Celebrate Recovery Is For Everyone

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12-Step Program, Alcoholism, Anger, Anxiety Issues, Celebrate Recovery, Co-Dependency, Depression, Divorce, Drug Addiction, Forgiveness, God, Healing, Hope, Jesus, Large Group, Life, Living Life On Life's Terms, Loss, Marital issues, Physical Abuse, Porn Addiction, Relational Issues, Richland Celebrate Recovery, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Sin, Small Group, Struggles, Suicidal Thoughts, Verbal Abuse, Worship

Why do people still believe Celebrate Recovery is just for addicts? Is it because they have seen the movie Home Run? Did they go to that bathroom or something during testimony night in the film, where the main character’s sister-in-law speaks of her sexual abuse as a child? Or could it be because everyone thinks only addicts need recovery?

I’ve been going to Richland Celebrate Recovery since it began at my church six years ago, with the exception of a small hiatus. I’ve seen many people come and go over the years for various reasons; mostly, because they move back home upon coming out their recovery program.

I’ve written about CR (Celebrate Recovery) many times on my blog and I talk a lot about it in general, yet people still see it as a place for addicts. Let me say for the record…yes, addicts attend CR, BUT that is NOT all it is about.

Here is what Celebrate Recovery is…

It is a Christ centered program for people. PEOPLE!

It’s not just for the addict…it’s for the hurting, the lonely, the habitual sinner, the depressed and the list can go on and on. It’s a place for people with hurts, habits and hang-ups. It’s a place for healing.

When I started going to CR it was basically to help as a volunteer for our church’s newest ministry. I had heard about it and supported it. Little did I know…I needed it for me.

At the time I was going through my separation/divorce, not being able to see my kids everyday, depression, anger and trying to stop a long struggle with viewing porn and low self-esteem among other things.

I would have gone absolutely bat crazy had it not been for CR and the conversations and prayer from dear friends during all that.

Here’s the thing. A lot of people who struggle, with anything, sometimes feel as if they are the only ones dealing with that particular issue. And many of them feel that if they share their struggle with anyone, they will be looked upon differently…basically judged. And yet we can’t judge and here is why…we are all sinners and fall short of the glory God.

God sees no sin greater than the other, yet He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for all. All is all, no matter what it is. It could be adultery, drinking in excess, lying, sexual immorality, gluttony, murder, stealing, idolatry, etc.

The thing is, if we are honest with ourselves, we all have hurts, we all have habits that may not follow in line with scripture, and we all have hang-ups of some form or fashion.

CR is for everyone!

I go for the worship and message and still feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to repent of something or to make amends with someone.

It’s honestly hard to explain. Heck, we have a 70-year-old lady who attends and our youngest is a 17-year-old  young lady. Everyone gets something out of the message no matter what they are going through at that moment. That’s just how God works.

The small groups are more intimate and allows each person the chance to either share how the message applies to their situation or just share what’s on their heart. Small groups have been a source of healing for me just by letting things out. You know…my life verse…confess your faults one to another. James 5:16 is so powerful.

Allow me to ask you guys a few questions.

Are you depressed? Do you have anxiety issues? Are you feeling alone after losing a loved one whether by death or the break-up of a relationship? Do you suffer from over eating? Are you addicted to sweets? Do you drink in excess to the point of losing control of who you are? Are you hurting from the wounds of words spoken? Do you have low self-esteem? Have you ever been sexually molested? Have you been physically or verbally abused?

If you answered yes to any of those, Celebrate Recovery is for you.

Give it a try! Allow the Lord to lead you. Go to the Celebrate Recovery website and see if there are any local chapters.

I have a list of all the ones in Louisiana, here on my blog site and keep it updated as best I can.

If you choose to attend please let me know how you enjoyed it and if it ministered to you.

God Bless,
Stu

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Do We Cheer Or Condemn With Our Words And Actions?

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Addiction, Adultery, Condemnation, Freedom, God, Grace, Jesus Christ, Life, Sin

There is this beautiful portrait of Christ’s forgiveness found in scripture that I want to discuss today. A picture of a young woman caught in sin. A picture of condemnation and grace that is still being painted today.

One day Jesus was in the temple teaching when all of a sudden a group of scribes and Pharisees bust in. They have with them a woman who was caught in the very act of adultery.

I see them throwing her down half-naked since she was caught in the act. Looking at Jesus they said that the law tells us that such a woman should be stoned. What do you say?

Jesus does the coolest thing ever. He just stoops down and starts writing in the dirt in from of him. Now, it doesn’t say what he wrote but I see him writing down the name of the man who was committing adultery too.

Since he didn’t answer them right away they kind of hound him for the answer. Finally he looks up and says this…He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Jesus, then looks back down and starts writing in the dirt again. I think he was writing some sins down that the people had committed.

But anyway, after a bit all the scribes, Pharisees and the others, starting with the oldest to the youngest, left. One by one the rocks fell…but not on her…they fell to the ground because each and every one of them knew they had sinned.

After a while the only two left were Jesus and the woman, who I am sure was still was cowering in fear waiting for the stones to fall upon her.

But instead Jesus says to the woman “Where are your accusers? Hath no man condemned you?” She tentatively looks up and sees no one but Jesus and says “No man, Lord.” Jesus responds by saying “Neither do I, go and sin more.”

Jesus didn’t bring up her adultery. He didn’t bring up her past. He didn’t condemn her, for he did not come into the world to condemn it but rather that through him the world might be saved.

So where is the beauty in this picture? It is in the fact that Jesus did not condemn her. Jesus, holy and without sin said “Neither do I.”

I wish we, as followers of Jesus, did not condemn people. But we do.

There can be many reasons for this too. We can see ourselves as the high and mighty, having it all together, like the Pharisees did.

For some, it could be that we see someone else’s sin as worse than ours. Yet, all sin is the same….sin.

For some it can be a way of controlling a person by always reminding them of their past.

Some of us actually condemn ourselves by our way of thinking. Especially in regards to self-worth.

I hear people say things like once an addict always as addict all the time. Or once a whore always a whore. Or here’s one even better…people don’t change. Really?!?

No!!! Addicts find deliverance from their addiction through the same grace that said “Neither do I.” That same grace that came to save the world says no, you are not a whore…you are a child of God, you are priceless and I love you. That amazing and wonderful grace does change people…from the inside out.

I believe that we, as a people, will always have a tainted picture of ourselves if we continue to allow the words and accusations of others to influence our view of ourselves. I know from my own experience. For I was the addict that Jesus came to save just like ha came to save the adulterous woman and everyone else. And I did change! But sometimes, I do allow my past shame and guilt to creep back in. Then Jesus lovingly reminds me who I am now.

He doesn’t bring up my past!

And as followers of Jesus we should not bring up the past of others either, but rather cheer them on in their journey.

 

Is That Desire And Passion Still There?

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Arousal, Desire, Feelings of Arousal, God, Holding Hands, Kissing, Longing, Love, Passion, Prayer, Song of Solomon, Visual

I was reading one of my YouVersion Bible plans yesterday and one of the verses was from the Song of Solomon.

Here I am reading the verse and this just hit me as I kept reading. So totally cool.

Do you remember when you were dating and just the sight of the one you loved got you all excited and tingly inside? If you don’t, you should reminisce​. It will bring a huge smile to your face.

Try to remember what it felt like to hold their hand. Try to remember that adrenaline, as you rushed to grab their hand, when they motioned to you that they wanted your hand in theirs.

Try to remember what their scent did to you. Did it make you weak in the knees in anticipation of holding them in your arms?

Try to remember the way it felt when you could not get enough of their kisses, their touch, the sight of them or their love.

Now I know this particular verse is referencing the Shulamite woman and her arousal at just the sight of Solomon’s hand, but guys do you still have those feelings for your love?

Do you walk up behind her, wrap your arms around her waist, lean in to her neck and just breathe her scent in?

Do you still get excited holding her hand or with your arm wrapped around her while shopping?

Do you still feel as if you can not stop kissing her once she greets you with a kiss?

Do you still just simply get excited and aroused just by the sight of her?

Do you still desire to be by her side as much as possible?

If the answer, to any of these, is no then I suggest praying that God open your heart back up to your love and to let the passion and desire flow once again.

Bring the passion, arousal and intrigue back into your relationship. Bring the intimacy back and hold on for the ride.

The Wonderful Power Of A Tesimony

Tags

Blood Of Jesus, Celebrate Recovery, Forgiveness, God, Healing, Jesus Christ, Love, New Life, Revelations 12:11, Struggles, Testimony

Oh boy, do I love hearing someone give their testimony. To hear how they hit rock bottom, call out to God for help. To hear how the blood of Jesus washed over them to bring forgiveness, healing and a new life is such a joy.

Each time I hear one I can’t help but to stand up and clap. Clap to praise God for who He is and for them for sharing and letting God have control.

Everyone has a story to tell. It may not be like mine or yours, as each one of us have different struggles. But that’s just it…we each have struggles.

And it doesn’t matter what struggles that person had or still has…it’s the fact that if God can forgive them and change them then God can change you and I.

By calling out to God and allowing Jesus’ blood, that was shed for you and I, to wash over us and cleanse us of ours sins we become a walking testimony of God’s grace and mercy. That is when we become a overcomer and a conqueror, never giving up on our faith because we know that God is faithful and will finish the good work He began in us.

Please share your story with others! Give them hope! Give them a reason to call on God in their own lives for healing, forgiveness, newness, and love.

 

Whether Right Of Wrong, You Make Your​ Own Choices

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Accountability, Choices, Depression, God, Jesus Christ, Loneliness, Lust, Masturbation, Porn, Pornography, Self Medication, Sex

For so many years I held anger and resentment in my heart towards my dad. And it wasn’t even his fault. It was mine.

If you have spent anytime reading my blog you have ran across my testimony about my struggle with pornography. How I found it and how it affected me. I’ve never been upfront and honest where it actually took me…for that is even too dark for me to write about right now. Maybe one day…

But what I want to share with you right now is this…

Everything was my own personal choice.

I made the choice to go back and look at the Playboy magazine in the closet. And I chose to keep going back.

I made the choice to masturbate to it and others so many times.

And because I wanted to try what I saw in the videos, after I graduated from magazines, I chose to have sex way before I should have.

I chose to allow it to become my go to method for coping with loneliness, boredom, depression and anything else that was hurting me. I chose to watch and go to another place.

The sad thing is… pornography lead to more loneliness, more depression, guilt, shame and a deviant lifestyle. Just one of those can make you feel as if God doesn’t love you, but to combine them all together…yeah. My eyes became clouded to the truth.

My heart became nothing more than a hardened shell for years. Those years of not allowing anyone in and never sharing what I was truly dealing with…with anyone, including my wife at the time finally took its toll.

I broke down one night and asked God to forgive me. I was the true definition of the prodigal son. You know what my Father did? He ran to me with arms open wide saying I forgive you my child and I do love you.

From that moment on I fought hard to be free from porn and to become a new creation by renewing my mind. I have found freedom. BUT, I did slip a few times during that journey.

I made the wrong choices then…now I’m trying to make the right choices.

Now, when I am lonely I make the choice to reach out to a friend and talk.

When I am tempted I make the choice to pray and then reach out until I the desire fades.

This holds true for all my struggles now. Instead of choosing to watch porn to self-medicate I chose to reach out.

I chose to read God’s Word.

I have made the choice to go to Celebrate Recovery again after not going for two years. I NEED it.

I chose to be an accountability partner for others who are struggling.

I chose now to be open and honest about my past, in hopes that it can possibly deter someone from making the same mistakes I made or worse.

If you are struggling with anything, please know that you are NOT alone. There IS hope!

It’s found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and in His forgiveness and love.