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Christina Cook Lee

Media Producer - Author - Blogger - Songwriter

Right Relationships

Dealing with an offense

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Topic: Right relationships

Focus: Dealing with an offense

Matthew 18:15-17 (NKJV) Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

No matter how hard you try, there will be some relationships that don’t work out the way God would have wanted. It’s painful to have to face, but this is not a perfect world.

The Bible was written about real people and their experiences. When Jesus was here, He was very much aware of the difficulties His followers faced…sometimes with each other.

If Jesus hadn’t known there would be times when our brothers and sisters in Christ would behave in wrong ways, He wouldn’t have made it a point to give such straightforward directions about how to handle such an occurrence.

It’s always best if differences between believers can be taken care of privately and ‘settled outside of court’. It’s never a pretty thing when someone has to be publicly reprimanded. Truthfully, it’s quite rare that differences ever come to the point of having to ‘go before the church’. I’ve only had to witness this happening to someone once in my life, and I hope I never have to see it again. It’s just pitiful when people can’t agree and when one believer has so much against another believer that they have to push things to that extreme.

Many of us have suffered offenses and just didn’t want to take it to the full letter of the law in order to get justice.

If someone has sinned in a way that has offended you, you have a choice to make. You are the only one who can decide what course of action to take. It’s a painful position to be in, no matter which way you turn. Any way you look at it, you are at the mercy of God…and He sees.

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New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

Sometimes, we can put a matter in the hands of God and just walk away, trusting Him to work it out in His way and in His time…laying down our will and giving it up to God. I can speak from experience that it takes a lot of courage to put your reputation on the line and let the chips fall where they may. People may wonder about you, and you may have to be willing to endure suspicion.

Whatever route you choose, God is there for you. He is the One who understands better than anyone what has been done and the awkwardness of your circumstances…and that may be all you have to hold onto. But don’t forget God is merciful toward you and the other person, also. His love extends to both of you. His desire may always be for healing and restoration, but we can’t predict His ways of bringing those things about.

What you can be sure of, is that He will not leave you hopeless. He has a way of making crooked things straight and turning darkness into light. The hard part, is that the fulfillment of His plan often requires that we die to ourselves in ways that aren’t easy…or convenient.

If you find yourself faced with a complicated situation that might actually require you to take steps toward following the scriptural method for handling an offense that just can’t be

resolved in any other way, be sure that you have spent plenty of time in prayer and fasting before you make your final decision.

There is so much at stake when this approach is taken. Emotions can get in the way and the whole thing has the potential of turning uglier. You have to be conscious of the possible outcome before you get to that point. You also have to consider whether there will ever be peace as a result of choosing that course of action, even though it’s an option.

When we are caught in the middle of an offense, we can want justice so much that we become blind to the consequences.

God always rewards humility. His heart is touched with compassion toward the one who deserves justice but doesn’t demand it. His favor is worth more than the approval of a million people.

Declaration: I will find new strength in knowing what the Word of God says concerning my life and my needs. In situations of extreme pressure, I will wait on God for the wisdom I need in order to make the right choice as to how I should respond to another believer who has sinned against me.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, 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, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

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

The power of agreement in prayer

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Topic: Right relationships

Focus: The power of agreement in prayer

Matthew 18:19 (NKJV) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Prayer is so important to anyone’s recovery from depression and dependency. Simply talking to God brings about healing in our minds and in our bodies. When we talk to God—He pays attention. In other words, He comes close to us. The Bible says that in the presence of the Lord there is everlasting joy (Psalm 16:11). So, if we need more joy, we should be spending a lot of time talking to God.

If you haven’t spent much time talking to God in the past, you might wonder what you could find to talk about for any length of time. You might also have an impression of ‘prayer’ as something that has to be very formal—something that would be ‘stiff’ and ‘uncomfortable’ in your mind.

Well, talking to God doesn’t have to be stiff and formal—or uncomfortable. God created humans for friendship. In scripture, Jesus said we are no longer servants, but ‘friends’ (John 15:15). Someone who desires friendship with you wants to be talked to as a friend—not as some foreign dignitary. So, when you talk to God—just have a normal conversation. Hopefully, you will be talking to Him frequently—as in several times a day. If you cultivate the habit of talking to Him frequently—your conversation becomes an ‘ongoing’ dialog that never really ends.

The simple act of talking to God frequently will help you develop more of a personal relationship to Him. Maybe you’ve heard people refer to their personal relationship with the Lord and you haven’t totally understood that.

Possibly some of the things in your past have caused you to have a little trouble thinking of God as a ‘pal’. Maybe the impression you have of God is someone who is too Holy and too Righteous to be able to relate to you. Well, He is Holy and He is Righteous—and before Jesus came, few people were able to approach Him directly. However, everything changed when Jesus came to earth. Through His life, death, and resurrection from the dead, Jesus fulfilled the plan of God to tear down the wall that sin had created between us and God. Through a supernatural conception by the Holy Spirit, Jesus was born of a human virgin, named, ‘Mary’.  In His death, the life of Jesus was offered as a perfect blood sacrifice, or atonement, for the sins of mankind. In rising from the dead, Jesus proved He was not just a man, but also One with God and the true Son of God.

(Read more below)

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New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day
Jesus fulfilled what God had spoken in Deuteronomy 32:43. “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; 
for He will avenge the blood of His servants,
and render vengeance to His adversaries; 
He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”
Through His obedience, Jesus created a ‘direct line’ to God. He became the ‘mediator’ between God and people (1 Timothy 2:5). People no longer had to go through a priest to talk to God.

Jesus told us we shouldn’t ask Him (Jesus) for anything directly—rather, we should make our requests known to God ‘in Jesus’ Name’, and God would hear us. We can talk to Jesus, but He specifically told us that when we had requests, we should ask the Father, not Him.

One of the reasons it’s valuable to have right relationships is because of the power we have in prayer through ‘agreement’. We are told in Ecclesiastes chapter four that ‘two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

In Matthew 18:19, we are told that Jesus dwells in the midst of people who are gathered together in His Name. That’s a pretty important reason to have righteous relationships. If you’re aware that the presence of the Lord brings joy and joy brings strength (Nehemiah 8:10)—it should make you want to know more Christian people and it should make you want to spend more time with them.

One of the best things you can do with a Christian friend is pray. Pray for each other—and pray for others. Pray for all of the things that trouble your heart and cause you concern. When you have a righteous relationship with a person who prays, you will have the comfort of knowing they are praying for you and you are not alone. They will be blessed and strengthened knowing the same thing is happening for them—because of your friendship and prayers.

Declaration: I will find new strength by sharing my prayer needs with a Christian friend who is willing to pray for me. I will offer that person my prayer support, in return. Whenever possible, I will join together with other believers where there will be even more power and strength in our prayers of agreement.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, 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, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

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

Right relationships

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Focus:  Employment

Colossians 3:23 (NKJV) And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

When you have a history of depression and dependency, you might have a history of employment issues, also. It’s hard to do well at a job when you are fighting feelings of despair or having sobriety problems. There are a lot of people who are unhappily employed and quite a few who are not employed at all. It’s actually pretty unusual to find someone who has been employed for a long time and still loves what they do.

Most people go into a new job with the attitude that they will give it their best shot. They want to make a good impression. They start out putting their best foot forward. For a while, they are on the ‘honeymoon’…and then after a while, things might not be so great. They begin to realize the people they work with are real people with a lot of personality quirks and problems.

No matter what the people you work with are like, a job can be exactly what you need for accountability at this time. You might not feel like going in to work, but what happens when you stay home? You feel guilty for not going to work, you lose income that you no doubt need, and being home alone or at odds may not be the best thing for you either.

Just like you need to have people you’re accountable to—you need to take responsibility for your life and be productive. Those may seem like words you’d rather not read, but truthfully, work is healthy for everyone. The Bible says those who don’t work, shouldn’t be entitled to eat. It also says that if someone doesn’t provide for their own—they are worse than an unbeliever. Harsh as it seems—it’s the Word of God.

If you have a hard time facing or keeping a job because of the people—well, that’s something to think about, too. It always comes down to relationships in the conditions of depression and dependency. There is always ‘that person’ or ‘those people’ who make you want to quit, right?

(Read more below)

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New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

Having good and lasting relationships with people on this planet is the acid test of life itself. God could have created little pseudo earths for each of us so we wouldn’t have to deal with anyone else—but He didn’t do that. He created lots and lots of species of living beings and made them all reproducible. He wanted to have the earth full of living creatures. He knew we wouldn’t all get along perfectly, that some would get along better than others, and that some would have trouble getting along with anyone period.

There are so many characteristics of behavior in all the various animal kingdoms—just like there are lots of commonalities and conflicts among humans. We aren’t all alike for a reason—yet there are many things we can share. The one thing we all have in common—between animals, people, and all created beings—is that we were made by the same Creator, according to His intelligent design. His plan for us was to co-mingle, socialize, and relate to each other.

When you consider the workplace as a testing ground for your faith in God—work can become much more palatable. When you stop thinking about work in terms of whether you like someone telling you what to do, or what not to do—and start thinking about work as a place where God has placed you to live and learn while showing His love and presence—everything changes.

It’s not that hard for us to say to God, ‘Use me’—or, ‘Send me’. We sing songs that say, ‘Show me your ways that I may walk with You’—and then we wonder why we have to put up with people. Well, that’s what it’s all about, if you want to know God and become more like Him. He made all of us—not just the people you get along with, or the ones who believe what you believe, or who smell good. He made us all. So, if we are going to love God—we have to love who and what He made.

I agree, loving all of God’s people is not that easy to do. Even for two people who seem perfectly matched and are crazy in love—living together in harmony becomes a challenge at times. Divorce is rampant and the courts are full of people who eagerly pledged to stay together for the rest of their lives—and now can’t wait to get away from each other.

The only way we can relate to all people with love is because they are all God’s creation. It’s not up to us to decide if they are lovable. God commanded us to love one another.

Declaration: I will view employment as part of God’s plan for my life. I will find new strength as I do my job as unto the Lord. As I love with His love, instead of mine, I’ll become capable of tolerating others and I’ll learn to enjoy working for a living.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, 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, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

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

Right relationships

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Focus: The importance of faith relationships

Hebrews 10:22-25 (NIV) …let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

As you move forward in recovery, an area that might need work is your willingness or interest in developing deeper relationships with other believers. Going through times of failure and weakness can cause you to feel insecure. While you might be lonely—it also isn’t that easy to make new friends.

It’s possible that somewhere in your background you felt judged because of your choices or behavior. That ‘judgment’—which also felt like rejection—made you back away from faith relationships. The thought of voluntarily placing yourself in a position that could lead to more rejection than you’ve already been through may not be very comfortable or appealing.

In depression and dependency, the enemy of your soul wants you to believe that being around ‘those people’ could be bad for you. He will do his best to plant seeds of doubt in your mind about anything that might result in you moving closer to God. Don’t forget—the devil, who is referred to in scripture as ‘the thief’, comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He does his best work—which is destruction—when he is able to get a person isolated and away from the faith community. He often accomplishes isolating you by getting you to think all Christians are hypocrites and that you can’t trust them.

God is love and life. Spending time in the presence of God and with His people will lead you to wholeness. Moving away from God and away from His people leads to alienation and devastation.

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New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

No doubt about it—if you seek to develop closer faith relationships, you will be exposed to people who are not perfect. Don’t be guilty of ‘writing off’ some who you may not have a natural attraction to. People are not always what they appear to be on first impression. Remember, you don’t find things in common with every person you meet—whether they claim to be a Christian, or not. Don’t base your opinion of Christianity on people you have met who offended you or rubbed you the wrong way. You may have heard it said before—Christians aren’t ‘perfect’, they’re just ‘forgiven’.

If you haven’t been attending a church, try looking for one that offers a Christian recovery program of some type. You can do an internet search in your community and find one. Churches sensitive to the widespread condition of depression and dependency will be able to meet your needs and make you feel less ‘out of place’. Even if you don’t feel like revealing your needs immediately—you will no doubt see people you can relate to in the crowd.

Most people don’t develop lasting faith friendships by just going to church. Let’s face it—when you’re in church, you’re the listener and somebody else is the speaker. The best way to go deeper is to check out what is offered in the way of Bible studies or ‘small groups’. These groups are usually very casual and are meant to give people a chance to have some fun and find friends. Most churches have a resource table or information desk, where you can find materials detailing what kind of ‘small groups’ they offer. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of being in a discussion oriented group, try looking for one that is centered around activities. A ‘small group’ might meet at the church, another public place, or even in someone’s home. The important thing is that the atmosphere will be ‘open’ and you will have the opportunity to get acquainted.

As much as you might resist the idea of opening up and bonding with other individuals—it’s really what God wants for you. As sensitive as you might be about your past—you could be surprised when you get into a group and start getting to know people. You will probably find your past isn’t any worse or all that different from a lot of people who have struggled in the same areas. Being part of a group will give you a sense of ‘belonging’ and offer you some positive role models who will be encouraging to you.

As you continue to move forward in your recovery, you will become more confident about God’s ability to use your successes and your failures. You will be able to see a bigger picture than you see right now and understand the purpose of the things you’ve been through. Healthy faith relationships are an important part of your future. It takes courage to make yourself vulnerable and move in that direction—but the results of living a life that agrees with God’s design offers lasting rewards.

Declaration: I will find new strength by seeking healthy faith relationships and becoming actively involved in a body of believers.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, 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, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

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

Right relationships

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Focus: Listening to the right voice

Psalm 1:1 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners,
 nor sits in the seat of the scornful…

Right or wrong company has everything to do with your ability to keep moving forward in recovery. When you’re facing a situation you’re not sure about—who do you call as a sounding board, and why? Of course you try to call someone who you respect and trust—that is, if you know anyone who fits that description. It’s hard when it seems like there’s no one you can turn to. Then again, you might be tempted to share your problems with someone who is sympathetic—but may not be the right ‘pick’ spiritually. Discouragement can make you desperate. It’s natural to wish for someone who is willing to listen. When life is confusing and you’re emotionally crunched—it might really help for someone to give you some practical suggestions, if you’re open to that.

The problem is—knowing whether the advice you’re getting is what God would say, if you could see Him face to face. There are times when I get so frustrated that God doesn’t just ‘appear’ and give me a straight answer. Everything would be so much simpler, wouldn’t it? But, let’s face it—life is more like a puzzle. We have to search for the pieces one by one. Sometimes a piece looks like it’s going to fit. It’s the right color, the right shape. You looked a long time for it and now you have it in your hand—but then you try to fit it in where it looks like it should go, and guess what? It doesn’t fit after all. Close, but not close enough. So, back you go—looking for another piece. And on and on and on…

Even when you have the Word of God, which contains all the answers to every problem faced by mankind—sometimes you just run out of the energy to hunt, don’t you? Wouldn’t you rather have somebody just tell you what to do, so you don’t have to work at it? Of course you would.

(Read more below)

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Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

But, God must have wanted it this way. He must have thought it would be better for us to have to work on things and learn through experience to trust Him in times when we couldn’t find our way on our own. A God who is capable of being everywhere all at once could have made it possible for us to all to see Him at the same time—in our own way. He could have been a personal ‘Genie’ to every one of us—but He didn’t do it like that.

Sometimes, He allows us to have friends who will speak into our lives and give us guidance—but, for the most part, He wants to be the One we run to. He wants us to learn to sort His voice out from all the others. So that when somebody makes a suggestion to us—we’ll know if that person is the mouthpiece of God—or if they are just speaking something that ‘sounds good’.

The counsel of the ungodly may not look bad. It might sound pretty good, actually. It might look a whole lot like the ‘right puzzle piece’, but when you try to match it up with the Word of God—it’s not a fit.

Jeff and I lived in California for three years. A year and a half of that time, we weren’t married. The cost of living was very high. We each rented rooms in different condo complexes or homes. We moved a couple of times and it was complicated trying to find rooms that weren’t too far apart. We both worked full time and wanted to have as much time together as possible. Well meaning Christian friends said, why don’t you just get a place together? From a practical and financial standpoint—it might have made sense to them. However, Jeff and I had higher standards than that. We wanted to be married—but were willing to go through inconvenience and have our finances stretched until we were ready to make that commitment. We knew that living together out of wedlock was not God’s plan, according to His Word. If we had been looking for an excuse to do it anyway—there were plenty of ‘reasons’. Lots of people did it. It wasn’t unusual at all.

The words of Psalm 1:1 are interesting if you look at them closely. The verse talks about someone who will be blessed if they don’t ‘walk’ in the counsel of the ungodly. The next section of the verse goes from ‘walking’ in counsel—to ‘standing’ in the path of sinners. A person who is standing, is not moving forward, right? In other words, we could say that sin ‘stops you’. In the final section of the verse, we come to the ‘seat’ of the scornful. When someone is seated—they have ‘settled in’. They are not only ‘not moving forward’—they have taken up residence in a wrong place…a position of scorn. Someone who is scornful, thinks they know more that anyone else. They are arrogant, cynical, and egotistical. Someone who is weak might be fooled into thinking a scornful person is full of wisdom, because of the way they exalt their own opinion over what anyone else has to say. You can see how important it is to not listen to the wrong voice. The counsel of the ungodly leads us from walking to standing to sitting. It takes us from a place of being willing to listen—to sinning—to becoming scornful.

Declaration: I will find new strength by not being too anxious to take the advice of ‘just anyone’. I will carefully weigh any suggestions I am given against what the Word of God has to say. It might take more work, but in the end—all of the pieces will fit perfectly.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, 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, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

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

Right relationships

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Focus: Healing relationships

Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

One of the best proven ways to keep moving ahead in recovery is to be a regular part of a support group. Meeting with a few trusted people on a consistent basis can help–by giving you something to look forward to and the knowledge you aren’t alone. If you’ve never done anything like that, maybe you should think about it. Alcoholics Anonymous, Christians in Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, and Overcomers are a few of the faith-based support groups you might find through churches. There are also various online support groups. Some may be geared more toward either depression or dependency—but people with either issue are usually welcome because depression is so closely related to dependency.

Another type of ministry you might try looking for offers help to people who need ‘inner healing’. There are groups with that type of focus all over the world. Inner healing ministries offer retreat weekends and meetings where you can receive guidance and prayer for specific memories that may be especially troubling to you. If you aren’t able to find an actual support group, try looking for a Christian women’s or Christian men’s organization in your area. Most churches have fellowship groups or Bible studies for men and women. There are undenominational ministries in most cities that are open to people of all faiths, such as Aglow International, Christian Women’s Club, and Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International.

(Read more below)

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Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

The most important thing–is to find a group of people who are non-judgmental—hopefully people like yourself who have, or are trying to make progress…led by a person who has had success over weak areas in their own life. It’s hard to get up the courage to seek support, but you will be amazed at how much it will help you–once you get involved.

You might feel more comfortable going to a meeting at a different church than your own–or one that meets in a nearby town or city. Sometimes it’s hard to open up around people you know. It could be easier for you to start fresh with people you’ve never met. When you’ve been battling a long time, people you know can sometimes be calloused to your condition—making it awkward for you to express your needs. When you’re worried what people are going to think of you, you probably aren’t going to have an easy time opening up and sharing some of your feelings. If you’re with people you don’t know that well, you may not have as many of your normal inhibitions. If there is someone you trust who is also in recovery, you might consider asking them to go with you to a support group. You might go consistently if someone else is going with you–if that wouldn’t be too uncomfortable. One way or the other—at least make the effort to try.

I’m not going to suggest that you get involved with a secular group—one that isn’t Bible based. It would also be better if you go to a group that is either men or women, rather than co-ed. Right now, you need to keep building your faith foundation. Secular groups don’t share the same views as Christian groups. In a faith-based program, you will be constantly fed with scriptures and hear encouraging testimonies which will give you hope. At secular groups you will share your feelings and be encouraged to find strength from within yourself. Guess what? The strength you need isn’t in yourself or you’d already have it. When you don’t get true ministry for your needs you will probably come away wondering what you accomplished by going. If you continue to go and things aren’t improving, you may get more depressed—not less.

God wants you to have support from others who understand what you are going through. You don’t have to suffer alone. He wants you to have relationships that will stimulate you toward making improvement. He wants you to be encouraged—but also challenged. He wants you to keep moving forward by growing closer to Him and other believers.

When you are in a dark place, it’s hard to make a change. If your eyes are used to the dark and you come out into the light—your eyes may actually feel pain and maybe ‘tear up’. But once your eyes have adjusted to the light—you see so many things that you just couldn’t see when you were in that place of seclusion. You have probably been isolating yourself so long you don’t even know what you’re missing. Isolation isn’t just ‘being locked away’. You can feel isolated even though you’re surrounded by lots of people—if the people you’re associating with aren’t people who you can trust to share your burdens.

Declaration: I will find new strength by seeking out a Christian ministry dedicated to the needs of people like myself who are committed to continue making progress in recovery. I will find a group where I can receive hope and encouragement from others who share a similar history—but who are working together to create a new future with the help of God.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, 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, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

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