November 22, 2024

Life’s Healing Choices – Chapter 2 Review

January 18, 2013 by

Realize I am not God

Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, that He has the power to help me recover.

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“Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Matthew 5:4

 

In the first chapter, we admitted we were powerless.  Now in the second chapter, we come to believe God exists, that we ARE important to Him and that we are capable to receive His power to help us to recover.  All we have to do is believe and receive.  In the second chapter we find the hope in Christ alone through His promises: “He will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” Isaiah 61:3

On Tuesday, Leslie talked with us about 3 amazing truths about God: That God exists; you matter to Him; and He has the power to help you. From the beginning of Creation, we have acknowledged that God exists—just take a look at the stars, the mountains, the oceans—all the magnificent artwork of a God who loves us enough to splash beauty all around us. Ok, so we believe He exists but do we really believe we matter to Him?  Leslie did a beautiful job showing us through His word and David’s psalms that yes, we matter so much that God keeps track of all my sorrows. “He has collected all my tears in His bottle and has recorded each one in His book.”Psalm 56:8

Wednesday, Kim gave us a reality check on keeping plugged into God’s power.  After all, do we really think we can run our TV’s, computers, game stations, ovens, microwaves, or coffee pots without power?  How do we then expect God to answer our prayers and pleas for help without being plugged into Him?  Knowing who He is and believing His promises: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

On Thursday, Amy took us through praying for God to fill us with His love, let His power wash over us and heal our hurts, habits or hang ups.  Then we began learning the importance of writing about what God is doing in your life through this study, so you can look back and are encouraged as you journey through the eight choices.  Finally, sharing with each other along the way.  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17   We are to encourage one another through our walk. We will run into times when we do not want to deal with issues we are facing. However, through accountability and sharing throughout the study, others will encourage you to press on toward the finish.  Receive what God has in store for you.

I want to encourage you with another promise from His word:

 

Verse 5 goes on to say “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.  I will never leave you nor forsake you.”   What amazing promises of hope we have studied and learned this week.

 

“I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”

— Joshua 1:3 —

Let’s Pray:

Most gracious and loving Father, we are so overwhelmed by the fact that we matter so much to You that You give us a crown of beauty. You record our tears and that You will never leave us nor forsake us.  Father, as we begin to lay down our hurts and habits, and trust You will heal our hearts, please give us the courage to change what we know we can and let You change what we cannot.  Give us wisdom and strength to finish this journey and endure while the miracles happen! We give all the glory and honor to You.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen!!

Your Assignment:

As you go into the weekend, I would challenge you to search who you really believe God is.  What are some of His characteristics. Share your thoughts.  Then how can your relationship with God help you face the areas you need to turn over to Him?  Remember, comments made here are public. You do have the option of signing in anonymously.

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If you are interested in joining us for the online Bible study, click HERE.
Once we receive your registration, we will email you further details.

If you would like to send a private message to Laurie in regards to this blog, please email her at laurie@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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“Life’s Healing Choices” – Getting Help – The Hope Choice

January 14, 2013 by

Psalm62_5

 

In our first week, we prayed for God to give us the courage and willingness to admit we are powerless.  As you admitted you are powerless, how did it impact your life last week?  When I began admitting that I am NOT God and I am powerless, I went through a multitude of emotions: anger, sadness, guilt, relief and indifference.  Turning over the control of my life was taking the life, as I had known for years, and realizing it was a false system of belief.  I had to accept the changes I needed to make. This week we are going to talk about what happens after we realize those changes need to be made.  We may begin to mourn our past mistakes and even mourn the fact that we have turned our control over to God. Some of you may say, FORGET IT!! I will admit I am not God, I mean, everyone knows they aren’t God.  But this – it’s painful.

Let’s stop right here and look at the title to this chapter – Getting Help, The Hope Choice.  Ok, that sounds a little better.  Then go to the E in RECOVERY which is Earnestly believe that God exists ( yes I can do that) and the I matter to Him (so glad about that) and that He has the power to help me recover (I sure hope so).  It is at this point that we search and find access that He is the One that wants to fill our lives with love, joy and peace.  He wants us to feel His presence as we begin to let go of more and more of the hurts we have experienced by our habits or hang-ups. Matthew 5:4 is the scripture that tags this step – ‘Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ It is His comfort we are seeking and only Him that will offer the healing and VICTORY over our hurts, habits and hang-ups.

One of the biggest issues I went through when I was letting go of my past was the guilt and shame.  I had enough ‘I wishes: I wish I hadn’t made my sons live in the environment I chose; I wish I hadn’t hurt my family; I wish I hadn’t left my marriage; I wish I hadn’t alienated myself from my friends and family; etc, etc. etc.  I could write a book on 1001 “I wishes” you don’t want to have.  But as I kept saying I wish, God kept telling me to quit wishing on my past and believe in His promise. Isaiah 61:7 says: ‘Instead of their shame, my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.’  What an amazing promise to believe in God loves us so much, we are going to receive double our portion and have everlasting joy. He will comfort us, restore what we may have lost and give us joy.

When we continue to live in our habits or hurts, we are trying to drown out something in our lives or hide what we don’t want brought to light. We would rather sit back and ignore the issue.  The reality in the book about the fire alarm brought this home for me.  If the fire alarm went off, would I simply sit there and wait for it to stop, while everything around me disintegrated?  That is exactly what we do when we try to cover up our hurts, habits or hang-ups with food, alcohol, anger, work or other addictions. All the things around us disintegrate: relationships, finances, work, anything in our lives that stand in the way of our cover up.  I know for myself, when I was living the lifestyle I chose, I was a workaholic, single mom going to school and perfectionist within my home.  There was not an item out of place, my kids stayed involved (so I would have more to do), I was doing online classes for my degree and working 70-80 hours per week.  That way I had NO time to look at the addictions in my own life. And if someone said, “I am praying for you,”  I told them what for? I am fine – then would go into a long list of why my life was so ‘fine.’  I didn’t need anyone’s help and really did not need God’s help. I was choosing things of the world, not the things of my God.

I remember someone telling me, ‘the love of the world will squeeze out the love of the Father.’ That’s exactly what I was doing.  God had to get my attention.  And that He did.  I had gone through every one of the denial busters:  I was wound tight from over work, damaging relationships with family and friends and was beginning to have medical issues. I had to begin admitting I was not in control and turn it all over to Him.  I believed at the time, but had not let Him manage my life.  As I did, God started taking me from brokenness to completeness, from hurt to healing and then to Victory over all things in my past.  As we begin to admit, He offers hope for that change in our lives.  Don’t quit before His healing happens. The hope and help God offers is steps away – He will stay with us each step of the way until Victory.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.

The hope we search for is found in Christ alone.

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Let’s Pray:

Father, we thank You so much that You are our hope. That by Your grace alone, we can find comfort and healing through our struggles.  Father, as we continue this week together, help us to continue letting You manage our lives.  Help us to find the strength to bring our hurts, habits and hang-ups and lay them at Your feet.  To be honest Lord, there are times when we may not feel like giving up our comfort or we may not understand what it is we are to give to You.  Bring clarity and peace to our lives Father, that peace that surpasses all understanding as we put our trust in You. We praise You for what You have done and are about to do in our lives.  We give all the glory and honor to You.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Assignment:

After reading this blog comment on below and/or go to our Facebook Group and comment on:  how you handle pain or disappointment.  Also, are there areas of your life you are now beginning to face reality and break your denial?  If so, what are those areas?

If you are interested in joining us for this Online Bible Study, and becoming a member of our Facebook Discussion Group, please click HERE to sign up.

Once you are registered, we will email you further details.

If you would like to send a private message to Laurie in regards to this blog, please email her at: Laurie@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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Life’s Healing Choices – Chapter 1 Review

January 11, 2013 by

I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.  “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.”

Matthew 5:3

Wow!!   Ouch!!  Yikes!!  Ugh!!  And many other exclamations of dread, fear, sadness, frustration, pain, weak, I can’t.   All of those we have thought of and even said throughout this week.  Having gone through this study before, let me assure you – this is the hardest week.  Actually having to sit back and begin thinking of the hurts, habits or hang-ups we have endured is difficult.  But also, let me say – admitting that we are weak and He is strong will bring a freedom to your life that will be worth every moment of this study.   

Day 1: We talked about our tendency to do wrong – even when we don’t really want to.  What do we do when we realize our lives have become unmanageable? We put on a mask – after all, no one will really know, right? We control our image, others and our problems.  “I can handle it.” Wrong!! That didn’t work so what do we turn to? We become superhuman and believe we can fix it all by ourselves – only to find out that our issues just get worse.  I loved the part in the book that had us visualize God saying, “Hi, I’m God and you’re not.”  We need to get to the point where we realize He is God and we are not.  Say to yourself, I am not God, I need God.  The God that made the universe and everything within it, He sees all, knows all and heals all.  We simply have to admit and ask. 

Day 2: Once we realized our issues were controlling our lives we discussed the consequences to these issues.  Many of us said we identified with more than one of the f’s: fear, frustration, fatigue and failure.  They all really fall one after the other, don’t you think?  We are fearful that someone will find out who we really are which is frustrating. Then I don’t know about you, but all of the games I played and trying to keep my “secret life”  secret was extremely tiring.  Then when I realized I could not control things anymore, I felt as a failure.  It is a vicious cycle.  One we all need to jump off of.  You need to ask yourself are you going to let your past fears, frustrations, fatigue or failures to determine your future?  Or are you going to turn them over to the One who can heal.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  

Philippians 3:13-14

Day 3:  Wow, I don’t know about you but sometimes when I look at finding the cure for “ME,” it stands right up there with finding a needle in a haystack.  “We have to take that first step to freedom and admit we are powerless over EVERYTHING ……I can’t, He can, I think I’ll let Him.”  Love this saying and have said it since Kim wrote in her blog. Simple, isn’t it?  We make it so hard – He really wants for us to admit our hurt, habit or hang-up, humbly come to Him and allow Him to manage our life.  This week we have learned that we are powerless of our past, we cannot control others and have you really been good at coping with your hurts, habits or hang-ups?  I know I have not. 

When I was in Celebrate Recovery after leaving the gay lifestyle behind, one of the first images I got was that of laying down that life and moving into being recovered by Christ.  Imagine when you have an old couch or chair, you recover it.  The dirty, tattered and torn is gone and replaced by a beautiful, fresh and new piece.  That is what God will do.  When we admit we cannot control our tendency to do the wrong thing and truly ask Him to manage our lives, He will give us that beautiful, fresh and new start.  We no longer have to look in the mirror and see a dirty, tattered and torn image – but we can see the image of Christ in us, a reflection of Him!! We move out of recovery into VICTORY!! What a joy to receive His healing. 

I hope you will enjoy this song by Michael W. Smith   

 

 

 

 

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Let’s Pray:

Father, I come to You today and stand with every woman who has made the decision to take this study.  Father, we know there are areas in our lives that we need to surrender to You. We have made the decision to lay down our control and ask You to manage our lives. Heal our hurts, help us to walk away from those past issues.  Lord, as we continue this weekend in preparation to learn about Your hope, fill us with Your love, let Your healing rain wash over our lives.  You are an amazing God and we love You.  We give all the glory and honor to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Assignment: 

How do you think admitting you are powerless will help you?  Share one of the statements or areas in the book or blog that helped you through this week. 

If you are interested in joining us for this Online Bible Study, and becoming a member of our online discussion group, please click HERE to sign up. Once you are registered, we will email you further details.

If you would like to send a private message to Laurie in regards to this blog, please email her at: Laurie@girlfriendscoffeehour.com 


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Life’s Healing Choices – The Cause of Our Problems

January 7, 2013 by

Isaiah 43_18

When I was in the alternative lifestyle, my life was like a yo-yo.  I knew I was wrong, however chose to continue.  Then one day I would realize I needed to change and would say to myself, ‘okay, this is it.  I am don’t need this anymore.’ I would walk away on my own, thinking I was strong, only to fall right back due to a bad day.  1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”  That is exactly what I would do, I would rely on myself and fall flat on my face. I would think it was all okay because I kept everything private. As long as no one got hurt, right?  Wrong – this went on for years. In-out-in-out… the whole time I was thinking as long as I go to church, believe and don’t hurt others all is good.  Go ahead, ‘eat that fruit.’

One time I tried going to church more – look the part. I would get to know people, let them see my compassionate, ‘christian’ side before I told them the truth.  I was miserable, but I didn’t want any help. Afterall, I am a social worker, I can counsel anyone, so why would I need counseling.  I was a single mom, working full-time, going to school, raising my son and taking care of my brother – I didn’t have time to slow down and look at my own problems. I had become so accustomed to my life, my behavior became who I was.  I was afraid to find out who I really was… I didn’t deserve any better. I was in denial.

Whether we have been hurt or have hurt others, used alcohol or drugs to get through the day, eaten our way through stressful situations, lied to stay out of trouble or had a sexual addiction to comfort ourselves, God is always willing to give us the strength to ‘Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past,’ Isaiah 43:18.  The start of our journey is to admit we are not God.  That we have NO power to change to do the right thing without Him.  Are you ready to get this journey started?

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for every woman who has begun this study.  Thank You that in our weaknesses, You are made strong.  It is hard to let go of our past comforts – help us to not let go of Your hand as You guide us down this path of recovery. Give us the courage to admit and realize that without You we cannot make these changes. We pray for peace, trust and the knowledge that You will be there through it all – we just need to ask. Thank You Father and bless each one here today, in Jesus’ precious name we pray – Amen.

Assignment:

It isn’t easy to change habits, hurts or struggles, even if they are bad habits.  Is there a hurt you are hanging onto? What are you afraid to change? Bring your discussions to the table.

IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM, A SECRET FACEBOOK GROUP IS AVAILABLE TO YOU TO HELP YOU DIG DEEPER INTO THIS STUDY.  For more information, please visit us HERE, and sign up for this study.  Once we receive your request, we will email you further instructions.

If you are interested in emailing Laurie in regards to this blog, please send it to:  Laurie@girlfriendscoffeehour.com.

 

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GCH_VH “Life’s Healing Choices” Gear Up!

January 4, 2013 by

Goodbye, 2012!

Hello, 2013!

We, at GCH, are so excited about our new online Bible study ministry – GCH:Victorious Healing! Our first online study begins with “Life’s Healing Choices” by John Baker. We will take a close look at our hurts, habits or hang ups (HHH) and realize that God wants us to turn them over to Him – no matter how BIG they may see to us.

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Between the four of us bloggers here at GCH:VH, we have seen marriages & divorces, welcomed children, shared recovery stories, laughed at the personality quirks, and planned great things for each of you. We know what it’s like to raise children, care for family members, struggle with finances, and argue with anxiety. We come from different parts of our country: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee & Ohio. Our stories are varied, but one thing is consistent … we wouldn’t be where we are today with our God’s divine work in our lives.

Each of us brings our own level of enthusiasm & excitement for this study. Here’s what your some of the team has to say about the “Life’s Healing Choices” study.

I am so excited that you have decided to join us on the journey. God is so ready to heal our brokenness and give us the freedom to praise and worship Him – then take this news and testimony to others. But first we have to come together, lay down those hurts and habits and encourage one another. Through this study we will pray together, write about our HHH and share what God is doing in our lives. This awesome group of women will become your encourage, accountability and sisters. Welcome to each one of you. (Laurie)

Once out of rehab while in outpatient hospitalization, I went to AA for 8 months. It was good for me to go to a meeting everyday to keep my mind off of myself and out of the house. However, I had a very bad experience there. Also, it didn’t help matters I wasn’t ready to accept it was my life choices that brought me to where I was in my life. It was so much easier to blame others in life who had hurt me and using my mental illness as an excuse for my behavior. My pastor suggested Celebrate Recovery and by this time I was determined to work on myself and accept responsibility. I went there for a few months, went to therapy once a week, got involved in serving and in my small group, and dove into my Bible. About 6 months later a spot opened up at C.R. to begin the Life’s Healing Choices study. It would be a commitment 1x week for 2 hrs on Wed nights. Honestly I was doing so well, but I was afraid to reveal those hurts again. When I received my book and study guide I would feel so anxious trying to read. The book brought up hurtful emotions and also memories associated with AA. I hid those books for about 1 1/2 years. Through a friend, God told her to tell me about GCH. After the decision was made to add me to the blogging team, I learned what book we’d be studying. Who knew it would be the one I have been running from! I think God is telling me I can do this, I’m stronger and ready! So here I am. I am ready because I know God wants me to and He has confidence in me that I can and this time I’m not afraid because I know He is with me. I love how He does cool stuff like this! (Leslie)

When I first spoke with Laurie & Christi about this study, I questioned “why me?” My story & life experiences didn’t stack up to those I felt were more qualified to lead this study. I have never done drugs, or abused alcohol. So why did I need “recovery”? Through prayer, reading and pondering, I realized that God could still use me. He also revealed that I did have hurts, addictions, and so much baggage to overcome. It may not have looked like what other’s carried with them, but it was still mine and no amount of pushing it aside would make it go away. I am thrilled beyond words to be standing with Laurie, Kim & Leslie for this study. I’m excited about what God has in store for each of us. I know that my life has a purpose, all the good, bad and ugly of it. (Amy)

This study is going to be amazing; to continue the healing He started a few years back. Celebrate recovery will now be a part of my everyday quiet time with Him and His Spirit will permeate every fiber of my being. And to join each one of you is the icing on the cake!!!! This is where it all begins! (Kim)

Things you will need for the study:
The book, “Life’s Healing Choices” by John Baker (click HERE to purchase,  Your purchase here, helps our ministry financially.)

Highlighter

Journal or notebook

On Sunday, January 6, we will post our outline for the week. You can also find the study schedule under the “Schedule” tab at the top of this page. Each day, you will have the opportunity to be encouraged by one of our team bloggers, share your own thoughts, and grow closer to God. If you are not comfortable sharing your thoughts here in this OPEN FORUM, we do have a Secret Facebook set up to help you dig deeper into this study.  If you would like to join that Facebook Group, please click HERE to sign up.  You will be given further details, once your register.

We’re so happy to have you with us and look forward to the journey He has planned for each of us!

God bless you!

The GCH:VH Ministry Team

Life's Healing Choices<br /> by John Baker

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Introducing Laurie Ellis: Victorious Healing Ministry Leader

October 27, 2012 by

 

I grew up in a middle class family, the youngest of four children. I had to try to ‘measure up’ to my siblings (2 sisters and 1 brother).  My dad was military so I spent many days trying to meet his expectations. To this day I cannot remember a time I met those expectations. My mom was a stay at home mom due to responsibilities of my brother – who has developmental challenges. She was the peacemaker in our family. We grew up in church; however I did not really know God.  James 2:19 states, ‘ you believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.’ You see, I did believe in Him, but had not received Him as my Lord and Savior.

When I was 12- (a very impressionable age for girls), I was very active in sports at school. As I spent more time at school, my PE teacher began paying more attention to me – this was my first encounter attaching to a female.  I remember wanting to be around this teacher, yet knowing it was not right for her to be interested.  So, for the next 6 years, I tried everything to ‘fit in’ with my friends.  If they wanted to go out drinking, I would – if they were hanging around guys – I would. At home though I would keep my grades up – you see I was playing both worlds.

At the age of 19 I became actively involved in the gay lifestyle. It was at this time my family found out of my ‘hidden life.’ My dad told me to leave and I was no longer his daughter – that I had ruined the family name. For the next 3 years we did not speak – avoiding each other every time we saw each other in town. My family searched for help at this time – they joined a Full Gospel Church in town and began talking with me. I knew God was tugging on me, but I was not buying into it completely. I would go to church and feel great, trying to follow what I thought God wanted – then I would go home and would fall.  One night I went to church with my mom and decided I would try this ‘Jesus thing.’ I actually felt good about it, but again it was surface, as I continued living the lifestyle. Six years later, my mom passed away suddenly.

At this time I was sincerely trying to get out of the gay lifestyle. I met a ‘charming’ man at my mom’s funeral – married him 6 weeks later with my family’s blessings. Everyone thought this would ‘fix’ me. My marriage became a battleground – I left after a short time, seeking love I had not received and fell back into a lesbian relationship. What next? I found out I was pregnant.  My son, now 21, is the blessing God had planned for me through this marriage. Things were going well at this time – or so I thought. My ex-husband obtained custody of my son. You would think all of this would make me think – but this just made me more set on doing my ‘own thing.’

My life now became survival of the fittest and I was going to conquer the world. I completed my Masters Degree, got a good job, nice house, friends, and was involved in a long relationship. I had won right? Wrong – I still had no communication with my family, my dad had passed away, I had no relationship with God, lost custody of my son and was alienating myself from my friends due to the shame of the relationships I was in. As if life wasn’t enough, a friend of mine asked if I would adopt her grandson. Sure, why not? How could adding one more thing change anything?

My son is now 11 years old and the 2ndbiggest blessing of my life. It was about this time I started going to church – for my boys. Every Sunday the message was for me – ever been there? The more I went to church, the more miserable my life became at home – ever been there? At that time, I began going to a cell group at church – we were studying John Baker’s Life’s Healing Choices.

During my times of reading, God took me to Romans 1:26-28, ‘God gave the women over to shameful lusts. They exchanged the natural for the unnatural.’ Vs. 28 states furthermore ‘since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a debased mind.’  Then Luke 11:23 – He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.  Romans 2:8-9 to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish on every soul… God was telling me I could no longer ride the fence. I had to trust Him with ALL my heart. I knew at that moment I could no longer live the gay lifestyle.

I continued studying His word. The more committed I became – He started taking me to many passages on His love and grace. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 speaks first of those who are unrighteous not inheriting the kingdom of God. But the grace comes in vs. 11 “and such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Psalm 103:11-13 states “for as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Then, Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

How awesome is our God that even when we were causing His heart to hurt, He sent His only son to die for us? I stand amazed daily at how He has transformed my life from confusion to peace – from sin to salvation – from knowing of God to truly knowing God. Exactly two weeks after total surrender to God, I received a call from my doctor. I was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical and uterine cancer and needed immediate surgery.  Prior to surgery, my doctor informed me I would need to follow up with chemo and radiation.  I came through the surgery well and received another call from my surgeon two weeks later – all tests came back negative.  I would not need follow-up chemo or radiation – God had healed my cancer. Praise God!!

Two years ago, after moving myself away from the environment and friends of my ‘old self’ – I came upon Celebrate Recovery. This is a Christian 12 step program based on the 8 Beatitudes and Jesus’ most famous sermon – Sermon on the Mount. Through these 12 steps and God’s grace, He has taken me full circle and placed me exactly where I needed to receive full Victory from the gay lifestyle.  Initially I felt heavy doses of shame and guilt. Immediately God took me to Isaiah 61:7 – Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.” Through Celebrate Recovery and ‘pressing on’ I have discovered I have no shame because of the grace of God, He has turned that into joy through my total surrender to Him.  I became involved in an ex-gay ministry and also lead women’s groups through Celebrate Recovery (doesn’t God have a sense of humor?).

God has taken me on an amazing journey. He is giving me freedom that can only come through His grace. When I now talk with people about coming out of homosexuality, the responses vary “I didn’t know you could get out of that,” or “Weren’t you born that way?” My response is always with God ALL things are possible. Do I still have trials or temptations, yes – Jesus said we would.  But John 16:33 “in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

You see, my identity is not in my past. My identity is now I am loved, valuable, precious, talented, gifted, capable, powerful, wise, redeemed and a child of the most High God. How do I know that? My Father, the Father of all creation told me so. Many people go around looking for miracles – take a look around, we are each a miracle.

God has taken me in my most sinful nature and by grace transformed me into a child of God.

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LaurieEllis

Laurie Ellis was raised in Southern Illinois. She is the youngest of four children.

Currently, she is a single mom of two sons, Elijah (21) and Dalton (11). They are the joys of her life. Along with her boys, her brother Roger lives with them.

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Following her divorce, she returned to college, obtaining her Bachelors in Social Work (1998) and then her Masters in Healthcare Administration in 2005.  She has spent over 25 years working in the healthcare field with youth, developmentally disabled and most recently in the geriatric population.
For the past two years, Laurie has spent time in Celebrate Recovery on the ministry T.E.A.M and Exchange (an ex-gay ministry) – leading several women’s groups.  She is grateful to be used by God to minister to women searching for recovery from various issues.

 

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If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, please email Laurie@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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