CASTIMONIA

Sexual Purity Support & Recovery Group

father wound

By

Castimonia Purity Podcast Episode 41: Interview with Dr. Milton Magness and Marsha Means Part 2

Marsha Means and Dr. Magness are co-authoring a new book that is designed to be a resource for therapist, addicts, spouses and family. Their new book “Real Hope/True Freedom: Understanding and Coping with Sex Addiction” is designed in a “FAQ” format to be a resource.

In this podcast they discuss the book as well as practical advice for recovery and spousal support. The share from their vast personal experience working with couples, addicts, and spouses.

This is a 2 part series, so make sure to listen to episode 40 before listening to this one to get the full picture.

For more information on the work of Marsha Means, please visit acircleofjoy.com, and to learn more about the work of Dr. Magness, please visit hopeandfreedom.com or listen to his previous podcast.

As always, email us at puritypodcast@castimonia.org for more information!

By

Don’t Give into Temptation!

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

– 1 Corinthians 10:13

dont-give-into-temptation

Looks like this dog, being tempted by chocolate, is setting a good example to us humans on what to do when tempted; especially when tempted by things that are unhealthy for us!

By

Hiding the Trash

You and I live in a trashy world. Unwanted garbage comes our way on a regular basis… Haven’t you been handed a trash sack of mishaps and heartaches? Sure you have. May I ask, what are you going to do with it?

You have several options. You could hide it. You could take the trash bag and cram it under your coat or stick it under your dress and pretend it isn’t there. But you and I know you won’t fool anyone. Besides, sooner or later it will start to stink. Or you could disguise it. Paint it green, put it on the front lawn, and tell everybody it is a tree. Again, no one will be fooled, and pretty soon it’s going to reek. So what will you do? If you follow the example of Christ, you will learn to see tough times differently. Remember, God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to have a hope-filled heart … just like Jesus …

Wouldn’t you love to have a hope-filled heart? Wouldn’t you love to see the world through the eyes of Jesus? Where we see unanswered prayer, Jesus saw answered prayer. Where we see the absence of God, Jesus saw the plan of God. Note especially Matthew 26:53: “Surely you know I could ask my Father, and he would give me more than twelve armies of angels” (NCV). Of all the treasures Jesus saw in the trash, this is most significant. He saw his Father. He saw his Father’s presence in the problem. Twelve armies of angels were within his sight.

Sure, Max, but Jesus was God. He could see the unseen. He had eyes for heaven and a vision for the supernatural. I can’t see the way he saw.

Not yet maybe, but don’t underestimate God’s power. He can change the way you look at life.

Copyright 2013 Max Lucado. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

By

Journal Through Recovery – Bonus Podcast Episode #06

Preparing for Disclosure is terrifying. I can’t believe I am going to do this. I don’t know that I believe it will work or is worthwhile. Do I really need to do this? Am I not just hurting her more?

By

Journal Through Recovery Entry 26: Another Human Being

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Step Five

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. – James 5:16

I am almost completely certain that my sponsor is a sadist. He’s one of those guys that seems to have zero fear. It is obvious in how he approaches his life and his calling. He has been consistent in pointing out to me that God is identifying and removing my flaws in His timing so I am better able to fulfill His purpose for my life. My sponsor likes to contribute to God identifying and removing my flaws. By giving me the opportunity to show I am no longer a slave to my character flaws.

Here is what I mean. I just got to Step Five in my recovery. I figured this was cool. I was done. I had already told my story, confessed my flaws, spilled my guts, to at least two people NOT in recovery. So I had this one covered and done. Uh, not so much. My sponsor gently coached me (ordered me, really) to let God work in this. I was to pray and journal about who God would place in my life that I could trust to tell my story.

Ok, I am really not excited about this part. I haven’t embraced the part about not shutting the door on our past or shying away from it. To be rigorously honest, I really don’t want to tell anyone and I just want to be left alone to work my plan and recovery and get better. The worst part of this is……I am exactly sure who I am supposed to do my Step Five with, who I am to bare my soul and tell all my deep, dark secrets. God is very irritating sometimes. This being one of those times.

So, I called the guy who God had put on my heart. Well, before I did that, I tried to make it not this person and tried to validate that maybe God really hadn’t put him on my heart. Didn’t work. Every person in my “circle of trust” thought sharing with this guy was a great idea. Ugh. I thought they were supposed to be my team? So I called him, let him know that I was in recovery (no other details), asked him if he knew much about recovery (he didn’t), and asked if I could share part of my story with him as God had placed him on my heart. He said absolutely and that if God was identifying this path for me, he wanted to be obedient as well. Ok, no outs for me so far. I tried to say that I knew he was busy and no rush and we could schedule whenever. He said how about lunch tomorrow? Dang.

So I went to lunch. I asked for my accountability partners, my sponsors, other guys, my therapist….I asked them all to pray for me. I knew they were. I knew in sharing my story with my friend that I was completely in God’s will at that moment. I just talked and then he asked questions. Not dumb questions or insulting questions……questions to clarify, to understand, and to learn how he could support me now and in the future. Ok, not what I expected. Thanks, sponsor (I still hate you for this) and thank you friends for the prayers. Most of all, thank you God. I trust you with more of my life every day. I can’t say all yet. I am on that path, maybe early, but still on that path.