Celebrate Recovery East Point

03/08/2023

Open Share Meeting tonight 6:30-8:00pm!!!

Whether you’re looking to change up your life with some drastic new beginnings or just thinking about swapping out the living room paint color, for some of us, change of any kind can be a little daunting. Even though we know that change is inevitable and usually a positive thing we are by nature creatures of habit so it can take a little prodding to get us to make a big move. The good news is that so many people out there have spoken about it and are willing to shed a little light at the end of the tunnel to give us comfort and motivation.

One place that is always a sure source of encouragement toward growth is God’s Word. The Bible has so much to say on the goodness of change and God’s presence with you every step of the way. It may be hard, but you have a God who loves you and wants the best for you. Look to His word, and He will offer guidance through uncertain times.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
2 Corinthians 5:17

02/28/2023

02/15/2023

See you tonight at 6:30!

We have all been ticked off at someone we loved at one time or another. Many choose avoidance to discourage interacting with the problem which can lead to a broken relationship. Others may choose to confront them in an aggressive way which often times damages the relationship.

Discussing the problem with a close friend can help us figure out how to handle the situation. Sometimes it just takes thinking through things to figure out how emotions can get you off-track. How the choice to avoid my loved one or even react aggressively could further damage the relationship. Take time to remind yourself about grace and loving people where they are at. It is hard to love them, to accept them for who they are, and to pray for them but, that is the right thing to do.

We often don’t treat God how we want others to treat us. Instead, we frequently do what we want to do, without any consideration of God’s feelings about it. Sometimes we are just selfish, only caring about my wants and desires. Yet, God would never put up walls with me. I realized how much grace and love God continually shows. He never tells us how badly we hurt him when we avoid or react with aggression towards him. When we return to him, He just loves us where we are at.

When we put our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are rescued and no longer condemned for our sins. Instead, our relationship with God is restored, and we are loved and accepted as his children. As we grow in our faith and truly accept God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, we learn to unconditionally love and forgive others.

1 John 4:19
We love each other because he loved us first.

02/08/2023

Come tonight to Celebrate Recovery from 6:30-8:00pm!!!

Do you feel like you are not good enough for God?
Honestly, what does “enough” mean anyways? According to my dictionary “enough” means to be sufficient, adequate, or at a satisfactory level or quantity. So, do you think you are at an adequate or satisfactory level for God?

Even though I am not enough in my own strength, I am enough because God says I am enough. It’s precisely because we are not good enough for God that God sent His Son Jesus on a rescue mission to save us. That is why we needed of a Savior. For all those who are in Christ Jesus, YOU ARE good, righteous, and enough because you are covered in the blood of Jesus, WHO MAKES YOU good, righteous, and enough.

A lot of people think they’re not good enough for God because even though they love Jesus, they’re still super jacked up from their past. They look at their shortcomings or compare themselves to others…and then depressingly conclude, “I am just not good enough.” Or they go to church and think: “There’s no way I belong here! These people are like really, really good people. They’re nearly perfect!”

Fun Fact: No one in a church building is perfect!!!!

There’s a reason Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The truth is, God welcomes anyone and everyone to come to Him! (Jacked up past or not)

Matthew 11:28 says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

You are enough with God's Love!!!

See you all tonight.

02/01/2023

See you all tonight at Open Share. There will be Fruit and Veggie trays starting at 6:00pm.

02/01/2023

February 1 is here already and Love is in the air!
Self Love is what I'm talking about. Many times we turn to toxic ways of loving ourselves and satisfying a void. Although pharmacological ways, shopping, bars, s*x, and other toxic means make us feel good and feel loved these are only superficial ways to comfort ourselves.

God's Love is an enduring love. His love helps us to find our purpose and a way to love ourselves where we are at right now. The God who created the universe, the most powerful being ever, loves you personally. Try to wrap your mind around that. He loves you — not just people in general, but you as a person. He cares about your life and wants to be part of it.

Even if you’ve spent your whole life running from God or done things you regret, He still loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. God’s love is unconditional and infinite — far, far beyond what even the best of people are capable of. God commands those who follow Him to love one another. Among sincere believers whose hearts God has changed, you can see an imperfect picture of His love.

Can you imagine being loved like this? It would change your life. The truth is this is an accurate description of God’s love for you.
You have probably been hurt or betrayed by someone you love at some point in your life. Maybe you have experienced this more than once. Loving and trusting other people is risky. Once one person hurts you, it becomes harder to open up to others.

In contrast, God’s love is truly unconditional. He never fails you or betrays you. You do not need to hold back in your relationship with God, because He is totally trustworthy.

Self Love + God's Love = Hope

01/26/2023

Anxiety is a beast in most peoples lives! Working through the reasons why you get anxious can be daunting but, so worth the feeling of relief from your own self-hindering thoughts. Going through a Celebrate Recovery step study can help you overcome a debilitating anxious life. Through this God centered study you can defeat an internal beast. Come tonight from 6:30-8:00pm to Open Share night and learn more about our program.

Here's a prayer for an anxious time:

"Dear Lord, I thank you that I can come to You always for any reason. I’m grateful that when I pray to You, You answer me. Help me to come to You at the beginning of my fears and anxieties instead of waiting until I can’t stand them anymore. The quicker I come to You the better. You want to free me from ALL my fears. Help me look to You for help more often so that I can be radiant with Your joy. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen."

God's word:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

01/16/2023

Sometimes we run ourselves over with worry, self doubt, and apprehension and..... It's okay. Our enemies are not always people and with God's help we can overcome anything. After doing so we must pick ourselves up and move forward. God sees our issues and knows our fears. He also provides comfort when we seek him out.

"The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. Psalms 118:7"

Join us for Open Share at 6:30 this Thursday.

01/04/2023

Welcome all to 2023. This is Blanca Ward. I am a faithful believer is Jesus Christ and of the Celebrate Recovery Program.

I want 2023 to be the year of TRYING.

I want it to be the year of giving a care and not being afraid of expressing my desires. It’s okay to want things. It’s okay to work hard and hope for success. I’ll leave you with this:

If you’ve been half-hearting something you really care about, stop letting the fear win, and start trying instead. See what happens…

I know now that I don’t want my fear to hold me back from going after things I want. I likely developed this “don’t try too hard / don’t act like you care” attitude in my angsty teen years, but it’s high time I let it go. I do care. I’m still scared to try, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do it. That fear inside my head is just static. It’s muffling the sounds of what I really want, and this year I’m choosing to turn the volume down.

Let's win this year with the help of Celebrate Recovery.

I started Celebrate Recovery in October 2021 not know what need I had for this program. I soon realized that I was in a the back seat of a toxic marriage. Working through a step study help me to become brave enough to figure out my needs and desires for the future I wanted.

Last year I started the year out with overcoming the fear of ending a long marriage of toxicity and neglect. This year I want to not be afraid to be in another relationship.

Let's not be afraid to try!!!! If you never try, you never win!

In Him,
Blanca Ward

11/30/2022

So, how are you today? If Thanksgiving is a barometer, a sneak peek into December and Christmas...what might you be expecting? I pray that you are hopeful for good things to come. And for that I am praying. But, if Christmas looks to be a trying time, I have another prayer for you. "Father, hear my prayer for us who are hurting. Some have lost love ones, some have personal struggles that are robbing them of joy, and there are those who are hurting over the choices that others are making that affect our lives. I pray that Your assuring hand will be upon us all. Father, help us know that you see us, help us know that you hear each of our cries for mercy. Father, help us to know that You are mightily at work in each of our lives and You have seen our need. Father, I pray that we find comfort in You. Help us to refuse to let circumstance be our measure of Your love. You love us so deeply and You will not abandon us in our need. For Philippians 1:6 states that You began a good work in us and You will carry it on to completion. Be with us all during this Holiday Season. In Jesus' name amen!"

Don't forget to be present at your Open Share meetings. Someone may need encouragement and you just might be the one God wants to use to bring that encouragement. Have a blessed December!