Celebrate Recovery

I was reminded again last night why I love Celebrate Recovery (CR). The group we go to on Monday nights is a diverse group of people who are are recovering from their own hurts, habits or hang-ups. That is the reason why CR is for anyone. A lot of people think that it is only for people with addictions...that is not so, and when a person thinks like that, it only shows that maybe they should try it out. Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered program which uses the 12-steps of AA, Al-Anon, NA, etc. and meshes them into 8 Biblical principles. It is a freeing experience to be able to discuss with others who are going through exactly where you are. It is also freeing for a "control freak" like me to be part of a group that helps me focus on myself - MY hurts, MY habits and MY hang-ups. As a person who likes to control the environment around me...I need to be reminded that only I can surrender myself to God's will for me. So today, my recovery is all about me and God. If you are interested in finding a Celebrate Recovery group in your area, click here.

In line with the changes that can be made in Celebrate Recovery, here are the words to a song that rings true for me and can for you as well. No matter if you feel like you are slipping away, as the song, by Julian Drive, says "Thank you God for saving Grace, You are only one step away". All we have to do is turn and HE is right there that one step it takes to turn...

A thousand steps from you saying what's the use
No matter how I try, I slip and fall and don't know why
Time and time again, I run from you tryin' to live
I do it on my own, in a crowd I feel so alone

I turn around, I see your face
Open arms for my embrace
You are only one step away
There is no yesterday
I look ahead without the pain
You are only one step away

I think of all I've done
I turn again to run
How could you still love me?
I'm someone I don't want to be
A whisper in my ear say release all my fear
Grace is here for you
The choice is yours, what will you do?

I turn around, I see your face
Open arms for my embrace
You are only one step away
There is no yesterday
I look ahead without the pain
You are only one step away

Even though I slipped away
Thank you God for saving Grace
You were only one step away

"The Reason"

I have heard this song on the Christian Radio station when sung by Julian Drive. Well this past Tuesday, they came to our church for a concert. The lead singer mentioned that this song is from the secular realm of music but when he listened to the words, he wondered why a Christian artist had not recorded it. So they did, and after hearing the words in the context of singing as worship to God...I see why.

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you