Dear Grandma Donna: In the 80s, when Ronald Reagan was President, his wife Nancy came up with a catchy slogan that everybody hoped would help win the war over drugs. It was “Just Say No!” It didn’t work. That war has gotten bigger with every passing year. Could Nancy’s slogan be of any value today? Love, Savana

Dear Savana: Nancy Reagan expected will power and tough laws to give strength to overcome drugs, but it didn’t work. Human power is weak, but God’s power is unlimited. “For with God nothing is ever impossible” (Luke 1: 37). If Nancy had made her motto, “With God’s Help, Just Say No!” there could possibly have been greater success.  

A look at the statistics from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) proves that each of us needs to practice a totally abstinent lifestyle, not only in using drugs, but also other addictions. “With God’s Help, Just “Say No!” should be our motto. Even if we aren’t tempted to overdo, our lives should be an example to those who are weak.

NO DRINKING! More than 140,000 die from excessive alcohol use every year, which makes it one of the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S. There are 14 million problem drinkers, which is one in every 13 people. The Bible gives great counsel: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). Pray for help to obey this counsel and God will give success.

NO DRUGGING! Statistics show 110,000 overdose deaths from drugs in 2022. The number of overdose victims climbs every year. Drug dealers are mixing Fentanyl with many drugs, which make them more addictive. U-Turn for Christ is a drug rehab that emphasizes faith as a power to overcome. Probably the addict has fallen far away from God as he has embraced drugs. Leaders at the rehab encourage him to surrender his life to God, experience being born again, then commit through a relationship with God to never take drugs again.

NO PORN! Many are surprised to learn that porn destroys the brain. Scott Ritsema of Belt of Truth Ministries has done much research on the harm of porn. Porn is a way of looking at sex that makes it simply an act to gratify lust; whereas, in marriage sex is the uniting of a man and woman who love each other in an intimate union that bonds them to each other. If either of them would participate in porn, it would be committing adultery. It is a most destructive addiction because it actually destroys the frontal lobe causing the person to lose their sympathetic nature. The power of God is needed to break this deadly addiction.

NO PIERCING! We are created in the image of God. Perhaps that is why He gave the rule in Deuteronomy 14:1 to not cut ourselves. The prophets of Baal cut themselves with knives and lancets as they prayed to Baal to send fire on their sacrifice. Our body is fearfully and wonderfully made. To make cuttings on any part of the body is to mar the image of God that is given to the world by each one of us.  

NO TATOOING: Again, Leviticus 19:28 states that we should not cut ourselves nor should we print any marks upon our bodies. Piercings and tattooing were done by pagan religions, but as we remember God created human beings to bear His image to the whole universe, we can know He doesn’t want His image marred by tatoos.  

NO SMOKING: The most commonly used narcotic is cigarettes. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the U.S., accounting for more than 480,000 deaths each year. This addiction can be overcome by praying for God’s help to keep the “Just Say No!” commitment.

NO CURSING: The Bible says it better than I can: “Let your communication be, Yea, yea; nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil.” When we hear men or women cursing, it is like seeing a “jewel of gold in a swine’s snout.” May God give each of us the power to “Just Say No!” to this degrading talk.

WITH GOD’S HELP, JUST SAY NO

The world has gone crazy mad! Temptation abounds on each side,

Meet with a resounding “No!” God helps you so to abide.  

Remember you must say “No.” This is the important rule.

God’s help gives strength to our “No,” His power in the Word is the tool.

On every side we see those, Who had no strength to say “No.”

Addictions hold them in chains, Their lives are filled up with woe.

“No drinking!” “No drugging!” “No porn!” “No piercing, tattooing or smoking!”

“No cursing!” God helps us stand firm. As we His power are invoking.

It takes but a breath to say “No,” Prayer makes that “No” immutable!

People point us out and say, How clean! How handsome! How beautiful!

Let’s become an army of soldiers fighting addictions who “With God’s help, Just Say No!” Love, Grandma Donna

GARBANZO LOAF

2 cans garbanzo beans blended with liquid

1 chopped onion                      1 c grated carrots

1 c finely chopped celery      3 garlic buds minced

2 T flax ground                     1 t salt

1 t thyme                                1 t oregano

1/2 t sage                               1 c chopped walnuts

1 c old-fashioned oats

Mix all ingredients together. Place in a sprayed casserole and

spread glaze on top.

Bake at 350 for 50 to 60 minutes.

GLAZE:

1/4 c tomato paste               1 T maple syrup

1 T lemon juice