So, I was thinking and reading up on Samson today. Silly Samson got himself all tangled up with the beautiful yet deadly Delilah. Do you know the story? Strong Samson keeps getting asked by Delilah, "What is it that makes you so strong?" And Samson keeps putting her off lying about the source of his strength. However, this nagging goes on for days and possible weeks. It starts wearing on Samson until finally he gives in and tells her its his hair. If you are like me, you are yelling at Samson, "Samson...DON'T DO IT! DON'T TELL HER! THE MEN ARE IN THE OTHER ROOM TO CAPTURE YOU!!" I even went further to say, "Stupid Samson. He is pretty dumb to fall for that over and over. Surely he had to know she was up to something!" Then it hit me. I am Samson. I have let deadly sin nag and nag at me till I finally just quit and fall into it. The Bible says that satan comes sneaking around like a roaring lion ready to devour...to steal, kill and destroy. This is where we need to take guard and stand our ground against our addictions and compulsive behaviors. To fight and not be paralyzed! Also it is time to turn to God. We can not let our sin and guilt keep us from restoration and an upright relationship with the Savior. In the end, Samson turned to God and God came back to Samson. He stood by him and let Samson show his strength once more. Turn to God. He's still there.
JasieR-A
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Sponsor Training Success
Good afternoon! Wow what a great Sponsor Training we had saturday. I would like to thank all of you who came. Remember you were not there by chance! God has special plans for you in your journey of Recovery. This is just a way of giving back to Celebrate Recovery and any and all of the precious people God places in our lives. As for me I can not begin to give back what has been given back to me except to be there to serve for our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only in Celebrate Recovery, but in our church as well. I praise God and thank all of you who are an awesome part of my Recovery
KAREN (T)
KAREN (T)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wait
If you are anything like me, you hate waiting. But God has a few things to say about waiting. The most obvious is found in Psalm 27:14. It says, "Wait on the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." If we have asked Jesus to live and reign in us, we know that His goodness and blessing will follow us. However, waiting for evidence of this is difficult sometimes. All in all it comes down to the foundation and key part of Christianity: having faith. This includes trusting that God has your best interest at heart even though, and espcially though, you cannot see the 'it' at the moment. So, I will wait. God has promised to complete the good work in us (Phil 1:6). Until then, I will not cease praising to Him for the present and the future.
JasieR-A
JasieR-A
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Testimonies
Wow it has been an exciting couple of weeks.
First let me say a great big WOO-HOO!! I have finished the 12 Steps. I am so excited for myself, and the girls who worked it with me. There were times when it was hard, times when I wondered if I would be able to finish...but I stuck with it and it is so worth it.
I have been thinking a lot lately about the testimonies. Most everyone coming to Celebrate Recovery, has trust issues. It takes a while sometimes, to get to the point of wanting to share. When you are ready to talk there is someone ready to listen.
Once you start hearing the testimonies, you start thinking "Wow, I've been there. I'm not alone." You are able to relate and make friends. People you can trust and count on. For some people Celebrate Recovery is their only family.
As I have been in CR, heard the testimonies, made friends, and heard their stories, I have been amazed to see the way that God has worked in their lives. To be able to let go of their hurts and their habits, to forgive the ones who have hurt them, and accept God's forgiveness in their lives - is truly amazing. When some of my friends told me what they were recovering from, I couldn't believe it. They had victories in their lives and it shows. They are more than willing to help anyone who walks through those doors on Tuesday nights. Yes, they still struggle sometimes with day to day stuff,as we all do, but they trust God.
I think the main thing that kept me coming back, is the first night I was there, Karen showed me where to go, where everything was, and stayed with me through large group. Then in Solid Rock, Tammy was so nice to me when I told her I wanted to try Laura's group the next week to see if it was a better fit for me. I just felt welcomed and comfortable. In my walk with the Lord, in my recovery, and as the Encourager Coach, I can only hope I will be able to make people who come through those doors feel just as comfortable and safe.
Even tho I am finished with the 12 steps, I will still be learning. I will still stumble in my daily walk, but I know God will pick me back up again. And I know that I have friends now I can trust, who won't judge me, if I need them to walk beside me as I pick myself up and dust myself off.
The testimonies are a wonderful way to learn that you are not alone, but hopefully, you will learn how to continue your walk with Christ.
Bobbie-E
First let me say a great big WOO-HOO!! I have finished the 12 Steps. I am so excited for myself, and the girls who worked it with me. There were times when it was hard, times when I wondered if I would be able to finish...but I stuck with it and it is so worth it.
I have been thinking a lot lately about the testimonies. Most everyone coming to Celebrate Recovery, has trust issues. It takes a while sometimes, to get to the point of wanting to share. When you are ready to talk there is someone ready to listen.
Once you start hearing the testimonies, you start thinking "Wow, I've been there. I'm not alone." You are able to relate and make friends. People you can trust and count on. For some people Celebrate Recovery is their only family.
As I have been in CR, heard the testimonies, made friends, and heard their stories, I have been amazed to see the way that God has worked in their lives. To be able to let go of their hurts and their habits, to forgive the ones who have hurt them, and accept God's forgiveness in their lives - is truly amazing. When some of my friends told me what they were recovering from, I couldn't believe it. They had victories in their lives and it shows. They are more than willing to help anyone who walks through those doors on Tuesday nights. Yes, they still struggle sometimes with day to day stuff,as we all do, but they trust God.
I think the main thing that kept me coming back, is the first night I was there, Karen showed me where to go, where everything was, and stayed with me through large group. Then in Solid Rock, Tammy was so nice to me when I told her I wanted to try Laura's group the next week to see if it was a better fit for me. I just felt welcomed and comfortable. In my walk with the Lord, in my recovery, and as the Encourager Coach, I can only hope I will be able to make people who come through those doors feel just as comfortable and safe.
Even tho I am finished with the 12 steps, I will still be learning. I will still stumble in my daily walk, but I know God will pick me back up again. And I know that I have friends now I can trust, who won't judge me, if I need them to walk beside me as I pick myself up and dust myself off.
The testimonies are a wonderful way to learn that you are not alone, but hopefully, you will learn how to continue your walk with Christ.
Bobbie-E
Giving up control
So, I finally get why it is so hard to quit (cold turkey) my addictive and compulsive behaviors. In reading one of the Step 3 devotions in my Recovery Bible, it was all laid out very plain to me. (That's good, cause I need it simple!) It said, "When we give in to our dependencies and compulsions, aren't we giving control over to another power? Aren't we in some way giving up personal responsibility of our life? When we are overwhelmed and want to escape, our addiction can make us feel strong, safe, attractive, powerful, and/or happy. So, in a sense, we are very comfortable with the thought of giving up control of our will and our life."
I was right. I have a control problem. However, not the control problem I thought I had. I totally thought that I had no control concerning my addiction. I thought that I had no willpower and I couldn't understand how others have overcame huge and difficult things that have hurt them or even merely came in between them and God. But now I think I got it!! I have been giving up control this whole time....just not to the right thing. I have been giving control to my addiction because it made me feel safe, strong, and comfortable. But truly, these feelings are temporary. Only Jesus is the one who brings healthy and lasting changes.
Jasie - A
I was right. I have a control problem. However, not the control problem I thought I had. I totally thought that I had no control concerning my addiction. I thought that I had no willpower and I couldn't understand how others have overcame huge and difficult things that have hurt them or even merely came in between them and God. But now I think I got it!! I have been giving up control this whole time....just not to the right thing. I have been giving control to my addiction because it made me feel safe, strong, and comfortable. But truly, these feelings are temporary. Only Jesus is the one who brings healthy and lasting changes.
Jasie - A
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Sponsor Trainning
Great news! We have a group of Ladie's that are completeing the 12 Steps.
We are very excitied about this. We are going to have a New Sponsor Training on Aug, 22 from 9 am until Noon in the Hospitality Room. Anyone who has finished the 12 steps, or is working in book 4, is invited! Give back as others gave to you.
Be a sponsor to those who are just beginning their journey at Celebrate Recovery
Hope to see you all There.
Karen - T
We are very excitied about this. We are going to have a New Sponsor Training on Aug, 22 from 9 am until Noon in the Hospitality Room. Anyone who has finished the 12 steps, or is working in book 4, is invited! Give back as others gave to you.
Be a sponsor to those who are just beginning their journey at Celebrate Recovery
Hope to see you all There.
Karen - T
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