Sweet Amends..

Step 9 states that we are to make direct amends to people we have harmed whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.  I find myself somewhat “caught up” in this area for the first time in my life.  Of course, tomorrow I’ll probably need to apologize to someone else, but today I have a light feeling in my chest of having finally located someone I lied about back in 1988.  It was a lie.  It isn’t the only lie I have ever told and probably not the “worst” lie I ever told, but God made it very clear to me that THIS was a lie that needed a direct apology to the person.

Obviously God’s ways are not my ways and my thinking when I wrote this lie down during step 4 wasn’t necessarily that it was that big of a deal, but it certainly needed to be on that paper.  I’ve heard from a lot of folks that step 4 is overwhelming just to think about.  I always knew I heard the beat of a different drummer, but for me, I couldn’t get that done quick enough.  I had the weight of the world on my shoulders because I felt so full of guilt from the things I had done.  I flew through steps 1-3 so fast that I ultimately had to start over because they are the foundation and without a solid foundation, obviously, I could not stand. 

So, step 4 was finished and I shared it with my sponsor, I kept attending meetings and working with a strong team of support and over time I located people and said a lot of apologies.  I was met with a tremendous amount of grace from almost everyone.  One person even told me that some great things had come from the mess I had created.  I would have never known that if I hadn’t had the opportunity to apologize to him.  One ask me if I had made a specific change in my life and when I confirmed that I had, she told me that was the best thing I could do for her was to not repeat the behavior.  That was the price I need to pay for my amends to her.  I am willing.  At this point I was holding on to Romans 8:1 which states there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

I pressed on and fell back and pushed forward and lost my balance along the way, but while living in what often feels like a tornado, I seem to be spinning towards healing.  However, there was still that one lie out there.  That one that I knew God wanted me to apologize for, but I didn’t even know how to find her.  I knew a little about her path after high school, but not much.  I had once looked up her name on Facebook and matched her name, but none of the faces seemed to fit.  A couple of days ago I tried again and this time I found a name that shared ONE mutual friend with me.  I figured it had to be her.  I messaged the mutual friend to confirm I had the right person and was thrilled to learn that I did. 

Twenty-four years after the wrong and I wrote her an apology.  I haven’t heard back from her and its okay if I do or I don’t.  My responsibility was to apologize and expect nothing in return.  I did ask if she desired for me to tell anyone else about the lie and let her know that I had already confessed this to some “key” people.  If she gets back to me and needs something more, I’ll have some more work to do.  If not, I really am okay with it.  24 years of feeling guilty for hanging on to a lie is long enough.  Every injustice has a price to pay.  I can’t undo the harm of my lie; however, I can, with God’s help, quickly admit my wrongs so that I am not holding them for years and years.  One day at a time, one moment at a time, I can do the right thing to others even if I can never make it right with the one I hurt.  Today I feel free to live in the present as far as the messes that I made of my own life.  I feel free because God tells me in Isaiah 55:7b that if I turn to the Lord He will have mercy on me and He will pardon me freely.  Freely, how sweet that sounds.

Grateful Believer,
Jennifer

Six Years.

Our God is the God who saves and restores.  Six years ago, January 13, 2006, we opened our doors at Celebrate Recovery at Memorial Road Church of Christ.  I vividly remember that it was a cool, but sunny winter day.  I had been very meticulous in setting everything up just right for all those that God had prepared to attend that first meeting.  I wanted everything to be just right.  Warm.  Welcoming.   Hospitable.  I did not want to give anyone an excuse to not come back.  Then, it happened.  The first participant at our Celebrate Recovery walked through the doors at a few minutes before six.  Mike had his head bowed low and was not sure why he was there; but, he knew he needed help and he was hungry.

Fast forward six years to January 13, 2012.  Mike walked through our doors – not alone this time – but with his wife.  God has not only saved and restored his life, but his marriage as well.  His head was not bowed low, but I could see his smile from ear to ear the moment he walked through the door.  This past Friday night at our 6^th Anniversary Service Mike and his wife, Kay, received their six year CR chip.  And that is just one of the dozens and dozens of stories that God has written through his grace, mercy, love and forgiveness over the past six years.  During Recovery Recognition, hands went flying up and people were shouting in joyful declaration, “Two years! Four years! Six years!  One year!”  Our huggers that passed out the chips could not keep up with all those celebrating what God has done in their lives.

After Recovery Recognition was over, I was speechless (this is a state of mind that is very difficult for me to obtain – I know this is hard for many of you to believe – but it’s true).  We were in the very presence of the Almighty Savior that had saved and restored so many lives, and we were His witnesses on Friday night.  That led us into an amazing time of worship and testimony time.  The testimony shared was our program’s first family testimony.  All five members of the Jason Hosch family shared from their recovery journey through CR and the Landing.  It was very inspirational to all in attendance and shows the power of God working not only in individual lives, but in families as well. 

God has been so good to all of us, and Friday night we had a powerful reminder of his goodness and love.  My prayer is that He will continue to do this good work among us.  May we never grow tired of being the witnesses of changed lives through the power of Jesus Christ at Celebrate Recovery!    

Grateful Believer,

Micah

The 2/3/7 Method

I hear people all the time say how thankful they are that God used Celebrate Recovery to help them step out of denial with their hurt, habit, or hang-up and ultimately change their life.  I agree with that statement 100%.  But, it wasn’t until this past month that I realized how powerful Celebrate Recovery is for me outside of “my recovery.”  I have learned tools at CR that have changed my life.  Tools to deal with sadness, hurt, pain – tools that I didn’t have before!

My dad died 24 days ago.  I’m sad.  I miss him terribly.  I breakdown at times.  (I know you’re starting to wonder where the hope is here…I’m getting there, hold on.)  I want to get the point across of how close I was to my dad and how much my heart breaks that he’s not on this earth with me, to hug me, to love me, to see my girls grow up…all of that hurts my heart. 

At this low time in my life, when I’m hurting most, I MUST remember – The 2/3/7 method!  (You won’t find this in CR materials folks, I made it up.)    Principles 2, 3, and 7 are getting me through my day-to-day life right now.  

2. Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.
3. Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
7. Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His work for my life and gain the power to follow His will.

And when I meld them into my 2/3/7 method I get “I earnestly believe that God exists, He loves me, and I have committed all my life and will to His care and control. I have to reserve a daily time with God for self examination, Bible reading and prayer in order to know God and His work for my life and gain the power to follow His will.”  

My hope is reminding myself of these things…

·         that I believe in God, and all He has to offer me,

·         that He has a wonderful plan for me if I follow Him,

·         and that He loves me!

With that hope I should be rejoicing daily that my dad made it - what a blessing for him not to be suffering on this earth anymore in sickness and pain.  God is good.   

So if you see & hear me mumbling over and over, 2/3/7, 2/3/7, 2/3/7, 2/3/7, 2/3/7 – that’s why.   I’m using the tools I’ve learned at Celebrate Recovery not just for “recovery” but for life.   

Grateful Believer,

Karyn

Year 2011 in Review: CR Style

It has been an amazing, God-honoring year for our Celebrate Recovery forever family in 2011.  There have been many great things happen, and I want to use this article to focus on a few (I'm sure I will leave out some important ones, so please forgive me if I do).   I want to begin by talking about my favorite - the testimonies.  In 2011 we had the privilege of hearing 23 testimonies.  Out of those 23 people that shared, 17 of them were new testimonies!  That just might be a CR at MRCC yearly record of new testimonies for one year.

During the summer God blessed 10 of our CR family members to travel to Catacamus, Honduras to build a low ropes course and provide Celebrate Recovery leadership training sessions and general meetings to all who wanted to attend.  We had a fantastic time meeting the local Hondurans, and we did our best to encourage them in their faith and recovery journeys as much as they uplifted us in ours.  We received word about one month ago that their step studies are going great and that their general meeting night is underway.  Praise God!  Is it not great to be a part of a Christ-centered ministry that is helping people worldwide?  Exciting!

This past year was busy with Celebrate Recovery trips (CR Honduras, CR Summit and Skit Guys night at Park Plaza), great monthly trainings, great food every week, several step studies graduated, chain testimonies by both men and women that exemplified the importance of relationships and the kick-off of CR at the Capital Hill Church of Christ.  With the help and direction of the Lord, a focus group team worked together to kick-off CR at Capital Hill on Monday, October 17.  There have been some challenges along the way the past three months, but overall God has done some great things with this new CR group that is meeting.  Let’s all be in prayer that the Lord will bless the efforts of this new program.  Perhaps, you are looking for a way to give back?  This would be a great way for you to serve.    

This great year where God really used us to bring glory and honor to his name was capped off by having a special guest with us on December 16.  Tommy Woodard, one of the Skit Guys, was with us in Large Group.  He really shared from his heart about the importance of letting go of our past baggage and saying “yes” to God in service.  He inspired us with his great talent to illustrate lesson points through drama.  His individual skits were powerful and moving.  He really challenged me to give back to others what God has given me in a deeper way.

Finally, our CR forever family year of 2011 ended with the passing of one of our own, Bob Utley.  His battle with cancer ended on Sunday, December 18; however, he would want me to tell you that his life has really just begun.  For he is no longer in pain or struggling with his cancer or any of his hang-ups and habits.  That battle is over.  And now all he gets to do is sing angelic songs to the King of Kings at the top of his lungs for all eternity.  Let all of us in 2012 continue to live out Bob’s legacy: love one another; serve one another; let us do good to one another. Here’s to another year of accomplishing that resolute goal. 

Until the Whole World Hears – Grateful Believer,

Micah