Faithful, Just Be Faithful

           I haven't posted anything about Celebrate Recovery in a while. It is amazing. We are having a wonderful time. Every week, as we gather, God is there. His sweet Presence is so strong. We are joyful and expectant. The C.R. Praise team continues to lead in dynamic worship, helping us forget about everything of our day, and everything around us, to bask in God's Presence and enjoy His goodness. It is great. But, people aren't coming. I don't mean that no one is coming, its just that our attendance is down. In the fall, we had 75 to 90 people there each week. Then came the Holidays, when people are busy and attendance dropped to about 35, which is expected. But, in January, it didn't pick up. In fact, our numbers have gotten lower.
          We had a leaders meeting last weekend. We discussed the problem and prayed about it. We asked ourselves if we are doing something wrong, or not doing something right. The conclusion we came to is that, of course, there are some things we can improve on, but nothing that is driving people away. We are committed to keep on, stay the course, and just be faithful to do what God is calling us to do. (I am so grateful for the faithful volunteers who serve in this ministry. We have so many who are there every single Thursday night. I never have to wonder who is going to show up. We have small group leaders, worship leaders, and sound and computer helpers who are just always there to serve. What a great group.)
We are praying, and we are trusting that God is bringing those who need to be there each week. We know that He is telling us to be faithful, just be faithful to serve as He asks us to, and He will be faithful to produce the fruit.
         This Thursday night,we gathered as usual. It is Spring Break, and many of our regular attenders were not there, so our numbers were really low. Our usual leader of the Newcomers Group, where first time visitors go to find out what C.R. is all about, was out of town. We had a visitor, so I took her and led the Newcomers Group. As I went through the 12 steps of Celebrate Recovery and explained what they are about, she took notes and asked questions. She became excited and sure that this is where she needs to be. When I showed her our testimony DVD, she was moved to tears. When I prayed for her, she wept. She left encouraged and excited about coming, and planing to come back. She took a brochure and a C.R Bible to give to her estranged husband.
        There were other people there this week, but, if there weren't; it would have been all right. Everything that we did was worth it for that one woman. Being there to minister to one hurting soul was worth the effort. I thought of what Jesus said, that whatever we do to someone in need, we do it to Him. How awesome to have that kind of opportunity.

If you haven't seen the Cottonwood C.R. video, you can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EZRqtj90F0 or go to You Tube and search for Celebrate Recovery Cottonwood.

I do believe, I do believe, I do believe...

I believe

I have thought a lot about faith lately. These are a few things I have learned.

Faith is a decision. We all doubt sometimes. There are questions that do not have answers. There has to come a time when we decide to believe. We have often heard that love is a decision, not an emotion. Faith is a decision.

In Mark 9, a man asked Jesus to deliver his son from demon possession, "if He was able." Mark 9:23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

There are two principles I see here.
The father made a declaration. I do believe. He came to Jesus because he was desperate for help. He had come to the disciples, who had tried to cast the demon out of the boy, but they could not. When Jesus showed up, this father had a choice to make. He could have become discouraged and given up. It is hard to continue to believe after you are disappointed. But he made the decision to believe. When Jesus confronted the mans doubt, saying if you can, the man made the decision to exercise faith, stating, "I do believe." regardless of past experience, regardless of disappointment, even thought the disciples couldn't help him. He fought to believe Jesus word in the face of past disappointment.

Then, he asked Jesus to help him. He was honest. He took his doubt, his hurt, and his disappointment to Jesus, and asked him for help..."help me to believe, strengthen my faith."

A new generation of mission trippers

Our oldest grandchild left this morning for a mission trip to South Africa. This is not his first trip. He went to Nicaragua a few years ago, as part of a group that did sports camps. That trip, he went with his mother. This time, he went with a small group from his church, without his parents. He will be working with a group that ministers to children who have AIDS.
I am so excited for him.
Our family does missions. We believe that when Jesus said, "Go into all the world and make disciples", He meant it. None of us have been lifelong missionaries,we have never suffered, we haven't done anything great, but we do go from time to time. I was trying to think of the nations we have been to specifically on mission trips, all together...China, South Africa, Botswana, republic of Congo, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Greece, Bulgaria, Nicaragua, Brazil,Costa Rica, Jamaica, Bahamas, Haiti...
I'm pretty thrilled that this desire has been passed on to another generation.