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

 

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 

Encourager Coaches, SHARE WITH CAUTION!

The Celebrate Recovery One Day Seminar in Rochester, Minnesota was awesome!  The Seven Keys Seminar was well attended, as was the Advanced Leadership tract. Several State Reps. from nearby States were in attendance, connecting with ministry leaders from their regions! Thanks to the Autumn Ridge team who helped make it so successful! 

Today, I want to revisit a familiar topic once again.  As mentioned before, Facebook is a great social tool for connecting with family and friends. Personally, I have recently located a high school buddy that I have not seen or heard from since graduation.  What fun! 

In regards to Celebrate Recovery, we must use caution in our sharing. Occasionally, I love to make a brief statement on my Facebook page about returning from a CR meeting and let everyone know it was a terrific meeting. I AM NOT FREE to say who I saw or what was shared in the meeting. That would be breaking confidentiality and anonymity. In addition, I would break copy right laws to share the lesson taught during the meeting on the web.  The CR material is copyrighted.  

What can I share?????? I can share about me.  I can share my growth, my story, my breakthroughs, my life.  Remember the first guideline?  I love the phrase  "What is shared in the group stays in the group". That includes the large group meeting too!

Jim mentioned in his blog last week that cameras do not belong in a CR meeting, even the Large Group Meeting.  To take photos is breaking confidentiality and anonymity. Remember I am not free to say or SHOW who I saw or or what was shared in the meeting. Let's guard the safety of our meetings!

As Encourager Coaches, we want to keep our leaders and attendees from any unnecessary harm.  Let's keep our meetings safe!  It is a number one priority!

Bless you,

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  

Make the Most of Your Moments with Celebrate Recovery Leaders

Jim and I just returned from a wonderful Celebrate Recovery One Day Conference at Christ's Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Many thanks to those who hosted us and to the many who labored in love with us to make this conference a success!

Everywhere the CR team goes, we find time to enjoy those little moments we have together and with the CR Leaders who host us! I have never been with a group who can cram so much activity into just three days. We work hard, but find time to enjoy some time together.

In my last blog, I shared the idea of a cupcake party. Have you noticed more cupcake shops in your area? I was inspired to buy cupcakes for Valentine's Day presents. Yum!

My latest new experience was a fudge tasting party. One of our team members purchased four different varieties of fudge from a local shop and declared a party. Tasting the varieties of fudge became the closing fanfare after a very long day! Have you ever witnessed the unveiling of a new car, a new outfit being modeled? Well, there was the fanfare of the fudge unveiling. Some fudge, a cup of tea or coffee, and lots of conversation resulted in a relaxing fellowship time!

You know what? Life is serious and sometimes very hard. Find time to laugh and enjoy those little moments with others. It helps to keep life balanced!

Be blessed in this day and don't forget to smile!

Paula