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

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.

 

Focal Point

Tags

Alcohol, Daily Prayer, Drugs, God, Healing, Jesus, Journey, Pornography, Prayer, Self Medication, Struggles, Walk of Faith

Everyone takes pictures now-a-days, whether it is with a camera, tablet or phone. And it doesn’t matter what the subject matter is, in the photo, there is always a focal point. Using myself as an example, here for a minute, when I take a photo the subject is always in the center of the photo. And there is a reason for that. I want whoever sees the photo to concentrate on the reason I took the photo in the first place.

As a Christian my focal point should be God…but it is tough at times.

Is it even possible in this day and age to actually have God be the focal point of our lives?

I mean really…we have so many distractions to keep our mind and our body occupied. There are things such as yard maintenance, school, work, raising the kids, the bills, our spouses’ needs, any sports activity, television, books, music and the stressors that go with them. It’s a wonder that we have time to breathe.

On the outside looking in I see a lot of people who most definitely place sports first in their life. Instead of ensuring the kids are in church they will ensure that they never miss a game. My observation folks…not saying there is anything wrong with sports and going to the games. For me, with having so many friends who have lost their children over the last five years, I would rather ensure my children have a relationship with God than a homerun, touchdown or goal.

Many of us wake up, drink some coffee and it’s off to work with no thought of prayer much less reading a few verses from scripture. Then when we get home it’s dinner, shower and off to bed. If you have children you must spend time with them. Time with your spouse is a must if you are married. See it can be tough to fit God in.

Then there are the things we self-medicate our hurt with like overeating, drugs, alcohol, sex and watching pornography. What if the self-medication could go away?

I have a challenge for you my dear friends….

Spend fifteen minutes with God. I don’t care what part of the day you do that in…just do it. Then increase that time to twenty minutes the next week and then thirty minutes the next. It does not have to be all at the same time. I divide mine up. I spend time with God in the morning, lunch and before bed while praying throughout the day. What I have found is that the more time I spend with God the time I want to spend with Him.

Are there days where it is tough? Heck yeah! When I have a few days in a row that go south I really do not want to talk to God. But those are the days that I need to the most. Those are the days where I might only spend the fifteen minutes instead of the thirty.

But what I have found is that by placing Him first in the morning my days do go better. I sleep better at night after asking God to clear my mind and thanking Him for the day and for the events of the day whether good or bad.

God can be the focal point but it is a daily chose to have Him there. Make that choice dear friend. Take the challenge and then let me know how it works for you. Did the need to self-medicate the hurt dissipate? Did healing take place as you sought Him? Did forgiveness take place? Did your outlook on life become clearer as you focus on Him?

 

 

 

 

The Potter’s Hand

Tags

Art, Clay, Forgiveness, God, Healing, Isaiah 64:8, Recovery, Sin, The Potter's Hand, The Potter's Wheel

One thing my son, Brandon, loves watching is a potter at his/her wheel. He will stay there looking so intently at every water drop applied, the hand movement of the potter, the delicate procedure of applying a utensil to the clay and the speed of the wheel to ensure that the clay does not go flying. I enjoy watching all this as well. It intrigues me how a lump of clay can become such a wonderful and beautiful piece of art at the hands of the potter.

Today I was having a conversation and I used the potter’s wheel to describe the fact that God is still working on me. I’ll admit…I teared up.

I have seen the master’s hands take my broken self and place me ever so lovingly in the center of the wheel. He put His loving hands around me to hold me in place. He then applied just enough water to make me pliable and started to work on my imperfections.

Oh, how I wish I was a perfect lump of clay for Him to mold into perfection with the first spin. But, alas, I am not a perfect lump of clay. Even now, there are still a lot of air bubbles that God must work out. Sometimes it is gentle pressure of the sponge that is applied, other times it requires more pressure of His hand to remove the imperfection and yet sometimes He actually has to cut that part away completely.

I know that clay is an inanimate object with not feeling whatsoever, but we humans on the other hand have an immense array of feelings and emotions. There was a long time in my life where I felt nothing nor did I ever cry. That changed when God started working on and in my life.

When God placed me on the wheel and starting to work on my heart, the emotions I felt were overwhelming to the point of crying. The forgiveness felt while removing the sin laden past shook me to my core.

I found out that I was not broken as once thought. I just needed to be remolded and healed. By applying more water and a little pressure God smoothed out my open sores so they could become scars. I will admit it hurt at times and I fought Him a lot there for a while. But once I realized that when I allowed Him to do the healing and reshaping things went a lot smoother than when I tried to fix myself or take control of the wheel.

I thank God He is control of the wheel and I’m not.

I know for a fact that I will always be a work in progress while I live in this earthen vessel. But His artwork is beginning to shine and be seen.  I thank Him daily for lovingly remolding me into a vessel that others can see His handiwork in.

One day, I will be that wonderful and beautiful piece of art but until that time comes I will continue to allow Him control of the wheel to mold and shape me into what He wants.

If you, dear friend, have areas in your life that you feel need some work please consider allowing the Creator of all to have complete control of the wheel in your life.

God Bless,

Stu

Day 15 Of Inspiration: Confessing Brings Healing

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Accountability, Confess, Daily Inspiration, Daily Prayer, God, Healing, James 5:16, Sin, Struggles