II Timothy 2:2
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men (and women) who will be able to tech others also.
Spoke last night at Celebrate Recovery @ North Glencoe, and God was gracious to come and change some hearts as well as lives.
I took in the whole picture of that meeting as worship was going on. People up on their feet, clapping and singing. High energy in the room, as song moved to song and the words were flashed on screens for all to see.
Chip time brought thunderous applause and cheers as people made their way up to the front to receive a chip for the amount of time they had been sober.
Hugs and back slaps, along with words of encouragement to help them stay on the track and trail to recovery.
There were brief testimonies of how life use to be, as opposed to how it is today. People hanging on to every word. It was a mixed bag of people in that room. Some there because they have found life at this meeting. Others there simply because they needed a stamp for their court card in order to appease the powers that be. No matter the reason, everyone there sat under the presence of God. That can't be a bad thing, can it.
I write all of this to show my appreciation and gratitude to Seth Barber, Nick Johnson, Shane Elmore and a whole host of other people who, week after week, give of themselves to oversee this meeting. It was a good night also in that it reinforced in me what God has called us to do at Vineyard Recovery.
We are kind of the next part to Celebrate Recovery. We are a school...a place where you can be taught how to follow Jesus. A place where you can be taught how to pray. How to read this Bible. How to hear God for yourself. And as you are taught, you can go out and share it with others.
Saturday night is unlike anything I've ever done before.
The worship hasn't changed, as far as the music and the people on the team, but God has upped the ante, if you will. Saturday night, Debbie Handy led the worship for our meeting. If ever there was such a thing as Power in peace, that is what we were given Saturday night. The songs were intimate and inviting as the room slowly began to join in. Words can't truly express what happened as song followed song. God's presence was so thick in the room, that when we had finished, I knew that the message I had prepared was not the one He wanted me to speak on. I threw away the notes and began to share what God was saying.
God is the one who grants to those who surrender, a life of recovery. But once you have this new life, then what? That is where Vineyard Recovery comes in. We are there to help you learn, to teach you and to encourage you as you move out into the work place, to school or where ever it is God is taking you.
I'm not looking to build a church. The church belongs to God, he will place people where He wants them to be. I'm not looking to build a name for myself or to bump the name "VINEYARD" to a place where it supplants what God is doing. It isn't about me. It isn't about Vineyard Recovery.
I'm simply trying to open the doors on Saturday and prepare a place where we all can meet God. Where we all can be changed. Where we all can leave and go out and be the people God has called us to be. In other words....I want to make sober/recovered disciples for Jesus. People who truly do "Celebrate Recovery"....but a people who find the value in living for this Jesus and have a desire to be taught what to do next. That is the heart and soul of what Vineyard Recovery is all about. Our mission statement is very simple and reflects who we are as a community of believers. Following In His Steps.
If you're free one Saturday, come and visit with us.
Meetings start at 7 p.m.
God on you...
mb
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