Category Archives: celebrate recovery

Desperation can lead to freedom and joy

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Steve Simms

Your heart-cry doesn’t echo in a canyon of inner emptiness. It continually reverberates within you, ever calling you to wake up to deeper reality. In the recovery community the desperation that leads to freedom and joy is called “hitting bottom.” … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrate recovery, Christian recovery, hope, recovery, recovery groups, recovery quotes, sobriety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When life gives you lemons (16 alternatives to lemonade)

Posted on September 1, 2018 by Steve Simms

We’ve all heard the popular phrase about what to do when life gives you lemons.  But what if you don’t want (or like) lemonade? Perhaps we could learn from inventor, George Washington Carter, (who came up with hundreds of things … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrate recovery, creativity, depression, encouragement, finding meaning, finding purpose, hope, innovation, meaning, mental health note, optimism, overcoming depression, positive attitude, positive thinking, purpose, purpose of life, recovery groups, recovery quotes, self-help, self-help group, self-improvement, self-respect, sobriety, Uncategorized, wisdom, words | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nashville church that meets like AA, Al-Anon, & NA

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Steve Simms

Millions of people have found comfort, help, & serenity from various types of support groups, such as, AA, Al-Anon, and NA. Al-Anon’s web site states: “Everyone at the meeting shares as an equal.” It also says: “We help each other … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, celebrate recovery, Christian recovery, recovery, recovery quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Berry Street, Salvation Army Nashville, self-help, self-help group, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

12 steps for one another groups

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Steve Simms

The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous established 12 steps to help people overcome an addiction to alcohol. As the program gained success, various support groups for other addictions began to apply the steps for their own needs. In 50-something places the … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrate recovery, cell groups, encounter group, encouragement, house church, Love one another, NA, NA meetings, Narcotics Anonymous, one another, one anothering, open sharing, organic chruch, overcoming depression, Overeaters Anonymous, recovery quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Beyond “services” to meetings . . .

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Steve Simms

It’s time to let God go & let Him take control both of your life & of His gathered people. Churches have services; but ekklesia & AA & NA & Al-Anon have meetings. Practicing the presence of God by yourself … Continue reading →

Posted in AA meetings, Al-Anon, alcohol rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, Berry Street, body of Christ, celebrate recovery, Christ-centered recovery, Christian meetings, Christian recovery, Christian support group, church meetings, class meetings, effective meetings, NA meetings, organic chruch, recovery groups, recovery quotes, religious meetings, support groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Making lovely places in your life

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Steve Simms

I can’t make human society a lovely place; but with Jesus’ help I can make my own mind and heart lovely places. Let Jesus’ presence & power open like a flower in your life. A flower flows with inner life. … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrate recovery, community, community building, community organizer, design flexibility, how to create community, Howard Thurman, inner healing, inner peace, open forum, overcoming addiction, peace of mind, recovery groups, recovery quotes, support groups, testimony, town meeting, Uncategorized, word of their testimony | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I don’t like the “The Snack” because God’s not a snack, but life’s main course.

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Steve Simms

Anybody can show tolerance, but the risen Jesus Christ, alone, offers transformation! Jesus didn’t come to celebrate our fallen condition, but to set us free from it! To judge is to either condemn or to approve. The living Jesus wants to … Continue reading →

Posted in be transformed by the renewing of your mind, celebrate recovery, Christian books, christian movies, intolerance, judge not, judging, parable, religious movies, sin, the fall, tolerance, transformation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

got excitement? (True Christianity does.)

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Steve Simms

What is the most exciting thing on earth? It’s gotta be true Christianity. Can anything be more exciting than the living God becoming a human, paying the price for our sins, rising from the dead, and coming to live in … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, celebrate recovery, deliverance, Divine healing, faith healing, gifts of healing, good news, healing, healing the sick, leaks, miracles, Nashville, paradise, recovery, rejoice, salvation, Salvation Army, true Christianity, Uncategorized, working of miracles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let’s meet . . .

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Steve Simms

Let’s meet as a bouquet of Christ-followers, all radiating His glory together. Let’s meet like a box of chocolates, all sharing Jesus’ sweetness with one another. Let’s meet as a bunch of grapes, all clustered & connected to Christ the … Continue reading →

Posted in AA meetings, business meetings, celebrate recovery, Class meeting, holding meetings, meaningful meetings, Meeting for Worship, Methodist class meetings, recovery groups, successful meetings, Uncategorized, unprogrammed meetings | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Party like Christ is real (& present)

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Steve Simms

Christianity’s a lifestyle of passionate love for and growing obedience to Christ! People want parties to be extemporaneous, not stuffy. Why not church? We understand people getting impassioned about so many things. Why not Christ? A mind-made message, enters your mind; but … Continue reading →

Posted in boredom, boredom in church, celebrate recovery, Heaven, Hell, joy bells, joy of the Lord, joy unspeakable, Joyous, love your enemies, love your neighbor as yourself, miracles, overcoming boredom, rejoice, salvation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment