forgiveness

We all sin and fall far short of the example set by Jesus (Yeshua), for it is recorded that there in “none righteous no not one”. (Romans 3: 10)

Feelings of failure and worthlessness are a normal reaction for the sensitive and genuine seeker of salvation and truth. The Bible gives comfort to those who seek to aspire to a better understanding of God. David in Psalm 145 presents the first stage in the way to salvation. God is near to those who seek “truth” and “fear him” and he preserves those that “love him”.

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserves all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.(Psalm 145: 18-20)

To seek truth, one must open wide the pages of the Bible, which is our only source of knowledge about God and his purpose with creation. With prayer and regular reading of the Bible, one will gradually increase in knowledge and understanding, as in the example of David and Daniel. We will then fear his great power as we read of his mighty acts and the control he exerts over the nations and their destiny. He is patient and long-suffering, but “all the wicked will he destroy”.

Psalm 145 also states that for those who do fear him God

Contributed by Irene Watson

Tomorrow is the holiday when families get together to share their thankfulness for all that is good in their lives. It’s also a stressful day for many people. While not as crazy as Christmas, Thanksgiving can mean traveling long distances, being busy preparing a meal, and dealing with difficult relatives. 

Let us not lose our focus on the purpose of the day. Rather than stressing over crazy family dynamics, let’s focus on what we have—including our family—that makes us thankful. In recovery we hear a lot about gratitude. Gratitude is so important that we have a national holiday based around it. It’s a day to be positive. It’s a day of plenty—a day to remind us of all we have—a day to feel the abundance of life. 

We express our gratitude in many ways. Perhaps we go to the family dinner and put up with relatives we don’t care to see because it makes our mother happy. We can do so with goodwill rather than beating ourselves up for acting codependent by doing what someone else wants—on holidays, we are gracious—we do for others—and it also helps our recovery. We show our love for other people by being with them, even if they are difficult. Today we overlook and forgive their faults silently. 

Guest post by Lisa Frederiksen

Depending on how long you’ve been living and/or coping with a loved one’s alcoholism, this can be one of the most difficult concepts to grasp, let alone embrace – choosing to forgive your alcoholic. I’d repeatedly been told that alcoholism was like any other disease, and I wanted to (and sometimes did) shout back, "No it’s not! Diabetics don’t lie. They don’t drive impaired and risk my life and the lives of my children. They don’t constantly flip the point of the argument [their drinking] to be something I’ve done and put me on the defensive." No, I’d think and/or say, "Alcoholism is not like any other disease." I was wrong. Alcoholism is chronic (long-lasting, recurrent), is relapsing (happens again and again, even after a period of not) and can result in death or other compromised body organs and/or bodily functions. These are some of the characteristics of a disease – any disease. But, then, I was right, too — at least in a way. Alcoholism not like any other disease (with the exception of those, like mental illnesses, that cause chemical and structural changes in the brain and impair a person’s ‘thinking’) because of the behaviors in which a person with the disease of alcoholism engages. Theirs are some pretty rotten, nasty behaviors; behaviors unique to their disease and so very destructive to the ‘thinking’ of those who love them but don’t understand the disease.