This past weekend on what was one of the best CCF family vacations I have ever been apart of in 7 years we had the pleasure of hosting Dan Cole (best looking worship leader I know) and Craig Portwood (dynamic youth pastor extraordinaire) for the weekend. Typically when you go to a conference or a retreat you tend to “sell it” with the names of the speaker and worship leader but that has never been the case at CCF. The biggest selling points are the past ones, the people and the topic. This year’s retreat will be forever remembered for me by the people that are around me. From the staff of Nathan Uy and Kelsie Newman to the kitchen team of Kyle and Shannon Gower Winter, Matt Heimann, and Greg and Janine Garner with Jimmy Shane and Michael to the 75 plus CCFers on the trip. Those people are what made this trip so amazing. Having so many guests in the kitchen and on the stage just gave me a chance to brag about what God has done in the lives of so many CCFers. Having guests allows me to really look at where the kids are now and celebrate how far God has brought them since we first met them. This bragging on kids reminds me of Paul where he talks about the different churches faithfulness, zeal and growth. This bragging on what God has done in so many lives was not only an encouragement to me but also to the guest on the weekend with us. The icing on the cake though is the encouragement it brings to the kids you are bragging about. So if you are feeling down or just haven’t done much celebrating lately take some time to look at the people around you and brag a little on what God has done in their lives. I know for me that this weekend was a breath of encouragement and excitement for what God has done and will do.
That’s a good word. Too often I think we don’t adequately celebrate what God has done and is doing.