Celebrate Recovery Weekly Encouragement 6-28-23

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let's enjoy God's incredible love for us. The Bible tells us that God is love. His love is not based on how good we are or how much we deserve it. Instead, it is a complete, unchanging love that goes beyond time and circumstances.

Take a moment to think about how God has shown you that He loves you. Maybe it was because God heard prayers, provided for you, or helped you through hard times. No matter what it is, enjoy and be happy about the love God has given you.

Through the Bible, we are told that God's love is best shown by the death of His Son, Jesus Christ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let's show how thankful we are for God's love by loving other people the way Christ loved us (John 13:34). By showing love, forgiveness, and kindness, we bring God praise and show the world how much He loves us.

Let’s celebrate God's love that never changes. It's a love we can't fully understand, one that accepts us even when we're broken, and one that changes lives. As we stay in God's love and share it with others, may we bring honor to His name and spread the happy celebration of His love around the world. Let's live each day in awe and gratitude for our loving Father's infinite love.

Brian Willems CADC 1
Ministry Leader
Celebrate Recovery
New Life Community Dinuba

This week Dalia will be sharing her experience, strength and hope with us! Dalia is on the leadership TEAM right here at NLC! Dalia has been in recovery since 2010 and is going to be sharing how God and the program of Celebrate Recovery have broken generational chains in Her life. From dhildhood traumas, addiction (drugs and relationships) to codependency. Dalia also serves as a liaison for Broken Chains. 

Opioid deaths are at an all time high here in the Central Valley, as well as all across our country.
Naloxone (Narcan) is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. But, naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, and morphine.
After the training BCJC will be on hand to distribute Narcan to everyone that attends.

My CR journey began the summer of 2017, when I found myself in a very dark place as a result of a toxic relationship. As a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, I am currently in recovery from the three things that brought me to CR…depression, anxiety, and codependency. In August 2022, I found myself feeling empty and as though I was missing something in my life. Although I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, it’s these feelings of emptiness that brought me back to CR. Hello, my name is Azalia.

Life has been full of ups and downs. I recognize it is as a result of decisions I have made. God didn’t create me to experience such low moments in life, but He did give me free will, which is the ability to make choices. Let’s just say that I haven’t always made the best choices. However, every choice I’ve made in life has brought me to where I am today.

I currently struggle with emotional abandonment issues stemming from my childhood. Thanks to CR, I have learned to lean on God and place these hurts in His hands. God’s love is relentless and unconditional. CR reminds me of God’s unconditional love on a continuous basis. It’s also through fellowship at CR that I feel God’s love. I continue to grow in my journey, and thank God every day for leading me back to CR along with everyone I have met along the way.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” - Psalm 37:5

If you have been following our blog or emails for the past few months then you know that last Saturday Celebrate Recovery celebrated one year here at New Life Community!
The night was filled with pleasant surprises, wonderful food and incredible people that came to support this ministry.
The leadership for Celebrate Recovery was blown away from all of the love and support that was given by are church family, our forever family and the community of Dinuba as well as Tulare County.  We will continue to strive to provide a safe place where anyone can come and start healing from their hurts, habits, and hang ups!