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