The Journey Begins
To be honest, I have been trying to write this month’s blog with very little success. If this were in the days of old when we used typewriters, you would see a pile of wadded up papers thrown at the waste basket. My attempts were to try to paint a picture in words of how great the Celebrate Recovery ministry is. My problem, my attempts could not even come close to accomplishing that feat.
My title of “THE JOURNEY BEGINS” hints at how truly amazing this ministry begins to change the lives of each and every person, slowly at first, and then week by week, you start to feel, talk, think and even act like a whole different person. When you listen to the Testimonies of any Celebrate Recovery forever family member, your understanding becomes so much more clear. Each testimony tells us of how messed up the individual’s life was, how much they struggled with all of life’s hurts, habits and hang-ups, until their journey began, letting God lead through Celebrate Recovery!
Yes, this is one person’s viewpoint, so please don’t take my word for it, talk to any of Celebrate Recovery’s alumni. The stories will all be somewhat different, but the same theme and same result! We have all realized that we were not God and attempting to control the outcomes of our lives on our own power was a futile attempt at living a life without Jesus Christ in it. Celebrate Recovery’s ministry is based on steps and principles that guide us to a better understanding of how we should live and act as a Christian. More importantly, it is based on the gentile and lowly heart of Jesus Christ and his grace and forgiveness for sinners and sufferers.
In Dane Ortlunds’ book “Gentle and Lowly” he describes a quote from Johnathan Edwards; “There is no love so great and so wonderful as that which is in the heart of Christ. He is one that delights in mercy; he is ready to pity those that are in suffering and sorrowful circumstances; one that delights in the happiness of his creatures. The love and grace that Christ has manifested does as much to exceed all that which is in this world as the sun brighter than a candle, but that is no kindness like Jesus Christ.”
Celebrate Recovery is a ministry that is so much more than a recovery program. It is a Christ based recovery ministry program designed to not only help you with all of life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups, but it will also bring you to a better and more loving relationship with our higher power, Jesus Christ! So, let me ask you, “When Does Your Journey Begin?”
Until next month, your friend in Christ!
Don Bonney Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader email- donbonney58@gmail.com
Gncconline.com / Facebook@CROkoboji / or visit our CR office by appointment only at Good News Community Church
