A Letter to Celebrate Recovery

Hello, my name is Nick and I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who’s celebrating recovery from pride and codependency!

LAST WEEK:
What does it mean to GIVE? This was a question I had (and still sometimes ask) 3 years ago when I first walked through the doors of Celebrate Recovery. I was selfish. I was distant. I was fearful. I was untrusting. I was dependent upon everything BUT God. What COULD I give? I only knew what it meant to consume, to take, to keep. GIVE?

BIG thanks to Steve (@smparrill) for clearing the air and bringing some light to this subject. This past Friday he shared with our Celebrate Recovery family what it means to GIVE.

#1 God first
#2 I becomes we
#3 Victories shared
#4 Example of your actions

For us to make that transition from TAKERS to GIVERS, we gotta make some changes, or, better said, allow GOD to make some changes IN us! This becomes easier and easier as we begin to realize God wants something FOR us, not FROM us (Jeremiah 29:11). We can’t do it alone! We’ve tried! That’s what got us here in the first place! Are you ready to let God have HIS way in you? Are you ready to surrender to HIS will? What will it be?


THIS WEEK:
I’m so EXCITED for this week! This Friday is testimony night! My good friend Johnny is going to take us on a frightening journey through the perplexing world of schizophrenia and how TRUST in God has continued to help him through it. Johnny’s story is a reminder that regardless of your circumstances, God is GREATER and He’s ABLE to bring you through it! Whether you’re struggling with drugs and alcohol, buried in financial troubles, or recovering from divorce, you will find HOPE in his story.


NEWS AND UPDATES:
LOTS of stuff happening in and around Celebrate Recovery…but here are the 2 things I want you to REALLY pay attention to:

#1 Thanksgiving Dinner – Thursday, November 22, at 4p we are serving Thanksgiving Dinner to the ENTIRE community! That’s right! So, if you know a family that is struggling, if you know a single parent who might not be able to afford Thanksgiving, if you know someone who will be alone, if you know someone who knows someone who knows someone else…INVITE THEM! I want to see the building filled with people from around the community. Let’s share a bit of the HOPE we’ve found in Jesus and LOVE this community! Immediately following dinner we’ll turn on the projector to watch a movie while desserts are set out. It’s going to be an AWESOME night! Start inviting people TODAY! Also, if you’re interested in bringing a side dish (which would be GREAT!), email celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org or call 304.262.6522 and let me know what you’ll be bringing with you.

#2 Celebration Station and The Landing – I am blown away by the response of our CR family and New Life! People don’t want to lose our younger generations! They want to make a difference…or, as Pastor Jim said this past week…BE the difference! What would’ve happened if someone had come up alongside you as a child or student and shared with you the TRUTH of God’s word and the FREEDOM that can be found in Christ? What would’ve happened if you learned how to build healthy, open, and honest relationships with others? You CAN! We are still looking for volunteer leaders for both Celebration Station and The Landing. If interested, you can email celebraterecovery@nlccwv.org or sign up Friday night on your Recovery Card.


THE END:
CR, I LOVE you and can’t wait to see you Thursday (Thanksgiving Dinner) and then Friday (Celebrate Recovery)! AWESOME that we get to spend more time together this week!