CR Canceled Due to Inclement Weather

Attention Forever Family,

Due to the inclement weather we have received, CR will be canceled on Friday, December 6.  As much as we would love to see your wonderful, smiling faces, we would prefer you to stay safe and warm.  If you are in need of support in your recovery, please contact your sponsor and/or your accountability partners.  Or if you're in need of prayer, you may send your request to CelebrateRecovery@mrcc.org.

Be safe out there!

Grateful Believer,

Bryant Stone

Why Am I Not "Recovered" Yet?

Hello!  I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with lust, overeating, and am recovering from divorce.  My name is Bryant.

 

I came across these words of encouragement from the Celebrate Recovery Texas State Rep, Paul Schnee and wanted to share them with you. 
If you are new to CR and wondering why some people have been in the program for so long, you need to read this.  If you are a CR veteran and have felt discouraged about continuing to "be in recovery", you need to read this.  If you have never attended CR yourself, but you have a friend or family member who has been in CR for a while, you need to read this.  If you have clicked the link and are on this webpage, then you're on it for a reason -- you need to read this.

 

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Not long ago someone asked me why I wasn't recovered yet. They were judging me as weak because I continue in Celebrate Recovery. CR happens to be one of the greatest spiritual growth and discipleship ministries available to the modern church. But it is a process.

And I am weak. Seriously, can I earn my way into God's favor? Can I use my own strength to recover? Will I stop learning and growing this side of God's kingdom?

 

I'm a work in progress on the road to sanctification (recovery). Only Christ can finish what he has started:)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)

...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance... (Proverbs 1:5)

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)

 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The Hidden Key to Success

We all know recovery isn’t a quick fix, right? So you’re probably thinking there isn’t a secret to a successful recovery too, right?  Wrong!  There is a secret and it’s a pretty easy one too, ready?...... Get Involved!  I started my first step study in 2007, but I didn’t go on Friday nights.  I didn’t think it was for me.  After I graduated I “moved on.”  Then in 2009 I had a friend who wanted to go on a Friday night so I went.  I signed up for another Step Study.  I started helping with Common Grounds.  Then I helped clean up.  I helped with our annual Anna’s House fundraiser. 

I kept getting more and more involved.  The more I got involved the more reasons I had to be there each Friday night.  I had signed up for this or that so I had to be there.  The more I was there the more I heard inspirational testimonies or lessons.  The more I showed up and pitched in the more I began to truly care about the people I was working with.  The more I cared about the people the more I wanted to be there on a Friday night!

With participating more and developing real relationships I was working my recovery in a way I wouldn’t have been able to without doing that.  When I hit a speed bump in my recovery I am able to use the things I’ve learned Friday nights and the relationships I built serving to help me get over them. 

Get involved.  There are so many opportunities: Dinner Team, Common Grounds, cleaning up, leading a small group, leading a step study, serenity prayer, hugger, and principle reader.  There are also a ton of other things you could do – things we don’t even do now, do you see a need?  Come up with a way to meet that need and volunteer to start it!  Are you currently a leader who has been doing the same service for years?  Branch out, try something new!

Also- if you see someone who has leadership potential then help them get involved!  Often it just takes being asked for someone to step up.  If you know a man who would make a great small group leader or a woman who has a great testimony, encourage them to use their gifts!

-Grateful Believer

Andrew

I Celebrate Redemption

That’s not fair!

Having grown up as the youngest child in my family, these words were all too often aimed at my parents so that I could appropriately express my disapproval for why my older brother received benefits that I was not yet able to enjoy.  Important benefits such as being able to stay up until 10:30 when my bed time was 10.  Or getting to ride his bike around the neighborhood without parental supervision when I was still using training-wheels.  And no matter how persistently I tried to convince mom and dad of how the treatment my brother received wasn’t fair, they would always answer my dilemma with a particular phrase:  “Life’s not fair.”

At the time I thought this was just a typical parent cop out answer.  You know, answers and phrases like:  Because I said so; Money doesn’t grow on trees; If so and so jumped off a bridge, would you?; or, my personal favorite, One day, God willing, you’ll have one JUST like you.  At the time I didn’t realize how much truth there was in the phrase “Life’s not fair.”

As I journey along this road towards recovery, I am recognizing more and more this unfair, sinful world in which we live.  Life is full of unjust pain.  People endure abuse.  Children suffer from their parents’ divorce.  Death occurs to the least expected.  Addictions are formed without realizing the lifelong consequences that follow.  Day in and day out people battle their hurts, hang-ups, and habits.  Some days are completed victoriously and with ease!  Other days, however, are met with continuous struggle and strife.  The weight of the world can really bog us down and make us feel completely worn.

 
The artist Tenth Avenue North describes in their song Worn a feeling which many in recovery can relate. Feelings of a heavy heart, a soul crushed by the world, hopeless despair, losing the will to fight, empty prayers, and the desperate longing for the death inside to be reborn. Thankfully we have a Savior who provides redemption to a hopeless world! It may seem like the enemy of this world, Satan, is on a dominating streak over the matters of our heart, but (SPOILER ALERT) God wins in the end! I don’t know about you, but I’m incredibly thankful I’m on the winning team! Join us this Friday night to learn how you can also join that winning team. I look forward to seeing you there!

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.  For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.  Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

Psalm 143:9-11 (NLT)

Grateful Believer,
Bryant

Why Attend Celebrate Recovery?

My name is Bryant and I’m a grateful believer in our Lord, Jesus Christ.  I struggle with lust, overeating, total honesty, and am recovering from a divorce.

For many of you this is probably your first time reading the CR blog.  If that’s the case, welcome!  Whether this is your first visit to the CR blog, or you’ve been following the posts for a while, my guess is that some of you reading might have heard about Celebrate Recovery before but aren’t exactly sure why you need to “celebrate recovery”.  You might have heard about CR from your friend who talks about his/her strange love of Friday nights.  Maybe you have noticed the signs outside of Memorial Road’s church building, the MRCC Celebrate Recovery Facebook group, or the link on Memorial Road’s website.  Or perhaps you were one of the lucky ones who were blessed by hearing a testimony shared in chapel this semester.  Whatever the case, you probably have heard of CR before, but you don’t really know what the program is all about and you’re trying to get a feel on what to expect before making that first step to attend on Friday nights.  If this describes you and you’re thinking “Oh no – he’s on to me!!” don’t worry.  We’ve all been there, myself included.

The first time I attended CR I was incredibly nervous and had no clue what I was getting myself into.  I made that long journey across the parking lot, through the doors, and into God’s hands.  I didn’t know I was in His hands, but I can assure you that He was with me that night!  But if you’re thinking that I had only heard about CR one time before jumping on the recovery train, you are incorrect.  It actually took me about 6 years before I decided I should go.

While I was attending OC I saw my struggle with lust increase.  I heard that there was a great place to go on Friday nights at Memorial Road where I can take off my masks and start addressing my bad habits.  “A recovery group?  Is that really where I’m at?  What if there’s someone there who recognizes me?  What if I recognize someone else?  What are we going to do – just stand around, sing Kumbaya, give each other hugs and say ‘It’s ok’?  Is someone going to repeatedly tell me ‘It’s not your fault’ until I give in and cry?”  These questions filled my head.  I clung on to them as if I were constantly preparing to defend my stance against anyone who said I should check out CR.  I reasoned that I had my habits under control.  Even though I had that feeling deep inside of me, that “God feeling”, telling me I should take a look into attending at least one Friday night meeting, I would convince myself otherwise.  After six years of struggling with my hurts, hang-ups, and habits, here I am!  I still struggle with my three h’s, but the difference now is that I’m not doing it alone!  I have a Christian family who understands that I have daily temptations and accept me for being an imperfect human.  I have a safe place to go to be encouraged when I’m feeling heavy with sorrow.  I have spirit-filled people with whom I can share my weekly joys and victories!

So why should you attend Celebrate Recovery?  While it’s true that I don’t know you or your spiritual battles; I don’t know your past and all the stuff you have been through; and I don’t know the sacrifices you would have to make if you started to attend CR on Friday nights.  What I do know is that you are God’s beloved child.  Let me make you read that again:  you are God’s beloved child.  You DESERVE to be loved by God.  You are WORTHY of God’s love.  No matter what!  I have never, and I truly mean never, felt the love of God like I have while attending Celebrate Recovery.  There is a presence there that is incomparable; one that is only recognized as being the love of God.  And I guarantee you’ll notice it.  It may not be on your first night there, but as you continue to make CR a regular part of your week I have no doubt that you’ll see what I’m talking about.  All rhyming aside, give it a shot!  Come visit this upcoming Friday night.  If it makes you more comfortable, bring a friend!  And if you come at 6pm, you’ll get a wonderfully delicious and FREE dinner!  I mean who doesn’t like free food, right??

I look forward to seeing you there!

 Grateful Believer,
Bryant

God's Got This!

All of my life, I have had a paralyzing fear of public speaking. In fact, I have avoided things that I desperately wanted to do, when I discovered that public speaking would be involved. So, it is not surprising that up until about 6 months ago, I would have sworn that I would NEVER give my testimony. I specifically asked people on multiple occasions, to stop asking me to do so, because it was never going to happen. But something happened last August that began changing my heart.

I had the privilege of attending the annual Celebrate Recovery Summit in California. One of the very first speakers stood up, and started describing his journey into becoming an inspirational speaker. Now, let me just say, that I have ALWAYS believed that God speaks to me through others. So, this gentleman starts talking about how he went into the radio-industry, because he never had to talk in front of a visible audience. He too was deathly afraid of public speaking. And then he said something I will never forget. He said, "God uses people too" and began describing that God will place people and situations in your life, in order for you to receive a specific message. God put someone special in his life, that started his journey from overcoming his intense fear, to traveling around the country and using his story to inspire others. THAT day, God placed THAT man in my life, to tell me that it was time to share my story. And for the first time, I literally felt God breathing into me, the words that I needed to say.

That very day, I made the commitment to share my testimony, and I trusted God to deliver the message that He wanted, and not that I wanted. This isn't to say that I was suddenly relieved of fear, because I definitely wasn't. But God always placed the perfect people in my life to encourage me at just the right time, and to help relieve any insecurity or fear that I was feeling. One of my step-study sisters sent me a simple text almost everyday that said "God's Got This." This reminded me on a daily basis, to let go of my control and fear. I was also reminded on several occasions, that this was not MY story to tell, it was GOD'S. I was merely a vessel. Lastly, I was assured that any insecurity or fear that I was feeling, was not from God. Satan did not want me to share this story, and he was prepared to throw anything in my path, that would've kept me from doing so.

Two weeks ago, I finally did it!! I stood in front of a large group of people, and shared my story. My ugly, dirty, sad, redemptive, joyful, and beautiful story. And something incredible happened! People still loved me! I could not believe the out-pouring of love that I felt. Somehow, I pictured that I would feel ashamed after sharing the darkness of my past. To be honest, I have never felt as secure in who I am, as I felt that night. Since then, I have received countless phone-calls, text-messages, and emails, thanking me for sharing my story. I have been blessed by hearing how my testimony has touched other people's lives. God has truly taken my mess, and made it His message! And I hate that I kept that message to myself for so long!

If you've never given your testimony, PLEASE consider doing so! No matter what your hurt, habit, or hang-up, there will always be someone that God puts in your path who NEEDS to hear your story! And stop worrying...God's Got This!!

Grateful Believer,
Amy

CR@OC

Memorial Road has always had a tight bond with the neighboring university, Oklahoma Christian.  As a matter of fact, when Memorial Road opened its doors in the 60’s, it was actually known as the College Church, not MRCC.   This week our Celebrate Recovery ministry is front and center at OC – literally front and center!  Five Celebrate Recovery participants are sharing a mini-testimony each day this week in chapel!   God is good!

Two members of our CR team have been instrumental in getting things kicked off at OC.  Sheldon Adkins & Jen Escobar have worked hard to make sure this week would happen.  This is the 2^nd year that Sheldon worked with OC administration to get CR testimonies in chapel.  It’s amazing - CR introductions can quiet 1000 college students down pretty quickly!   But, CR introductions usually are attention getting, they do get people to stop and listen.  Why?  Because CR introductions are honest and transparent – and most people aren’t used to hearing such honesty.

Jen had an idea this past summer to see if OC would work with our CR group and offer the bible study Life’s Healing Choices on campus.   Life's Healing Choices offers freedom from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits through eight healing choices that promise true happiness and life transformation. Using the Beatitudes of Jesus as a foundation, Rick Warren and John Baker, developed the eight choices shared in this book.   OC was happy to offer the group study to their students and those groups will be beginning this coming Monday night! God is good!  Two men from our CR group will lead the guys group study, and two women from our group will lead the gals group study.  What a great way for our program to give back  by reaching out to these young men and women.  

I asked Sheldon to sum up what our goal is this week at OC’s chapel and I loved his response, “ It’s a great opportunity to share the redemptive power of Christ with students who sit where we sat.  I pray that our stories will let other see God’s love for every person – no matter how broken!”  That’s powerful. 

Most students probably won’t  jump up this week and say, “I need recovery!”  Our prayer is that we have planted a seed - that Christ has planted a seed.  A seed that someday, when that student is ready, or has hit rock bottom,  they remember the words of hope that they heard this week – and Christ will lead them to find healing through Him.

Please be in prayer this week that hearts are touched this week!

Grateful Believer,

Karyn

7th Anniversary

Have you heard?

We kinda have something BIG going on this coming Friday night.

We don't want you to miss it.

It's going to be an amazing night.

MRCC Celebrate Recovery is celebrating our 7th year this Friday night, and we want you to be there!

As always dinner is at 6:00 PM, our worship service will begin at 7 PM.  You will hear an amazing testimony - you won't want to miss it.  It's powerful!   At 8 PM we will have open share groups and then for those newcomers we will have a special class just for you! It explains why we do what we do at CR!   At 9 PM the party will start...complete with anniversary cake and 7-up sherbet floats!  (We had to keep the 7 theme going!) 

I am sure the team that kicked off CR that first night didn't know if the program would last 7 weeks...but here we are now, 7 YEARS later!  Why?  Because God is over this ministry, and He has richly blessed our program at MRCC.

This is a great night to invite folks to check out the program!  You might be thinking, "how do I invite someone to CR?"  Well it's easy....you just say, "I am going to church this Friday night to hear an amazing testimony of how God has worked in someones life - do you want to come with me??  Oh, and dinner's free!"   It really is that easy.  
{Disclaimer: Only invite people if you're ready.}

We also hope that you'll invite old CR friends that you haven't seen in a while. 

It's going to be a great night!!!  GOD IS GOOD!

Grateful Believer,
Karyn