Celebrate Recovery

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and the lusts of it; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” I John 2:16-17

An addiction is a compulsive dependence on a substance (alcohol, prescription medicine, tobacco, marijuana or street drugs) or activity (gambling, sex shopping, eating), that needs ever increasing amounts of stimulation to sustain the desired effect.

Key Characteristics of Addictions:

• A pattern of out of control substance usage or behavior for a year
• Mood swings
• Feeling of shame or self worthlessness
• Strong need to be liked or gain approval from others
• Impulse control problems
• Use of substance or behaviors to reduce anxiety
• Obsessing about a substance or activity
• Guilt or shame
• Failed efforts to control usage or behavior
• Negative consequences to self or others

“Jesus came to deliver us from every bondage – physical, psychological, or spiritual…regardless of the problem, He has the power to help you to deal with it.” – Bishop Wellington Boone

On November 24th we had a “Cardboard Testimony” at CR to express our thankfulness. My cardboard said on one side, “Trapped in Low Self Esteem and Alcoholism” on the other side it said, “Thankful that Christ has set me free and made me a person of worth.”