Recovery from Depression and Dependency

Legacy

January 17, 2016 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

Now, you can listen and/or read!

I will embrace the sum total of my failures and successes, as the legacy of my life--knowing that both the good and bad are a part of my whole story. I will live each day with new strength and give God praise. --Christina Cook Lee, A Quest For New Strength — Link to New Strength Devotional, Audio Version

Focus: Embracing your life as a legacy

Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

I believe this verse was written for you personally. You might automatically think, “Yeah, right—this was written thousands of years ago about somebody else, not me”. Well, I differ on that philosophy. Please stay with me and keep reading…

Another scripture in the Bible worth considering, says this: Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us –2 Timothy 3:16-17 (The Message).

Try imagining your life was truly ‘ordained’–that God saw possibilities in you even when you were still in your mother’s womb. He saw you as someone who would have successes and failures. Someone who would possibly be tempted to give up. He knew you would question at times why you were born—but most importantly, He saw you as someone He could use as an example to others—just like He used a person who lived in Bible times, named David.

David was a simple shepherd boy. He had seven or eight brothers and a couple of sisters. He was the youngest son of a man named Jesse. David was singled out by the Prophet Samuel and anointed as king of Israel while he was literally in a field watching sheep. Several years went by before he actually reigned as king. In the meantime, he was still a shepherd–who was also a musician—who also killed a giant with a sling and a stone, because he called on God for help.

During his younger years, David was brought before King Saul to play the harp. Even though the king was pleased with David’s musical ability and trusted David to be his armor bearer, later he became extremely jealous of David.

In the years that follow, David spends a lot of time running for his life because King Saul wants to kill him. When he finally becomes king, David goes through several marriages. He commits adultery with another man’s wife and she becomes pregnant. David arranges for the man to be killed in battle. When the baby is born, it dies. One of David’s grown sons rebels against him and tries to kill him. David struggles with depression. David has physical problems—open sores that won’t heal. He wins many battles. He writes songs for God, based on his experiences. He adds other people’s compositions to his own and creates a collection of songs called, “The Psalms”.

David’s life is a long list of failures and successes. God calls David, ‘the apple of His eye’. David is the father of Solomon, who is known as the wisest man who ever lived—who also succeeded his father as king. David is one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ.

David was an ordinary guy who depended on God. Some of the words he wrote were later referred to as ‘prophecy’. Because he wrote down his failures and victories, he was able to leave a legacy. What if he hadn’t bothered to do that? Or, what if he had only written down the ‘good stuff’?

He couldn’t have been proud of his mistakes. But, in all of his circumstances—David was humble about his life. He was willing to admit when he was wrong. He knew his strength and any goodness in him, came from God–and he always gave God praise.

Declaration: I will embrace the sum total of my failures and successes, as the legacy of my life—knowing that both the bad and the good are a part of my ‘whole story’. I will live each day with new strength and give God praise.

If you subscribe to New Strength, a new segment will come to your email each day.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse:http://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

The power of the tongue

January 16, 2016 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Link to New Strength Devotional, Audio Version

Today, I will stop cursing my life and future. Changing the way I talk will give me new strength to keep moving forward. --Christina Cook Lee, A Quest For New Strength — New Strength Devotional Inspirational Statement of the Day

Focus: Changing the way I talk

2 Peter 3:9 (NCV) The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised—the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but He wants all people to change their hearts and lives.

We’ve probably all heard the saying, “Stupid–is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” It also isn’t a new idea that when you plant a particular kind of seed—you get the same kind of a plant. You don’t plant an apple seed and get an oak tree.

There have been many books written and sermons preached about ‘the power of the spoken word’—but, the original concept comes from the Bible…actually from God, Himself.

In the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, the story is told about how things were in the beginning. Verse two says that after God created earth, it was without form and empty. The big thing I want you to notice is in verse three. It says, “GOD SAID, let there be light and there was light”. He literally SPOKE into existence everything He wanted to make.

The Bible goes on to say that He made people in His own image. That means ourwords are powerful, too. In other words, what you say has a direct effect on your life and future. If you are in the habit of saying, “I can’t help it”, you have to stop saying that, or else you will never see change—if change is what you want.

People say so many thoughtless things and then wonder why bad things keep happening and why nothing seems to ever get better for them.

What would happen if you made the decision to stop saying anything negative about your life…that would include things about your family, friends, your job or job outlook, your gifts and talents, your income or lack of it, your health, your body, your ability to break bad habits…and anything else that would cause improvement in your life to be impossible, impaired, or minimal?

What if you made the choice to begin saying positive things instead of negative things—and if something negative accidently slipped out—you quickly corrected yourself?

We can say we want things to change for the better in our life—but if we keep speaking negative things over and over—how can we expect anything different to happen?

The way you talk is one of the hardest habits to break. You might be offended right now and be thinking—“I don’t know if I like reading this so much, after all.” Well, if that’s how you’re feeling—it’s a pretty good indication that you probably do need to be reading it.

A ‘negative’ spirit moves into your ‘living room’ and likes it there. When you tell it to get out—it may not want to go. It will start making excuses and will maybe ‘move over’ a little bit and let you be a little more positive temporarily, but then before you know it—that spirit will have ‘control of the remote’ again, if you don’t watch out.

If you’re serious about wanting things to change for the better in your life, you’ve got to tell that ‘negative’ sucker to get out, in Jesus’ name–and mean it. No more negative talk!

Declaration: I am kicking the negative spirit out of my ‘living room’ and I’m ‘taking back the remote’ permanently. Today, I will stop cursing my life and future. Changing the way I talk will give me new strength to keep moving forward.

If you subscribe to New Strength, a new segment will come to your email each day.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse:http://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Restoration

January 15, 2016 By Christina Cook Lee 2 Comments

Now, you can listen and/or read!

I release my will in the situation that concerns me to the will of God. --Christina Cook Lee, A Quest For New Strength — Link to New Strength Devotional, Audio Version

Focus: Not wasting our trials

Genesis 50:20 (NKJV) But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

There is a story in the Bible of a boy who seemed to have it all. He was the apple of his father’s eye and he knew it. His name was Joseph. He had eleven brothers, and from the way the story is told, Joseph kinda enjoyed using his position as ‘the favorite’, to ‘rat’ on his brothers.

Joseph’s father loved him so much, he did special things for Joseph—like making him a richly ornamented coat of fine materials, much nicer than what his other sons had, and similar to what royalty would wear. This really bugged Joseph’s brothers a lot.

When Joseph had a couple of dreams hinting that he would become his brothers and his parents ‘superior’—Joseph’s brothers were ‘over it’. They wanted to kill him and get him out of their lives.

A day came, when all of the brothers were out tending their father’s sheep. Joseph’s brothers were seriously plotting about how they could get rid of him. One of the brothers who loved Joseph, was worried about him. He talked the others into putting Joseph in a pit, instead of killing him–thinking he would come back later and let him go.

Instead, Joseph wound up getting sold to some traveling merchants as a slave. Joseph’s brothers told their father he had been killed by a wild animal. They even soaked his beautiful coat in some animal blood to make their story more convincing. Joseph was only seventeen at the time.

For a lot of years, Joseph’s brothers may have had some pretty mixed feelings about what they had done. The Bible doesn’t directly say that they became depressed and turned to drugs and alcohol, but you can imagine they probably had a hard time swallowing their shame, when they saw how their father grieved for the son he had lost.

Getting rid of their brother didn’t make their father love the brothers any more than before. Now they had to live a lie and deal with their guilt. God couldn’t have been pleased with what had been done, but He always likes to take a sorry story to a good ending.

For a total of 13 years, Joseph spent time in Egypt, as a servant and in prison. Through those years, his brothers had no idea what had happened to him. It turned out that even while Joseph was a servant and in prison, God blessed him.

One night the Pharoah had a perplexing dream, and Joseph was given the opportunity to give the Pharoah an interpretation. God revealed to Joseph that the dream meant there would be seven years of plenty, and then a widespread famine that would also last seven years. Joseph advised Pharoah to harvest and store food during the seven years of plenty before the famine hit, so he could save his nation. The Pharoah was so convinced Joseph was right, he made Joseph his right hand man—a Governor.

During the years of plenty, everything was done just as Joseph had recommended. When the famine came, Joseph’s brothers showed up in Egypt, wanting food. They didn’t recognize Joseph at first, but the bottom line is—Joseph’s dreams were right. Joseph’s family was in a position of desperate need. After a series of events, Joseph finally told his brothers who he was, forgave them—and because of his position—he was able to provide a new life for his father, his brothers, and their families.

This account has been used throughout history, to show what can happen when someone who has been wronged is willing to forgive. Ongoing ‘issues’ in your life may be tied to a situation in your past that didn’t go well–and was never really resolved. It’s so easy to believe that things can’t improve if they have been let go for a long time.

Declaration: I will find new strength in no longer allowing evil to triumph in my circumstances. I release my will in the situation that concerns me, to the will of God. I believe He is able to bring my sorry story to a good ending…and possibly save lives because of it.

If you subscribe to New Strength, a new segment will come to your email each day.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse:http://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Overcoming

January 14, 2016 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Losing one's self in Christ means letting go of fear. Isn't it about time we did that? — Link to New Strength Devotional, Audio Version

Losing one's self in Christ means letting go of fear. Isn't it about time we did that? --Christina Cook Lee, A Quest For New Strength — New Strength Devotional Inspirational Statement of the Day

Focus: Losing ourselves in Christ

John 16:33 (NKJV) These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Fear of the future can find its way into our lives early on.

I was born in 1951 and in my childhood, it seemed like World War II must have been ‘long ago’–since I hadn’t been alive during the time it happened. At the ten-year anniversary of the World Trade Center attack, it was a stark realization to me that the mid 50s was truly the early aftermath of World War II.

Grasping that information gave me the ability to understand better why there was still so much reference being made to the World War II when I was young. There were some references I wish I had not been exposed to—but, many of the harsh realities were continuing to unfold.

It was at church where a slide show was presented, revealing some of the atrocities of the holocaust. The vivid black and white pictures on the big projection screen left a horrific impression on my young mind. I saw dead bodies piled high on a flat bed wagon. I saw people who were barely alive and starving from gross malnutrition. There were many images of the dead and dying–and of the severe chambers where millions of them were executed.

The idea of it all was so unthinkable. I couldn’t stop imagining the awfulness and how horrible it must have been for the families who were torn apart.

No wonder I had nightmares. No wonder I laid awake at night worrying that another war would happen and that my dad would have to leave us and go fight for our country. In spite of the sometimes scariness of his angry spells, the thought of not having a dad at all was just plain terrifying.

Way back in the beginning, God created a perfect environment for man and woman. It was His desire that they would live on earth in peace and harmony with Him–enjoying all of the magnificent things He had made. Everything was wonderful for a while. But, because of disobedience to God’s desires—people allowed sin and its effects to enter into the world–and things were never the same after that.

Later on, Jesus came offering new possibilities to those who would put their trust in Him. Near the end of His life in human form, John chapter 16 gives us the account of Jesus preparing his followers for the time when He would have to go away.

The talk He was giving reminds me of the comforting words my mother would say when my parents were about to leave us with a babysitter or our grandparents for a while. It was the assurance of her saying, “We’ll be back in a little while”, that I held onto until they returned and I saw them coming through the door.

Jesus was letting us know in this passage that we would face tribulation. It was no secret. He knew better than anyone what mankind was capable of. But, instead of letting our imaginations run wild–He was telling us to receive the peace He was able to give us by ‘losing ourselves in Him’. He was saying, “In the world there is tribulation—but don’t live in the world—live in Me and live happy, because I have overcome the world.”

When we lose something—we have to let it go. Letting go isn’t always the easiest thing to do—even if it is the best thing. Losing one’s self in Christ means letting go of fear. Isn’t it about time we did that?

Declaration: Because fear of the future can cause me to be depressed and could drive me toward addiction, I will find new strength by choosing not to live in the world, but to live in Christ. As I lose myself in Him, His power will enable me to be an overcomer, through whatever may be ahead.

If you subscribe to New Strength, a new segment will come to your email each day.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse:http://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Pain

January 13, 2016 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Everything Jesus went through was for my peace and yours. --Christina Cook Lee, A Quest For New Strength

Focus: God would do anything to rescue me

Isaiah 53:5-6 (NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

When I was a little girl, I remember hiding in the bottom of my closet when I knew my dad was angry. In the days before my dad gave his heart to the Lord, we all walked a tightrope. Sometimes it didn’t matter to him who was at fault, or if anyone was at fault–he inflicted emotional and physical pain anyway.

After the collapse of my first marriage I wanted to hide again. I moved from the mid-west to New York State. When my second marriage failed, I went to hide in California. “All we like sheep have gone astray.” I can really relate to that. I went astray alright–and where I went, I took a boatload of guilt with me…and many unsolved mysteries as to “why.”

All my life, I could see no value in the rejection and bruises I had endured…until today, when God lifted the veil that had clouded my ability to understand. All of my wondering about “why” God would allow all of that to happen–was settled.

Even though I was saved at a young age, it took me until now to learn that when I was being abused–so was Jesus. He wasn’t standing back watching me suffer–He was suffering with me and for me.

I have committed not to speak in lengthy detail of the struggles I experienced in my unsuccessful marriages. I will only say that in my second marriage, I ran for safety at times. When I tried to hide at home—almost every door in the house was kicked open. There were impossible rules that constantly changed. I could never do everything right and there were strong consequences when I failed. To say that I had “fear issues” would be an understatement.

Yet, the physical and emotional wounds of my lifetime don’t begin to compare with the description of what Jesus Christ bore on my behalf. He was beaten, stripped, and put to death by crucifixion–not so I would feel guilty–but, so that I would know how much He loved me and to what extent He was willing to go to rescue my soul from sin and death.

Not only my guilt, but the memories of my failures, and pain were nailed to His cross. Remembering the past will never change it…but, knowing that “the chastisement of my peace” was one of the things He purchased–can change my future.

Everything Jesus went through was for my peace and yours. To say that we still have to carry that awful load–is like saying He didn’t suffer enough. He DID.

Declaration: I accept the suffering Jesus endured on my behalf as proof of His love for me. I believe the sacrifice of His life was enough to cover all of my failure and guilt. I receive the peace He purchased and will not wonder “why”, anymore.

If you subscribe to New Strength, a new segment will come to your email each day.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse:http://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Waiting on God

January 12, 2016 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

Now, you can listen and/or read!

I have the courage to cooperate with God as He performs this transformation that is taking place in my life. The end result will be worth the wait and I will receive new strength each day. --Christina Cook Lee, A Quest For New Strength — Link to the audio version

Focus: Full restoration is worth the wait

Matthew 5:6-9 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I have a beautiful pin that was given to me by someone very special. Originally, the pin had a little row of accent rhinestones on it that were glued to the surface. After a few years of wear and tear, the rhinestones fell off. At first, I thought, “Oh no, now I won’t be able to wear that pin anymore”. But, on closer inspection, I discovered I could scrape the unattractive glue residue off with my thumbnail. Even though it wasn’t quite as pretty anymore, the pin was still usable and I could keep wearing it. The stones that fell off had been on the surface and you really couldn’t tell they had ever been there, once the glue was gone.

Recently, I wore the pin. Someone remarked how interesting it was and I commented that it used to be even more interesting. I pointed out the small blank space where there used to be a little row of glittering rhinestones. The person (who knows that one of my hobbies is making jewelry) said, “Well, couldn’t you just get some more rhinestones and glue them on?”

I supposed I had nothing to lose, so last night I went out to a craft store and found a clearance item that had some small strands of rhinestones just like the ones that had been on my pin. I asked a sales consultant to recommend a really good glue that would bond metal to metal. I found just what I needed and went home with my supplies.

Today on my lunch hour, I snipped off a small strip of rhinestones that would fill the little blank spot. I carefully applied the glue to the pin and put the stones in place. Right away, I felt a surge of excitement. My pin was going to be restored to its original beauty! I picked up the pin and saw the stones start to slide out of place. Oops! I was rushing things. As an afterthought, I looked at the directions on the tube and sure enough, it said the glue would take 48-72 hours to fully set. That seems like a long time! But, I want the results to last and I’m sure it will be worth the wait. If I hadn’t learned about the waiting period, I might have been tempted to wear the pin tomorrow and the stones could have possibly fallen off and been lost. I would have had to start the project all over again because I hadn’t been patient.

Something of mine was broken, I found the courage to try to fix it, and the wisdom to accept the fact that it is going to take some time for a ‘full cure’.

The story of my pin is a lot like the process of recovery.

Many people who are depressed and addicted can still function. Their true condition may not be that obvious on the outside…but, life just isn’t as pretty as it used to be.

If you are struggling today, there is hope. No matter how bad things have become, there is still the possibility of restoration if you will have courage and give God time.

In comparing your life to the description in Matthew 5:5-9, the process of getting to the point where you have a hunger and thirst for righteousness and are filled—being able to show and be shown mercy—being pure in heart and seeing God—and being known as a peacemaking child of God, may be things you will have to wait a while for—but they are beautiful attributes that will apply to you, in time. Your life has been broken, but it can be fixed.

Declaration: I have the courage to cooperate with God as He performs this transformation that is taking place in my life. The end result will be worth the wait, and I will receive new strength each day.

If you subscribe to New Strength, a new segment will come to your email each day.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse:http://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Recovery from Depression and Dependency

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Now, you can listen and/or read! Link to New Strength Devotional, Audio Version

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Footer

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Link to New Strength Devotional, Audio Version