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.
This Saturday is the National Kidney Walk to raise funds and awareness about kidney disease. Our granddaughter Maddie has a rare kidney disease, IgA Nephropathy. She also suffers from a host of allergies, asthma and other pulmonary problems. We watch as Maddie struggles with chronic pain and low energy. Maddie is extremely intelligent. She understands her health issues better than I do. She is also extremely responsible, careful, and determined. Although she misses school often, her grades are excellent and she is an outstanding student. She deals with her health issues with so much maturity and grace, much more than you would expect from an 11 year old. 
Her mother, our daughter Emily, works tirelessly; taking Maddie to doctors, watching her diet because of her allergies, giving her all the medications she needs at all the appropriate times. There is little that we, as grandparents are able to do to help, although we are willing to do anything possible. The kidney walk is something that we can do. The whole family joins "Maddies Team" to raise money and do the walk in Fort Worth together. I have a nephew who began to have kidney failure as an adult. After 10 years of dialysis, he had a transplant. "Maddies Team" is made up of family and friends of both Maddie and Jerry. 
