge way to minister to others that he brings in my path. I didn't expect that. It even surprised me that I've been able to refrain from P and MB BravoCharlie, your post scares the enemy. The devil knows how dangerous you're going to become if you follow through with this understanding. He knows that God will use you mightily. I will definitely be praying for you brother. KK
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2015 23:14:32 GMT -7
Thanks once again Steve and KK, thanks for the motivation and inspiration. Make no mistake God is using both of you to help others, I'm one of them. KK, I have prayed before meals with my family, prayed before bed and gone through phases of having quiet time after dinner locked in my bedroom reading the word for a number of years now. And you know what, I too knew God was not my priority and didn't want to change because it seemed like too much sacrifice. I would rather sit on the couch and watch some sitcom with my wife than pray and have fellowship. I would rather play Playstation than open my Bible in the evening.No wonder God has seemed so distant to me. It's actually embarrassing the level of effort I have put into getting to know Jesus. If I put in the same amount of effort into searching for God and having a relationship with Him as I did in searching for the perfect porn movie or chatting up girls on adult dating websites I would be a different person. I have used my Sin as an excuse to NOT pray and seek His face.
I meant what I said in my last post though and I believe both your and Steve's testimony confirm it's a heck of a lot more than ticking off days that I didn't look at P or M, it's about putting God as number 1 and hopefully in time the rest will follow. I'm about to tell my wife that she'll start to see a different person around here, one that actually worships Jesus and puts Him first, not just for 15 seconds before we start our meal at a Dinner time.
Brett.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2015 0:06:19 GMT -7
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KevinesKay
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Days of Integrity: 1 year
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Post by KevinesKay on Jul 2, 2015 16:30:43 GMT -7
Hey Brett,
Did you ever get a chance to check out SettingCaptivesFree.org
I'm sure you'll find that to be a good resource.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 16:51:13 GMT -7
Hi KK,
I did look at SCF and plan on using it, however at the moment the main resource I am using is porn-free.org, I have found it to be very good. The hard part is sometimes trying to figure out what resource/lesson to do and in what order though.
On a general update, I am still struggling controlling my mind. I read Mike's article again last night about focussing on the brilliance of God on His throne whenever an impure thought enters my mind. Thus rather than fighting the lust thought, as Mike says, hand it over to God. Taking every thought captive so to speak. Why do these things sound so much easier than it really is! The flight attendants on my flight last night were to be blunt very attractive, and I realised how much work I have to do. Sounds very shallow, but I've been undressing women mentally within seconds of meeting them for many years so turning that "off" is proving very difficult.
Thanks KK
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2015 14:39:25 GMT -7
Good to hear from you again Brother BC.
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