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