Good Morning CR Family,

Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day Below.  Also, if you missed CR Friday Night Live, you can check it out here: CR Friday Night Live Recording - May 29th
.
Balancing the Scales

Step 4 - We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40 NIV

One of the things that I love about Celebrate Recovery is that when it comes to step 4, there is an emphasis on "Balancing the Scales."  What does that mean?  It means that when we get to step 4, we need to also look at the good stuff, rather than just focusing on all of the bad.  This really helped me when I completed my first inventory. As I completed my first inventory, I remember how hard it was.  I remember being overwhelmed with emotion as I wrote out all of my past hurts, habits and hang-ups.  I could only work on it about an hour at a time before needing to take a break. 

When I was about half way though my inventory, I remember sitting down with my sponsor and he asked me, "where are all of the positive things that you have done?"  As I went back and continued to work on my inventory, capturing the positive stuff,  I realized the my mindset starting to change.  Forcing myself to focus on the positive things in my life, helped prevent me from beating myself up too bad.

Another thing that helped me as I completed my first inventory was "balancing the scales,"  as I wrote about the people that had hurt me in the past.  I challenged myself to write one positive thing for every person that was listed in my inventory.  This went a  long ways for me to start to show grace to others and helping be to become ready to complete steps 8 and 9.

What is something good that you have done for yourself or others this past week?  Spend some time thinking about the good stuff and give yourself a pat on the back.

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 29th

Good Morning CR Family,

For today's Thought of the Day, I ask that you think of a Recovery Based Question that you would like to ask during tonight's CR Friday Night Live.  Tonight, Dana C and I are going to spend about 20-30 minutes answering recovery questions that people post in the comment section. Here is the link to our CR Youtube page where we will go live tonight at 6:30pm.   CR Youtube Channel Link. After CR Friday Night Live, we will be hosting virtual Open Share Group Meetings at 7:30pm.  You can sign up for the men's or women's group using the link in the announcement section

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 28th

Good Morning CR Family,

Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day below from Perry C!

Closed versus an Open System

The Dead Sea is a landlocked Salt Lake between Israel and Jordan. It is the lowest elevation and the lowest body of water on the surface of earth. It is named the Dead Sea because the high content of salt prevents fish and plant forms from living in it.  The Jordan river flows into the Dead Sea but there is no outlet, making it a closed system.  In order for any system to be alive and healthy it must be an open system where there is room for things to come in and things to leave. There is a flow and rhythm of activity in all open systems.

This is true in our recovery as well. In fact the Scriptures reveal a bias towards action not stagnation.  James, the brother of Jesus said 1:22-25, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

This is what makes Celebrate Recovery work.  CR is an open system and teaches us how to become open systems as well.  We receive from others further along on the journey and learn how to participate in our recovery but that isn’t enough.  We become active in our recovery, making amends, offering forgiveness and once we experience freedom from our hurts, hang-ups and habits we must get involved in helping others and giving back.  If we don’t we become like the Dead Sea, a closed system and the changes made will not last and our recovery will not survive.  Because nothing lives for long in a closed system.

Step 12 requires that once we have had a spiritual experience as a result of taking the 12 steps, “we are to carry that message to others and practice those principles in all our affairs.”  We do this by giving our time and energy to others as we are able.  It is through serving that we demonstrate our gratitude and true recovery.  And it is by giving back that we remain a life giving and open sustaining system.

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 27th

Good Morning CR Family,

For today's Thought of the Day, check out Pastor Ryan's Daily Drop of Hope from Yesterday (Daily Drop of Hope Video - May 26th). After watching, take some time to reflect on what you heard.  What stuck out to you?  For me it was patience...  After  planting seeds, you have to give them time to grow, you can't rush the process.  Have a great day everyone!

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 26th

Good Morning CR Family! Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C:

This reflection is taken from Day 9 of the Celebrate Recovery 365 Daily Devotional.  I read it in the mornings along with my Bible.

Even When I’m Cranky
“As my wife and I boarded a flight for London to teach a training seminar, we were told that there would be a delay.  The plane was full and after two hours on the runway, most of us were hot, tired and sweaty and becoming more and more cranky and agitated.  But seated in front of us was a woman who provided a much-needed example of Christlike behavior in uncomfortable circumstances.

This woman was a grandmother, who was juggling a screaming toddler.  Though the baby cried for a full two hours, the woman never once lost her composure or let the smile slip from her face.  Instead she continued to try to comfort the child.  Once the plane finally took off, the baby went to sleep.  But the grandmother continued to hold her for the next nine hours.  Never once did she complain, set the baby down or hand her to someone else.

Long after the flight was over, I thought about how our heavenly Father is much like that grandmother.  God puts up with us when we are cranky, tired, crying, complaining and just plain no fun to be around.  God never loses his cool or his desire to comfort us.  God is right there carrying us, never putting us down or handing us off to someone else.  No matter what we are going through, we can trust that God will always be there for us.”

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I am thankful for your faithful watch-care over us.  You have promised never to leave us no matter what circumstances we encounter.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Celebrate Recovery Thought of the Day - May 24th

Good Morning CR Family! Please see the Recovery Thought of the Day from Dorothy H.  Also, if you missed CR Friday Night Live, you can watch the video here CR Friday Night Live - May 22nd Video.  I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the long weekend!

FROM Brennan Manning:” Have you been son-bathing or soaking in a hot tub with the love of God. “ It is like coming out of the sun and everybody can see what you have been doing. 

During this time at stay at home, have you took the opportunity to worship God and experience the love that he has for you. Were you able to color and play with bubbles like a child. A retreat that Brennan went on the leader gave him some crayons and bubbles. This was to bring him back into childhood, so he can experience the child like faith we are suppose to.have. Children are powerless and so are we as
an adult. This whole lock down makes us even more powerless in this world. We know who is in control and that is God.

For me I tend to work and be busy because that is what I was taught as a child.. We did not take the
time to bask with the son to experience is love for us. What I am finding out that I need to be in the
word and worshiping with Him. This keeps me in the present and in the positive. When I don’t I start to think bad things about me. He loves to wrap His arms around you and smother you in His love.
Worshiping is like basking in the sun and when you get through people should be able to see the light of the Lord a pond you. You should be smiling huge and you can’t stop doing it.

Have you basked or taken a hot bath in the Love of the Lord?

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 22nd

Good Morning CR Family! Today for the thought of the day, I would encourage you to tune into CR Friday Night Live Tonight.  Jimmy S and I are going live at 6:30pm tonight and we will be talk about areas where we can get stuck in our recovery.  CR Friday Night Live Link.

After CR Friday Night Live, we will also be hosting virtual open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  Please see the sign up links below.

Have a great day everyone!


Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 21st

Good Morning CR Family! Please see below for the recovery thought of the day from Perry C.  Have a great one!

Create More Space for God

Last post I talked about creating space for connection with God through participating in various spiritual disciplines.  Today I want to share with you another way to experience God in our ordinary lives. Like the other spiritual disciplines this practice requires us to leave a gap/place for God to show up and work on our behalf.

Isn’t it true that sometimes our life plans do not go the way we hoped or anticipated?  We have certainly experienced that with the Covid-19 but it has also been true before the pandemic. Such occurrences are just a fact of life. We have all made plans and watched them collapse around us, and sometimes no fault of our own. But how do we react to those disappointments? Do we give up, blame others, act out, get bitter, curse God or take it out on those closest to us? There is another way to think and respond when life throws us a curveball and we face another difficult situation. It is a spiritual discipline of serenity.

Think of the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-45.  Here is a guy who just couldn’t get a break.  His 10 brothers sold him into slavery because they were jealous of him.  In Egypt Joseph thrived working as a servant for a family until falsely accused of attempted rape.  He was wrongly thrown into prison. While in prison Joseph made the most of his situation and after many long years of imprisonment was released.  While free God continued to bless Joseph and gave him a powerful position as prime minister of Egypt. It was from this position that Joseph was able to eventually confront and forgive his brothers who sold him into slavery and declare that although they meant it for evil, God meant it for good.  Life was not fair to Joseph.  But Joseph learned to control what he could, his attitude.  He practiced serenity and courage when life was not fair.  And this made space for God to work on his behalf.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” Yep serenity is a spiritual discipline, an attitude mind-set that allows us to accept reality, courageously do the next right thing and trust God to do what’s best.


Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 20th

Good Morning CR Family! For today's Thought of the Day, I would encourage you to watch Crossroads Church's Lead Pastor's, Daily Drop of Hope Video.  In the video he uses a story/parable to show how unconditional love has the power to transform.  Enjoy!

Pastor Ryan Howell's Daily Drop of Hope Video Link

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Throught of the Day - May 19th

Good Morning CR Family! Please see below for the recovery thought of the day from Perry C.

Spiritual Discipline

In my last post I revealed that up until now I have enjoyed an active lifestyle: hiking, dancing, martial arts, bicycle riding, walking, yoga and group fitness classes.  As a child I watched my dad, a disciplined navy man, perform early morning calisthenics on a daily basis in our downstairs play area. I learned from him the importance of routine exercise to stay healthy. Bodily exercising uses concentrated effort to strengthen muscles so when called upon they respond quickly to the mind.  The apostle Paul speaks of the value of bodily discipline in 1 Cor. 9:27.

How is spiritual discipline similar and different than bodily discipline? With spiritual discipline we set up mental boundaries that create space for connection with God.
For example:

• When I set aside time to pray, it connects and empowers me with the loving creator of the universe. 
• When I worship it opens my heart to experience God’s love and receive radical acceptance from the Holy  Spirit. (If you missed it, check out CR Friday Night Live on YouTube, 5/15/2020.  It’s all about worship and recovery.) 
• When I tithe and give away my resources it connects my soul to humanity and builds bonds of love with others in the community. 
• When I meditate, I set aside my goals and schedule and listen to God's love and guidance for my day.   
• Lastly when I spend time reading the Bible my mind is transformed.  This comes from encountering Jesus in the scriptures and learning healthier ways to think and act.  Then because I am in connection with God and supported by others in recovery, I am able to choose beneficial ways of thinking and behaving.  And those new behaviors produce positive outcomes instead of continuing to repeat a life full of more hurts, hang ups and destructive habits. This is huge.  Our old negative thought patterns can be changed over time with spiritual discipline. Check out Romans 12:2.

Here’s the nugget if you’re still reading.  We all can agree the result of physical discipline is determined by how much time and effort was put into exercising.  Well, it is the same with God.  We get as much of God as we put into seeking God.  So, go after God, seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength! And God promises to take care of everything else you may need, Matthew 6:33.
Is there anything stopping you from getting spiritually fit today? Share this with a recovery friend.  

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 16th

Good Morning CR Family! Please see below for the recovery thought of the day.  Also, in case you were not able to tune in last night, here is the link to last night's CR Friday Night Video (CR Friday Night Video - May 15th).  We had a wonderful discussion about worship and recovery.

Connection Through Worship
On the video last night, one of the things that Brian and Pam D and I talked about is how worship is a wonderful way to connect to God.  Many times it seems like worship is one way, with us lifting up worship to God, however, the more I have thought about it, there has definitely been times were I have felt the holy spirit speaking to me and moving me through the act of worship.  Over the last couple of weeks, one of my favorite worship songs has been "Waymaker."  When I listen to this song, I am reminded of how great God is.  It reminds me of where I was in my life when I didn't acknowledge his never ending presence, it reminds me of the miracles God has worked in my life and how he has been the light in the darkness for me.  Today I would encourage you to watch the video from the following youtube link (Waymaker - Vanessa Campagna & Madelyn Berry) and to just quiet your minds and take in this song.


Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 15th

Good Morning CR Family!  I hope that you all can join us for CR Friday Night on youtube tonight( CR Friday Night Link). Brian and Pam D and I recorded it last night and they shared a couple of great worship songs and we had a nice discussion about worship and recovery.  Also,  if you have not had a chance to sign up for open share groups, we will be starting those at 7:30pm.  See the links in the announcements to sign up.

During this time, it is so important to maintain connection and stay out of isolation.  CR Friday Night and Open Share Groups are just a couple of tools in the toolbox to maintain that connection.  I hope you all are well!  Have a wonderful day!

Announcements:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 14th

Good Morning CR Family!  Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C.  Also, don't forget to sign up for this week's open share groups (see announcements section). Lastly, make sure you mark you calendars for tomorrow night at 6:30pm for CR Friday Night (see youtube link in announcements).  Brian and Pam D are going to play a couple songs of worship and then we are going to talk about why worship is such an integral part of the Celebrate Recovery Program.

Bring It into the Light

For years I have known something was wrong with my left hip.  Enjoying an active lifestyle, I did not want to accept it, so I lived in denial.  Even when hiking with friends they would ask, are you limping?  I would respond I don’t know I can’t see myself walk.  But if I was honest with myself yes, I knew my gait was off and I was compensating.  I just didn’t want to admit it and then have to deal with the outcome.

In recovery we often do the same thing.  We all have secrets and memories we keep to ourselves.  We think if others knew the truth of what we feel or think they wouldn’t accept or love us.  But these carefully kept secrets only do us harm.  They lead to feelings of shame, guilt and self-rejection.

And that is the beauty of Celebrate Recovery.  From our very first open share group and in the 12-step group experience we practice bringing our secrets into the light and sharing them in a safe place with people we trust.  Quickly we discover we are not alone with our secrets and bringing them into the group creates intimate community and the inner healing we long for.

John 12:35-36, Jesus said, “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”

What will you courageously share this Friday night in an open share group or at your next 12-step group as you walk into the light?

Note: The thought of the days along with other key updates will also be posted on our facebook page (Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Facebook Page) and for those without facebook, they will also be posted on the following blog site: https://crossroadscr.blogspot.com

UPDATES/REMINDERS:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 13th

Good Morning CR Family!  Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C.  Also, don't forget to sign up for this week's open share groups. We had some technical difficulties with the Men's Group last week, so if you tried to get on, I apologize.  It will be resolved this week.

Stuck

Have you ever noticed how some recovery steps are easier than others?  For me the initial steps of admitting I am powerless, turning my life and will over to the care of God, doing a moral inventory, sharing my sins with someone else, admitting my shortcomings and asking God to remove them.  Those steps were easier for me then what came next.

In steps 8 & 9 we find it’s all about the relational part of our lives and that was difficult and painful for me to face. I was okay at evaluating all my relationships and offering forgiveness to others.  But making amends was nearly impossible as was forgiving myself.  I knew God forgave me. So why bring up the past, guilt and shame by making an amend for harm I’ve done to another person?

I was used to leaving, running away and starting again, rather than working to heal my fractured relationships.  But within the safety of my first 12 step group I realized that cycle had to stop. I was caught in a pattern of dysfunction.  CR teaches us to make amends so that we don’t become stuck in our own bitterness and resentment. Because that can lead to depression and prevent us from ever being able to move forward into a future with healthier relationships.

And although I didn’t understand why it was an important step, I made some feeble attempts at amends, first with my kids and friends then others. I guess what I want to share is that sometimes when we go through the 12-steps we just need to trust the process and those supporting us.  It may not make logical sense.  But the “program works if you work it”. And I have found this to be absolutely true.  

Note: The thought of the days along with other key updates will also be posted on our facebook page (Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Facebook Page) and for those without facebook, they will also be posted on the following blog site: https://crossroadscr.blogspot.com

UPDATES/REMINDERS:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 12th

Good Morning CR Family!  Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day:

Drop of Hope

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2-6 in the Message version.  Then listen to Crossroad's Lead Pastor's, Ryan Howell, Monday “Drop of Hope” as he talks about taking the trouble with the joy and the joy with the trouble.
https://www.facebook.com/crossroadscolorado/videos/2707612226192411/
(Note: You do not need a facebook account to watch the video, just follow the link and it should play) As a believer in recovery, this is our life, is it not?

Note: The thought of the days along with other key updates will also be posted on our facebook page (Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Facebook Page) and for those without facebook, they will also be posted on the following blog site: https://crossroadscr.blogspot.com

UPDATES/REMINDERS:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 8th

Good Morning CR Family!  Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C.  I will be out of cell phone reception for the next couple of days, so there will not be a Recovery Thought of the Day until Monday.  Make sure to tune into CR Friday Night Live tonight. Dana C and I actually recorded it ahead of time last night and we had a great discussion about Steps 6 and 7.  The recording will go live at 6:30 (CR Friday Night Video Link).  Also, if you have not had a chance to yet, make sure to sign up for tonight's Open Share Groups (See Sign Up Links in Announcements below).

God Communicates

Everyone relates with God differently.  My son is a park ranger and connects with God easily in nature.  His friend meets God through practicing rituals like candle lighting and liturgy.  There is no right or wrong way to experience our loving Lord. But it is important to know how you have been hard wired by the creator to experience God.

I am a contemplative.  In the mornings I like to take time to connect with God.  I put aside distractions: phone, computer, music and my monkey brain chatter.  And I sit quietly, eyes closed, in my favorite chair and open my heart and mind to the Holy Spirit within me.  I set aside my daily activities, calendar, plans and goals and chose to sit at Jesus’ feet.  Similar to what Mary did when Jesus came to her home in Luke 10:39-42.

For me, being still, present, listening with an open heart and offering quality time is my way of showing God love. This also places me in a posture to hear from God. I can’t follow God if I don’t hear him.

In case you think I hear God audibly every day, I don’t.  But when we are together, I usually mention, “all I want is to do this day with you, Jesus.” “Speak to me anyway you want, through circumstances, people, scriptures, books, church staff, friends, movies or your still small voice within.  Give me ears to hear, eyes to see and a whole heart poised to follow you this day.”  This is my way to practice step 11, “We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out.”

How do you connect with God? What is your spiritual pathway to God?

Note: The thought of the days along with other key updates will also be posted on our facebook page (Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Facebook Page) and for those without facebook, they will also be posted on the following blog site: https://crossroadscr.blogspot.com

UPDATES/REMINDERS:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 7th

Good Morning CR Family!  Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C. Also, if you have not had a chance to yet, make sure to sign up for this Friday's Open Share Groups (See Sign Up Links in Announcements below).

5^th Step

Joining a 12-step group, doing the homework, showing up week after week, listening to others and sharing our story with the group takes courage and resolution.

 In step five, “We admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” All the dark hidden secrets of our past we openly share with a trusted person in recovery.  The Bible says, “Confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed,” James 5:16. James, the brother of Jesus, knew confession yields forgiveness but also restorative healing in our lives.

During the 5^th step the most amazing things happen.  We let go of excuses and denial when we tell our truth to another person.  This leaves us feeling honest for once, free and clean on the inside. We lose our sense of aloneness and isolation as we share our story.  And in receiving radical acceptance, we in turn are free to forgive ourselves and others.  In doing this we gain true humility and develop compassion for all people on the planet.  We are growing.

Is it hard? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely.  Who can you encourage today on their recovery journey?

Note: The thought of the days along with other key updates will also be posted on our facebook page (Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Facebook Page) and for those without facebook, they will also be posted on the following blog site: https://crossroadscr.blogspot.com

UPDATES/REMINDERS:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 6th

Good Morning CR Family!  Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day from Perry C.

Unconditional Love is not Unconditional Approval
Yesterday I trust you took a moment to bask in the unconditional love of God for you. Once and for all I hope you accepted that you are loved by God just as you are. And nothing can separate you from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus, (Romans 8:38-39), nothing.

But the unconditional love of God does not mean God approves of our evil thoughts or the destructive behaviors we engage in.  God is not in favor of any expression of evil like, hatred, selfishness, violence, betrayal & oppression.  Because evil destroys relationships and goes against the love that God is trying to pour into our hearts.  To love without condition does not mean to love without concern for our wellbeing. God’s love wouldn’t be real if God didn’t care and want the best for us.

I hope you discover that a good CR sponsor is like that as well.  They love us, believe in us and ask us to show up, be honest, come clean and deal with our pain.  Why? It is out of concern and care.   They want us to grow, heal and flourish.  They don’t give up and stop loving us when we don’t respond or fail.  They wait.  Just as God waited for them on the same path of recovery, to come out into the (sun) light of God’s unconditional love and be made whole.

Note: The thought of the days along with other key updates will also be posted on our facebook page (Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Facebook Page) and for those without facebook, they will also be posted on the following blog site: https://crossroadscr.blogspot.com

UPDATES/REMINDERS:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.

Good Morning CR Family!  Please see below for today's Recovery Thought of the Day.  Also, if you missed CR Friday Night Live last night, make sure to check out our YouTube Channel (link below).  I had a great conversation with Pastor John Smith about the beginnings of Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church as we celebrate the 16 year anniversary of CR at Crossroads.

Blessed are the Persecuted
During my morning quite time this morning, I was meditating using and App called Abide that one of my Brother's in Recovery turned me onto.  The mediation revolved around the Beatitude found in Matthew 5:10. Over the course of 10 minutes, the app read me the verse several time, using different translations.  The translation that resonated with me the most today was from the Message Traslation: " You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom ."

As I thought more about the verse, I realized how applicable it is as we live out our daily recoveries.  Have you ever been ridiculed because you chose not to go out drinking with some of your per-recovery friends?  Have you been given a hard time because you chose to take the high road and work and not participate in office gossip?  Or maybe you have been belittled because you decided to stop hanging around friends that you know are actively using drugs?  As a people pleaser, this can be hard for me at times...the feeling that I am letting somebody down. However, now that I am in recovery, I daily need to remind myself that the only person I need to seek my self worth from is from God.  When I make those choices that helps me stay safe  in my recovery, no matter how disappointed others may be,  it is comforting to know that those choices are pulling me deeper into God's Kingdom!

Note: The thought of the days along with other key updates will also be posted on our facebook page (Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Facebook Page) and for those without facebook, they will also be posted on the following blog site: https://crossroadscr.blogspot.com

UPDATES/REMINDERS:

1. If you are in need of prayer, please send your prayer requests to CelebrateRecoveryatCrossroads@gmail.com and we will forward those on to our celebrate recovery prayer team. The Crossroads Church Prayer team would also love to pray for you, so when you send your E-mail, please note if you are okay with us forwarding your prayer request to the church.
2. Fridays at 6:30pm, We are hosting "CR Friday Night Live."   To subscribe to our youtube channel  please click on the following link and select the subscribe button.  CR Youtube Channel Link .  There will be a song or two of worship and then a short recovery based dialog between a couple of CR members.  This will be streamed on youtube. 
3. Fridays we will be hosting on-line open share group meetings at 7:30pm.  There will be one mixed issues group for men and one mixed issues group for women. Men's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link / Women's Open Share Group Sign-Up Link.  These meetings will take place using the Zoom App.  In order to participate you will need a tablet, smart-phone or computer with camera.  In order to ensure confidentiality of these meetings everyone who participates will need to find a private room to set up, have their camera on, so others can see that there is no one else in the room and they will also need to wear a pair of headphones so that they are the only ones that can hear.  This is a free app and you can download it on google play, apple app store or through your web-browser on your computer. For help on how to join a Zoom meeting please click on the the following link, which will take you to their support web-site Zoom Set-Up Help

Blessings,
James U.