"Rob"Servations

Living a life in addiction is exhausting.  There is not an aspect of one’s life that it doesn’t affect at some point during their journey.  As with anyone else that ended up in addiction, it started out very innocent for me.  I had no intention of becoming addicted.  I had never used drugs before.  A friend of mine offered cocaine to me one night, I took it, and the rest is history.  It sent me down a path that I wouldn’t want anyone to experience.  The sad reality is that millions every year begin that same journey.  Eventually things get progressively worse, families are torn apart, children miss their parent, or even both parents in many cases, wives become angry and loose trust in their husbands, husbands begin to fear for their wives and what they may be doing behind his back, abuse becomes common place in the home, kids begin to do bad in school, things start missing from the house, bills don’t get paid, cars repossessed, and even physical death in some cases.   The worst of all is that feeling the addict begins to feel at some point during all of this.  I say ‘some point’ because it is different for each person.  It is that feeling of complete loneliness, despair, embarrassment, shame, and guilt.  The feeling that there is no way out of this alive.  We get many that feel just this way at the ranch.  What we like to tell them is that there is a way out if you will just open your heart to the idea that “the One that made you can fix you”.  Isaiah 61:7 says “Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.  And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours”.  God was saying that the people had suffered enough.  I believe that.  The book of Jeremiah speaks to people that have suffered, and it speaks to our motto here at the ranch.  Jeremiah 30:17 “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds; declares the LORD, because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares”.  Society in a sense has labeled those in addiction as outcast.  They have thrown them away for the most part.  We show them where God says otherwise, and we take the guys on a journey with us to show them there is a way out.  It is the process of allowing Jesus into your heart, through the Holy Spirit, that allows change to take place.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.  He promises that.  I say all of that to say this.  If you’re out there struggling with addiction, control, gambling, sexual immorality or if your just plain lost.  There is a way out.  His name is Jesus.  Reach out to any of us here at the ranch and we will help you get the help you need.  You’re not alone.  We are here for you.  I continue to be amazed by the love and support from all of you.  None of this would be possible if it were not for Jesus working in each of your lives.  We are praying for all of you and love you dearly.