Celebrate Recovery (CR)
My husband and I have been active in Celebrate Recovery for the past year. I love it! It's Christ-based and so helpful.
They start their meetings out every week with praise and worship followed by recognitions (x days of sobriety). Then, they move on to a little lesson followed by breakout sessions. Here you speak with others of your same gender and struggle as you. For example, for a while I was a part of the "food issues" group. Another time I was a part of the "co-dependent issues" group. There are mixed sexual issues groups, drug dependency groups, alcohol dependency groups...and mixed groups for both men and women.
On their webpage you can search for groups around where you live. They are popping up like wildfire. It's awesome to see God working. The guy over the CR that I first started going to said that he had been to other secular groups and said that he noticed one thing. Some old person would stand up with a gruff look on his face, nearly yelling everything he said in anger "I've been sober for 30 years..." He realized that some groups are all about sobriety instead of recovery. That's what makes CR unique. It's all about recovery on all levels, including SPIRITUAL healing.
Andrea
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
I have met some individuals in certain Oxford affiliated groups who yes had sobriety but were less than pleasant which is my we say "Principles before personalities." I do love Celebrate Recovery, great to do recovery with other believers. Sometimes it seems like there is less honesty among Christians that there is in other non- Christian groups. I could be mistaken.
Glad you found a similar experience with CR.
Andrea
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
I've been thinking about going to one of these. I attended a SAA meeting recently, but there was something about it that made it seem like it wasn't gonna do much for me long term.
I am going to a meeting next week to find out more....
Carolemarie
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
I am planning on getting involved in one with a couple of my church friends specifically for porn, and sex addictions. Please keep me in prayer. I feel that if I can learn to not come across as desperate to the ladies, and start to develop plutonic friends with them I would already begin recovery. Besides, it is cheeper than going to Russia to find a spouse-Lol...
One thing I like about it is you don't speak curses over your life, by saying "I am an addict" rather you say I am a child of God working on my addiction issues....that is TRUTH, the other statement is a lie
Also men and women are separate, and no swearing and graphic descriptions are allowed. So far I think it is positive....
Carolemarie
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
Umm, I don't believe that declaring one's self an addict is "speaking curses" over one's self! lol
I think it is just being honest about who we are and what we have been doing. Will some use this as an excuse to continue in sin? You bet! As they will w/anything.
Ok, maybe "curses" is the wrong word. I think I understand what carolmarie is saying, it is speaking a negative word over yourself. It is better to speak life over yourself by saying positive things according to what God calls us, "child of God", "beloved", "precious" "saint"... even "I can do nothing without Jesus" is better than saying "I'm an addict". Maybe a better example would be, "I used to be an addict, but thanks be to God, I am an overcomer thru Christ Jesus!" That is much better.
There is power of life and death in our tongue, what we say is powerful, so we may as well speak life that is still true. Truly, regardless if we are an "addict" struggling with some type of stronghold, or not, we all need the grace of God and the power of Jesus to overcome our sinful nature.
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine!...I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;...You are precious and honored in my eyes, and I love you...do not be afraid, for I am with you." (Is.43:4-5)
Carolemarie
Moderator
Pink Cross Team Member
but the problem is, the nearest one is 45 minutes away, or more, sigh. I will check again, but I also remembered that it met on monday nites. It is hard to live in the country, having to watch your gas budget, wanting to be able to participate in things like CR, but feeling very limited cuz of money issues. But I really need something. Guess will just pray for God to show me what to do...
The other issue of course is my deafness. I'm almost completely deaf, so I would need a sign language interpreter. It can be difficult to find one. But, if God wants me to go, He can make a way. Either that, or I need a godly mentor. :)
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine!...I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;...You are precious and honored in my eyes, and I love you...do not be afraid, for I am with you." (Is.43:4-5)
What are we talkin' words here, hmm? Four years on this board and were talkin' words?!
I'm gonna do what I gotta do to get my freedom back!
Looking at what I said, now I realize I sound a lot like the man in John 5: 1-9, (vs 5-7) "A man was there who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me."
That is me, too. I tend to make excuses. I need to be fired up like you; desperate. I like what you said, Fragile, "I'm gonna do what I gotta do to get my freedom back!" Well said!
I don't need to make excuses, I need to fight back against any barrier that gets in the way. God can address any issue/barrier I face. If my husband gives me a hard time about driving, gas money, etc, I just need to pray that God will deal with him and make a way for my healing and freedom. Right?! :)
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine!...I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;...You are precious and honored in my eyes, and I love you...do not be afraid, for I am with you." (Is.43:4-5)