I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
I appreciated Pastor Dennis’ talk on Clues For The Existence Of God this past weekend (message online). Got me to thinking about clues in my life about the existence of God.
Years ago in early recovery I spent some time thinking about why it took all the pain and misery (self inflicted mostly) and suffering I went through to finally surrender to God. And why some people just seem to “get” God and Jesus from an early age.
One day I asked this same question of a nurse I had hired and worked with. She was one who just exuded the spirit of Jesus in everything she did; I saw it in her hiring interview and I saw it in her work. She responded she didn’t know why the difference but she told me something I never have forgotten. She told me that God is using me in a powerful way. That the trials and tribulations of addiction I went through, and recovery from, gave me an ability to reach people for God that she could not. It gave me a purpose and meaning in my life.
Celebrate Recovery has given me a new outlook to my friend’s response. I see so many people being helped by so many people with so many different hurts, hang-ups and habits that this could only happen by God’s design. As we all move through our hurts, we are asked to help the next person in line by sharing our experience strength and hope.
The biggest clue I had, and still have at times, is that, when I’m in control, my life is incomplete and usually very messy. The acknowledgment of the first step that I am powerless to control and fix my addictions and hurts and hang-ups was paramount for my recovery and surrender to God. Why? Because, if I can’t fix myself then there has to be a power greater than me that can; and if there isn’t, then I am doomed.
Yes, I am one of the sicker ones. I fell way down that elevator shaft. Couldn’t get God until all other options were exhausted. You see, I couldn’t really accept God until I quit playing God. As Pastor Dennis said, Jesus is the one who gets us home!
Have a Great God filled Week,
Dana
Celebrate Recovery Crossroads Church Calendar
May 9-15, 2011
Friday—Large Group Meeting:
- Pot Luck Night. Join us at 6pm for food and fellowship.
- Join us at 7pm for worship and testimony.
- Share groups at 8pm.
- Solid Rock Café at 9pm.
Next Celebrate Recovery TEAM and leader meeting is on May 14.
Special Request: We have enough men to start a mixed issue 12-step group, and we need two leaders to facilitate the group. Please give some consideration and prayer if that may be you. Requirements to lead a 12-step group are: one year of sobriety, completion of the Celebrate Recovery 12-step group, and training.