Podcasts about how to be better

What do we do when we find ourselves in a dark, hopeless and helpless place? Can change really happen even from the inside of a prison cell? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews Patrick as he shares part of his powerful story from hopelessness in prison to a life full of hope and purpose through Celebrate Recovery Inside and, now, outside. Patrick is a part of Calvary Christian Church in Lynnfield, MA, where Celebrate Recovery meets on Tuesdays at 6:30pm. Childcare provided. Be sure to visit him and his local CR!

One of the most lethal ways the enemy might sabotage our recovery is through isolation. But what are some of the specific ways we isolate and what are the costs? How can we be harmed through isolation? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack the ways that isolation can cost us and keep us from living the newfound life in Christ as we celebrate our recovery.

Medications can sometimes be necessary for overall health, and we should never shame one another for this. Sometimes it can be a necessity for many people struggling with a variety of different mental health and physical complications and struggles in their lives. Consulting and following a doctor's recommendations - along with listening to and knowing your own body is an essential part of our journey. But what do you do when your body is saying it's time to move away from medication? In this episode we will hear from Keith as he takes us through his own journey of moving away from benzos (a common shorthand for benzodiazepines). Listen in as Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews Keith about his life-change story and journey through detox and recovery from benzos.

In today's episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, continues his discussion with Andy regarding the different tactics the enemy uses to try to sabotage our recovery through our relationships. Part 2 of this series takes us deeper into how we can be more aware of the enemy's schemes and how to combat them with Jesus' power.

The enemy can be deceiving and very sneaky in finding different ways to try to sabotage our recovery. It's interesting and scary to think about how the enemy might scheme to get us off track from the health and growth of our recovery process through a variety of different means. We're beginning a series talking about different ways the enemy might try to do this. In today's episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, visits with Andy on different tactics of the enemy we need to be aware of and how we can combat them in God's power.

What is the purpose behind Step 3 & Principle 3? Coming to this place of "making a decision" or consciously choosing to commit all of our life to His care and control is a life-changing step for all of us. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews a brother in Christ, Andy, to hear the direct impact of applying this important step of the process to our heart and life. What is the fruit that can come from applying this principle and step to our recovery journey? You'll discover the answer as you hear's Andy's story.

So, I've had a spiritual experience. Now what? Are Principle 8 and Step 12 just as critical as the other 11 Steps and 7 Principles in the recovery journey? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, walks us through answering the question, “Why should I work these principles?” Is it “busy work” or far more important than we think?

Is working these Steps just a bunch of busy work? Why should we live out and practice Step 11 and Principle 7 of the recovery journey? In this episode Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through some important reasons why this Step and Principle are so essential to the recovery process in Celebrate Recovery.

We continue our series answering the question, “Why should I carry out these Principles and Steps?” Step 10 is such a vital part of the recovery journey. It blends beautifully with Principle 7 to help us build and grow some roots to help keep us from going back to what we came from. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through some important reasons why we should carry out this important Step and Principle of recovery.

In Step 8, we made a list. Now, in Step 9, we move into carrying out amends through direct communication with those who we've offended and we learn how to forgive and walk in grace toward those who have offended us. Why in the world would we want to carry out this important step? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrity Recovery, walks us through some important reasons why we need to carry out this important part of the recovery journey.

As we work principle 6 and step 8, one of the hardest parts of the recovery process is leaning into the space of grace through forgiveness and making amends. But one of the greatest keys to sustainable recovery and growth is the application and living out of this important part of the recovery journey. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews a sister in Christ, Renee. She shares an important part of her story and how this principle and step became life-changing and life-giving for her.

This step is perhaps one of the scariest parts of the recovery journey. It can honestly feel like too much to face on our own. So, why should we practice Step 8 and Principle 6 in the recovery journey? Is it really worth it? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will give us reasons why we should carry out this important step and principle for sustainability and longevity in our recovery journey toward healing and freedom.

What does it look like to humbly ask God to help remove all of those shortcomings and character defects that may have been revealed through the recovery journey? Is there a purpose behind this important step, or is it just another part of the process to keep us busy? Why is this step essential toward the ongoing process of allowing God to purify us from all unrighteousness? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack Step 7, and give us the important reasons behind the “why” in working this step. 

As someone who has experienced Jesus Christ's transformative power, it's amazing to see the difference it makes in our life! But what do we do once we've experienced it? Is the journey over? Or, does God have a bigger plan in the process for our life in what He does with that freedom? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack this important topic regarding the things we need to be aware of as someone who has been set free, and the actions and tendencies that result in the life of someone who has experienced such an incredible gift.

How do we break generational dysfunction in our own family system? Are there things, mindsets, patterns, or habits that have been passed down to us that we have been repeating that we may be passing down to the next generation? Through Celebrate Recovery we have tools to face our family dysfunction and take responsibility for ultimately developing a new legacy and path toward freedom. Facing these things starts with us so that we can walk in true transformation and redemption through Christ. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through a great conversation around healing from family dysfunction toward healing.

Kareena first heard about Step 10 in Principle 7 and was full of fear. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will invite us into a life-change story interview with Kareena as she walks us through the process of moving her heart to a posture of vigilance and growing into an understanding of the necessity of working this step and principle for ongoing growth and health in her life and recovery.

We've done the hard work of Principles one through five, and now we come to the conclusion of identifying some of the character defects that may be keeping us from moving forward - fully and sustainably - toward healthy recovery. Working Step six & Principle five of Celebrate Recovery is a critical point in our journey. What does it look like to become entirely ready to remove those character defects? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will continue the conversation in answering the “why“ to working the Steps and Principles of Celebrate Recovery. 

As we walk this road to recovery, it is important to understand that the season we are in now will not last forever. God is doing something in us regardless of whether we see it or not. Learning how to organize and honor the season we are in - while holding onto hope for the bigger NEW season that God has in store for us - is so critical. In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, unpacks some of the differences between old and new seasons of recovery, and ultimately turns the corner on embracing and understanding the greater benefits of a new, purposeful season of recovery.

When we come to this part of the process where we admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs, it can be very scary and overwhelming. We've been answering the question, "Why would we ever do this?" In this podcast Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack this important topic to give us oxygen for carrying out this step along with principle 4 to move us forward to the “what” of the recovery process.

We've been exploring the "why behind the what" of working the steps in recovery. And it's always good to hear about someone's personal journey through this process. In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will explore one fellow struggler's experience of working Step 4 and the hope and healing that can be found through it.

Understanding the “why” behind step 4 and principle 4 is essential to facing this difficult and important step. Why would we openly examine and confess to someone we trust our own faults and the faults done to us? Why would we walk through the process of identifying our hurts, hangups, and habits? It's not an easy step, but it's so worth it. In this podcast Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, walks us through understanding why this is such an important step as we tackle the lessons in Book 2 of the Celebrate Recovery curriculum.

All the steps of Celebrate Recovery are so crucial to our growth and healing. However, this principle and step are extremely critical to sustainable recovery and not just sobriety. When we can understand why we do the work in Lessons 5 and 6 of Celebrate Recovery where we apply step 3 - consciously choose to commit all our life and will to Christ's care and control - it gives us oxygen to do what comes afterward. Join Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, as he has an important conversation around principle 3 and step 3 of Celebrate Recovery.

Having worked Principle 1 and Step 1, the next part of the journey is moving into Principle 2. When we can embrace the fact that we matter to God and He has the power to help us recovery, everything changes! Understanding the value of this principle and step is essential to building momentum and strength for what comes next in the process. Join Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, as he continues this conversation - guiding us through the wisdom behind walking through these CR lessons and principles toward healing.

In the Celebrate Recovery process, we walk through some core lessons that are attached to some essential principles of recovery. This can be so life-changing. Is there value in answering the questions and working through these lessons? Why does it take so long? Am I wasting my time? Is this just a way to fill up my time? Great questions! In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through the “why” to working principle one and step one of Celebrate Recovery towards healing and freedom. Understanding the “why” can lead to great oxygen to carry out the “what” - which is the recovery process.

One of the Celebrate Recovery curriculum lessons asks an important question: What does living one day at a time mean to you? In this episode Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field, Director of Celebrate Recovery, unpacks this important topic as he challenges us to consider what a "living one day at a time" mentality looks like?

Sometimes the holidays can be difficult as we navigate staying on the road to recovery while facing the outside distractions and challenges that the enemy tries to use to take us out. What are some ways that we can enter into this holiday season to struggle well and actually grow through the season and come out better for it? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through some thoughts and tips as we learn how to cling to Jesus and His promises to give us hope and renewal during the holiday season.

What does it look like to invite Jesus into our recovery process? In this Part 2 episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, continues the conversation around some practical steps we can take to invite Jesus into our recovery process and the fruit we can expect from that very important life decision.

In Celebrate Recovery we understand that Jesus has to be the center of our recovery. But what does it look like practically to invite Jesus into our recovery process, and what is the fruit of that choice - whether we're just starting out or already on our recovery journey? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, begins to unpack this important topic.

Perseverance can be one of the most challenging things for us to develop, but also one of the most critical for sustainability in staying on the road to recovery. What are some practical things that we can process and apply to our lives as we explore the possibilities of strengthening our perseverance? How do we persevere as we continue our journey of healing and freedom? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will give some important nuggets to chew on and journal out as we share with our sponsor and accountability team to help grow us and strengthen our perseverance.

One of the greatest gifts we can receive in recovery is the undeserved gift we call "grace." But sometimes it can be difficult to accept grace and walk in it on our road to recovery. What does it look like to give yourself some grace? How can grace impact us personally? In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, visits with a fellow Celebrate Recovery leader, Izzy, to hear her heart regarding how grace has impacted her personally & the different facets of grace in her life.

The road to recovery can be difficult - especially when dealing with shame. How do we face it head-on so we don't stay stuck? What are some practical things to consider? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will discuss some ways that we can combat shame to move forward on the recovery journey.

Shame is such a lethal part of the process of keeping us stuck in recovery. Understanding how shame plays a role in keeping us stuck is critical so that we can move forward in health and growth. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, unpacks some of those indicators and some things to be aware of with shame.

We continue the conversation around creative ways to use new tools to get the word out about Celebrate Recovery. In this episode Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, continues the conversation with Shannon - exploring ways leaders can level up their ministries to make life easier and creative ways to help in the day-to-day operations of running the ministry.

We all know that Celebrate Recovery is a life-changing ministry. In today's changing world there are new tools that can help us be more effective in getting the word out about this ministry so that more people can experience healing from their hurts, hang-ups, and habits. What are some creative ways that we can use tools like AI and ChatGPT to be more effective in encouraging those who walk through our front door of Celebrate Recovery? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, visits with a local Celebrate Recovery leader who serves on their communications team. She shares some creative ideas to help get the word out effectively about CR.

We continue our focus on "body image struggles" with Part 2 of our discussion with Josh and Julia who share their stories of hope and freedom. In this episode we will hear some of the greatest lessons that they have learned as they worked the Celebrate Recovery principles and learned to struggle well with this area of recovery.  Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, wraps up this conversation filled with hope and encouraging discussion. 

Life-change stories are so important to give us hope and encouragement as we walk the road to recovery. In this episode Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, talks with two guests, Josh and Julia, about struggling with body image and what recovery can look like as we face it with Christ's power. As you will hear, this is not a gender-specific struggle. Listen in as Josh and Julia share some of the costs that they discovered in their struggles with body image and what it looks like to move forward in recovery.

In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will continue the conversation around body image and lean more specifically into the greater costs of avoiding this area of recovery. Is there hope in this area of recovery and struggle? What does the path toward healing look like as we accept the struggle for what it is, and move forward?

What does it look like to struggle with body image, and what are some of the characteristics that we might develop?  In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack and discuss some of those characteristics that we can develop around this struggle, and help us understand how to move toward a path of healing.

In a previous podcast, Rodney had an important conversation around food and pointed out some of the indicators that may reveal that we've been struggling. In this week's podcast we get to hear a portion of one of our sister's testimony as she lets us into her struggles with food issues and how it connects to some other struggles in her life. Her journey brings so much hope as it ultimately leads to healing and life change. Listen in as Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews Tyra.

Food can be one of the greatest challenges that we face in life because it's something that we all require to survive. But what are some of the characteristics that we develop that can be indicators that we have fallen into an unhealthy relationship with food or even with our own body and weight? Today, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack some of those characteristics that we can be mindful of and ultimately face - just like we do any other hurt, hang-up, or habit in our lives as we move toward healing and freedom on our road to recovery.

Sometimes fear can be crippling and keep us from doing the necessary things toward change. But, is all fear bad as it relates to our recovery journey? An interesting topic to unpack together as we face fear on our road to recovery. In this episode Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, unpacks this topic and gives us practical tools to face our fears with confidence as we move forward.

If we're being honest, we could never stop talking about codependency. What are some of the characteristics that we develop in this arena? How do we confuse this with healthy bonds and secure attachment, and what are the differences? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will continue the conversation around this important topic to help us grow in recovery from codependency.

The scriptures are such great reminders for us of how life's struggles can be so familiar, but also giving us understanding of how overwhelming those struggles can be at times too. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will look through the lens of Elijah in First Kings 19, to remind us that God is big enough to speak truthfully and honestly when we feel like we've had enough, and to ultimately help us find the right remedy to grow our faith and keep going strong in life.

Sometimes in life we can evaluate the things that God has called us to do in our daily rhythms and get confused about what is "good" versus what is "best." In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack a very familiar passage in the book of Mark, and explore how being "on mission" can sometimes require being flexible and shifting to be present and engaged with those God puts in our path.

In recovery, there can be some barriers that keep us from walking the path of healing and growth toward change in our life. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will help us understand why self-awareness and accountability are such essential parts of the healing and growth process, and how a lack of those two things can become a barrier in our life.

Pastor support is so critical to the life of a local CR. There's something incredibly refreshing when we get to hear the heart and passion of a local pastor for the ministry of Celebrate Recovery. In this episode, listen in as Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews a pastor - Brian Trent - a.k.a. Trent Tribe, at Lighthouse Church in South Carolina. He has an incredible heart for the Lord, Celebrate Recovery, and helping people find freedom from their hurts, hang-ups and habits.

In this part 2 episode, we continue the conversation with Patrick - hearing how God turned everything around in his life as he surrendered to his true, one and only Higher Power, Jesus Christ. There is hope for us when we surrender to Him and trust the process. Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, finishes this great conversation with Patrick to give us all hope on our road to recovery.

What does it look like to live a life in hiding and deception with a mountain full of addictions that feel and become unbearable. Sometimes in our mess it can feel unbearable - as if there's no hope or light at the end of the tunnel. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews a brother in Christ to hear his hope story of how Jesus met him in his pit to lead him to a new life and purpose.

Sometimes it can be confusing when we get into the conversation around addictions. What's the difference between a substance or behavioral addiction? Things like Gambling, Shopping, Food, Gaming, Screen Time, and more. What are some things that I need to be aware of and, ultimately, what is the path toward healing? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack a healthy conversation to help us in our understanding of the topic around substance, behavioral or process addictions.

In this episode we will continue the conversation on practical steps we can take to walk victoriously - all the while knowing Jesus Christ is the source of our power and strength - one moment at a time. What are some things that we can be thinking about to help us change our mindset from victims to victors? Join Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, as he  continues the conversation around this important topic.