Do you take one step forward in your walk with God - only to fail two steps back?

You are not alone. Many believers find themselves stuck in their spiritual growth. They want to move forward . . . but don't know how. I believe the Lord led me to write the Free to Grow small group curriculum to help people who are experiencing this struggle.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 Paul writes, “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ.” None of us want to be spiritual infants for the rest of our lives, but before we can grow, we need to identify the roadblocks affecting us. Only then, with Christ’s help, can we begin to remove them and be free to grow. The apostle Paul encourages us to “grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).

God’s Provision Demonstrated during a Living Free Study

It seems that everywhere we look today there is bad financial news. It is amazing to watch the world markets fluctuate because of fears and unrealized expectations. With the unemployment rates rising, world governments that can’t agree on what to do, and political unrest on every continent, we need to hear from God more than ever before. God can and will provide when we get on our knees and cry out to him. One such story was told to us recently.

During a conference early this month, a gentleman came up to the Living Free display booth and told us of God’s faithfulness at Centro Cristiano Casablanca, a church he formally pastored in Little Havana, Miami, Florida. In late 2004, the church was struggling financially with unpaid bills stacking up to more than $19,000. Rev. Rivero had not been paid in three months. The situation was desperate, but the people kept on praying, believing, and giving to missions.

On Wednesday, January 19, 2005, the church was studying the names of God in the Living Free curriculum called Knowing God My Father

Associate pastor Tony Villasuso had just finished writing on the white board the fact that if you know God as your Father, He will certainly be your provider. After defining the words remembrance and provide, Pastor Tony wrote, “the LORD will provide Gen. 22:14.”

Codependent Relationships and How to Help

The September 2011 Living Free web article focuses on the trap of co-dependency. Often, as family members or friends, we desire to help relieve the pain and consequences that our loved-one is experiencing. Although our love drives us to rescue, we often become trapped in enabling verses letting our loved-one experience the pain that would motivate them to change. The following are signs of co-dependency. You will also notice tips on how to help your loved-one, who is trapped in his or her life-controlling problem, without becoming trapped yourself.

There are certain characteristics that develop in codependent relationships. According to Kathy Capell-Sowder, a person who has a love relationship with an addicted person will demonstrate certain symptoms: increase in tolerance, denial, compromise in value system, major-life areas decline, trapped in the victim's role, plans to escape, addictions develop in other areas (Capell-Sowder, 20-23).

Increase in tolerance. The excuses from the dependent person are increasingly accepted. The codependent individual experiences an increased loss of control over feelings, mood swings, acceptance of blame, and responses to the addicted person. There is a decline in his or her self-worth along with increased feelings of inadequacy. A wall of defenses designed to help the codependent and other family survive in the relationship to the dependent loved one is built.

Denial. Feeling the need to protect and cover up for the behavior of the dependent person, the co-addict joins the loved one in denial. Ignoring the problem and thinking things will get better when they are getting worse contribute to the numbing process of feelings. Codependent individuals deny their lifestyles are affected by a spouse's stronghold. They may deny their own needs because of their concern for the children. Losing touch with reality, they continue in denial resulting in distorted thinking which leads to a state of delusion.