Roy Martin Ministries

Not Endings but Beginnings

We’ve come to the end of the year, which begins a new one. You’ve come to the end of this book, which begins again by going to page 1. You might have fallen during the course of the year in maintaining clean-living, and then you have understood and you began again. It’s not about “endings” but “beginnings”. Ending is so final and should never enter into our vocabulary unless you’re speaking about addiction. Each day when we are awaken, God has given us the gift of “beginnings” and it’s pretty much left up to us how the day will work itself out.

Whether you joined from the very beginning of the year or somewhere before this time, you have an option and this is to begin again. I wrote this book in a way it never has an “ending” but always a “beginning” for those who are so inclined to continue wanting to live properly and constructively. My addiction, too, has been a struggle but I have learned not to give up. Those times when I tried to end my life God never permitted it because He could see what I could not, the time I would spend with you sharing those lessons given to me about beginning again.

Make the coming New Year not a continuation of the one just past but one of a new adventure with new beginnings. Do those things you didn’t take time to do as this one closes and make a plan to make this year the best one, second only to the new one which will follow a year from now. And remember those words of Christ, “I am with you alway (all the way), even unto the end of time.”

“This book has never been about me.

It’s always been about you!”

–Brother Roy

I Love You

Why so much energy creating these devotionals? Why so much desire for developing a safe place where addicts can find refuge and help to get them above addiction? Why not return to a life of self-service and find my own place and peace and move on with life now that I’m free from my own substance abuse addiction? Why do I desire to stay in the mud and grapple for those who are being pulled away by addiction? The answer is this: “I Love You”.

I know and saw what Christ has done and still continues to do, for me. It is purely out of a response of love He does this. He is my example. I don’t desire anything greater than to do for you what He has done for me. This is why I will forego those things: houses, cars, career and even family to be with those of you who deserve another opportunity. I’m not afraid to devote the remainder of my life for a very special cause: you. “I Love You” are words so quickly said and mean so many different things, but when it is done as opposed to being said, then its true value comes through. People respond to genuine love which is by action and not by word only.

We need to hear these words, “I Love You” and we need to see them demonstrated in our lives. Love covers a multitude of problems. Love is the greatest healing agent to combat addiction. Love in a pure and true act will change the course of lives into something so great it will be an awesome experience to see other men and women grow from the mess of addiction into the men and women God intended them to be when He first thought of them.

If you have everything except love,

You have nothing.

Clarity

Having been reunited with an old girlfriend after thirty-two years and catching up the issue which seem to be paramount between the both of us is “clarity”. We wish to know without a doubt what God wants in our lives. It is no secret God’s will will be carried out but as humans who love Him, it is our desire to know what it is He wants and want to willingly participate. Perhaps He doesn’t always tell us these things because then we’d spend more time in consideration than in doing; so, my prayer this morning was asking for “clarity”.

Today I had a bit of “clarity”. A referred friend who is assisting me in furthering my goal of ministry put me in contact with someone. He called last night providing the contact information. I called this morning but unable to reach him. I had a book I promised someone I would mail yesterday and thought better to do it today. When I walked into the post office, a gentleman acknowledged me and in his words, “Maybe it is a sign”. It was the gentleman I tried reaching, by phone, just twenty minutes before!

In the words of my former girlfriend, “Life goes on whether we pray or not.” True, but I think it is better when we have discussions (prayer) with God. Interpersonal relationships will go on whether we talk or not but they tend to do best when there is communication between the parties and there appears to be “clarity”; after all, isn’t this what we want?

Understanding is not a requirement for clarity.

Acceptance is.

The Enemy Wants You

Yesterday I mentioned finding a pipe while doing my laundry and today I struggled with thoughts. Although it is clear to me who has won in the war of my life, it doesn’t mean there will not be battles ahead. The enemy is not satisfied when God picks us up and sets us straight. You will never be free from the enemy’s tempting plans for you but what you can be assured of, you’re involved with a God who doesn’t fail to protect and provide for you.

It is not ironic that as we end this year on a victorious high note the enemy wouldn’t have tried one last attempt to make any of us fall. This is his job and he will not fail in doing it and neither should we in standing straight and tall for what we’ve known to be truth and what has kept us these many days. God saw the enemy’s intention to trip me up and have it so my last words of this testimony will be that of failure, but I’m glad to report the victory is still going on despite the enemy’s effort.

Be encouraged no matter what your situation. Remember you are in a fight not only for your life but for you “eternal” life and this is so precious to the enemy he wishes to take it from you. God created you to spend eternity with Him so how much more precious are you in His sight? This is war and we should never be comfortable resting until the day we are walking on streets of gold.

Even though the enemy wants you,

God wants you more.

I Found a Pipe Today

Doing laundry and turned the corner to head home and the sun glinted off something shiny on the ground. It wasn’t hidden and just laying there. I looked at it and thought about the person who it belonged. In one of my moments of paranoia, I, too, have left many pipes hoping when I came to my senses it would be there. Or, it could have been one of those times I left the pipe hoping it was my last time; no, I would have crushed it. I think about the person who just used and know what they’re suffering because I have been there and glad I can think about it without it having control over me.

Today is also a very cold day, won’t get above 20F. I passed this same spot several times already today while doing laundry and hadn’t noticed it before. I think I would have. You don’t forget a past like this one. Even now I’m conscious of things on the ground. Having lived a life of homelessness, you would be surprised of the money found, so you keep your focus on what someone has lost. Someone recently left this but my hope is they’re leaving it behind, the life of addiction.

I’ll tend to the rest of my laundry. I’m glad, today, I can do laundry and want to do it. I’m glad I have the money to do it and can wear clean clothing. These things I couldn’t do when I was caught in my addiction. Yes, I’m glad “I found a pipe today” because it shows it hadn’t found me and I can get rid of this one and continue on my journey helping others. Perhaps the one who lost this one I will eventually meet.

Someone once said, “Be careful ‘out there’.

You might find something you didn’t lose.”

If God Called You To It, He Will Do It

This is a fact which should never be forgotten. If you keep this in mind, it will save you many days of frustration, such as I have experienced, wondering what it is God wants you to do. I think many lives are unfulfilled because we go against the very decree of God. Can it be possible to not do what He has called you to do? Certainly. Yet, when you have consulted Him and are working together with Him, there is nothing you will fail to do. How do we find out what God is calling us to do? It is by listening to His word, providential movements and prayer.

The Bible says the “steps of a righteous man are ordered”, so there is no mistaking where God is leading you. I suffered, and I’ll call it that, suffered for more than a year wondering what it is He wanted me to do. Even the date I’m writing this it is not based upon theory but actual experience; however, when I look back over this time I see Him providing for me, keeping me and in a couple of days accomplishing the completion of a second book! No, the time is never wasted but yet there is a wondering as to what I am being called to do.

Those of you caught in addiction whether yourself or someone you love, are wondering what God is calling you to do in your own personal circumstance. I will join you beginning today in seeking God’s will for our lives.

God has a distinct plan for your life and doesn’t hide this from you.

The Beat Goes On

Normally people would be looking for something “Christmassy” but truth be told, I stopped celebrating this holiday in 1977 and this suits me fine because those of our friends who are still “out there” most likely will not be celebrating it either and someone has to focus on them and their needs despite what the rest of the world is doing. For them, the day will be the same as the one before it and tomorrow will be as this one, so “The beat goes on” for them and until we stop the beat there is no celebration worthwhile for an addict than the one of having stopped using drugs and alcohol.

Many addicts will sit in hovels still trying to stay warm because opportunities of buying drugs are slim. Even the dealer has taken their money and purchased gifts for their loved ones and sitting in front of big screened televisions, enjoying a home-cooked meal; but, what about the ones they’ve made their money from? Who thinks about that man, or woman, who sits, in some cases, sick and cannot get help whether legal or illegal? Who thinks about that woman who’s prostituted herself for the next hit but unable to put two dollars together to get something for her child(ren) who haven’t seen her since the last time she’s had a sober moment? Who remembers them?

Although “The beat goes on” so does the love of God and this man who will be thinking of you today; who remembers what it was like trying to get to churches who offered meals the day before and saving something for this day, waiting and waiting, just hoping it will pass quickly so “The beat could go on” for another day.

There is no holiday from drug abuse,

For abuse never takes a break until death of

Either the habit or the addict.

Do Not Give Up

We have done so well. “Do not give up” whether it’s near the end of the year, end of the month, end of the week, end of the day, “DO NOT GIVE UP!” For some unknown reason there seem to be an advantage, some type of power when we do not give up when nearing the end and receive a refreshing when the next begins, so the message today is for you not to give up. Do not think about beginning again for then you are setting yourself up to be satisfied making a mistake now. You do not have to do it. You can go into the next month victorious for having overcome whatever the problem is today, at this very moment. This is how experience is formulated, this is the part of the story told later with much power for the convincing of those who need to know what it is you’ve gone through. If you do not go through—there is no story!

We’re in a battle for our lives. This is called the “battlefield”. You know the war well and have been able to make it to this point in your experience. The victory’s already won but we must go through the experience of knowing what it is in our lives. Yes, our battle over addiction was fought two thousand years ago and we won. We are winners but now we must go through the experience of victory, so do not give up because you would not have failed to achieve “clean-living” but you would have failed to live in the victory of clean-living which is already yours.

There is no timeline to follow. There is no statistic we’re trying to satisfy. Our only command for our life is simply this: “Do not give up.”

God never gave up on you,

Why give up on God?

Buds and Blossoms are Not Fruit

The Bible says, “By their fruit you will know them.” Those persons who claim to be Christian are similar to those who claim to be healed of addiction. To speak about what you are and what you are doing are “buds and blossoms” but it isn’t fruit. Someone who is genuine in their belief show it by their actions. They’re not perturbed by getting “out there” and helping those who are still struggling and demonstrating to them, not by their mouth only, but by their actions to relieve the distress of the lives of those they know so well. We are commanded, by God, to help those who need help and to show them a better way then the world may provide, for many times the world’s help is, too, a problem.

Too many times we have are motivated by intentions but fall short of taking action. Each time we neglect to do what we know we should do, someone is going without! Someone who could have been drawn closer, not only to God but to better and restored health, goes without because they cannot benefit by our intentions. We must act. This is our fruit.

I’m so thankful Christ didn’t say, “Well, I intended to die for you but something else came up!” Can you imagine the state of humanity in this case? Make today the day your fruit can be seen and if you’re dealing with buds and blossoms, perhaps today will be the day fruit will not appear.

We don’t know how much time we have left,

So what is left, use it as much as you can.

Sin of Omission and Commission

Many want answers to questions, from God, and believe they are not receiving what they need to know and question why. Why isn’t God willing to impart to me what I need? Then comes frustration and anxiety and soon doubting of God and His very existence, and this is from people who once stood firm and unmovable and now seem shifting. Why is this? When God has given you the great gift of “clean-living” and despite many who will not believe you are living a life of “sobriety”, we may find ourselves actually sinning. We won’t tell what is going on with us (commission) and when given an opportunity to witness, we shun away (omission). God can’t bless you for living in this manner.

If you have received this gift, and it is, we are beholding to those who we left “out there” and are struggling to show them there is a better way to achieve the pleasure of overcoming addiction, while many will tell them it is not possible. No one will know of this great power of God, in your life, unless you are willing to not only tell it when given the opportunity but to actually live it in front of those unbelievers. How do you live it in front of unbelievers? By going among them. When Jesus was out healing lepers, those shunned from society and fear it being contagious, there was Christ found among them. Is the power of your healing stronger than the call of addiction? It should be.

We who are believers are held to a higher accountability and must reach out to those who are struggling. If God hadn’t reached out to you and blessed your life, would you not want to know about it? Wouldn’t you want to be blessed in the way you are experiencing today? Then, do not withhold this from others. You are so sorely needed.

When you accepted the gift of healing from addiction,

This made you a minister, so, go minister.