December 2014
Greetings from the Recovery Team.
When
I first came on board with the Recovery Team I was given a book to
read. It's called Life's Healing Choices - Freedom from your Hurts,
Hang-ups and Habits by John Baker. All I can say is WOW! If there is
one thing that I could encourage you to do is pick up this book and give
it a read and then pass it on to a friend. This book is Celebrate
Recovery in an easy to read format. There are 8 Choices that we all need
to make while walking on the road of recovery.
1. Admitting Need - The Reality Choice
2. Getting Help - The Hope Choice
3. Letting Go - The Commitment Choice
4. Coming Clean - The Housecleaning Choice
5. Making Changes - The Transformation Choice
6. Repairing Relationships - The Relationship Choice
7. Maintaining Momentum - The Maintenance Choice
8. Recycling Pain - The Sharing Choice
While
the book is an easy read I should clarify that the 8 steps are not easy
to incorporate into your life - it's hard work. I am slowly working
through the chapters and would like to share with you a little about
what I'm learning.
My attempts at trying to fix my life problems
only end up making things worse. When will I learn that I am not God.
There are times when I decide to have a 'pity party' and I'm the only
one invited. I forget that I am a Daughter of The King. I need to
remember that I matter to God and that He has the power to heal me. This
just fills me with hope.
God LOVES me.
God CARES about me.
I MATTER to GOD!
God's
love is not based on my performance; it's based on His character. Now,
after learning that I AM NOT GOD and that I MATTER TO GOD here is the
next step ... I need to commit my entire life and will to Christ's care
and control. WHAT?!?! Say that again? I need to commit not just my
entire life but my will too??? (yup, that's a hard one to swallow) Let's
be honest here, am I truly willing to hand over every part of my life AND my will to
Christ? Do I really trust God to take care of everything? How often do I
say (with good intentions), "here you go God, I'm letting go of this
situation and placing it in your very capable hands" and then a moment
later take it back and say, "nope, I'll handle this one thank you." I
have read the Letting Go chapter numerous times now and I continue to
struggle with it.
I guess it's a good reminder for me that healing
doesn't happen overnight - this is an ongoing process that takes a kind
of patience that can only come from God. Be encouraged - God is on our
side!
In Christ,
Jody
WOMEN'S PRISON
updates & testimony:
The
Ladies (Sandra, Karla, Cheryl and Lorena)that go into the prison
faithfully every Monday had "Christmas in September" where they put
together the Christmas bags for the ladies on the inside. Talk about
being ready for Christmas!!
A testimony from one of "Our Girls" on the inside: Lori
Lori
is one of the youngest siblings of a large family. Her dad was an
alcoholic and died when she was 5 years old. Most of her brothers also have
problems with drugs and alcohol. Two of her brothers were killed because of
their drug problems. Lori’s mom turned into a bitter and resentful person when
one of her brothers died in her arms. She is always talking about the past and
how mean Lori’s father was to her, she constantly tries to spread her
resentment to her children making Lori feel guilty. So Lori’s life was full
of bitterness, fear, resentment guilt and shame. She eventually got
married. Lori and her husband both had dysfunctional backgrounds and each
brought this to their marriage. They were not happy in their marriage as they
didn’t know anything about God and they were living a worldly lifestyle.
As things go, both she and her husband are now in prison. The Lord works in
mysterious ways - Lori came to know the Lord through the Celebrate Recovery
Program and not only that, her husband, who is in the men’s area of the
same prison, now knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. Every two months Lori
and her husband are allowed to visit. During this time they encourage one
another to remain strong and know that God has a purpose in bringing them to
prison. The purpose is to continue to serve Him once they are released.
Sometimes it's hard to believe her husband’s words because he used to be
selfish, proud and very jealous, but now he is full of love. He is a humble man
and has asked her for forgiveness for everything he did to her in the past. He
has hope in the future now because he knows that the Lord Jesus reigns in
their hearts and in their marriage.
**names
have been changed to protect identity**
CELEBRATE RECOVERY updates
On
October 7th new Step Studies started. This is an exciting time as some
groups completed all of their steps in time to start new groups. Praise
the Lord for continued healing!
October 19th we had a luncheon
for all of the facilitators. This was a special time filled with fun and
fellowship. Tortas were consumed! Relationships were built stronger!
God was glorified through it all!
~ Healing for those going through Celebrate Recovery.
~ Protection over our Facilitators and their families.
~
Rod and Cheryl Hoople, Recovery Ministry Coordinators, are traveling
through Canada visiting churches and individuals in order to raise
monthly partners (prayer and financial partners) in ministry. Please
pray that God will bless their time and protect them on the roads.
Are you able to fill this need?
A
full set of Celebrate Recovery participants guides (4 books in total)
are $20 for the whole program. Some of our Mexican Nationals leave the
program after the first book due to lack of funds to continue. Pray for
sponsors to help others on the "Road to Recovery". If you are interested
in sponsoring a Mexican National with a set of participant guides or if
you would like to become a financial partner please click on this link
which will guide you to the YUGO Ministries giving page of their website
- please designate your funds to RECOVERY MINISTRY.
Not sure what to get that person who seems to have everything for Christmas?
Here's an idea:
1. Go to our Amazon Wish List and purchase items on-line.
2. Print a picture of your purchase and place it in a Christmas card to give to your hard-to-shop-for loved one.
You can let them know that the Mexican prison does not supply personal items (such as shampoo, toilet paper, and deodorant) to the inmates. Your Christmas gift will be a gift that keeps on giving long after the decorations have been taken down.
