“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11

Well another year has gone by and another year of CR Mondays prayed for and written. I have been writing these messages since 2006, sent out every Monday; whether I felt like writing them or not; whether I had anything to say or not. Why? Because Jesus told me to. The purpose of these messages is to inform, uplift, encourage, and share recovery principles to help new people and old timers alike, and to give people who have never been to CR an inside look into recovery. As this weekly discipline continues I have long since gotten past the idea of trying to impress anyone, look for accolades, or think this is all about me. The direction that God gives me is that this is about you. I have no formal training as a writer (I’m sure that is obvious), in fact I really don’t like to write, but here I am writing another message. I find truth in the saying that God will do for me what I can’t do for myself. God has turned the fear I once had of writing into a discipline with a purpose. I just had to answer the call, fearful or not, and start. That is true with most things that are of God, sooner or later you just have to start somewhere; a surrender here, an act of faith there, say “yes” to Jesus and he will meet you right where you are. This time of year I add a full inventory to my journaling, reviewing the year to see all that has transpired. I know in my head what has gone on, but a written inventory sees life more clearly; victories and challenges, good times and tough times, amends and forgiveness, growth and what needs to grow, and where I need to go. I do this with Jesus, and I share it with God and trusted people in my life. I do this not because it’s easy, but because it works. Experience tells me that journaling is another form of talking with God, prayer, if you like—it is vital for my Christian walk; it’s where joy finds a place in my heart. A quote from Dallas Willard: “Joy is not pleasure or a mere sensation, but a pervasive and constant sense of well-being. Hope in the goodness of God is joy’s indispensable support.” We all need to grow in some area of our life. What hurt, habit, or hang-up will you ask Jesus to help you with today, this week, in the New Year? Dana Cramer // Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads