What God Says

Tell me once again who I am to You, that I belong to You . . . 

A song that has been touching my heart lately is "Remind Me Who I Am" by Jason Gray.  One of the great things I have learned through Celebrate Recovery is that I am no longer the person I used to be.  Jesus says I am a new creation!  Where the world has labeled me, criticized me, and condemned me . . . Jesus has loved me, accepted me, and changed me!

The world calls us, "addict," "alcoholic," "co-dependent," "victim," etc. . . Jesus calls us, "children," "beloved," "chosen people."

The world tells us we are guilty . . . Jesus tells us we are forgiven!

The world tells us to get even, hold grudges, and refuse to forgive . . . Jesus tells us that He will help us to forgive others.

The world says, "You're gonna pay for that!" . . . Jesus says, "I already did."

The world looks at us with hatred, contempt, and condemnation . . . Jesus looks at us with love, grace, and compassion.

Too often we can get caught up in how the world sees us and what the world tells us.  If we have turned our lives and wills over to God, all we need to be concerned with is how He sees us and what He tells us!

Quick Update...

Hey all,
Quick update for those of you who read the previous blog post and were thinking of helping out with the video Sunday.  Sorry for any inconvenience, but we are postponing the taping of our video.  We will let everyone know when we reschedule!  Have a blessed day!!

Cardboard Testimonies

Some of you may have read the earlier post about testimonies.  The thought of writing out a full-length testimony can be overwhelming.  I know it was for me - it was not until I had completed my 5th step (sharing my inventory with another person) that I really felt okay about writing my testimony and actually sharing it.  At the last servants' meeting, Blaine talked about writing "mini-monies," a short 3-5 minute version of your testimony.  We would encourage you all to pray about writing your testimony and/or mini-mony as we get ready for Celebrate Recovery to kick off in September.  In the meantime, what if you could share about your recovery without having to say even one word?  In fact, you would probably only need to write less than 10 words!  How, you might ask??  Two words:  cardboard testimonies.

Perhaps you have seen one of the many YouTube videos showing cardboard testimonies.  (If not, don't worry because you can click on the link below and watch one!)  Essentially, a cardboard testimony is a large piece of cardboard with writing on both sides.  The first side gives a very short phrase that describes who you were in the past, and the second side has another short phrase that describes who you are now in Christ-centered recovery.  For example:

• Addicted to drugs............Addicted to Jesus!
• Hopeless...................Filled with new hope
• Suicidal................New life
• Broken................Healed!

So, you get the idea.  What we would like you to do is to pray this next week about what your cardboard testimony might say.  We will be filming our Celebrate Recovery promo video on Sunday, June 10 right after the 11:00 service at HVC.  We want as many people with as many cardboard testimonies as possible to be in our video!  Even if you aren't sure you want to be involved with CR, this would be a great way to support the ministry and share some hope and encouragement with others.  Come on that Sunday ready to write your cardboard testimony if you are willing to help out in this way.  If you have any questions at all, you can comment on this post or talk to any of the leaders.  Have a blessed weekend!

Taking Out the Trash

Sometimes God uses the most mundane daily tasks to remind me of things.  This week it was taking the trash out to the dumpster.  I don't know what it was, but there was something in the garbage that smelled awful.  Being just a little lazy, I didn't feel like walking all the way to the dumpster right at the moment.  Instead, I began attempts to cover up the odor.  Air freshener, Lysol spray, baking powder, candles . . . but to no avail.  Each attempt to deodorize made a difference for a minute or two, but then the smell was back.  Finally I faced reality that I would just have to take out the trash.  For a few seconds, the stench was worse as I removed the garbage can lid to tie up the bag.  But as I tied the bag, the smell became just a little bit fainter.  I walked outside, and as I got into the fresh air, the smell lessened even more.  Finally, I tossed the bag into the dumpster and went back inside, leaving the disgusting bag of trash to someone more capable of dealing with it (in this case, whatever department it is that empties the dumpsters).

As I walked back inside, God showed me the parallels between my trash and my recovery.  Before I was in recovery, there was a lot of garbage in my life.  Garbage put there by my own actions and by others' actions and words.  And boy, did it smell awful.  Like guilt, shame, resentment, and regret.  I tried lots of things to cover up the garbage without actually dealing with it.  Denial only makes things seem better for a very short time, though.  And there came a time when I realized that my efforts to cover up and hide all this garbage were never going to work.  It is that realization that brought me to Jesus, because He is the one who can handle all my garbage.  When I turned to Him and started opening up and dealing with the junk inside me, I had to walk through some pain.  But after that pain, there is healing.  Real healing.  I have made the choice to leave all that garbage at the cross and give it to Jesus.  Would I ever dream of climbing back into that dumpster and taking my disgusting trash back into the house?  No!!  I have to remind myself of that when I am tempted to take back the junk that I have already given to Jesus.  Just as the rotting garbage would leave my house smelling horrible if I brought it back inside, so will the garbage of my past leave me feeling and smelling horrible if I bring it back into my heart.

Celebrate Recovery is a great tool that God used to help me get rid of my past garbage and find healing.  I am so excited to see Him do that in others' lives through this ministry!  Please continue to pray for the servant leadership.  We also are in need of people to serve in all areas of Celebrate Recovery!  We would be blessed if you would consider getting involved and serving.

The Year of Jubilee

"Lift your voice, it's the Year of Jubilee..."

That verse from the song "Days of Elijah" has stuck in my head lately.  In an effort to better understand what I was singing to the Lord when I sang this song, I Googled the "year of Jubilee."  What I found really blessed me and gave much more meaning to this verse.  In biblical times, the Year of Jubilee meant several things to the Israelites.  As I thought about this, I realized the Year of Jubilee means something to us now in recovery.

#1:  All the land had to be returned to its original owners... even if it had been purchased rightfully by another.
This really spoke to me about how God restores to us what we have lost.  As we grow closer to Christ in recovery, God starts to restore that which we have lost due to our sin and the sin of others.  In my own experience, most of what I lost wasn't really taken from me, I gave it up as I pursued my addictions.  Others have had precious things stolen from them by way of abuse, neglect, and so on.  God can and does restore those things!!  When I sing about the Year of Jubilee, I am celebrating that God is restoring things I have lost.

#2:  The Israelites had to let the land rest for one year, called a Sabbath rest in the Bible.
As we grow closer to Christ, we begin to experience His peace and rest.  No longer are we overwhelmed and crushed by guilt, shame, and fear.  He wants to lift that burden from us and give us rest.

#3:  Israelite slaves were set free during the Year of Jubliee.
God tells us in the Bible that we no longer have to be slaves to sin.  The addictions, compulsions, and destructive behaviors that once enslaved us no longer have that power over us when we let Christ be in control.    What an awesome reason to celebrate and praise God!

Today I am grateful for a simple song reminding me what recovery is all about.  Freedom, restoration, and peace.  All wonderful gifts of God that I have experienced through Celebrate Recovery!  God wants that for you, too.  Celebrate Recovery and the 8 Principles are great tools to grow closer to God and experience the freedom, restoration, and peace that Christ offers.

Check out the video of the song from this post!

 http://youtu.be/Tg1erjHNfCE

Testimony

They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.  ~ Revelation 12:11

One of the awesome things about Celebrate Recovery is seeing how God can take the messes that we make in our lives and turn them around for His glory.  For a long time, I felt like I needed to keep all the junk from my past hidden, to keep up a good image.  In Celebrate Recovery I learned that not only can God bring healing to my life, but He can then use the story of that healing to give hope to others.  By sharing what God has done in our lives and how He has changed us, we show others the grace and love of God.  Every believer has a testimony, a story of where God has brought us from and what He is doing in our lives now.  God wants to use your story to demonstrate His love to others!  

One thing we shared at the servants' meeting last week is that we plan to have testimonies being shared frequently when we start up the large group Celebrate Recovery.  If you have worked through the principles of the Celebrate Recovery program and have completed a spiritual inventory, consider beginning to write out your testimony.  Feel free to comment on this post or talk with one of us with questions or comments!  Thanks and God bless!

Why Celebrate Recovery?

What exactly is Celebrate Recovery?  What is so different about Celebrate Recovery?  Why should I give Celebrate Recovery a chance?

As you have heard the announcements about the upcoming launch of Celebrate Recovery in September, you might be asking yourself some or all of these questions.  Or maybe you know someone who has questions like these.  So let's tackle these one at a time.

What exactly is Celebrate Recovery?
Celebrate Recovery is many things.  It is a safe place to experience the power of Jesus in overcoming your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.  It is a biblical program that draws you closer to the Lord.  Celebrate Recovery is also a place to build community and raise up leaders.  It's not a program that you complete and then are "recovered" . . . it's a lifestyle of submitting to Jesus and seeking to follow His will for your life!

What is so different about Celebrate Recovery?
The defining characteristic of Celebrate Recovery is that Jesus Christ is our Higher Power.  Not one of the higher powers, or an option for a higher power . . . He is the Higher Power.  Celebrate Recovery is not simply about sobriety or staying away from dysfunctional behavior patterns.  It is about getting closer to the Lord!  Celebrate Recovery is not just for one particular problem, like drug or alcohol addiction.  Celebrate Recovery is for anyone with any hurts, habits, or hang-ups.  In other words, pretty much everyone can benefit!!

Why should I give Celebrate Recovery a chance?
Maybe you are feeling unsure about Celebrate Recovery.  Perhaps you are questioning whether you "need" it, or wondering if your particular hurt, habit or hang-up "qualifies" you for Celebrate Recovery.  Quite honestly, everyone can get something out of Celebrate Recovery.  After all, wouldn't we all like to get a closer and deeper relationship with Jesus?  Maybe you or someone you know is thinking about trying Celebrate Recovery, but are feeling discouraged because nothing else has worked in overcoming your hurts, habits, or hang-ups.  Please consider giving Celebrate Recovery a chance.  Jesus is the only one who can really bring freedom and recovery in our lives; even if nothing else has worked for you in the past, Jesus is ready and waiting to bring healing, comfort, and freedom!

If you are interested in serving in any way, shape, or form in Celebrate Recovery, come to our Servants' Meetings the last Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel.  Hope to see you there!

March servants meeting

Awesome time at the servants meeting on Tuesday night! We heard a great message from Marty Boller, Cedar Rapids Vineyard pastor. All about leadership and what the Bible says about it. Then some Holy Spirit-filled worship and ministry time.  Thanks to all who came!  This is such an exciting time as we see what God is doing in this ministry! God bless!

God's Comfort

What a wonderful God we have - He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort that God has given us. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 This verse really sums up what Celebrate Recovery is all about. Celebrate Recovery is about so much more than staying away from our destructive, addictive, and compulsive behaviors. Celebrate Recovery is about building the Kingdom of God. We receive comfort and encouragement from God, and then we share that comfort and encouragement with others. As you experience Jesus in Celebrate Recovery, you will be empowered to express that love and comfort to others. A great way to do that would be to get involved with serving in Celebrate Recovery! If you are looking to get involved in service in any way, shape, or form, come to our next servants' meeting this Tuesday, Mar. 27 in the chapel, and find out more!

Celebrate Recovery!

It's a great day to be in recovery and living for Jesus!!

Servants meetings recap

We have been blessed by people expressing an interest in serving in CR. Just a quick recap of our last couple of servants meetings... Two main questions...how can someone serve, and what are the requirements for serving? There are many ways to serve in CR; the servants meetings are for anyone wanting to serve in any way, not just being a small group leader or teaching in large group. We do have a need for people to serve in those areas, but just as badly needed are people to make coffee, serve as greeters, man the book table, and help with van ministry. Basic requirements for serving are pretty straightforward. One main requirement for servants is that you do not drink. Even if alcohol is not your "issue", this could cause a brother or sister to stumble. Additionally, if you are interested in leading an open share group, we ask that you have at least 1 year in recovery, and also have worked through the CR participant guides. That's pretty much it! To get involved, come join us in the chapel the last Tuesday of every month at 6:30 for our servants meetings! Hope to see you there and God bless!

Welcome to Celebrate Recovery!

Welcome to our new CR blog! A place to connect online and stay updated on the latest Celebrate Recovery news. More to come soon!