On May 3, 2008, the men of Celebrate Recovery went on their monthly hike in God’s great outdoors.   The trail of the month was the C&O Canal trail from Big Pool to Fort Frederick.   We enjoyed the beautiful weather, the many turtles sunning themselves, and especially the camaraderie. 

 One unique feature of this hike was a teaching on the importance of receiving words of affirmation and blessing from your father (your earthly dad).   Everyone needs to hear positive words, like “I believe in you,” “you’re a great kid,”  “good job,” etc.   We heard about the importance of a blessing in the Bible and how disappointed Esau was when Jacob “stole” the blessing from their father that was rightfully his.   It must have been hard to grow up in a dysfunctional family where parents (Isaac and Rebekah) were playing favorites.   Young men (and women) long for acceptance, and when they don’t get it from their fathers, they search elsewhere.   Intimacy is difficult so marriages suffer.  Regretfully, many of our fathers never received a blessing from THEIR fathers – they may have even received a curse.   But GOD, the perfect father, wants to turn any curse into a blessing.   He wants to fully adopt us as a SON (Ephesians 1:5).   He values us and searches us out (Matthew 18:12-14).  He wants to bless us and His blessing is worth much more than any from our earthly father (Psalm 91).

 Following the teaching, each man was offered the opportunity to receive a blessing from God, by walking up the nearby hill, and being anointed with oil and prayed for by three of the Celebrate Recovery leaders.   Many received prophetic words.   All received words of affirmation and blessing.  One even received a new name from the Lord.  

 The special time together concluded with each man receiving the blessing (from Psalm 1:3):  (Jim) “will be like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in its season; its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers.”