Why is it that when God is visibly working I am always amazed?  Yesterday, after church, I had our Celebrate Recovery leadership monthly meeting.  It had much packed into it with a couple items I thought would be rather controversial.  I was simply impressed and amazed at how smoothly everything went.  Instead of controversy, there was support and willingness to be in prayer.

This week’s schedule has much in it regarding work and ministry need.  I’ve already been in touch with the pastors at church I need to meet with before I take any more steps with ministry development and they can meet later this morning.  I could hardly believe how easy this was to get set.  Of course, God reminded me that this is His Work I’m talking about and why am I amazed that He is taking care of all details?  I have to admit again that there is a lot of humanness in me and my behavior.

Today in my scripture reading I found myself needing to reread the chapters in John about Christ’s crucifixion and His rising again 3 days later.  He told His disciples in follow up meetings with them that He gives them the power to forgive sin.  John 20:23.  He goes on to say in the same verse that if we retain the sin of anyone, they are retained.  This is they key to the freedom found in coming to Celebrate Recovery for me.  Not only did I find a safe place to finally speak the truth of my past and its damage to me but I was also led to go back to the professional counseling and therapy which enabled me to go to the roots of the damage the abuse caused.  Now in reading this verse I am able to see why Christ told the disciples what He said.  They nor we can ever have the freedom Christ provides if we do not forgive the sins done to us or around us.  When we hang onto the hurt of sin we hold onto its bondage  to us.  That is exactly what I was doing my whole life in trying to hide it and wall it off from my own feelings.  My recent encounters with both my mom and my dad have continued to show how much freedom Christ wants me to have.  I am just amazed at this truth.  Thank you Jesus for the work You have done and continue to do as You daily enlighten us (me).