Celebrate Recovery

Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). God tells me that when I live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, life is hard. I can take God back there to heal me, to forgive me, to forgive my sins. But God does not say, My name is ‘I was.’ God says, My name is ‘I am.’ When I try to live in the future, with its unknown problems and fears, life is hard. I know God will be with me when that day comes. When I live in today, this moment, one day at a time, life is not hard. God says, I am here. Have a wonderful Saturday and God Bless

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:...23-24 The life we have turned over to God no longer is ours. Now we examine this life we have given to God. We write about what happened in the life we turned over to God. We do so knowing that God has forgiven us. It’s through God’s grace that we empty ourselves in order to make room for Christ to inhabit our heart. Some of us rationalize that when we be became believers that our minds and hearts were suddenly emptied and we were no longer tied to our past. God is a God of healing and mercy. He could wipe all memory of our past if he really wanted to. But, God uses our past for His glory. Even the parts of our life that seem the most painful. What we spent years attempting to avoid, God wants to use to bring healing and mercy to others. If we don’t value our testimony we are destined to lose it. God’s testimony is one of love, grace and mercy. It’s through doing a searching and fearless moral inventory that we glorify God’s testimony. And the value of God’s testimony is made evident in the life’s that we touch when we share it with others. Have a very blessed Wednesday!! See more

Mike Schuetz Listen, dear friends. Isn’t it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. James 2:5 God’s standard is not the same as the order of this world. God places those who have the least at the top. We can’t work our way into His favor. We can’t gain entry into His Kingdom by what we do. The insanity of this world ...is that we have to do more all the time to please others. God does not have quotas. He simply wants us to believe that His son was sent, lived with us for awhile, and then died on a cross for our sins. Many of us have worked in situations where we were constantly held under a ever increasing quota. The madness was that no matter what we did, our reward was a higher quota. So when we worked hard and met our quota, we were sure to be expected to work harder to attain the next quota. God is a gentle master. He does not create scenarios that are designed to ultimately cause us to fail. He builds us up. He lets us go through trials and hardships. He forgives us of all our short comings and wipes the slate clean when we ask Him for forgiveness. He grows us but He does not abuse us in the process. God has no quotas. Christ is the greatest employer. He gives us everything we need and more. Through Him we are empowered and we learn how to encourage others. We learn how to be good bosses. We learn how to be of service to the people who work for us. We learn how to give instead of how to constantly take. Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? James 2:17 See more

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into th...is grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:1-8) See more

September 5 I am your best friend, as well as your King. Walk hand in hand with Me through your life. Together we will face whatever each day brings: pleasures, hardships, adventures, disappointments. Nothing is wasted when it is shared with Me. I can bring beauty out of the ashes of lost dreams. I can glean Joy out of sorrow, Peace out of adversity. Only a Friend who is also the King of kings could accomplish this divine alchemy. There is no other like Me! The friendship I o...ffer you is practical and down-to-earth, yet it is saturated with heavenly Glory. Living in My Presence means living in two realms simultaneously: the visible world and unseen, eternal reality. I have equipped you to stay conscious of Me while walking along dusty, earthbound paths. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:1315 And provide for those who grieve in Zionto bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:3 Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10

AMEN! Have a great day!

AUGUST 12 Celebrate Recovery Thought for the Day There was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet by Celebrate Recovery. By doing so, we have a spiritual experience which revolutionizes our whole attitude toward life, toward others, and toward God’s universe.... 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 NLT "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that God has entered into our hearts and lives there in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us that we could never do for ourselves. Have I let God come into my life? Meditation for the Day The moment a thing seems wrong to you or a person’s actions to be not what you think they should be, at that moment begins your obligation and responsibility to pray for those wrongs to be righted or that person to be changed. What is wrong in your surroundings or in the people you know? Think about these things and make these matters your responsibility. Not to interfere or be a busybody, but to pray that a change may come through your influence. You may see lives altered and evils banished in time. You can become a force for good wherever you are. (Mark 12:30-31 NIV) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may be a co-worker with God. I pray that I may help people by my example. I pray that I do Gods will, not mine. In Jesus's name, Amen !

Changing Lives Living Changed

JUNE 29 Celebrate Recovery Thought for the Day You can prove to yourself that life is basically and fundamentally an inner attitude. Just try to remember what troubled you most a week ago. You probably will find it difficult to remember. Why then should you unduly worry or fret over the problems that arise today? Your attitude toward them can be changed by putting yourself and your problems in God's hands and trusting Him to see that everything will turn out all right, provid...ed you are trying to do the right thing. Your changed mental attitude toward your problems relieves you of their burden and you can face them without fear. Has my mental attitude changed? Meditation for the Day You cannot see the future. It's a blessing that you cannot. You could not bear to know all the future. That is why God only reveals it to you day by day. The first step each day is to lay your will before God as an offering, ready for God to do what is best for you. Be sure that, if you trust God, what He does for you will be for the best. The second step is to be confident that God is powerful enough to do anything He wills, and that no miracle in human lives is impossible with Him. Then leave the future to God. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may gladly leave my future in God's hands. I pray that I may be confident that good things will happen, as long as I am on the right path. In Jesus' s name. Amen!

MAY 9 C.R. Thought for the Day We used so little self-control when we were not walking with the Lord, we were so absolutely selfish, that it does us good to give up something once in a while. Using self-discipline and denying ourselves a few things is good for us. At first, giving up that thing that brought you to recovery is a big enough job for all of us, even with God's help. But later on, we can practice self-discipline in other ways to keep a firm grip on our minds so t...hat we don't start any wishful thinking. If we daydream too much, we'll be in danger of slipping. Am I practicing enough self-discipline? Meditation for the Day In material things, you must rely on your own wisdom and that of others. In spiritual things, you cannot rely so much on your own wisdom as on God's guidance. In dealing with personalities, it is a mistake to step out too much on your own. You must try to be guided by God in all human relationships. You cannot accomplish much of value in dealing with people until God knows you are ready. You alone do not have the power or wisdom to put things right between people. You must rely on God to help you in these vital matters. Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like Godtruly righteous and holy. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may rely on God in dealing with people's problems. I pray that I may try to follow His guidance in all personal relationships.