September is National Recovery Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of those in recovery and raise awareness about substance use and mental health disorders. Through the whole of September, we honor the resilience of individuals overcoming addiction and advocate for the continued support and resources necessary to foster hope and healing. (Credit: growtherapy.com)

No one should have to face their pain alone. We are a grace-filled community of strugglers who courageously enter this safe and beautiful space to get honest about our pain, and the negative ways we may see ourselves, God, and others. In this process, we come to accept that some of the habits we have developed to escape our pain may have hurt us and those close to us. It is a biblically based approach to help us achieve long lasting recovery by healing our hurts, guiding us toward new healthy truths, and developing life-giving habits. (Source: Celebrate Recovery National Website)

There you have it. September is officially recognized as a time to bring recovery needs and struggles out of a person’s darkness and into light that gives healing, release, and most of all–freedom and hope.

For the past few weeks I wrote about observing a sabbath break in our work; I also emphasized that when we choose to follow Christ and receive His plan of salvation we become sons and daughters of God which is our TRUE identity. For too long, there’s been a false impression that once a person becomes a Christian all their problems magically disappear and life is eternal utopia. That false pretense is a lie from the very pit of hell. Although Jesus actually tells us that He came to give us an abundant life, He also reminded us that “in this world you will face many trials”. Trials produce time consumed by hardships, illness, losses, disappointments…and when we face any situation we have but one question to ask of ourselves: Will I give up or will I fight?

At Celebrate Recovery, we choose to lay down denying our problems–many of our own doing–and surrender to learning how to change, how to find hope, how to live in peace in spite of life’s struggles. How do we do this? One of the best ways is to hear from folks who have begun to leave past hurts behind, dig deep into how bad habits and damaged emotions took over living a peaceful joy filled life.

This week, Sept.. 17, at the Fowlerville Celebrate Recovery group you are invited to come hear Erica’s testimony. She came to CR to work on her self-worth, anxiety, fear, anger, and codependency in relationships. She will talk about the effects of an alcoholic and abusive father, his abandonment of her following the divorce of her parents, how she was bullied in middle school. Erica includes in her story the effects of postpartum depression until she sought medical assistance for panic attacks.Thankfully, her story doesn’t end in a sea of negative circumstances–after working the 12 steps of CR she and her husband have been blessed with a new church family, with jobs that provide well for their needs, and above all–a healthy thriving spiritual life!

Through Celebrate Recovery’s ministries worldwide, Jesus is in the business of changing people’s lives! While CR helps with ALL struggles, it’s been our goal for the past several years to bring mental health awareness into the light of Christ, to encourage people not to live in shame or embarrassment if they or a loved one suffers from some form of  unhealthy mental well-being.

Our group often hears that local resources are greatly over extended in their efforts to provide services for individuals and families who are in need of help. Although Celebrate Recovery is NOT a substitute for professional help, we ARE a safe place to become part of a group of like minded people working together to achieve wholeness in individuals, families, and our community.

Our CR group meets every Tuesday at 7 pm following a meal which is served at 6 pm.

In addition, children ages 5 through 5th grade may participate in Celebration Place while their parent(s) attend the adult program. Kids get their own time to hear a short lesson and have an opportunity to talk about their feelings while learning helpful coping tools for healthy minds.

If you’d like more information about Celebrate Recovery, you may call Fowlerville UB Church at 517.223.9490; they will put you in touch with me or email: celebraterecovery@fowlervilleub.org.