Celebrate Recovery

Every Thursday night at Cottonwood, we have Celebrate Recovery, a ministry with the goal of helping people live and walk in the freedom that Jesus offers us, freedom from the habits, hurts, and hang-ups that keep us from living the life that we want, and that God wants for us.
We began Celebrate Recovery on October 1, but we began preparing in August as those who wanted to help with this ministry gathered weekly to prepare. One of the first things we realized was that we had to offer complete acceptance to anyone who walked through the doors. The only way that anyone can become truly healthy is to be in a place that they are truly accepted without judgment. We spoke weekly about having an atmosphere of grace and acceptance. I think we talked about it so much that we became convinced. We, the workers, began to feel accepted, and we began to form a strong bond. We look forward to coming together every week.
Since October, we have had a number of people join us. Some have come regularly, others have come once or twice. I know that people have been helped by this ministry. For me, right now, though, the real story is what God has done in the workers. During the month of December, our attendance has been low. This Thursday, I expected a small group, being right after the end of the holidays, and with very cold weather. We met together, and God "showed up". We had worship together, which was wonderful. Then, we gathered around Kim and prayed for her. Kim has a nerve disease and suffers severe pain in her left arm and left leg. We surrounded her and prayed for her healing, for her strengthening, for God's presence and comfort in her life.
After that time, I shared some verses about the new things that God does, that He is making all things new, that He gives us new heart and a new spirit, that Jesus made a new way to God, that God gives us a new song, a new attitude, a new walk,and a new life. That is a good way to start a new year, remembering the newness that God promises.
Then, we all wrote down something from 2009 that we want to get rid of, a bad attitude, a habitual sin, a stronghold...One by one, we all came up, shared only what we were comfortable sharing, and put the paper in the shredder, symbolically putting an end to whatever was on the paper. We were open and honest, because we all felt accepted. The time was very special. No, the crowd was not large, and most of those that we are trying to minister to were not even there, but those things did not matter. God was there, and some very special brothers and sisters were there. At the end, I felt that we had experienced something very special and God had drawn us closer together. It truly was a celebration of recovery.