“Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16
As a kid I don’t ever remember waiting to grow up so I could begin recovery; I didn’t know back then what hurts, habits, and hang-up’s were coming my way. No, I was pretty much like most boys; I wanted to be a soldier or a fireman, a hero if you will. Funny thing happened on the way to my dreams, life happened in a most dysfunctional way.
Early on in my marriage I remember my wife (Nan) asking me over and over again: “When are you going to grow up?” Seems I was caught in a case of spiritual and emotional immaturity; the problem was I couldn’t see it; denial ruled the day back then. It took me a while in recovery to understand what Nan was talking about, it wasn’t revealed to me until I did a fourth step inventory and confessed it. But what was I to do with this information, just how does a grown man or woman grow up?
In Celebrate Recovery we look at Principle 5 (Steps 6 and 7): “Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.” This principle is a process that separates the men from the boys, the women from the girls. Why? To become willing to submit to every change God wants to make in our lives requires a degree of surrender that effects you to the core, opening you up to transformational change. It is one thing to say you are willing to change, but another to follow through and actually do it.
Our character and character defects are comprised in part from our genetics, environment/experiences, and decisions we make on our life journey. Staying locked into childhood coping mechanisms is a set up for character defects later on and when we continue to choose these defects to live by, disaster just seems to follow us wherever we go. I never grew up because I chose to live in my selfishness, self-centeredness, pride, fear, jealously and laziness. All that did was cover up the real core character defects of insecurity and inferiority. Yes I was an egomaniac with an inferiority complex. Sound familiar to anyone? When I asked God to pull the character defects out by the root, spiritual and emotional maturity followed. In CR we learn that our identity is not found in our sin, but in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Rely on Him to help you get your house in order.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10
Love God, love people, Jesus first!
Dana Cramer // Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads
Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Calendar
March 5-11, 2018
Friday, March 9: Testimony Night
- 6pm: Our Hospitality Team is preparing a wonderful dinner for you. Please join us for dinner and fellowship.
- 7pm: Join us for an hour of worship and testimony.
- 8pm: Open Share Groups.
- 9pm: Sold Rock Café.
Announcements:
- March 10: CR Leader Meeting.
- A new Women’s Mixed Issue 12-Step Group has started and meets every Monday at 6:30pm in room 211 at the Crossroads Loveland Campus. For more details, contact [email protected].
- A new Men’s Chemical Addiction 12-Step Group has started and meets every Monday from 6:30-8pm in the Crossroads Loveland in Room 138. For more details, contact [email protected].
- A new Men’s Mixed Issue 12-Step Group has started and meets every Monday from 6:30-8pm in the Crossroads Loveland Conference Room. For more details, contact [email protected].
