CR at University Carillon

How are you doing on paying attention to God and what He is doing in your life? In Psalm 119:7, the psalmist is saying to God, ‘Lord, make me better at this discipline of paying attention to you, God.’   He is saying “I need help to direct my full attention to you God.” Yes, even in gratitude. The word ‘consider’ comes from the Latin word, considerare.  It means ‘to gaze upon the stars’. The God who created those stars loves you and wants your attention today.   Let’s commit to pay attention to our loving Father with wisdom and gratitude for even the smallest of things He is doing, His beauty and more.   “Help me to understand your teachings, and I will think about your marvelous deeds.” Psalms 119:27 CEV Rodney Holmstrom Global Field Director for Celebrate Recovery

There was a song I listened to during the pandemic that reminded me of this: in the chaos and struggles in life, I can always find something to be grateful for.  I listened to that song again today and it brought back great thoughts. I thought this would lift your spirits today as it did mine. Here are some of the lyrics: “I got my legs and I can walk (Another blessing) I got my tongue ya'll and I can talk (Another blessing) Even the air that I receive (Another blessing) I got my lungs and I can breathe (Another blessing) When I look around, I can see (Another blessing) All the blessing that he's given to me (Another blessing) Blessed my family and they doing fine (Another blessing) Gave me peace, gave me peace of mind (Another blessing)” Family, no matter what you are facing today, God gave us another day & another blessing. Let’s be grateful. I am counting my blessings having each of you in my life.   If you want to hear the song, here is t...

Abundant Hope Andy Petry Landing Director for Celebrate Recovery A while back I came across a passage of scripture that struck me. I knew it was true, but it was hard to see clearly in the midst of life’s hurts and challenges. Psalm 66:8-12  NIV says this:   Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs... we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.   Oftentimes in my pain I don’t always know how to praise God well, even though I confidently know that He’s working in ways I can’t always see. Pain knocks us back and crushes any illusion of control we might have. And it’s easy to question where God is when our circumstances go haywire.  But God is always working, and in the midst of it He upholds us, He keeps our feet from slipping...

  In our trouble God has comforted us—and this, too, to help you: to show you from our personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these same sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure.” 2 Corinthians 1:6 -7 (TLB) God expects you to use your pain to help others. Whatever mistake, failure, trouble, trial, or bad decision you’ve experienced, God says, “I’ll still use it for good in your life. And I expect you to use it to help others.” This is called redemptive suffering. “In our trouble God has comforted us—and this, too, to help you: to show you from our personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these same sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure” (2 Corinthians 1:6-7 TLB). Think of the biggest troubles you’ve had in your life and the worst pain you’ve had to endure physically or emotionally. God doesn’t want you to waste that hurt; he wants to redeem your suffering. You can always help peo...