Tuesday, May 12, 2020

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.

Friday, May 8, 2020

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.

Thursday, May 7, 2020

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).

5th 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 5th 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.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

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.

Saturday, May 2, 2020

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.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Recovery Thought of the Day - May 5th

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

What is the unconditional Love of God?

If you’ve been around CR or church very long you’ve heard people say the love of God is unconditional.  What exactly does that mean?  God loves us and that love does not depend on what we do or don’t do, what we say or don’t say, our success or failures, our intelligence or ignorance, our destructive lifestyle or our path of recovery.  

In fact, the love of God occurs separate from us. God’s love existed before we were born and will exist after we die.  God is love and we are a recipient of that love. This is really good news. There is nothing we do to earn the love of God.  We merely open up our hearts and receive it.

It isn’t a perfect analogy but sometimes I think of God’s love being similar to sunshine. The sun’s rays bathe the entire earth with light and warmth.  There is nothing we do to deserve sunshine nor do we work to get it.  We merely receive the sun’s warmth and vitamin D as a gift. So, the next time you’re outside, lift your face toward the sun, open your arms wide to the side and soak it in, both the sun and the unconditional love of God for you.

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.

Celebrate Recovery Thought of the Day - May 1st

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 tonight's open share groups or to tune  into CR Friday Night Live.  See the links below!

Listening to the whispers of God

In Mark 14:12-25 there is an unusual story of Jesus sending two disciples out on their own to discover where Jesus had planned for them to celebrate the Passover meal that evening. Jesus is cryptic.  He gives them instructions much like a treasure hunt: go into the city, follow a man carrying a water pot, ask him, where is the room for the teacher and his disciples to eat the Passover meal together?  The disciples listened, obeyed and found everything just as Jesus described.

What a great example of how believers can listen to the voice of God and experience an exciting journey. But it isn’t just for first century Palestine. It happens today as well.

Below I’ve included a story from my friend T.B. as she describes her adventure with God while on a walk last weekend.

“Last weekend on a perfect Saturday morning, I was out walking my 6 lb. Yorkshire terrier.  I rarely walk on Saturday mornings but this day I did.
We were in a big open grassy area.  There were several other people walking their dogs as well in the same area, with a fair distance between us.  A young woman with a large white wet dog said from afar, "I'm looking for my cell phone.  I'm retracing my tracks to see if I can find it."  I told her, "I will keep a lookout for it.  And if I find it, I will turn it into the police."  She told me where she worked and said I could return it there, if I found it.

As I walked away, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, "If your path crosses again with this woman, tell her, "I will pray that your phone returns to you." "

Continuing on my walk down towards a parking lot near the open space by the lake, I saw the same woman across the parking lot still looking for her phone.  I asked if she had found her phone yet?  She said no and that she was still looking for it.  l then told her, "I will pray your phone returns to you."  She didn't quite hear me.
So, I said aloud, "I AM PRAYING YOUR PHONE RETURNS TO YOU."

Having realized earlier from our first encounter that her dog was wet, I walked toward the beach area.  Within minutes, there on the sand I saw a black cell phone.  Certain it was hers I ran back towards the parking lot to find her, but she had gone.  So, I said a little prayer, "Thank you God for letting me be the one to find her phone.”

After about 30 minutes the owner of the phone called from another person's phone to see if someone had found it.  I answered and we arranged a meeting place to connect to return the phone.  She was very thankful it was found and returned.  I was grateful it was me that God used to find it.

The whispers and directions of the Spirit that day were God allowing me to be a
part of an adventure to help another person.  God showed me that when I listen and am obedient to follow his voice, He is there walking alongside me, guiding me and answering my prayers and often, the prayers of others too."

God still talks.  Are we listening?

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.