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

Meeting Other Celebrate Recovery Encourager Coaches

This past weekend, the First Church of the Nazarene, in Nampa, Idaho, hosted a Celebrate Recovery One Day Seminar.  Many thanks to Barry and Eunice Lucas and to their team of leaders who helped make it a success!

I love meeting Encourager Coaches who are attending the One Days. In Nampa, I was able to visit with several enthusiastic Encourager Coaches from the Northwest who were eager to network and learn more about this important position on the T.E.A.M.  Of course, I told them about this blog and encouraged them to read the two years worth of information found here, as a resource.

One of the greatest networking opportunities is just ahead of us.  The Summit, in August, will be an excellent time to meet and get to know other CR Encourager Coaches.  There will be plenty of opportunities to connect with other E coaches and exchange ideas and information, as well as learn more about the role you play on the T.E.A.M. Come join us for this exciting CR experience.

Be sure to reserve your seat quickly because the Summit is filling up quickly. Two thirds of the seats are already reserved. Don't miss out on this special time together.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Blessings,

Paula 

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  

The Celebrate Recovery Encourager Coach

I spent this weekend at the Celebrate Recovery One Day Seminar in the New Orleans area, in Metarie, Louisiana.  Many thanks to Celebration Church and to our Church Host, Ruth.  Ruth has now hosted a One Day Seminar for five years in a row. What a trooper!

During the One Day Conference on Saturday, a woman, who is the Encourager Coach on a local T.E.A.M., approached me.  She was wondering what she should be doing in her position. We talked about the fact that she seems to be "wired" for the position, or a natural fit. As we visited, she shared that she had been encouraging the leaders in her local ministry with cards and scriptures. Good job! She asked where she could get more information about the Encourager position. 

Located on this blog, in the archives, are Encourager Coach blogs, which have been saved over the last two years. In these blogs, you will find the Encourager Coach job description, along with many notes about your role in this very important position. You can even print them out and make a notebook, if you wish.  It is a valuable resource for your personal development in the role, for ideas for fellowship, and for clarification on many questions you may have. 

Also, please note that the Celebrate Recovery Summit in August is an excellent resource for the T.E.A.M. roles. Last year, we had over 300 Encourager Coaches and potential E Coaches gather together to share. What an awesome time!

Once again, feel free to send to send any other questions that you may have.  A comment resource is provided for you in the right hand column of this blog. John and I will try to answer pertinent questions in this blog as time allows. 

Happy printing! ........and keep on encouraging.

Bless you and your ministry,

Paula