Confess and Admit - Why do we need to confess and admit our faults and wrongs to another person? I mean, God already knows, right? That's one of the most common asked questions. Yes, God does know, but 1) He wants to know that YOU know and 2) James 5:16a says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." It is just not enough to say, "God forgive me for the bad things I did today" because how can you change if you don't acknowledge what those bad things were? You'll just do them again tomorrow. You are more likely to remember if you say, "God, forgive me for losing my temper with...and for not trusting in you to provide instead of worrying, etc." Identifying, which we did when we did our inventories, helps remove the baggage we carry and frees us to move on. Things that weighed us down no longer have the power to do that.

Confess your shortcomings, resentments, and sins
Obey God's direction
No more guilt
Face the truth
Ease the pain
Stop the blame
Start accepting God

Then when you tell it to someone you trust, your sponsor or accountability partner, that too diminishes the power of the hold it had on you so you can start to heal and be free. It also lets us know when we admit to others, that we are not alone. There are a lot of other people who are dealing with the same thing and unless we share it, we would never know. We can lose the sense of aloneness. It will also give us humility and no longer live in denial - someone else knows.

Remember (you can read again below under Sponsor) that this is a person you can trust and someone who has been where you are and will not judge.

Sometimes we don't confess or admit because we are afraid of the consequences. Though we still will have to face the consequences of our actions, we can gain the freedom and healing to move on. Look at David, a man after God's own heart. After seeing and wanting Bathsheba (Samuel 11) David had her husband killed and then took her for his wife. This displeased God. But David confessed his sin and God forgave him, and blessed him as King whose throne would never end (Jesus was born of David's line). Still, David faced the consequences of his sin and his first born died, but God blessed him with the birth of Solomon. We still can have the healing to move on through whatever comes because God promises in James 5:16 that we will be "healed" - we were forgiven through what Christ did on the cross, but our confession and admitting our sin is what heals us.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord! Yesterday I received a phone call from a mother of a young man who had recently begun to attend CR. He had been working his recovery through AA and many other meetings having put 11 years between him and jail and on a Journey with God who he loved. He was helping his girlfriend through her struggles and towards God and in the short time with us, brought friends of his to meetings. He started attending church and was going to our Men's Monday night Step Study. Unfortunately, according to his mother, last Tuesday, life was just too overwhelming for him and he took his life.

I know many, myself included, have been wondering what could we have done differently? After soul searching, I believe that sometimes we do everything we need and can do, but sometimes it is just between a person and God and faith and hope. I am proud of how you have all stepped forward from the beginning to make him feel part of the group which is why he kept coming back. I watched several of you go out of your way to say hi at church and include him. I watched the men take him under their wing. I want to encourage each of us to continue to pray for his family and for his girlfriend.

This is the reason why it is so important to attend meetings - not just for your recovery, but for those who need the encouragement and support of others - it's not about us, but about them. That's why I visit those in jail and encourage you to write. Jesus said in Matthew 25:37-40 "...Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Sometimes it just a matter of listening. I want each of you to know that he is safe in the arms of Jesus and I am so grateful to have known him for such a short time.

SPIRITUAL INVENTORY PART 1 & 2- We are still working on Step 4 & Principle 4 (see above listings). Being able to rely on our Higher Power, we need to make sure that we are right in our relationship with Him. Lamentations 3:40 says, "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." How is your relationship with God?

This past Sunday, both Pastor Glenn and Pastor Rob were right on point with our Spiritual Inventory. Pastor Glenn spoke about the Holy Spirit and the different aspects that He has in our lives: He teaches us truth, love and obedience, and memory. Yep! Memory! We leak! Sunday we are doing fine remembering to rely on God, but come Tuesday we forget and are bombarded with doubts and fears - we go to meeting and remember again only by Friday to "leak" what we've learned. It's because we are not letting the Holy Spirit work in us and oh, was that Step 2 when we knew we were not in control and Who is?

Then Sunday night, Pastor Rob hit it on the head! "Being in proximity does not make it a connection." We can read the Bible, go to church, pray, but not feel connected. We are not surrendering (Step 3)!! You can hear both sermons from Jan. 10th on the Church website, www.wvcch.org. Why do I bring this up? Because if we don't have a connection to our Higher Power, how do we expect Him to give us victory over our hurts, habit, and hang-ups!!

The 8 areas for our Spiritual Inventory include:
Relationships with others
Priorities in Your Life
Your Attitude Your Integrity
Your Mind
Your Body
Your Family
Your Church

These areas are in your participant guides along with some great questions to help you think these areas through. If you are not working your steps and want to start, just ask, we'll help you. God bless you all as you work and travel down this road together! Use this forum to share your thoughts and comments. This blog is for you!!

INVENTORY - Actually writing out your inventory is not as bad as it sounds. In your participant guide, there is a form that can help you think out what you need to write and talk over with your Sponsor or Accountability Partner.

Column 1 - The Person - Who is the person or object you resent or fear?
Column 2 - The Cause - What did that person do to cause you resentment and/or fear?
Column 3 - The Effect - Be specific how that hurtful action affected your life both in the past and present
Column 4 - The Damage - Which of your basic instincts were inured? Social, Security, Sexual?
Column 5 - My Part - Ask God to show you your part in the situation. Maybe you didn't have a part - you need to know that too!

Don't forget balance, and don't forget most important, "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if your are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!" Isaiah 1:18

SPONSOR - Boy, do I have a lot of catching up to do, but as many of you know, my Dad passed away in December after being hospitalized since August. So, the end of the year really tested how I lean on my CR family and Christ, my Higher Power, to give me strength. It's a new year, a new day, and I'm READY!! Bear with me as I attempt to bring you 4 lessons :).

We last talked about our Moral Inventory with Principle 4, "Openly examine and confess my faults to God, and to someone I trust." Matthew 5:8. Who is that "someone I trust"? Hopefully, during the meeting time and fellowship time you have seen someone who has shown their walk matches their talk. Someone you would like to have that type of faith they show. Someone who has been there and has victory through Jesus! That's a Sponsor, or an Accountability Partner. Someone you can share your insights with bravely and boldly. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 tells us, "Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone..., there is no one to help him...Two men can resist an attack that would defeat one man alone."

Be respectful of them, they are there to help you. Come prepared with your participant guide filled out and ready to go over with them. They have given up their time and if you are not prepared, it is not a good reflection. Listen to their suggestions, they've been there. Don't be defensive, but be open. This way you both will have a great experience in your relationship.

Don't be offended if you ask someone to be your Sponsor or Accountability Partner, and they say "No". They may already Sponsor someone or they may not feel ready yet. Keep asking people you admire. You'll find one!

Note to potential Sponsors: The goal is once you have completed the 12-steps is that you then help someone through theirs. You both benefit from the steps. Remember, you can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you!! Phil. 4:13

MORAL - OK, I admit I am a little behind with this week's blog - I've been trying to find a clever way of bringing this lesson to light but the reality is, this is one of the hardest, but most rewarding lessons in our steps! I say the hardest because it is something we have avoided doing all our lives; searching our inner self.

I know when I first did the 4th step, I was scared of the pain and of admitting to someone else things in my past. But with the help of Christ, my Higher Power, I overcame the pain by confronting my hurts and especially by realizing my part in each area. ++Remember: It is important to keep your inventory balanced - it's not all just bad, but the good things you have done, also! This Moral Inventory is so important, because until we recognize the baggage, we cannot give it up to God and that is what this is all about! Being free of the baggage is what makes this the most rewarding step. Freedom from condemnation, not from God, because Christ did that, but from ourselves which opens us up to serve and live for Him! (Romans 8:1)

This is also a time when it is so important that you have someone you trust to be able to share your inventory with because we can't just bury everything or resentments can continue to grow. We will talk in the near future about sponsors and accountability partners, but for now, watch different people at your group and look for someone who you admire their walk with the Lord. You want someone who has overcome and can listen and encourage through your 4th step.

Make Time
Open
Rely
Analyze
List

Most of all, be patient with yourself! There is no timetable (within reason) :) Don't be afraid, instead anticipate the freedom and peace that comes from cleansing the past (no rear-view mirror living). Live for the future - a life that is abundant through Christ!

ACTION - Principle 3 begins "Consciously choose" - talk about action, to choose is probably one of the greatest actions we can ever take. In every area of our lives, what we CHOOSE drives how we live. The first 2 steps were the "lights, camera," and now we are ready for the "action". But what action is it? It's making a choice to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

I like the familiar saying, "Let Go and let God." I hear alot of "I have Jesus as my Higher Power, but I still can't change this, or I can't change that." I'm hearing alot of "I's" being used. Letting go and letting God means "He" can change this and "He" can change that. Do you see the difference? We need to let go of everything. We can't hold on to even the littlest issue. Our Higher Power, Jesus Christ, wants a relationship with us, all of us, and what we can't do, He can!

Sometimes it's our fear, guilt, or pride that stops us, but in this relationship that Christ seeks with us, He promises us rest: "Come to me and I will give you rest--all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke--for it fits perfectly--and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens", Matthew 11:28-30 TLB. He promises us He will be with us throughout our lives in Philippians 1:6, "God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until His task within you is finally finished." He won't leave us! We can depend on Him, so why is it so hard to turn everything over to Him? Because we have not made the CHOICE to!

Making that choice is just the begining. The action takes place every day, one day at a time. Don't get stuck in the yesterday, and bogged down by the tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). CHOOSE THIS DAY!

A - Accept
C - Commit
T - Turn it over
I - It's only the beginning
O - One day at a time
N - Next step

Remember, you are not alone! Turn to Him, and don't forget your support group!!
2 Corinthians 4:8 says, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
Psalm 147:3 "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Remember the ACTION Christ took on the cross for you! You can trust He will carry you through!