The fellowship building was packed. People just kept pouring in. Thoughts raced through my mind. “Would we have enough food? Could our childcare workers manage all the children? Help us, Lord!”

Like the disciples must have felt when Jesus told them to feed the 5,000, I was a little shaken, but the Lord provided! The meal was a success.

Then everyone moved to the worship center to praise the Lord. It was the 13^th birthday celebration for Trading Ford Baptist Church’s Celebrate Recovery ministry. Excitement was in the air as our band began to play. Songs like Beautiful One and Same Power welcomed the people as the entered the sanctuary.

And then the service began. The walls seemed to shake and the Holy Spirit’s power seemed palpable as He inhabited the praises of his people as they sang Chain Breaker and God with Us. It was breath taking!

Our speaker Ernie Holland shared how the Lord had rescued him from years of addiction to drugs and alcohol and raised him up out of the slimy pity of despair to become the Celebrate Recovery pastor at Catawba Heights Baptist Church in Belmont and the North Carolina State Rep for CR Inside, the prison arm of Celebrate Recovery.

As Jeff Luckadoo* touched hearts with the song Thank You, we recognized almost 30 servants who are truly the Lord’s hands and feet–our pastor Mike Motley, Prayer Warriors, AV Techies, Celebration Place and Landing workers (children and teen ministries), Kitchen Crew, Small Group Facilitators, Ministry Team, Band and Worship Leaders, etc.; but it was the Lord we were ultimately praising. Without Him, the ministry would never have existed—much less thrived.  The very fact that Celebrate Recovery has existed 13 years at a church on a dead-end road in rural Rowan County is a miracle! Only God could have enabled that to happen.

Finally, the band took the stage again for a final song. The crowd roared to the song Glorious Day (Passion) by Christian Stanfield.

It reminded me of scenes from the scripture:

“And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.” (1 Kings 1:40 NLT)

“After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”

That’s what we were—filled with the Holy Spirit. Hands waving, people clapping! It was a magnificent time of worship.

 In fact, I really don’t believe there is a more joyful group of Christians anywhere than those who have been healed by the power of Jesus Christ from their hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Just check out Christian Stanfield’s video if you want to see what I mean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfzpfqrPUDo.

The lyrics below tell it all:

[Verse 1]
I was buried beneath my shame
Who could carry that kind of weight
It was my tomb
Till I met You

[Verse 2]
I was breathing, but not alive
All my failures I tried to hide
It was my tomb
Till I met You

[Chorus]
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day

[Verse 3]
Now Your mercy has saved my soul
Now Your freedom is all I know
The old made new
Jesus, when I met You

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
I needed rescue
My sin was heavy
But chains break at the weight of Your glory
I needed shelter
I was an orphan
But You call me a citizen of heaven
When I was broken
You were my healing
Your love is the air that I’m breathing
I have a future
My eyes are open

[Chorus]
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day.

What about you? Has the Lord rescued you from your hurts, your bad habits, or your hang-ups? If so, I’d love to hear from you. After all, He tells us repeatedly in His Word to bear testimony of His healing power.

Thanks for reading and responding.

‘May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
    and give you his peace.’ (Numbers 6:24-26 NLT)

PS

What a precious Mother’s Day gift to have all three of my sons–Jeff, Jon, and Joe, along with daughter-in-law Kandee–sing at this special occasion. Check out the guys and me on our family vacation to the Ark. Great trip. (I’m the dumpy one in front.)

* A video of Jeff singing Thank You by Ray Boltz can be viewed on youtube at this address. If you are serving in any type of ministry, I pray it will bless you. Thank you for your service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G77OnMKNl2E