From: Dana Cramer
Monday, April 19, 2010
We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God,
praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. (Step 11)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
There is an old saying in recovery, “Have an Attitude of Gratitude.”
For many of us in CR we have been moved from an attitude of ingratitude to gratitude. I know I was very ungrateful for my life before recovery—easy to be when you’re living in your own personal hell, when selfishness and self-centeredness rule the day and when you’re succumbing to counterfeit Gods that are too numerous to count.
I know many of you reading this know of what I am talking about. We all come into CR with hurts, habits, and hang-ups; some feeling used up and abused, some feeling the guilt and shame of dispensing that abuse. Some come feeling hopeless and far from God, and others come wondering why a life given to God has turned out so wrong.
The miracle of recovery is found through a one-on-one relationship with Christ, which is encouraged and supported by trusted servants in Christ. The miracle is found in a process that leads us to a heart-felt Attitude of Gratitude—for we know who pulled us out of that pit of despair and set us right with God.
I had an old sponsor who talked a lot about Attitude of Gratitude. He would say that if you’re grateful for something or someone, you have a responsibility to it. If you are grateful to God, live a life devoted to him through daily inventory, reading the word, prayer, meditation, and living a life of service. If you are grateful to your Church, get out of the pews and get involved, because there is so much to do. If you are grateful to CR, give back. You don’t have to wait until you’ve finished a 12-step group. And if you have completed your 12-step group, become a sponsor, a share group leader, a 12-step leader. Join the team. If you are grateful for your family, just love on them and spend time with them.
And when we have those days where the gratitude is running low, and we are caught up in the stressors and pressures of life and not feeling the love, just remember where you came from and realize you don’t live there anymore. Sit down and talk it out with God. Use the tools given to you in CR, write out that gratitude list and talk to someone about it. In fact, after you talk to your accountability partners and sponsor, find someone who is hurting (you won‘t have to look far); listen to them, encourage them and love them.
Remember to do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Be Doers of the Word.
Have a Great God filled week,
Dana
Celebrate Recovery/Crossroads Calendar
April 19-25, 2010
- Monday night: Men’s 12 step groups
- Tuesday night: open share groups for men and women, 7-8pm. Newcomers welcome. Bring a friend!
- Tuesday night: 12 Step group for women
- Wednesday night: 12 step groups for men and women
- Friday Night: Large Group Meeting. Join us at 7pm for worship, followed by a teaching from Marty on: Relapse. You don’t want to miss this one.
CR/Crossroads 6th Birthday Celebration
We don’t call it “Celebrate Recovery” for nothing. Join us as we celebrate our one and only higher power Jesus Christ.
Friday, April 30th, 2010
BBQ Dinner at 6pm
Celebration Service at 7pm
Spread the word, and don’t miss it!