5 New Year's Resolutions For Your Recovery

Happy New Year from Celebrate Recovery FBCO! For a lot of us, the start of a new year means creating a list of resolutions. Things like getting in shape, spending more time with family and friends, and quitting smoking are among the top 10 New Year's resolutions.

We at CR know a little something about new beginnings, and would like to challenge you to align your New Year's resolutions with your recovery. Below are five suggestions for New Year's Resolutions that you can start doing today!

1. Attend Celebrate Recovery meetings regularly. If you're new to recovery, or maybe feel stuck in your recovery, commit to attending CR meetings each week to help you get on track. Recovery is not meant to be done alone! As Proverbs 27:7 mentions, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

2. Complete a daily or weekly inventory. Step 10 says, We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12). Take time each day (or once a week if daily is too overwhelming) to check in with yourself. We would suggest writing your inventory in a notebook or journal so you can review it at any time. It is important to list both victories and struggles with your area of recovery, so you don't get discouraged and remember God's grace. Even if you haven't completed steps 1-9 thoroughly, doing a short inventory is a great way to notice destructive patterns and see the progress that you have made in your journey.

3. Check in with your accountability partner or sponsor regularly. It's really easy to forget this part of your recovery process. Take some time to pick up the phone, send a text message, or even an email. Doing this once a week will help you stay accountable in your recovery process and give you encouragement when you need it most. If you haven't found a sponsor or accountability partner, make it a priority by praying for God to reveal the right person to you.

4. Volunteer! Step 12 says, Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. In other words, give back and serve the Lord. Celebrate Recovery FBCO has many different opportunities for service. Here are some ideas: offer to bring snacks for our Solid Rock Cafe, volunteer to read either the Principles at Worship, be a sponsor for someone who is newer than you in recovery, or train to be a small group leader.

5. Join a Step Study. Sunday night meetings aren't the only option for you to work through your recovery. In fact, we highly encourage all Celebrate Recovery attendees to consider our step studies. These are smaller, gender-specific groups that meet once a week for 9-12 months (in addition to Sunday nights) and go through each of the steps in-depth. We are starting new step study groups each quarter, so take a risk and ask one of our leaders for information on how to join!

God has amazing things in store for you in 2011. Make the most out of your recovery and he will bless you tremendously!

Don't Miss this Special CR Event

Friends or Foe?

In CR we desire the VICTORY of God removing our defects of character. “Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind” (Romans 12: 2, GNB). We all have them; character defects. That’s not an excuse to let them run your life but more of an acknowledgment that you don’t have to do this alone.

When we ask God to help, all things are possible. Those shortcomings (anger, fear, resentment, impatience to name a few) that seem to rule your life- give them to God.

In CR, Scripture, the principles and the steps guide us and teach us to live as God intended us to do. They provide us hope and assurance that God is in control of our lives.

Principle 5: Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires.” (Matthew 5:6)

Step 6: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

Step 7: We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Character defects are your feeble attempt at self reliance. They appear to be your friends but inevitably they become your enemy.

God is waiting to change your weaknesses into strengths. Ask Him to help you, to work through you and live through you. You will find freedom!

“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires.” (Matthew 5:6)

FREEDOM found in Forgiveness

Step 8, Step 9

“Happy are the merciful and the peacemakers” (Matthew 5: 6,9)

I forgive you

I forgive you

I think we all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it. Forgiveness is not a lot of things BUT it is the key to finding freedom from hurt, anger, fear, sadness and many more emotions.

Forgiveness can truly change your life and provide you with the abundance Jesus Christ promises you. Here are a couple definitions of forgiveness that may help you.

To forgive is to release someone from the obligation of who you want them to be and accept who they are.

Forgiveness is an announcement that says, “I choose to live with the consequences of what you did to me and how that has impacted me”.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you bring to mind people and situations where forgiveness is needed. Maybe there is situation that still feels a little “raw” or unfinished. Then ask yourself if you are ready to extend foregiveness as described in above definitions. If so, it’s a simple choice.

Forgiveness is something done between you and God. He is eager to help you! Jeremiah 6:14 (TLB) reminds us that “You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there!” Talk with God about the hurt, anger etc. as he understands and can help you let go. Give it to him and ask him to help you live out this forgiveness.

Enjoy your new-found freedom found in forgiveness.

Forgiveness is NOT

Step 8, Step 9

Many people have a hard time forgiving others because they think its something that it’s not. Forgiveness is not:

* Forgetting what happened

* Minimizing or denying what happened

* Saying you have to reconcile.

When you forgive you are actually validating the offense and saying you are ready to move on. But forgiving does not mean you have to reconcile or be in relationship with the offender. It MAY lead to reconciliation but it doesn’t have to.

Forgiveness is the first step to repairing damaged relationships. Sometimes it’s as simple as acknowledging the offense, the “sting” or impact of the offense along with a sincere admition of guilt that leads to a new level of relationship.

Here is a simple “formula” that will help you make an amend that could restore a relationship.

Step 1. State your intent: Let your friend/family member etc. know that you would like some time to make an amend. Example: I would like some time to share with you my amends for_______ so that we can be closer/remove this obstacle, etc.”

Step 2. Specific ways your actions/words caused damage. It’s important to understand how your words/acts have hurt your friend/family member and that you communicate that to them. “When I ______ I know that I hurt you, embarrassed you, caused you to feel angry, etc”.

Step 3. Responsibility statement. Take full responsibility for you actions. Example: “I take 100% responsibility for my actions and the _____ that this has caused you”.

Step 4. Intent to change. A simple statement that indicates your intent to change and to not repeat these acts/words again. Example: It is my intention to not repeat this action again and to not cause you____”.

Step 5. Accountability. Possibly the most important statement in this process. Ask your friend/family member to help you with accountability by asking them to address you specifically if the acts’ words happen again. Example: I am asking that you help me to be ccountable to my commitment by confronting me, setting boundarieds, etc. if I should repeat this behavior again.”

If you take these 5 steps (not necessarily easy) your relationships will move to a deeper more meaningful one. This also allows you to have a more open and fulfilling relationship with Christ; which leads to his Holy Spirit flowing freely through you. May you be blessed!

Easter Service and Lord's Supper at CR - April 4th @ 5:30