Celebrate!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (ESV)

There was a time in my life when I could really identify with the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:19. I wanted to do good, but I did the evil things I hated. I wondered why when Jesus said He came to bring abundant life (John 10:10) I never saw any of it in my own life? I kept telling myself there had to be more to life than what I was experiencing.

As it happened, one morning in church I happened to flip the bulletin over and read “Are you feeling trapped in life? Are you doing things you don't like but don't know why? Do you do many of the following behaviors? Feel responsible for other's problems and try to fix them? Always put other's needs before your own? Constantly seek approval? Easily become defensive when criticized? Have difficulty saying no? Compromise your values to stay in unhealthy relationships or serious addictions?”

Many more behaviors were mentioned. I identified with most of them. There was a group being formed with the blessing of the church that was called a 'Christian Twelve Step Recovery Program.' I'd never heard of such a thing but I was curious and went to the first meeting and found it had answers to many of my hurts, habits, and hangups from the past. I kept going back.

In my last posting I spoke about being in the fire. Sometimes God allows us to go through the fire to help us grow and mature but sometimes we put ourselves in it by jumping out of the frying pan. Today I want to speak of getting out if we put ourselves there. There is a Christian Twelve Step program called Celebrate Recovery. It is a recovery program aimed at healing the dysfunctions of the past including, but not limited to: high anxiety; co-dependency, and compulsive behaviors and addictions, from sexual, drug, alcohol to over eating. It is hope for the helpless and puts Jesus Christ in control of our lives as our Higher Power.

If you feel like your life is out of control and you want to regain your sanity,  research your nearest Celebrate Recovery group and go to a meeting. It's not a 'quick fix' to life's problems (those never work anyway), but it is a viable and useful means to wellness. You will be accepted, not judged. If it doesn't work for you you can have your pain, misery and life disorders back, free of charge. Privacy and confidentiality are paramount. “What we see here, what we say here, what hear here, remains here.”

We're only as sick as our secrets. Denial of our life issues is a slow death. But God never intended us to do life alone. The support of others going through the same things in their own recovery is chief to helping us, through Christ. If you feel you would benefit from a program like Celebrate Recovery I encourage you to find a group near you. That first step is the hardest. Call and talk to someone. Ask questions. Test it for yourself. It can work when you work it. It is help for the helpless with so much to lose while gaining so much. So, what do have to lose?

Ken