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Post by chad on Sept 12, 2018 19:47:37 GMT -7
I may be able to do Wednesday evenings. Right now I am not committed except that I work until 6:30 PST, but my schedule is changing in the next few weeks and I will be getting off at 4. How long do you think the meetings/services will last? Hi Shanna,
Maybe we will go ahead and see about starting a Friday evening meeting and then when your schedule changes we can see about Wednesdays. When we were doing the online meetings previously, they lasted anywhere from one hour to three hours - just depends on who is in the meeting and how engaging the conversation gets. If you want to plan on starting this Friday we could plan on 7:30 mountain which would be 6:30 pacific - would that work for you?
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Post by chad on Sept 12, 2018 20:01:37 GMT -7
Good morning Anthony! I am doing pretty well the last couple of days. I've been in the Word and listening to worship music. I've also been doing things to take my eyes off myself, like reaching out to other people that seem to be having a hard time and letting them know I am thinking about them and praying for them. As we all know, sin is very selfish and self focused. It also helps me to not think about alcohol. Keeping from drinking puts alcohol on my mind all the time, making me think about drinking all the time. Being in the Word and prayer has helped that. I drank a lot on Sunday. I made green chili and it's an all day process that I love to do. In the past I always drink while I am cooking, so I did the same this Sunday. I didn't do anything bad as far as behavior due to the drinking, I just drank too much and that ruined my sleep, which affected my work day on Monday. It also is accompanied with a lot of guilt and feelings of failure. I am currently starting a new business within my current job and I cannot afford to be distracted or not present. How are you doing? Also, I have heard back from the counselor I was in contact with and it sounds like she isn't thrilled about doing less than once a week sessions to start out with. Once a week is something I am not able to afford. She is the only female within a driving distance of me through the Biblical counseling site. Can you pray that the Lord opens doors to the right person, or provides the $ needed to go once per week? I have to do it, I cannot fall back into my old ways. Hi Shanna,
Anthony's advice is spot on - be in fellowship and be in the Word. Accountability is so important when newly sober and the best way to have that is through a solid Biblical Church.
The worst thing you can do - as it sounds like you already know, is to go the way of guilt after a bad decision. Look to the Lord, believers stand in His righteousness and not our own. His mercy and grace are so profound that He catches us even when we stumble and sin.
Something that helps me and that gives me great comfort during times of struggle or anxiety is to ask the Lord that He would fill my heart, soul, and mind with His Word - that I would be able to see Him through His Word. Then go to His Word and take something from it and meditate on it in communion with Him.
Hope that helps.
God Bless
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Post by A on Sept 12, 2018 21:13:28 GMT -7
Chad is exactly right, the guilt can be crushing. God graces us with guilt when we sin so we see our error and turn to him for forgiveness. Once we ask for it, it is ours through faith in him even if we may not "feel" forgiven of our guilt before him. We must trust his promises to forgive us when we ask him (1 John 1:9) and not get sucked into self pity and shame. Obviously forgiveness is not the end of it from our perspective, we must continue to grow in our sanctification! Stay focused on him and his word. I would recommend memorizing Psalm 119:11 this week. There will be a quiz
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Post by shanna on Sept 14, 2018 8:56:26 GMT -7
I may be able to do Wednesday evenings. Right now I am not committed except that I work until 6:30 PST, but my schedule is changing in the next few weeks and I will be getting off at 4. How long do you think the meetings/services will last? Hi Shanna,
Maybe we will go ahead and see about starting a Friday evening meeting and then when your schedule changes we can see about Wednesdays. When we were doing the online meetings previously, they lasted anywhere from one hour to three hours - just depends on who is in the meeting and how engaging the conversation gets. If you want to plan on starting this Friday we could plan on 7:30 mountain which would be 6:30 pacific - would that work for you?
Sorry that I haven't replied. It's been a very busy week. So...don't be mad, I am not able to do Fridays for awhile as my son has football games on Friday nights. Right now I am struggling to find time, so schedule when it's the best for you and I will join in when I am able . This week has been going good. Being busy has helped and I have spent time each morning with The Father
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Post by chad on Sept 17, 2018 11:28:51 GMT -7
Hi Shanna,
Maybe we will go ahead and see about starting a Friday evening meeting and then when your schedule changes we can see about Wednesdays. When we were doing the online meetings previously, they lasted anywhere from one hour to three hours - just depends on who is in the meeting and how engaging the conversation gets. If you want to plan on starting this Friday we could plan on 7:30 mountain which would be 6:30 pacific - would that work for you?
Sorry that I haven't replied. It's been a very busy week. So...don't be mad, I am not able to do Fridays for awhile as my son has football games on Friday nights. Right now I am struggling to find time, so schedule when it's the best for you and I will join in when I am able . This week has been going good. Being busy has helped and I have spent time each morning with The Father No worries on the slow reply Shanna - I am always guilty of that. I am glad to hear that you are doing better and having a good week. It seems like the best evening for most of the people I have asked is Wednesday evenings. So, if all goes as planned I hope to start the first new online meeting a week from this Wednesday at 7pm mountain time. I will put an announcement on the forum here once everything is set up and confirmed. God Bless!
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Post by setapart87 on Sept 18, 2018 14:15:04 GMT -7
Hey there. My name is Shane. It has been awhile since I have been on here. I plan to come on here more often. I hope that the community will grow more.
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Post by chad on Sept 21, 2018 21:31:32 GMT -7
Hey there. My name is Shane. It has been awhile since I have been on here. I plan to come on here more often. I hope that the community will grow more. Good to hear from you Buddy - I miss you! I look forward to hearing from you here. Also, it looks like the online meeting we were texting about a couple weeks ago will be on Wednesdays at 7 or 7:30 mountain time, starting next Wed. I hope that works for you?
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Post by shanna on Sept 23, 2018 12:09:36 GMT -7
Sorry that I haven't replied. It's been a very busy week. So...don't be mad, I am not able to do Fridays for awhile as my son has football games on Friday nights. Right now I am struggling to find time, so schedule when it's the best for you and I will join in when I am able . This week has been going good. Being busy has helped and I have spent time each morning with The Father No worries on the slow reply Shanna - I am always guilty of that. I am glad to hear that you are doing better and having a good week. It seems like the best evening for most of the people I have asked is Wednesday evenings. So, if all goes as planned I hope to start the first new online meeting a week from this Wednesday at 7pm mountain time. I will put an announcement on the forum here once everything is set up and confirmed. God Bless! Chad, how long will the meetings last?
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Post by A on Sept 24, 2018 17:43:46 GMT -7
Shanna, when we used to do them they were pretty informal. Some would stay logged in for 30 minutes or maybe an hour and a half, depending on the conversation and availability for time. I would say average time about an hour.
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Post by A on Sept 24, 2018 17:44:11 GMT -7
Hey there. My name is Shane. It has been awhile since I have been on here. I plan to come on here more often. I hope that the community will grow more. Hey Shane, glad to see you here!
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Post by clayton on Nov 30, 2018 6:51:08 GMT -7
Hello. I am starting a recovery group at my church in January. Any suggestions on a good resource to use to help guide the discussions each week?
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