Hope, Lesson 3

 Celebrate Recovery is recording the lessons and posting them on the Official CR Facebook page for us to enjoy during this pandemic. Below is lesson 3, HOPE from Johnny Baker

Powerless, Lesson 2

Celebrate Recovery is recording the lessons and posting them on the Official CR Facebook page for us to enjoy during this pandemic. Below is lesson 2, Powerless from Johnny & Jenni Baker

Denial, Lesson 1

 Celebrate Recovery is recording the lessons and posting them on the Official CR Facebook page for us to enjoy during this pandemic. Below is lesson 1, Denial from Johnny Baker.

Finding Purpose

 

Finding My Purpose By Rodney Holmstrom, National Field Director

Are you struggling with your purpose? A simple verse with powerful words... "You have been made holy in Christ Jesus." 1 Corinthians 1:2  Sometimes I can get wrapped up in my own to-do list that I forget why I am even here. Ever do that yourself? I must never forget that God's purpose is to bring glory to Himself. And if that is His purpose, why did He create me and you? Yes, to bring glory to Himself. He made us holy in Him and we are called for a special purpose. You know what? He wants us to be the hands and feet, the mouth and ears, the men and women to share the Glory of God...all to bring glory to Him!   So, if you are facing some tough stuff this week, remember, it is in the suffering that we can praise God even then, because we are here to bring glory to a powerful God. I don't know about you, but that seems to change my outlook on how I face my day. A couple questions to reflect on: When people see me today, do they see God's glory in and through me? Do they thirst for what I have? Does my life reflect a mission, a purpose that is to bring Him glory?   Go out in your mission today and make your mission His mission. All for His glory, friends. Love you all!

This one word is all you have to say

 

 

No.  It's a complete sentence.  Do you ever feel as though your "no" requires an explanation? Have you ever had to justify why you're saying no? How people in our lives respond to our no, our boundaries, tells us a lot about how safe the relationship is. For instance, say your mother-in-law wants to invite you over for dinner, but you really don't feel like going. What's your response?  A.) "No, thank you. We're going to stay in tonight." B.) "No, thank you. We're going to stay in tonight because I have laundry to do, help the kids with homework, get them in the bath, take the dog for a walk and .... and ..."  Which one is feels true to how you would like to respond in a similar situation?  Let's continue this conversation here. Until next time ... Cheers,  Henry

Prayer Changes Us

"Prayer Changes US"

By Carol Holmstrom, National Communications Director

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  Matthew 6:5-8

Have you ever been in a place where you just didn't know what to pray, much less how to pray?

Maybe you've asked these questions:

• Does God really hear me?
• Does He really care what I'm going through?
• Does He really want to hear me talk about this again?

 

I think if we're honest, we'll all been there. I know there have been many times in my own life when I felt like I was talking to the ceiling. Are my prayers really making a difference?

Here's the good news friends. We don't have to have fancy prayers, we can talk to God like he's our Daddy. He doesn't care how we pray. He is listening. He wants to hear from us today. He wants us to listen. He wants us to hear from Him today. 

Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us.

 

"If prayer depends on how I pray, I'm sunk. But if the power of prayer depends on the One who hears the prayer, and if the One who hears the prayer is my Daddy, then I have hope." - Max Lucado

Life Is Not Fair

"Life is Not Fair"

By Mac and Mary Owen, CR National Director and Training Coach

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NLT

Recently, while at a ballgame in the extreme Louisiana summer heat, our youngest grandson's face was beet red while playing.  Rex was obviously hot, tired and thirsty.  We noticed him standing beside a little girl who had a large cold Icee. The look on Rex's face said it all, "This is not fair. Why does she have one and I don't?"

This reminds us, even as adults, how much we are all alike. We want life to be fair. Ever since that other kid got an Icee and we didn't - and they wouldn't share...we've all been saying the same words, "That's not fair!"

Whoever told us life is going to be fair?  God surely didn't.  He didn't say, "If you have many kinds of troubles."  He said, "You will have many kinds of troubles." Troubles are part of the package so don't be surprised. You've turned your life over to God but life will not always be easy. In fact, evil will turn up the heat.  

Fortunately for us today, Celebrate Recovery gives us the tools we need to work through the problems and struggles that come our way. It points us back to God's Word. We are not only able to exist, but we can have a victorious abundant life - even amid trials.

In Celebrate Recovery one of the greatest benefits we discover is a fellowship of like-minded overcoming victorious believers in Jesus Christ. We've come to know that we don't have to do life alone anymore. We have Forever Family to walk with us on the road to recovery.