One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple… Teach me your way oh Lord… (Psalm 27: 4, 11)
Dear brothers we have been given freedom; not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other. (Galatians 5:13)
As we awake this July 4th Monday, may we spend some time reflecting upon our freedoms, both as a country and for those found in Jesus. We live in a country founded on religious freedom and we serve a God who loves us enough to give us freedom to choose His way or our way. Pastor Dennis talked of freedom over the weekend; how sometimes our freedom to choose the wrong thing can create fear and destruction. When our “Wanna Haves” become our “Gotta Haves,” and when our desires to want something or someone become more important than God, we are setting ourselves up for a fall.
We call this idol worship, and the chaos this can lead to is frightful. Idols come in all shapes and sizes, passions and wants—100 forms of fear, if you will. From the need to be right, to an assortment of self-indulgences, to control another or trying to fix others, it’s all an attempt at playing God. Anything I put before God is an idol. I don’t know about you, but the longer I’m around the more idols I’m aware of.
The constant battle to extricate self from self, in a spiritual sense, is the daily struggle of self will versus God’s will. The freedom God has given us, out of love, gives us the biggest choice of all to make. Celebrate Recovery Step 3: Made a decision to turn our life and our will over to the care of God. I do a good job of turning my will over to God every morning, but then I have to get out of bed, and self will starts all over again. Progress not perfection!
Slowly but surely as we take this step and continue our walk with Christ, freedom from our burdens become evident, only to find new burdens in their place. Watch out for those idols. Our lives continue to be transformed, and a real purpose overtakes us—to live our life for Jesus. In the middle of all this we remain imperfect, sinners all, in need of His forgiveness and grace. We are made free because of the cross; Jesus took care of us at Calvary for a lifetime. And through His resurrection, we are his for an eternity.
Oh, how kind our Lord was, for he showed me how to trust him and become full of the love of Christ Jesus. How true it is, and how I long that everyone should know it, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—and I was the greatest of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as an example to show everyone how patient he is with even the worst of sinners, so that others will realize that they, too, can have everlasting life. Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the King of the ages, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God and full of wisdom. Amen (1 Timothy 1:14-17)
Have a great God filled week,
Dana
Celebrate Recovery Crossroads Church Calendar
July 4-10, 2011
Thursday:
- New Celebrate Recovery men’s mixed-issue 12-step group started last week, meeting at 6:30pm in room 138. The group is taking new members. If you have a hurt, hang-up or habit, check it out.
Friday—Large Group Meeting:
- Join us at 6pm for potluck. Great food, great fellowship.
- Join us at 7pm for worship, followed by a testimony from Chad.
- Share Groups at 8pm.
- Solid Rock Café at 9pm.
Saturday:
- Celebrate Recovery Leader meeting from 10am-12pm in the church conference room.