BAH HUMBUG

What is your Christmas Carol? 

I once heard a sermon entitled “Wrong is Right.”

At Celebrate Recovery we know “God doesn’t waste a hurt.”

Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge said, “If a man repents of his ways, is there no hope?”  He went on to make some very strong amends. So strong, that he exceeded his own expectations. 

In order to make amends he had to do an inventory, a fearless and searching moral and spiritual inventory.  That meant coming out of denial, acknowledging his life was out of control, and that the Christ whose birth we celebrate at this time of year was his higher power.  Where we get the strength to do that is through a personal relationship with Jesus.  A relationship in which we seek His will and direction for our lives.  If we think about the Christmas Carol, we see Ebenezer did not start with a strong relationship, but one of thought, in a form of vision or dream, introduced from the outside or conviction from childhood.  A relationship grows from a seed to a flower and then reproduces.  The twelfth step is sharing or giving back what we learn, the strength, healing, and hope of the eleven other steps. Twelve steps in all, yet one walk as each works in unison with the next.  

So whether we are at step 1 or 12 is not what is important, but rather that we are at a step.  All the time we must press forward on our journey, leaning on our sponsor or accountability partner when needed. This way we learn to stand strong, so others can lean on us when they have a need.  Celebrating our recovery instead of “bah humbug,” then becomes our Christmas Carol. 

 Happy New Year!

John

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Years ago before I started my recovery I was not at all fond of the holiday season.  It made me sad for any number of reasons.  I did not have the husband and children I always dreamed I’d have; I felt like an outcast in the family I did have; it created a relentless quest for just the right gift for everyone; I was surrounded by jolly people who annoyed me.  Sadly, that list can go on for awhile.  “Fa, la, la, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Now that I have spent four plus years working on my recovery, I have come to love the holiday season.  When I first realized I was excited about Christmas a few years ago, I was quite surprised at myself.  None of my circumstances had changed, in fact by worldly standards, they were more difficult.  I was separated from my husband, my mother had passed away in October the year before, and my life was hard.  However, I was attending a new church and pursuing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  The words “Oh come let us adore Him” had taken on a completely new meaning.

The whole idea of the real meaning of Christmas, that God loved us so much that He would rather let His son assume bodily form, be born as a lowly child in complete humility, so that He could live on the earth to see what we see, feel what we feel, and understand us.  Then died a horrible and humiliating death as a criminal, though He had never done anything wrong, so that we can be forgiven of the sins we commit and be saved from eternal death in hell and experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

What a marvelous reason to celebrate!  The birth of the Savior of the world, and it had finally occurred to me what the Christmas season was about.  It was not a quest for a gift or a wish for something I didn’t have, but a beautiful celebration of hope for what I do have, what I have in spite of circumstance or feelings.  I have a second chance; I have sobriety and recovery.  I have a Savior and Lord!

Melissa

Mike’s Testimony: FEAR

I am Mike who is overcoming the effects of childhood sexual abuse and adult drug and alcohol addiction along with many other issues that became part of who I am because of sin, my abusive past, and my former lifestyle.

I grew up with fear from the first days of my life.

Fear attacked my mind; denying me trust, security, peace, love, joy, happiness, etc.  It prevented me from enjoying all those spiritual attributes that come from the inside, the fruits of a wonderful life, which you can only receive from a loving, living God.

My mother conceived me out of wedlock and gave me to her mother.  When she came back after marrying an alcoholic, she took me from my grandmom. The household was abusive with my parents fighting all the time.  This led to verbally, physically, and mentally destroying one another and the children. So as a child I grew up in a world of constant trauma and fear that became commonplace in my life. The separation of my mom and stepfather followed by divorce, and this was almost deadly. I didn’t know what would happen to me, and as a child the fear of living in the unknown kept me very anxious always expecting danger.

As I grew up with fear, I began to notice that in every problem and situation I experienced I’d reacted just like the adults that I grew up around. It was all based on fear: fear of the unknown, the future, fear of my past. Fear of what the end of life would look like. My mind was filled with negative words ringing in my head whenever I made an attempt to change.

Fear dominated me. I was afraid to try, afraid to decide. Whenever I was faced with a decision, I heard the voice in my head always ringing, “yes,” “no,” or “maybe.” This fear drove me o a life of drugs and alcohol, a temporary fix that took me away from my God-given purpose in life.

I didn’t want to die in my condition, a drug addict and alcoholic.

I was  getting old. So, by prayer and meditation I sought a relationship with God. I talked with God about  my life, about me. I confessed all sins, all the mess. I repented of my sins and asked God for direction. “God, show me the way to go, teach me to do your will, direct me, correct me, and protect me continually. Let your will be done in my life. I’ve tried everything, Lord. God, help me, change me.”

I began to notice change in my life as I grew in the knowledge of Jesus Christ as I practiced daily the principles of recovery CR style. My relationship grows daily as I spend time with God.

Believing in and trusting the Word of God, I pray.

I face my fears daily and I’m learning to challenge them when they surface. With my Higher Power Jesus Christ I can do all things for my God strengthens me (Philippians 4;13). Through my relationship with God I was introduced to Celebrate Recovery where I can openly deal with life’s hang-ups, habits and hurts, and anything that comes my way.

Celebrate Christ!

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11

Good news!! Great joy!! For all the people!!

I remember the year I came into recovery that it was difficult for me to find joy or a peace within especially during the holidays. But I would like to give you encouragement that there is HOPE, and that hope is found through the gift God sent for each one of us in Jesus Christ. As I have sought His help in overcoming painful situations in my life I have found the strength in Him to surrender the pain to Him and He has replaced the hurts with a peace and joy. I couldn’t have done this alone though. Praise God for the family of believers at First Baptist Dallas and their willingness to provide a safe Christ centered place for many to find healing from hurts, habits and hang-ups. If you can make it down to our meeting we would love to meet you and share some time with you.

I hope you enjoy this song by the Sidewalk Prophets called “Hope Was Born This Night”. Praying for peace and goodwill for all.

CHRISTmas blessings to you,

Janie

Responsibility in Recovery

In our recovery we learn to accept direction from the Lord. He is the power behind our recovery. He purposes our recovery for the glory of His name. He intends that His power be displayed in our lives of obedience and freedom.

As recovering persons, we are responsible first to God to maintain our sobriety with His help and by His grace. We are evidence of His grace and mercy, His power and might, His always extended hand of help offering another chance. When we fail, His reputation is tarnished. Just the thought of that ought to keep us in recovery. And it would, I expect, if we didn’t so easily forget, if we weren’t so often distracted by our desire for immediate gratification. Nevertheless, this is our responsibility to God: obedient sobriety.

We are furthermore responsible to our fellows in recovery. They look to us as those who may be a step or two further along the path in our recovery. They think, “If they can make it, so can I.” When we fail to maintain and grow our recovery, there are consequences in the lives of those around us who look to us as examples. We may serve as a sponsor, an accountability partner, or just as someone who shows up every week to stay on track. Whatever our part, it is a public one. People are watching us, hoping for hope. Let’s be sure we keep them in mind when we decide how we will act or what we will do.

I often wonder why people come to Celebrate Recovery , hang out with us for awhile, maybe complete a step study, and then disappear. I wonder, “Did they get it?” I don’t know if they did or not. What I do know is that they removed themselves from the opportunity to give hope to others by their continuing attention to their personal recovery in context with others who are recovering. God wants us to serve Him. No Christian is without that obligation and responsibility. My encouragement to you is that you choose to serve Him in CR where you are known for your struggles and for your obedience. By doing that, you become God’s instrument in providing hope for those who struggle with hopelessness.

Karen