Grace
Below is what I had the opportunity to share at church a few weeks ago, as I introduced the grace extending element of the new recovery program we are kicking off on Saturday nights.
See www.celebraterecovery.com or www.fvcc.com for more information.
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Hello, my name is Jennifer. I’m a believer in Jesus Christ, and I am recovering from issues of codependency & relationship addictions.
That statement will tell you something about me. There’s a lot about me that you won’t know simply from that statement. That’s true for all of us. I was asked tonight to share with you the “grace-extending” nature of this program. I am excited about grace, and the work that grace has made possible in my life. The fact that I am in recovery is a testimony to God’s grace in my life.
Those of us who are recovering from alcoholism, codependency, a divorce, chemical addiction, an eating disorder, the loss of a loved one, sexual addiction, or the effects of verbal, sexual, or physical abuse – we will all share some characteristics. Those of us in recovery who are first & foremost believers in Jesus Christ will share even more in common. The statement – that label that we put on our recovery - serves us by keeping us focused, and by keeping us out of denial, but it doesn't capture and reflect the grace that God has shown us in such individual ways.
Celebrate Recovery can provide a setting in which that can happen. God’s grace can be shown among us the way a cut jewel captures & refracts light. As we share our stories, God’s grace can be exponentially compounded in our lives, in our relationships, in our church, and in our community. We all have stories. There are no perfect people allowed here, from Sunday morning to Saturday night, and every time in between. We all have a story which tells of our need for grace. This program can minister to such a wide variety of hurts, habits, and hang-ups – and no one is without some of those.
As you get to know me, it will be easy to spot the parts of my history which caused me so much pain, and the ways in which that pain caused me to first mistrust and later run angrily away from my God who had allowed it. What I hope you will also see, what I hope you see more than anything else, is something it took me a long time to see – something, though, which now comes into sharper focus every day – GRACE. It’s a word I’ve used a few times already, and it’s a word you’ll find all OVER God’s Word.
Psalm 103:8-12
The LORD is merciful & gracious; He is slow to get angry & full of unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does He deal with us as we deserve. For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious acts as far away as the east is from the west.
The Psalmist tells us that it is God’s nature to be gracious.
John 1:14
The WORD became flesh & lived for awhile among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One & Only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace & truth.
John explains to us right from the start of his gospel HOW God can show His grace to us, through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:14
Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God’s grace.
Paul tells us specifically that grace is available to us in our recovery
Ephesians 1:4-8
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy & blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ – in accordance with His pleasure & will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom & understanding.
You see, God was never disengaged from the hurts I suffered, from the habits I formed, or from the hang-ups which entangled me. All the while, He was bringing me to the place which He – as the One who created me & as the One who knew me better than I knew myself – to the place which He knew I needed to be. It was the only place from which I would truly come to depend on this grace – a place from which I could honestly and deeply connect with God – a place from which I could honestly and deeply connect with others. These were the things I was searching for in the first place. He knew that, and not one hurt has been wasted in bringing me to this place. This is the work of grace in my life. This is an example of what we can share in, as we gather together.
There is safety in the structure of this program. There is effectiveness in the principles of this program. Celebrate Recovery has served in hundreds of churches as a conduit of God’s grace towards so many who are ready to walk through the valley of their hurts, habits, and hang-ups – their hiccups, their heartaches, and even their horrors.
The Open Share groups – which will take place each week after our large meeting – will provide the opportunity to share in a safe environment. Respect & confidentiality are the hallmarks of these groups, and the grace just comes pouring through. Each week, after Open Share groups, we will have an extended fellowship time, called “Higher Ground”. It is during this time where we can just wallow in the level ground at the foot of the cross, where grace is typified by non judgmental acceptance.
I love the picture of grace in the story of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15 – particularly the father’s words starting in verse 22:
But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
They began to celebrate. It is the grace of God that makes the recovery possible, and recovery is something to celebrate.
Thank you for letting me share.
See www.celebraterecovery.com or www.fvcc.com for more information.
*************************************************************************
Hello, my name is Jennifer. I’m a believer in Jesus Christ, and I am recovering from issues of codependency & relationship addictions.
That statement will tell you something about me. There’s a lot about me that you won’t know simply from that statement. That’s true for all of us. I was asked tonight to share with you the “grace-extending” nature of this program. I am excited about grace, and the work that grace has made possible in my life. The fact that I am in recovery is a testimony to God’s grace in my life.
Those of us who are recovering from alcoholism, codependency, a divorce, chemical addiction, an eating disorder, the loss of a loved one, sexual addiction, or the effects of verbal, sexual, or physical abuse – we will all share some characteristics. Those of us in recovery who are first & foremost believers in Jesus Christ will share even more in common. The statement – that label that we put on our recovery - serves us by keeping us focused, and by keeping us out of denial, but it doesn't capture and reflect the grace that God has shown us in such individual ways.
Celebrate Recovery can provide a setting in which that can happen. God’s grace can be shown among us the way a cut jewel captures & refracts light. As we share our stories, God’s grace can be exponentially compounded in our lives, in our relationships, in our church, and in our community. We all have stories. There are no perfect people allowed here, from Sunday morning to Saturday night, and every time in between. We all have a story which tells of our need for grace. This program can minister to such a wide variety of hurts, habits, and hang-ups – and no one is without some of those.
As you get to know me, it will be easy to spot the parts of my history which caused me so much pain, and the ways in which that pain caused me to first mistrust and later run angrily away from my God who had allowed it. What I hope you will also see, what I hope you see more than anything else, is something it took me a long time to see – something, though, which now comes into sharper focus every day – GRACE. It’s a word I’ve used a few times already, and it’s a word you’ll find all OVER God’s Word.
Psalm 103:8-12
The LORD is merciful & gracious; He is slow to get angry & full of unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does He deal with us as we deserve. For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious acts as far away as the east is from the west.
The Psalmist tells us that it is God’s nature to be gracious.
John 1:14
The WORD became flesh & lived for awhile among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One & Only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace & truth.
John explains to us right from the start of his gospel HOW God can show His grace to us, through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:14
Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God’s grace.
Paul tells us specifically that grace is available to us in our recovery
Ephesians 1:4-8
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy & blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ – in accordance with His pleasure & will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom & understanding.
You see, God was never disengaged from the hurts I suffered, from the habits I formed, or from the hang-ups which entangled me. All the while, He was bringing me to the place which He – as the One who created me & as the One who knew me better than I knew myself – to the place which He knew I needed to be. It was the only place from which I would truly come to depend on this grace – a place from which I could honestly and deeply connect with God – a place from which I could honestly and deeply connect with others. These were the things I was searching for in the first place. He knew that, and not one hurt has been wasted in bringing me to this place. This is the work of grace in my life. This is an example of what we can share in, as we gather together.
There is safety in the structure of this program. There is effectiveness in the principles of this program. Celebrate Recovery has served in hundreds of churches as a conduit of God’s grace towards so many who are ready to walk through the valley of their hurts, habits, and hang-ups – their hiccups, their heartaches, and even their horrors.
The Open Share groups – which will take place each week after our large meeting – will provide the opportunity to share in a safe environment. Respect & confidentiality are the hallmarks of these groups, and the grace just comes pouring through. Each week, after Open Share groups, we will have an extended fellowship time, called “Higher Ground”. It is during this time where we can just wallow in the level ground at the foot of the cross, where grace is typified by non judgmental acceptance.
I love the picture of grace in the story of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15 – particularly the father’s words starting in verse 22:
But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
They began to celebrate. It is the grace of God that makes the recovery possible, and recovery is something to celebrate.
Thank you for letting me share.
posted by JennW7773 | 2:36 PM
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