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Christina Cook Lee

Media Producer - Author - Blogger - Songwriter

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Doing things you don’t want to do

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Topic: Keeping yourself clean

Focus: Doing things you don’t want to do

Romans 7:15 (NIV) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do–I do not do, but what I hate, I do.

“Normal” is getting up once in a while and not feeling like facing the day. “Depressed” is getting up everyday and never feeling like facing the day. It’s not being able to think of any reason why your life makes a difference. It’s often the act of going through the motions for the sake of ‘other people’, but certainly not yourself–because nothing motivates you and nothing really matters. The hardest part is the feeling you have that nothing is ever going to be any different than it is today. And, if it wasn’t for those ‘other people’–it all could just ‘be over’ and it would be fine with you.

Several years ago, a book was written by Pastor Rick Warren, called “The Purpose Driven Life. I would suggest you look for it. Millions of copies were distributed. You can find it at many retail stores, online, or at a library.

The reason I am suggesting it–is because I know when you are depressed, it’s hard to absorb anything unless it’s easy to read and simple to follow. This book will give you a 40 day plan. It will help you toward finding purpose for your life–even if you’re at “zero” when you start. Some people who aren’t going through the difficulties you are, might think at first glance that the book is pretty basic and that they don’t need it. However, if you’re struggling to put one foot in front of the other–it might be just the treasure map that will help you.

You might have already read it–but, maybe when you did–things weren’t the way they are right now. It might speak to you in a whole new way if you try it again.

If you’re waking up in the morning more than half of the time–overwhelmed by discouragement, it’s time to take desperate measures whether you feel like it, or not. At the mention of words like I just wrote–you may have instantly reacted with the thought, “Why should I?” Well, there is a very good reason why, actually. A person like you–who has kept going for no other reason than ‘for others’, has proved an amazing point. You have proved your life is not about ‘you’–it’s about ‘others’. The enemy of your soul is out to destroy you and believe it or not–you aren’t his only target.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

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

So, if you’re going to keep on living for others, why not put some purpose into it and use that huge bank account of experience in dealing with disappointment, rejection, anger, bitterness, and all the rest–and turn it into something that could help make a difference ‘for others’ like yourself. That’s what I’m trying to do right now.

Two weeks before the end of last year–someone very dear to me who struggled desperately with depression and addiction was rescued by our Heavenly Father. Her struggle was finally over but a new struggle began for those of us who were still here. The loss was devastating. I felt myself faced with two issues. Issue number one: I deeply wanted to honor her memory and write some practical encouragement like I wish I could have put into her hands when she was alive. I sent many things–always feeling like what I was sending wasn’t exactly what she needed–but, it was the best thing I could find at the time.

Losing her made me realize–somebody needed to write a Bible based source of new strength for people in recovery–for everyday of the year. When you are battling like she was–the enemy never takes a day off from trying to annihilate you.

My other issue was myself and my own pain. I hurt so much I didn’t want to even put on high heels. The loss was so extreme–I couldn’t bear any more pain. I normally love wearing high heels and just endure the discomfort they cause. But, it’s not normal for the daughter of your younger sister to die. And it’s not normal to see the life of someone so beautiful, funny, and bright–cut short at only 40 years old. I knew if I didn’t commit myself to a long-term self-given assignment–I might not make it, either.

So, for this year of my life–I am completely purpose driven. I am focused on honoring someone I lost, focused on keeping my own sanity–and focused on writing something to help others who are going through an intense battle like she was.

All day everyday–I am seeking God for hope and encouragement to put into words ‘for others’. Do I always feel like it? No, but like I said–when you’ve stayed in the game ‘for others’–you might as well turn your losses into something that might make a difference.

Declaration: I will find new strength by turning what the enemy meant for evil into something good. I will keep facing forward with the optimism that God can use my pain and experience as building materials to make something beautiful of my life.

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.

Guarding your ‘eye gate’

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Focus: Guarding your ‘eye gate’

Ezekiel 33:11 (KJV) “As I live”, saith the Lord God, “I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

It’s no secret that depression is rampant in the world today. France and the USA have the highest rates of depression and are closely followed by Brazil, Netherlands, New Zealand, Ukraine, Belgium, Columbia, Lebanon, and Spain—according to the first cross-country survey of its kind. The study was conducted by researchers from the State University of Stony Brook, New York, as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health Survey Initiative. WHO has also published ‘depression’ as the cause of suicide in an estimated 850,000 lives worldwide each year. Depression is known to be the fourth leading contributor to the world burden of disease.

Everyday–many people leave families, jobs, and responsibilities, and are unable to face overwhelming circumstances—because they are depressed.

As human beings, we are able to encounter a considerable amount of trouble and stress and still be able to face ‘life’.  Nobody tosses up their hands after a disappointing day or two. It takes a while for things to become that extreme. For someone to be at the point of giving up completely—layers of problems have piled up creating mountains in their minds. Mountains they are just too weak to climb anymore.

Can you relate to that? Have you been there—or are you there right now? Let’s assume one or the other of those questions is true, if you’re reading this.

Depressing thoughts come because of many reasons. We know the largest contributing factor to major depression is relationships. Some things about relationships may be out of our control—except for a miracle. But, let’s shift our focus to things we are able to control. If you are suffering from depression, it is critical during this time to protect yourself in any way possible from things that may be making conditions worse for you. One important thing you should be able to monitor is what comes into your mind through your eyes everyday—what you see.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

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

Sight is a very unique sense. Sometimes, we are forced to see things we would rather not see. At times, you might be able to close your eyes to avoid seeing an undesirable sight. But in most cases, a negative image has already made it into your mind when you make the decision to avoid seeing any more of it.

When you are struggling for your sanity—you have to guard your ‘eye gate’. It is a doorway to your mind. To some degree, you can control part of what goes in. Think about what kinds of things you are allowing yourself to see. What are you letting into your mind through TV? How about the internet, books, magazines, newspapers? Take an honest inventory of the type of images you allow into your mind through your eyes and how much time you let yourself see them.

On one recent evening, my husband and I were interested in picking up a movie to watch. We stopped at a store where there was a movie vending machine outside and browsed the available films. It was shocking for us to see how few wholesome, ‘feel good’ movies were offered. I would estimate 80% of the genres were horror, suspense, thriller, and crime related. We walked away empty handed. The Bible says laughter does good like medicine. Often, it’s hard to find positive entertainment you can just laugh about—even when you’re trying.

But, sometimes we’ve stopped trying and we’ve fallen into a trap of willingly subjecting our minds to reading novels that take our thoughts in wrong directions—or looking at magazines or internet sites that are, let’s just say it—full of wicked images we should not be looking at. A large amount of negative and insulting material comes into the average home ‘by choice’…because we have become so dull of even considering what we are ‘letting in’.

In fighting depression and dependency, we need to have the courage to change the things we can–in order to keep moving forward in our recovery. If you want a balanced, healthy mind and outlook, ask God to forgive you for the wrongs of the past and determine to fill your ‘eye gate’ with the Word of God and other materials that agree with His ways.

Declaration: I will find new strength by not watching or reading things that disagree with God’s Word. I will become more disciplined in changing channels, walking out of movies, exiting internet sites, putting away books and magazines, and turning my eyes away from negative images that won’t help me keep moving forward.

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.

Seeking God for ‘the heart’ to do what doesn’t come naturally

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Topic: Finding the heart

Focus: Seeking God for ‘the heart’ to do what doesn’t come naturally

Colossians 3:23 (NKJV) And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

I went back to college to study TV and Film Production in my early thirties. Besides being a full-time student, I needed to pay for my education, books, room rental, car payment, food, and other living expenses. I had to support myself in the State of California—where the cost of living was extremely high.

As an unemployed, recent transplant from the Midwest—I was referred to the owner of a housecleaning business—through someone I’d met at my new church. The cleaning company had an immediate opening, the hours were flexible–so I agreed to begin a new career in domestic maintenance.

The work was hard. When I first started, I was handed a series of tough jobs cleaning empty houses that were going to be put up for sale. The people who had moved out often left the property in terrible condition. The kitchens and bathrooms were always especially bad. Stovetops and ovens were typically crusted and caked with stuff that had been burnt on repeatedly and just ‘left’. It took a lot of scraping and scrubbing to get them clean. The toilets, I won’t even go into. Let’s just say I used rubber gloves up to my elbows and a lot of chemicals. I would arrive on the job with my own supplies, vacuum cleaner and a long list of the agency’s expectations. The company I worked for required me to have an entire house spotless in five hours and I was paid seven dollars an hour.

I was grateful to have a job and be starting a new life—but, I was barely past the deep depression of my second divorce. Sometimes when I opened the door and stepped inside at a new cleaning assignment, I would stand in silence, immobilized by the disgusting sight—wondering how on earth I could do it.

(Read more below)

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Link to New Strength Audio Version

One day, feeling completely overwhelmed—God started whispering to my spirit that He could give me ‘the heart’ to do what I didn’t think I could do. Interestingly, a change started taking place in me. Leaning hard on God, I learned some techniques and found cleaning products that made things start to improve. I began cleaning a house as if Jesus Himself was going to be checking it out after I was done. I cleaned everything with all the love I would have cleaned it –if it had been for His own personal use and enjoyment.

With my newfound passion for excellence, the agency started giving me jobs for ‘regular clients’ who wanted their homes cleaned one to three times a week. These were people who liked a spotless home and appreciated my standard of perfection. I looked for unusual ways to go the extra mile in my cleaning efforts for the doctors and other professional people I now served.

Eventually, I was able to buy the contracts of my favorite clients from the cleaning agency. Once I had paid off the fees for the contracts, I was able to work directly for the clients and earn a much better rate of pay. I was able to work for wonderful people who loved my services—and became close friends of mine. Housecleaning turned out to be the perfect job that allowed me to focus on my studies and finish my TV and Film Production course with a 3.8 grade point average.

Since that time, I have had to do many other types of jobs that on first impression, didn’t strike me as something I thought I had ‘the heart’ to do. Some jobs literally made me feel like I was going to be ‘sick to my stomach’ because they were so far from what I felt naturally gifted for. Over and over I have had to ask God to give me ‘the heart’ to do what I didn’t think I could do…and He has.

When you are trying to move forward on the recovery journey, there will be times when you will wonder if you will ever be able to become ‘good at’ not being depressed or dependent–times when you’ll think it would be easier not to try anymore.

Looking back at the times of my life when I was struggling with depression—I can see how God gave me some hard work to do–something outside my natural ability. Something that would make me have to ask Him to give me ‘the heart’–so I could get in there and dig deep to get the job done—and also recover.

Declaration: I will find new strength by asking God to give me ‘the heart’ to work hard–and keep moving forward.

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.

Forgiveness and prayer

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Focus: Forgiveness and prayer

Mark 11:25 (NKJV) “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

In depression and dependency—it is almost guaranteed that some relationship issues helped take you there. If you want to walk in a state of true recovery and keep moving forward—you need to find peace with your past. That usually involves forgiving people who may have been involved in causing your condition to become what it has been.

Forgiving others can be quite a process. If you’re like me—you may have trouble remembering all of the people you might have offended and everyone who may have offended you. Even more—you probably don’t want to think about it anyway. Yet, the Bible encourages us to get–and keep a clean slate. The scripture above plainly states that forgiving others is absolutely necessary, not just for their sake—but our own!

You might think, well—can’t I just say one prayer like, “I forgive everybody”, and have it done? If you try that, and it truly works—meaning that you no longer have hard feelings when you think of anyone—well, good for you. Most of us, however, might need to go a little deeper in prayer than that.

A practical way to start working through it, is to simply make a list of people who come to your mind. Ask God to help you recall every single person you need to forgive–for things to really be right in your life. As an experience comes to your mind that involved a particular person—write down the name. After you forgive them, cross it off.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

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

You might be thinking this is something too hard for you to do. Or, you might feel like you don’t know how—or even have the desire to forgive them. Well, let’s start there. Stop right now and say out loud, “God please give me the help and desire I need to forgive anyone who has offended or harmed me, or who as harmed someone I care about. Please bring these people to my mind so I can get things right with You. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

As someone comes to your mind that you have a hard time wanting to forgive…Say, “God, I confess to You that I have an offense toward ________________. I need Your help to have the desire to release them from guilt and condemnation. Will You help me? In Jesus Name, Amen.”

God wants you to get free from these things, so don’t be surprised if right away you feel the ability to go further in prayer. As soon as you can–continue on with, “God, You know how much pain __________________has caused me, but with Your help, I want to forgive them. Please forgive me for the offense I have held in my heart toward _________________. I am asking You to release them from judgment and condemnation. I choose by an act of my will to forgive, release, and bless _________________. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

If at all possible, after you have prayed—you should try to go to the person or write them a letter and tell them you forgive them and have chosen to release and bless them. If you know they have an offense against you—ask them to forgive you, too. Often, this is an amazing experience. If you think they will not receive it, ask God to work in their heart so that you will be able to do it when He shows you the time is right.

Recovery is not a destination—it’s a journey. If your journey is like mine, it will be an ongoing process of revelation, confession, and restoration.

Declaration: I will keep moving forward by finding peace with my past. With the help of God, I choose to forgive those who have offended me and I will seek forgiveness from those whom I have offended. Doing these important things will help me receive new strength and the ability to pray more effectively for myself and others.

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.

I was worth dying for

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Focus: I was worth dying for

Isaiah 43:25-26 (NKJV)  “ I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.

There is always ‘a reason’ that drives a person to depression and dependency. Something happened that was unfair—and you haven’t been able to forget it. Someone said something that made you feel like an eternal, complete failure—and you have never been able to get their words out of your head. You did something you knew wasn’t right–that you can’t go back and undo—and it continues to eat you up from the inside out.

In a place of weakness and vulnerability—something happened. You walked ‘out’ of that hard experience—but you left the door open. As a result, that thing has followed you. When you have been tired, hungry, or were just having a rough day, you have relived those moments—played back the video and audio way too many times. By choosing to hold onto those memories—you have placed yourself in a condition of ‘judgment and condemnation’—instead of choosing to be in a position of ‘mercy and grace’. It actually is a choice, and you’re the only one who can choose which place you’re going to be. You say, “It’s not that simple”. You say you can’t get over it…but God says you can.

Imagine, being able to wipe away the guilt of those tormenting memories and have all the stains truly blotted out forever. Imagine having the ability to close the door and walk away from it, once and for all. That’s what the blood of Jesus can do. Nothing can change the fact that those things happened, but the blood of Jesus really can erase the account against you that you haven’t been able to erase on your own.

(read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

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

The big thing keeping you from your acquittal and freedom is that awful sense of unworthiness you feel when you ‘remember’. Remembering can be a good thing—if you do it in a healthy way. You say, “What can be healthy about those painful experiences and why did they have to happen at all?”

It is my belief that ‘the reason’ those things happened is so you could get to know God better. Think about it. If you never cried, then you wouldn’t need comforting, would you? If you were never weak, you wouldn’t need more strength. If you were never broken, you wouldn’t need to be made whole again. If you were never lost, you’d need no help to find your way. The truth is, when you find yourself crying, weak, broken, and lost—you know you need help. All of the help God wants to give you—you just wouldn’t need, if you had never failed.

The healthy way to remember your failures–is to remember that they are ‘over’. We try to ‘fix’ our failures in all kinds of ways. People, experiences, and substances are not a permanent fix—the blood of Jesus, is. Stop believing the lie that you aren’t worthy of the sacrifice Jesus made for you. You ARE worth it, or He wouldn’t have done what He did.

Declaration: I will not always feel as desperate as I feel today. Each day will get better from now on, as I find new strength in Jesus Christ. The reason God has allowed me to experience the depth of my own despair—is so I would know the power of His ability to save me. Almighty God is on my side. He fights for me and with me. The blood of Jesus covers all my sins and every memory of my failures. Someday, I will be able to help someone else because of what God is doing for me today.

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.

Prayer

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Topic: The power of the tongue

Focus: Prayer

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

As a child, I learned to pray by reciting bedtime prayers like, “Now I lay me down to sleep” and the classic mealtime prayer that begins with, “God is great, God is good”. As I got a little older I began tacking a few things onto the end of my bedtime prayer and sometimes drifted off to sleep before or after I had finished my list. As I learned more about prayer, I prayed with more originality. Sometimes I sang my prayers and some of my prayers turned into songs.

I think it’s good to be creative. There are lots of ways to pray. Some prayers I pray are still pretty standard, depending on the occasion, but throughout my day when I have the liberty, I like to talk to God at length about the things that are on my mind. A lot of my prayers are an ongoing dialog with God. At times, I might be focused on something in particular that someone has asked me to pray for. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I will dwell on that as much as possible. Other times, I feel compelled to pray for my family or personal concerns.

I try to make it a point to begin my prayers with thanks and praise. It’s always good to remind ourselves of the goodness of God as we come before Him. As we speak words about the great things He has done in the past and His extraordinary qualities that enable Him to be the mighty God and the eternal Father, our faith is increased and His power is released.

Recently, I was in a time of prayer. I was past the thanks and praise part of praying and into making my requests known to God, according to Philippians 4:6, which says we shouldn’t be anxious for any reason, but instead by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make our requests known to God, and by doing so the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard our heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

I was in the process of praying for some very practical things to take place that would make life so much easier for me and my family, when I felt the Spirit of the Lord impressing something on me. I was suddenly highly conscious of the amount of time I spend praying for my own needs and the needs of others. I was instantly struck with the stark reality that I spend far more time praying for needs than I spend praying for the lost. I felt the Lord challenging me to spend the same amount of time praying for the lost as I spend praying for needs of my own and others. Equal time.

(Read more below)

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

Luke 19:10 states a sobering point. Jesus came to this world to seek and save the lost. That was His singular vision and purpose. He didn’t come to accumulate wealth or build an amazing home or even have a wife and kids. He came to seek and save the lost. Everything He did on earth advanced His purpose. He lived His life strategically in order to accomplish the will of God. He put the kingdom of God and His righteousness first as He lived His life on earth.

As I contemplated what the Spirit of God had impressed on me, the real meaning of Matthew 6:33 became crystal clear. I had the revelation that when we truly have a passion for souls, we are in perfect agreement with the heart of God. In such a state of heart and mind, everything takes on a new perspective and the things that are pressing us for attention are put in their proper place of priority.

By choosing to focus at least as much time on the lost as we focus on ourselves, we are no longer self centered or abnormally absorbed with our own issues.

In the past week or so I have seen how God is enlarging my vision as I pray for the lost. He is giving me glimpses of various kinds of lostness. He is taking my mind on trips around the world to different places where there are types of darkness I have never perceived. He has impressed on me to speak to those areas of darkness and to command His light to penetrate and His power to be released so that the Truth would be revealed and the lies could be exposed.

So much change would take place in this world if we, as the body of Christ, could get our minds on the right things.

Another revelation I have had for the past year or so is that I should spend time in prayer deliberately asking that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh according to Joel 2:28. The body of Christ—the Church—who is supposed to also be the Bride of Christ is so disjointed and immature. Jesus is going to return for a Bride who is ready for the wedding. A Bride without spot or blemish. We are so far from that! If Jesus came to earth with a single purpose to seek and save the lost—shouldn’t His Bride share that same vision? Shouldn’t She be more passionate for fulfilling His desire than Her own?

Declaration: I will find new strength as I purpose in my heart to pray for the lost and have a passion for souls.

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.