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Showing posts from October, 2020

I Can Change!

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 By Kareena Holloway, Fellowship Bible Church Celebrate Recovery Women's Encourager Coach, 10/28/2020 When I started coming to Celebrate Recovery over ten years ago, I was desperate to change, but I didn’t know how.    On my own will, I tried to do the right thing, but I still ended up doing the wrong thing again due to a lifetime of unhealed hurts, habits, and hang-ups.    God’s awesome living Word has a scripture that explains this perfectly: 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  Romans 7:15-18 Upon coming to CR the first time, I learned about that same scripture in Step 1 of the 12 Steps of Recovery: 1. We admitted we were powerles

You Are Glorious!

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 By Kareena Holloway, Fellowship Bible Church Rogers Celebrate Recovery Women's Encourager Coach, 10/21/20 " I know you are, but what am I?? "   I remember when I would hear that…maybe even say that at times growing up. When I'd say it back then, as a kid, I'd mean it as a way to fire back after receiving an insulting comment from another. However, today it brings conviction, because, to know who I am in Christ is easy. I know that to Him, I matter, I am a glorious, loved, beautiful, precious, adored child of the most High King! But to turn that around and look at myself in the mirror and say those same words has been a challenge from time to time. I am guessing that if it’s been hard for me from, it’s probably been hard for you too!   Let me assure you of something:   God is so good all the time . His love for you and me has never changed even in our darkest sins ! Yes, even as a parent would tell their child, God says to you and me "Your sin does no

Open Book Test!

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By Eric Hutchinson, Fellowship Bible Church Rogers Celebrate Recovery Training Coach, 10/14/20 Multiple times in school and college, I can remember walking into class and the teacher saying, “take out a piece of paper, we have a pop quiz today.”  Yikes!  “I’m unprepared and I’m going to bomb this quiz”, was usually my response.  However, there were other times that the teacher would say that we could use our text book and notes to take the test.  I remember feeling a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders as I pulled out my text book and notes.  The answers to all the questions were right there!  Have you ever been at a crossroads in life and wondered what your next step should be?  Maybe, like me, you were at a crossroads when you came to Celebrate Recovery.  I also find myself wondering about my future, my finances, whether my kids are going to make it and should I help them or not.  Maybe you are facing some tough life questions yourself.    Here’s some really good news.  

YOU are somebody!

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 By Carl Kimbro, Fellowship Bible Church Rogers, Celebrate Recovery Devotional Team writer, 10/7/20 Last year I visited a cemetery in Missouri with an interesting tombstone. Instead of a name, it simply said, “I Was…. Somebody.” Research showed that this belonged to a lady who picked it because, as she told the funeral director, “Once I am gone for a few years, no one will remember I ever existed.” Perhaps she never felt valued in life? Perhaps she never felt loved? Maybe she felt she had never done anything worth remembering? The sad truth is that in just a few more years, it’s likely she will not be remembered, and her tombstone will just be an interesting memorial to a nameless woman.  I can relate to this lady. I have often suffered with low self-esteem. As I have aged, I have often wondered how I would be remembered. I often wondered if I had value. When my sins were in control, I did not love myself. Even more importantly, I did not believe God loved me. I desperately wanted to