God is moving in CR

By LaDwana Whittenberg, Fellowship Bible Church Celebrate Recovery TEAM Training Coach, 1/30/2019 There's a room in the women’s open share that has a box of Lego’s and over the years God has shown me that He works in our lives like Lego's. How, you ask? Thanks for asking. Just like Lego's, my life is made up of many pieces. When I started in recovery this is what I had to offer: a bucket full of Lego pieces. As life threw a piece at me, I would find the bucket that was in the back corner of my closet and throw them in with the others. All I knew to do was to keep them all organized and in the same place, this way I was in control. After I added the new piece(s) to the box, I would put the box back in the closet that way it was dealt with and I didn’t have the think about it anymore. The trouble was when my box was full all I knew to do was get another one to start filling up and before I knew it, I was running out of room to stuff all the Lego pieces. My life was...

By: Carl Kimbro, Fellowshp Bible Church CR brother, 1/23/2019 What's YOUR Net Worth? When asked this question, we might add up our bank account, stocks, home value, and any other assets we have. We may review our jobs and our earning potential. It seems to be the natural reaction of living in a society that values success and physical appearance above all else. As a result, we might feel like we don't measure up because we don't have those things society views as important. Or maybe we have been put down by others and have low self-esteem. Maybe we just plain feel unloved and unlovable. When we feel like we don't measure up, we can quickly turn to destructive habits and addictions to find the satisfaction and happiness we seek. Soon we find ourselves locked in a destructive behavior that leads to isolation and loneliness. The feeling of failure keeps us from seeking help because we think that  "no one cares a...

By Susan Nichols, Fellowship Bible Church CR Devotional Team 1/16/2019 When is He There for Us? When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.   (Isaiah 43:2, NLT) ‘When’—what a meaningful word!  It asks a question:   “At what time or period?  How long ago?  How soon?  Under what circumstances?”     Then, it gives us the answer,   “At any time. Whenever.” I like to read it this way, “At what time will He be with us?  At any time!”   “Under what circumstances does He promise to help us?  Whenever we need Him!” Isn’t it just like God to ask a question, then provide the answer?  Jesus promised us we’d face trials: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. B...

By Carl Kimbro, Fellowship Bible Church NWA Celebrate Recovery Devotional Team, 1/9/2019 Whenever we struggle or feel weakness in the face of temptation, rest assured someone will give us this advice: “Don’t go back to old habits and hang ups. Find your strength in the Lord. He alone can encourage and strengthen you”. It’s great advice, but what does it really mean? Psalm 119:38 – My soul melts and is weary with sorrow;  strengthen me according to your word. David loved the Lord and had a desire to live for Him. Yet he struggled with sin and sorrow as he sought to live a life that was pleasing to God. When David wrote this, the pain was so great he felt it deep in his soul. His soul was melting due to the grievous troubles and temptations he faced. But God promised in His word to provide strength to those who love Him. In faith, David was asking God to provide him with this promised strength. He knew he would fail on his own. But if he called upon God, he knew God would p...

By Kareena Holloway, Fellowship Bible Church NWA Celebrate Recovery Women's Encourager Coach Have you made plans for the coming year?  Did you join the masses and make a 2019 New Years Resolution?  It's okay if you did, but I just want to encourage you with something.  It's a reminder that God's plans are far greater for you than you can ever fathom.  Whatever you're in the middle of right now, be encouraged to remember that God's plans are to prosper you. To restore you.  He has plans to give you hope and a future!    "Lord, you have never left us. The enemy would have us believe that we have been all alone in those darkest times. The enemy lied and said we were better off all alone. The enemy deceived us and said we weren't even worthy of having you near. Our perception of you became clouded, and we forgot what your unchanging word says. We forgot that in Thessalonians 5:11 we were told to encourage one another. We forgot in James 5:16 that we...