Going The Speed Limit

I have a confession to share. It's one of the many reasons I attend Celebrate Recovery and just about every week I need a new blue chip for it. Hi, my name is Gabby, I'm a grateful believer in Jesus and I struggle with impatiently driving behind old ladies in the fast lane and navigating through a school zone while running behind.

Yes, I like to pretend that I am Jeff Gordon while on the road, so sue me. Just kidding, please don't, unless I accidentally sideswiped your car, then I'm sorry. I'm only saying that when I am unable to go the speed that I WANT to go I get upset.

If the German Autobahn allows people to go as fast as they like, then why should I have to slow down? Captain Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean best summarizes speed limits when he described the Pirate’s Code, "They're more like guidelines anyway." Daily I like to believe that I can go as fast as I please, but with the Lord and Celebrate Recovery I am reminded that sometimes I need to slow down.

I remember when I first started coming to Celebrate Recovery; I had just ended an addicting and abusive relationship and needed some guidance. Immediately I joined a step study and began to work the steps of recovery. I knew that step studies took over nine months to complete but by month two I was wondering why I wasn't "healing" and "letting go" of my past hurts sooner.

Recently I have been reflecting on the importance of having an accountability team and have found what huge role they play in my own recovery. My support team is like the speed limit signs that are found on the streets. With assistance from my sponsor and accountability partner, I was able to adapt to my own pace and make progress within my recovery.

Whenever I'm trying to speed down the recovery highway, my sponsor will pull me over and remind me that there is not a quick fix. When I am drifting away, paralyzed from fear, or just stagnant in my recovery, my accountability partner will come up and honk her horn (in a loving way, not the mean tailgating nonsense) reminding me that I need to pick up the pace. Either way, having a support team is essential for me to continue taking one step at a time.

Grateful Believer,

Gabby

Unclogged Pores

I’ve struggled with oily skin my whole life but lately I’ve felt like my face has been obnoxiously oily. Why this happens, I do not understand. I do know that on a hot day I literally have enough oil on my face to lotion my entire body. Can you say, “Not cool?” As a result, I sought help in the form of a dermatologist. He had a few recommendations for me, which I’ve felt I have been following through with pretty well.

First, he recommended that I try to drink plenty of water, at least eight cups a day minimum. On a good day, I’ll drink a whole 16oz bottle. Some days I may even drink three bottles if it has the sweet flavor packets stirred in. Flavored water is better water, just saying.

He also encouraged me to take two prescribed medications, one oral medication twice a day and one nightly face cream. Let’s just say that pill isn’t the easiest thing to swallow. For my nursing friends who understand, I only take it prn, meaning as needed, really meaning, when I remember I may choke it down. As for that face cream, it’s more like one night every two weeks I’ll rub it on.
But, for some odd reason my face just continues to oil up and I cannot get it under control!

Finally I decided to take action into my own hands and went out on a limb. I decided to try Deep Cleansing Pore Strips. They are these thin strips that a person would put over their nose, wait 10-15min for it to stiffen and then pull off. Naturally I waited about 7-8 minutes and then pulled the strip off my nose. To say it hurt was an understatement. I literally had to wipe tears from my eyes and I was left with a bright red Rudolph nose.

What was I thinking? Not to say that any of the above treatments were failures, but because of my lack to completely commit to the instruction provided to me, I’m sure I did more harm to my face than good. This situation reminds me of Principle 5, “Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my character defects.” Too many times I have allowed myself to half commit to the necessary changes that I have needed to make in my life.

The oil reminds me of the daily temptation that I face. With my constant denial of the need to change, the more the sin, or “oil”, has the opportunity to be produced. Even when given the proper tools to deal with my struggles, sometimes I continue to do the things I know I shouldn’t do or only do what I need to do half-heartedly.

As a result, this leads to me try to deal with the issue on my own and possibly ending in tears because of my inability to fix it. God loves me for who I am, where I am and wants to help me change. However, I have to be willing to submit to every change that HE wants to make and commit to the process whole-heartedly.

The Grateful Believer,

Gabby

From Being Hurt to Being Hugged

Five years ago when I first walked into Celebrate Recovery, I was blown away at the friendliness of the folks participating in this group. They would hug total strangers! I was unable to accept a hug back then, partly from my severe depression and partly because I have been hurt by others in the past. My ability to trust was nonexistent, but over time I learned that there were a lot of people that care about me at Celebrate Recovery.  We were created to be in relationships with other people, but for me, I was too hurt to let anyone in. I was accepted where I was without pressure, and I am so thankful for that.

It seemed pretty foreign, but as I learned to trust some people I started allowing a few of them to give me a hug every once in a while. What happened next really amazed me, but I started to want, no NEED hugs! I found myself searching for my safe folks and getting my hugs. It was only about 6 months ago that I realized that I went from someone who might throw a punch if you touched me to actually asking for a hug!  God is changing me.  My journey has not been a quick one, and I certainly haven’t arrived. You still won’t see me as an official hugger on Friday nights during recovery recognition, but I am in total shock at where I am today. I am taking the scenic route to a destination set forth before I was born, and I am excited to be on that road.

Ephesians 3:20— Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think, to Him be the glory!

Grateful Believer,

Jennifer

Prevent Truth Decay

I'm a procrastinator. I tend to put things off, goof around, and then finish in a flurry at the very last minute. That's the way I roll.

It's very difficult for me to do things daily, consistently, BEFORE it's an emergency to do them. But as I've grown in my recovery, I have to admit that it's a lot less stressful to do things a little at a time then all at once at the last minute.

In fact, some things HAVE to be done daily. For example, brushing my teeth. What I waited to do that, say once a week (ew!) and on that day brushed them REALLY WELL for like, an hour or two? Would that be as good as brushing them twice a day for a few minutes? Of course not!

The same goes with the daily inventory we talk about at Celebrate Recovery. If I take an honest look at my daily thoughts and actions, and things that happened to me, I'm going to do a lot better job of keeping those things in check than if I just did a big Inventory (4th step) every few years in a step study. A daily inventory keeps me in the truth, the reality of my day-to-day struggles. Both kinds of inventory are great for me - the daily check keeps me on track day by day while the 4th step inventory gives me the big picture.

What should I look at during my daily inventory?  The main idea is to review my day to see what went well and what I need to ask forgiveness for. I ask myself, "Can I avoid that situation or temptation next time?" or "How can I handle that circumstance better?" or "Why did that bother me so much?"

For more ideas on how to use the daily inventory in your recovery, pick up our Daily Inventory handout on the information table on Friday night. Also, your sponsor might have some tips for you.

Grateful Believer,
Angi

Happy are the Peacemakers

Principle 6: Evaluate all my relationships; Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve
 done to others except when to do so would harm them or others.



Happy are the merciful. 

Matt 5:7  

Happy are the peacemakers. Matt 5:9

The time I consider myself most active in my recovery is when I am constantly checking life events against the steps and principles. In order for me to stay clean, I have to constantly go through the steps and principles no matter how many times I have done them in the past. 

The one principle that I have always had trouble doing my best with is Principle 6. Principle 6 for me is the one where I take a look at my past and present and see if I have wronged anyone or if anyone has wronged me. I then try to approach each issue and see if there is anything I need to do in accordance with principle 6. I mentally ask myself questions like this:
 Do I need to apologize to my wife for not helping get the kids ready for school? (The answer is yes, by the way.) 
Or
 I should probably sit down with my daughter and apologize for yelling at her when she didn’t deserve it.
 I know I am supposed to do these things and sometimes they are easy and sometimes they are not. 

Part of principle 6 says …Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me. This part is something I usually do in my head if the person has not apologized to me. I try to give it to God and then I don’t have to worry about it.
 
I say all that but I do have a situation where I am praying to God about a betrayal that I still get angry about. When I start to get angry I will usually ask God to take the anger away. I have to do these things so that I can learn to be a better person and also to stay drug and alcohol free. 
 

Grateful Believer,

Eddie

Between Points A and B, there is Recovery

I want this to be concurrent with where the program's lessons are right now, in January, and that's Step 1 and Principle 1.  I also know that when He gives me an idea, I just go, or I don't.  I'm going.  As a song says, You have called me deeper / And I will go where you will lead me...  

Please don't read my words and think I have all the answers.  Think of me as a fellow traveler on the road, happy to walk beside you and encourage with shared stories, dreams, and hopes.

This is about hope, and that is appropriate for the beginning.  It's preliminary to Step 1: not the realization of it, nor the conclusion, not the end of the race.  Hope.

The newcomer has it.  That's you, hopefully.  That's me when I admit a new struggle.  They/you might not realize it, but that's what gets you through our doors.  At the very beginning.  I have realized something about me.  I'm broken.  There's something wrong with me.

I can't fix it.

I've tried.  How I've tried!  How I have fought.  How I have struggled.  How I have sought to control what I do.  I can't do it.  I fail.  I've failed.  I can't fix me.  I am part of the problem.

At that point I see Recovery.  If that's Celebrate Recovery, great!  If that's not CR but some other set of initials, like SA, SAA, AA, NA, among others. I thank God you have found its doors, and I extend the invitation that you are welcome to add CR to your list of meetings.  Recovery happens on many levels and at your own speed.

I see Recovery.  I see a group that meets with the expectation and express purpose of getting well. Recovery is hope in disguise.  I see that others struggle.  Others fail.  Others keep coming back.  There are positive examples to offset my own negatives.

I go to a meeting.  Why?  Surely I am at wit's end.  I know I can't fix me, but I have hope.  I have a seed of hope, however small, that there is an answer, even if at this point it's beyond me.

It is beyond me.

I realize I'm not God.  I admit that I'm powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.  (Principle 1)

My name is Joel.  I'm a grateful believer in our Lord, Jesus, the Christ.  I struggle with sex addiction and divorce.

But I have hope.  I haven't even fully internalized Celebrate Recovery's Principle 1 and everything it can and will mean in my life.

I will have many different hopes over the course of my recovery, over the rest of my life.  Some will be met during my life.  One will have to wait until after I die.  Another helps me focus on the kind of life and love and relationships I want to have.  All my hopes have to be surrendered, folded up in His arms and subject to His will.  

All hopes boil down to one quick geometric principle.  The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.  (Do we have Pythagoras to thank for that one?)  Well, it's true, and all Truth comes first from God.  I have Points A and B.  I'm at Point B, a state of loss, despair, grief.  A dwelling in the house of failure.  That's Point B.

Point A could be just about anywhere else, as long as it's a healthy place.  I'll try to keep it simple for my own sake.  Point B is who I am at the end of my rope, maybe even the end of my life if something doesn't change.  Point A is who I want to be.  I want to move toward Point A, so there's a journey to be taken.  For us, Recovery is that path, and believe me, it's the shortest distance between the two.

There is an old saying, The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. To make that first step requires hope.  I hope Point A exists.  I can't shift a muscle until I have that hope.  What's the point otherwise?

 I'm in the mud.  If there's no better place, I might as well wallow in it.  I'm that proverbial boy playing in the mud outside while there's a feast laid out in the palace.  The amusements I'm interested in as a boy are so small in comparison with what I can have as a mature man.  All mud eventually dries, and then I'm just dirty.  There's great joy in coming clean.  I dare myself to experience that.

As a song goes, We were meant to live for so much more.  As another song goes,  I dare you to move.

At the core of all this is the simple truth that of all of us humans, there is not one of us that is hopeless.  Not a single one.  We may abandon hope ourselves, we may wallow in mud outside the gates, we may dig holes for ourselves.  We may hold on so tightly to our own control that we can't grasp the rope offered to us.

My belief is that there is always a light that can never be extinguished.  I believe God made us with unquenchable hope.  We will always have the nagging thought that, as bad as things have gotten, there's a better place to go.  Have you felt that?  We may resist it.  We may bag it, lock it up, and bury it, shove it away somewhere.

We can't escape it. Why?

Because at the most basic level, the source of that hope comes from without us.  Our hope is anchored in the love that only Jesus has for us, a love that deems us worthy and balances us even though we can't do anything to tip the scales either way. 

Romans 5:5 says, "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts..."  (Read 5:6-9 too, while you're there).  A love that we can't get rid of because it doesn't depend on us.  We are worthy of that love just because He says so.  Believe this.  He wants you.  You have worth to Him.

But you don't have to start there.  When the infinite is too much to consider, start small.  There's a better place to be.  There's a better person to become.  Shift a muscle.  Take a step.  I hope you will move.

Grateful Believer,

Joel T.

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)

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

I celebrate 2012 - God is good!!

My name is Travis, I am a grateful believer in Jesus that struggles with control and gambling.   As I look back over 2012, I see God’s hand in everything we’ve done…

·         In January 2012 we had our 6^th CR anniversary, and had a wonderful family testimony that evening. God is good!

·         In April we cancelled CR for the first time in many years due to some fake tornado warnings that never panned out however you never know how the weather will be in Oklahoma.  God is good, and HE was in control, not us!

·         In late April we had our Missions night that we raised over $700 toward missions.  We took a look at many different areas in the world where we have helped start Celebrate Recovery programs.  God is good. 

·         In May we had a wonderful couple’s testimony from Micah and Tara.  Their story was a story where God was in the center.  God has prepared both of them through Celebrate Recovery and we got to hear how their lives have been forever changed because of it.  God is good!

·         In June we sent out 6 people back to Honduras to continue the training and help finish the Ropes Course at Cerepa.  God is good!

·         In July we had our Annual CRT training that was a huge success with several different Churches of Christ in attendance.  We had over 60 People at our Monthly Training.  God is Good! 

·         In August we sent 17 adults and 2 children to the annual Summit in California.  We gained more tools to bring back to Oklahoma and share with our CR Program.  The trip was very important to gain more knowledge, build relationships, and further our relationship with God.  God is good! 

·         In October we had our Annual Fall Retreat at St. Groves Camp in Stillwater.  We had a wonderful time.  Scavenger Hunts, costume party, kids got to Trick or Treat, campfire devotional, and of course we got to worship together on Sunday as a body of believers.  God is good!  

·         In December we had our first annual Healthy Challenges and Healthy Risk night that was a huge success with several people that have never lead before lead in large group.  Also we had a special evening where we collected money for Anna’s House to donate gifts to foster children.  We raised almost $800 in one night for this ministry.  God is good!  

God has blessed our program so much in the past year.  God continues to lead this program.  Yes, we do have leaders that step up every week to serve, but it is all because of what God has done in their lives.  I cannot say it enough...God is GOOD!!!!

Grateful Believer,

Travis