The Power of a Thank You!

Summer has certainly hit us hard here in the South, with temperatures well over 100 degrees for the past week!  We can't seem to water the grass enough to keep it green and indoors is the preferable location to be most of the day. Daily, I find myself praying for rain for our drought stricken area and watching the skies for some dark clouds that might hold some drops of moisture.

But, something else has been on my mind these past few days. I have been prayerfully pondering gratitude and its effect on those around us! A simple "Thank You" is so powerful and so necessary! Is it a part of your daily vocabulary as an E Coach or Leader in Celebrate Recovery?

There are many places that the word THANKS can be used. It certainly is a vital part of our prayer life.  We should give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on a regular basis.  We have so much to be thankful for.  We are truly blessed. Thanking our God in prayer for even little things that he blesses us with will bless Him in return! I believe the scripture reads, In everything, give thanks!" (I Thes. 5:18) (NIV) One of my favorite songs says "Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks for what He's given - Jesus Christ."

Scripture also speaks of edifying the body of Christ in Ephesians 4:12. What can we do to build up the body of Christ, and more specifically our Celebrate Recovery Leaders? It begins with a simple "Thank You".  

Thank You helps a person feel recognized and appreciated.  It gives them and what they do value. It is not enough to feel appreciative towards others, but to express those sentiments is important!

Celebrate Recovery has had a lot of recent promotion about the "we get to" do this ministry, a powerful positive and motivating thought!  I want to be the first to say Thank You for doing what you do, wherever you are.  I THANK GOD that He has called you and set you apart for His good purposes. Be blessed in your ministry as you bless others with appreciation!

See you at the Summit!

Paula

 

Encouraging Assimilation

Last Saturday was the annual Clarksburg 10K and 2 mile run/walk held on the streets of our humble city.

I had decided some months before to use this event as an opportunity to raise funds for those wishing to attend this year’s Celebrate Recovery Summit. So, we made up some t-shirts, and handed out registration forms and pledge sheets to ALL those interested in taking on the challenge of the run/walk.

What a glorious morning it turned out to be. Our bright red shirts seemed to be everywhere. Many in our CR group, and many from outside our CR ministry took part in this cooperative experience. Even our ultra-supportive Pastor and his wife walked the two mile course with the silver letters emblazoned on the front of their shirts declaring “RUN FOR THE SUMMIT!” The race director approached him and asked about all these CR shirts he was seeing, and our Pastor gladly filled him in on the life-changing ministry of Celebrate Recovery.

We had a cookout back at the church later that afternoon where we thanked all those who participated, and handed out certificates for certain accomplishments earned during the race.

Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Church writes, “vision is the ability to see opportunities within your current circumstances.” As an encourager coach, it is vital not only to create events for fellowship, but to integrate fellowship into existing events within your church and community.

Working together with your Assimilation Coach, look at your church and community calendars to find avenues to include your Celebrate Recovery ministry in the mix of local events. Whether it is serving food monthly at your local Rescue Mission, or setting up a CR table at the county fair, these assimilating opportunities can also be some of the most encouraging fellowship events on your CR calendar.

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." (Col 4:5)

-john

You are my Hiding Place

Recently I got my girls their first "real" Bibles (that is their term for Bibles without pictures on every page). We have been working to memorize a portion of Scripture every week, and last night we came across a verse that has special meaning to me.

"You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7)

I told the girls that my mom was an amazing musician, and that she used to play and sing this Scripture in song with a passion and power that still brings tears to my eyes when I think of it. I receive such peace hearing these words, and voicing them myself in praise to He who is my Hiding Place.

I would encourage you to never under-emphasize your worship time in your Celebrate Recovery meetings.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4)

There may be no more effective method of encouragement than to offer your CR participants an opportunity to worship their Higher Power, Jesus Christ. There have been countless occasions when someone has shared in our open share groups that they walked into CR dragging only to be lifted out of their malaise by a sanctuary filled with thankful worshippers singing songs of praise to God.

I encourage you to not only start your CR group with songs of worship to your Lord and King, but make a joyful noise of thanksgiving this morning, and every morning he lends you breath...

"...weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. " (Psalm 30:5)

-john

Thanks To All Of The Celebrate Recovery State Reps For All That You Do!

This has been a season for Celebrate Recovery State Rep Regional Team Meetings.  The six different regions in the United States meet each Spring to learn, grow and fellowship together! Each area has scheduled a weekend to gather together for their annual meeting.

These meetings are inspirational as the State Reps share their lives and ministries with the others in their area of the country. There is a great deal of discussion as to how to better serve the Celebrate Recovery community as the ministry of Celebrate Recovery continues to grow and expand in our nation. 

Folks, the State Reps are volunteers with a passion for this ministry! They give of their time and talents and experience to advance the cause of Celebrate Recovery! They are there to help you grow and mature your ministry according to the model! 

During this busy season of regional meetings, the National Team would like to say "Thank You" to each State Rep for their time and service! You do an awesome job and your hard work daily increases and advances the cause of CR. Thank you for all you do!

Ministry Leaders, if you have never met or talked with your State Rep, please give them a call and let them know about you and your ministry! They would love to hear from you! If there is a scheduled Celebrate Recovery One Day Conference in your area, what a great time to meet Your State Rep! They will ALL be at the Summit in August! Regional tents are provided for connection time with the State Reps during this three day gathering!  

By the way, have you reserved your spot at the Summit? 

Have a blessed week!

Paula  

Facebook As A Means of Connecting

I am very excited today about the social connections being made because of Facebook. People of all ages are tapping into this social network to visit with family and friends, as well as friends and acquaintances made years ago! This network is also providing a means of connection for Celebrate Recovery and the many people involved all around the world. If you don't yet have a page, let me encourage you to start today!

Working with Facebook is not difficult. If you don't know how to get started, ask your teen or a friend or spouse to help you get going.

Before I share more about Facebook and its advantages, let me say that Facebook is a social network. It is not a place for deep sharing. In fact, I recommend that you place high security on all of your postings, even your pictures. There are several safety features available to the Facebook user. I don't connect with people I don't know. I simply ignore requests for friends from those I don't wish to connect with. I only let my connected friends see my comments, my photos and anything else I post. You are in control of your own page.

Now for the good stuff, the reason why I am so excited about Facebook. On your Facebook page, in the upper right corner, is a search box. As you enter Celebrate Recovery, you will find many Celebrate Recovery Facebook pages from all over the country.  Johnny Baker started a Celebrate Recovery National Facebook page for people in recovery to connect and share. Some have shared about their ministries and some have shared about their personal recoveries. Awesome! Several of the State Reps and Regional Directors have started pages for their area. Some pages are there for anyone to join and then some are closed, where you have to be approved to join, depending on the purpose of the page. It is exciting to see the connections that are being made around the country and even the globe!

People are hearing about Celebrate Recovery from Facebook and finding a meeting for the first time. I have heard accounts of people attending their first CR meeting because a friend or relative shared Celebrate Recovery via their Facebook page. I use my page to share when I have attended a great meeting or about a recent One Day Seminar I attended and how lives are being changed. I have been posting pictures and comments on the Celebrate Recovery One Day Conferences as I can. The possibilities are unlimited!

HOWEVER, I must also add that confidentiality and anonymity are just as important on Facebook as anywhere else. Please do not post private conversations or names and faces of those who have not given you permission to do so. Facebook needs to be kept social and safe for all concerned.

Have a blessed week!

Paula