Hey Partners & Friends,
It’s magnificent to live in a free land, or at least it
should be. There are multitudes of us however who live here, in the land of the
free and the home of the brave, yet do not know any sense of freedom at all. Oh
we have the same rights of freedom but are none-the-less prisoners, confined in
some sort of repetitive destructive behavior that is literally holding us
captive. Imagine that, living in a free land but still a slave bound by the
chains of addiction or locked in a dungeon of depression, self-loathing, anger,
or fear. Some feel that’s just the way it is and accept it. Others simply give
up, hopeless, destined to doom.
At Celebrate Recovery something happens that helps break
through the bondage. Something that ignites hope, tangible visible hope. Hope
that does not disappoint!
Isa. 49:23 those who hope in me will not be disappointed
Rom 5:5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For
we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to
fill our hearts with his love.
A hope for freedom that many times has been long dead. Freedom
is displayed week after week at CR through people who are actually experiencing
it. Freedom is contagious! It really is.
The desire to be free comes from God. He created us to be
free. It is awesome to see the chip ceremony at CR. When someone finds 30-60-90
days of freedom from a life long plague of failure. It not only fuels the flame
for more, which now they know can
happen, but it encourages and inspires others. Just to see someone else make
it, is thrilling, inspiring, contagious. People begin to think, hey if those
folks can make it, maybe I can too!
Celebrate Recovery effectively encourages people to take
that step of faith and to keep fighting the good fight of faith. There is
victory, there is success, and there is FREEDOM! At CR, week after week people celebrate
during the chip ceremony that they have been clean and sober, or FREE from
whatever their issue! This is incredibly inspiring to those who have not yet experienced
such freedom. People admitting they have some issues that have bound them up
but now are living free one day at a time! Freedom is for everyone, whosoever. Jesus
already paid for it and He has promised He will do for you what you have not
been able to do for yourself. Jesus Christ the higher power can set you free.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jn.
8:36
Freedom truly is contagious, your prayers and support help
spread the epidemic! Thank you.
Be free indeed!
Jim & Pam