CASTIMONIA

Sexual Purity Support & Recovery Group

sex addiction

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New Castimonia Step Group Starting Thursday, January 2nd

Start the New Year off right by joining the new step group starting on Thursday and working through the steps. This group will be led by David P. (713.775.0113) at Bayou City Fellowship at 6pm preceeding the Thursday night 7pm Castimonia meeting. It will meet every two weeks.

Please contact David for more info.

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‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…Recovery Edition

By Chris A. (and a little help from AI)

‘Twas the season of Christmas, when all through the land,

Temptation was stirring, a fight close at hand.

The heart grew uneasy, the mind felt the strain,

But Christ came to free us from guilt and from shame.

The stockings were hung, the tree stood with care,

Yet loneliness whispered its sly, sneaky snare.

But friends from Castimonia surely are near,

With a call or a text to let you know, “we’re here.”

The season of renewal, redemption, and grace,

Invites us to pause, let Christ take His place.

For “the old has passed away,” says the Word,

Through Him, we’re made new; redemption is heard.

Temptations may linger, with shadows that grow,

But “I can do all things,” His promise does show.

In weakness, His strength becomes our great shield,

To Christ be the victory, our battles all yield.

So set firm your boundaries, plan out each day,

With trusted believers who’ll walk in His way.

Join a call or a meeting to bring sin to light,

And guide us through darkness, and guard us at night.

Fill moments of silence with service and love,

As Christ served the world from His throne up above.

Practice Step 12, give your time and your care,

And feel your own burdens grow lighter to bear.

Remember your “why,” say yes to God’s best,

For freedom in Christ gives the soul holy rest.

The chains of addiction, He’s broken and torn,

So live in the life for which you were reborn.

Invite Jesus in, through prayer and through tears,

Confess all your struggles, release all your fears.

And remember this journey is made for a team.

Don’t go it alone; you may not succeed.

When the emptiness whispers, “You’re still alone,”

Let Christ’s voice remind you: “You’re fully My own.”

The gift of this season is not earthly cheer,

But God with us—Jesus—our Savior so near.

So, as you face Christmas, take heart and believe,

Through Him, you’ll find strength; in Him, you’ll receive.

Not just to survive but to truly now thrive,

For Christ is your hope—His Spirit alive.

And I heard Him proclaim as He wiped every tear,“

My grace is sufficient; I’m always right here.”

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Uncaged

Originally posted at: http://www.theresstillhope.org

One summer, Bob Bartlett, an explorer, filled a boat with rare birds, put them in cages, and began to transport them to America. Somewhere in the Atlantic, the boat encountered rough water, and one of the birds got away. They watched the bird fly away to apparent “freedom.” But, several hours later, the bird came back. He couldn’t find any land, so he returned to the ship.

What had once been a prison was now the only way this bird could get across the ocean. 

I have seen dozens of addicts declare themselves “free.” As a result, they abandoned their groups and their program. Eventually, they did one of two things. They either relapsed, or they returned to their “cage.” We welcomed them back to the group, where they continued the voyage with the rest of us.

God is all about freedom. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Make no mistake. That liberty is more about the journey than the destination.

Recovery Step: Don’t abandon ship. You need your group and your group needs you.

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Porn Prayer

Originally posted at: https://potefwi.wordpress.com/2024/09/03/porn-prayer

Lord, before I plan to click on that image, remind me that what I will see is your image-bearer.

A son of Adam or a daughter of Eve who must not be an object of my exploitation because he or she is either an object of your just wrath or an object of your glorious grace.

I deserve the former, but you’ve given me the latter. So, make me a vessel of your grace. King David’s cup overflowed when he set his mind on you. Jesus said he is a spring of living water that never runs dry. Quench the deepest longings of my soul with yourself, dear Father. You who made me for Yourself.

You, Jesus, who turn scavengers into life givers because we are nourished by you. Have mercy on me, a sinner.

Show me the falsehood of what porn pretends to offer me. Show me the poison that it is. And turn me from a taker to a lover who is so full of you that I am free to love, with your love, an honest love, a giving love, a confident love, a bold love.

Set my heart, and my eyes, on the higher affections of Jesus Christ that I might imitate him. Empower me to see all people through your eyes, and with your heart. And help me to trust you to meet my real needs, in your time, and in your way.

Amen.