Scott & Clare's Blog

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” 

~Dr.Seuss

Guest blogger` Evan Sharpley, CCM Youth Director http://www.ccmonline.org/evan_sharpley, http://www.facebook.com/Mr.Sharpley

But by the grace of God I am what I am…(1st Cor. 15:10 Midday Prayers below). We are only on this Earth for a short period of time. Each person strives to leave his/her mark in his/her own way. Everyone wants to get the perfect job, attain wealth, and be successful, but what I have learned in the short time I have lived is that it is not so much what we DO but WHO we are. I use the word “DO” in terms of accomplishments that the world sees as successful. Not everyone is going to become the president, hit the homerun in the world series to win the game, or discovery the cure to a disease. Those people might DO more than you in terms of worldly accomplishments, but WHO are they really? Are they good people? Do they have values? Morals? Character? Do their ACTIONS (not their accomplishments) match up with who they are? So next time you look at yourself in the mirror, ask yourself, “WHO AM I? WHAT WILL MY LEGACY BE BASED ON? WHO I AM AS A PERSON, NOT WHAT I HAVE DONE ACCORDING TO SOCIETY’S STANDARDS?” Take some time to ask yourself what makes you who you are. Appreciate God’s resurrecting power in your life and utilize it to become who He wants you to be because he “has put everything under his feet.” 1st. Cor 15:27 (click on Midday Prayers below)

Give In- to God’s resurrecting power

Give Up- “worldly” ideas of success

Give Out- God’s grace

Midday prayers click below

Today’s guest blogger:  Charles Theodorovich, Compassions Pastor  http://www.ccmonline.org/charles_theodorovich

“There is no such thing as public opinion, there is only published opinion.”  Winston Churchill

“If the freedom of religion, guaranteed to us by law in theory, can ever rise in practice under the overbearing inquisition of public opinion, then and only then will truth prevail over fanaticism.”   Thomas Jefferson

Trying to balance all of the elements of ‘doing life’ can at times be overwhelming. How many times have we thought “where is the answer to all of this?”  Matt.11:18 ( From Midday Prayers below) tells us when John the Baptist came on the scene preparing the arrival of Jesus people thought he was demon “possessed”- a radical, outspoken and crude. When Jesus came people found fault with him being too social; friendly with sinners.

In our quest for peace, love and a sound mind how do we find it? Do we listen to the voices of public opinion to find balance in our lives or do we listen to that still small voice within us-God our creator drawing us to the truth, to Jesus Christ, to a new way of life giving us what we need to face the challenges of each day? Jesus said it this way, “Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” (Matt 11:19 Msg).

Give up- listening to public opinion, going along with the crowd, emotional contagion

Give in- to what your heart and spirit may be speaking to you.

Give out- as Jesus did, love, grace and mercy to others and see the results…”try the pudding!”

mdp-monday-w5

We’ve invited a few of the staff at CCM to write on our blog.  You will be hearing from some of our best, brightest and dearest friends who are co-laboring with us in the work of God’s Kingdom.  Enjoy!   Today’s guest blogger:  Silvia Blossom – CCM Director of Human Resources, Pastoral Staff http://www.ccmonline.org/silvia_blossom

“We are not happy because we are unforgiving, and unforgiving because we feel superior to others.” -Carlo Carretto

Is there a situation of unforgiveness in your life (thus in your heart) that you just can’t go there? I have had several of those instances and wasted way too much time not wanting to go “there”.  In one of those scenarios I sought counsel from my mom…(My mom whom is just about to spend her first year in heaven) listened carefully as I crafted  my side of the story.  She sat listening intently,  patiently as my list of complaints and justifications grew longer, her eyes fixed on me and then she just smiled at me and said  in Spanish…”entregate a Dios y El te lo paga por bien”…(give yourself and it over to God and He will set you/it right).   She didn’t have to tell me I was walking in pride or that I was wrong…she directed me to open myself up more to the new life Christ had already given me.  ”Set your minds on things above, not earthly things…put to death, therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature…put on the new self.  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another…forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3: 1-17, from Midday Prayers below)

I am sure glad I listened to my mom and then went on to listen to my Father!

Lenten practices for today:
Give in – to the loving counsel of a spiritual friend
Give up – your ego
Give out – forgiveness

Midday Prayers click below

mdp friday wk 4

“Take your risks now, as you grow older you become more fearful and less flexible. And I mean that literally. I hurt my knee this week on the treadmill, and it wasn’t even on.” — Amy Poehler SNL

So when?  When is the right time?  Do you know what you want to do but don’t have a plan to do it?  Do you have a spiritual practice for discerning the right time to go out on a limb?  Seriously, none of us are getting any younger!  In today’s scripture reading (Midday Prayers below), Paul is asking his friend Philemon to take a risk with his other friend Onesimus. It appears that Onesimus had been disloyal to Philemon in serious ways… possibly even stolen from him.   Paul is trying to help his friend in discerning that the time is now to take a risk on forgiving… even “welcoming” the person who hurt him. How about you, do you have any risky relationships that God is talking to you about?  Do you have the spiritual viscera (that means guts!) to explore  the risk?  Amy Poehler is right… “as you grow older you become more fearful and less flexible.” 

For Lent-

Give up – excuses for why you can’t do what God has put in your heart to do.

Give in- to the process of discernment, Give in- to a wise persons counsel

Give out- wise and risky forgiveness to the one who has hurt you.

Midday prayers click below

mdp thursday wk4

We’ve invited a few of the staff at CCM to write on our blog.  You will be hearing from some of our best, brightest and dearest friends who are co-laboring with us in the work of God’s Kingdom.  Enjoy!

Today’s guest blogger:  Kathleen Loughrige, CCM Connections Pastor, Life Coach -Purpose Filled Coaching

Give me the Beat Boys to free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock ‘n roll and drift away
Yeah!..Give me the Beat Boys to free my soul. 

Do you allow yourself to get “lost” in something so you can drift away from what is true?  Does it free your soul?  In our world of technology it’s easy to get lost and drift away into another world.  In today’s scripture (see mid-day prayer below) the writer of Hebrews reminds us to pay attention to the truth of what we have learned so we won’t drift away into false teachings.   Pay attention to the truth that frees your soul…..

A practice for Lent

Give up – an activity that takes you away from the truth of what you have learned

Give in – pay attention to what brings peace to your soul

Give out – time to teach what you have learned to others who have drifted away

Midday Prayers click below

MDP wednesday WK4