The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. — Psalm 19:1-3 Last night I looked up at a clear, high-altitude Colorado sky…
Hurt People, Hurt People
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. — Hebrews 12:1-2 In recovery we hear that “hurt people, hurt people.” We’ve all experienced this, and sometimes, we see it happen to others. It’s heartbreaking. School shootings, for example, are…
Celebrate Recovery: Dealing with Fear
Addressing Fear They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. — Psalm 107:13 One of the things I struggle with on a daily basis is fear. It might be the fear of disappointing someone, the fear of failure, or the fear of making a costly mistake. I’ve found…
Trusting God: Uncharted Territory
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. — Proverbs 3:5-6 When a friend of mine received his one-year recovery chip, he told me that he felt he was now in uncharted territory. My friend…
Celebrate Recovery: What to Remember on Dark Days
Dark Days With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. — Matthew 19:26 Don’t let anyone fool you — recovery is tough. There are days when we feel like giving up, throwing in the towel. Days when it seems like the deck is stacked against us, and nothing is ever going…
Journey to Recovery: The First Step
I know that nothing good lives 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 7:18 No one gets to start in the middle — we’re all beginners in one area of our lives or another. But for…
He Loves You Too Much
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. — Ezekiel 36:26 Our neighbor’s dog was a sweetheart, and everyone in the neighborhood loved her. But she had a talent for getting out of the yard. One day…
Jesus, Friend of Sinners
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:22-24 The number-one question people asked Jesus about himself…
Cast Your Anxiety on Him
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7 Sunday nights in our house have a predictable pattern. Right around bedtime, we’ll have at least one meltdown. Usually it’s our oldest daughter. She worries about school, which is strange because she’s really smart. The problem is that she doesn’t feel that way. Every…
Celebrate Your Recovery
You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever. — Psalm 30:11–12 Have you ever wondered why Celebrate Recovery is called Celebrate Recovery? Well… people usually seek help when things are bad. Which means none…