CLEAR

Posted on: June 26, 2010 by Jen No Comments

Last chance to weigh in on the second part of our Spring survey!

Spring 2010 Survey - Part Two

We appreciate your help!

Becky, Michele & Jen

Spring 2010 Survey - Part One

Posted on: May 29, 2010 by Jen No Comments

Didn’t receive the link for part one of the CLEAR Spring 2010 Survey?  No worries.  You can still chime in.  The more women we hear from the better!  So please take a couple minutes to tell us what you think by clicking on the following link.

Spring 2010 Survey - Part One

Thanks for your input!

Becky, Michele & Jen

Encourage Today

Posted on: January 26, 2010 by Diane No Comments

from Diane’s desk…

Encourage each other daily, as long as it is called Today.  ~Hebrews 3.12

Encourage. Daily. That’s a tall order for so many of us.

It’s hard because when we encourage someone else, we actually have to think about someone other than yourself. Their interests, not yours. Their success, not yours. Their joys, talents, success. Not your own.

A few years ago, I was transferred to another position at my company. It was a position that I wouldn’t have actually chosen for myself. I felt way over my head, off my game. A couple of months into this “adventure”, a colleague came into my office, and sat down. Sensing my uncertainties, he said to me, ‘There is no one on the team that brings your expertise, your experience. Never doubt that you have something to offer, even if it sounds different than the ordinary.’

He didn’t have to do that. In fact, the way performance is rewarded at our company, if I blew it outta the park, it may very well affect his bottom line at bonus time. But that didn’t seem to matter to him. He had my interests at heart, not his own. My success, my confidence level. Not his own. What he said stayed with me for weeks, reminding me that ‘I was OK’ even when I felt a bit shaky.

That’s the great thing about encouragement. It doesn’t last a day. It’s like a seed. You sow it, and it comes back to nourish again - on another day, called Today.

Plant a seed of encouragement.  Do it Today.

The Iceberg Challenge - Mid-Month Update!

Posted on: January 19, 2010 by Diane No Comments

from Diane’s desk…

Here’s an update on the Iceberg Challenge - the January challenge, focusing on a specific gnarly behavior and/or belief to learn about yourself, about God, about others…

Read about this month’s challenge here.

My observations mid-month…

• The one sorta positive thing I can report so far…when I look for more in a person, I sometimes find it.

But the negative learnings certainly are more abundant (sad to say!)…

• It’s easy to not judge another person when you like the other person. When I don’t like someone, I move quickly to assumptions about the rot that is under the surface without ever really finding out. A very dishearterning observation.
• It’s easier to be more tolerant, more forgiving, less judgemental of someone  when I am not jealous of their role, their looks, their status, their body, their…whatever. I am appalled at how much Envy (a capital E) I carry around. Just appalled. I can’t comment anymore than that…I’m still in recovery mode!
• It humbles me to know how shallow I can be…let me correct that…it humiliates me to know how shallow I am!
• It crushes me to know that others are doing the same thing to me as I am doing to them.

And that’s just after two weeks of focusing on this!! But I know it will get better - there is hope! And…I’ll report on that at the end of the month!

How about you? Anyone have the guts to take on this challenge? Anyone have the guts to share what they are learning?

CCV Class - What would the Neighbors Think?

Posted on: January 18, 2010 by Diane No Comments

CCVers - there’s still some room in the class, What Would the Neighbors Think?. It starts tomorrow night (Tuesday, January 19th) from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Classroom #1 in the Kids’ Building. This is an opportunity to learn about the Bible from a totally different perspective!!

Description: A 4-week class to learn how to read the Bible with raging curiosity and fresh insight. Using popular Bible stories, the class will explore what the people of the time were thinking as they watched these stories unfold – from across the street, next door, in town.

Hope to see you there!!

CLEAR Single Moms

Posted on: April 26, 2009 by Diane No Comments

I had the pleasure of speaking with a couple of single moms this week, and I have to tell you - I am in awe. My sister was a single mom from the very beginning of her daughter’s life, but she was surrounded by family who helped her lift the incredible load of responsibilities. These two moms - have none of that!! Just strong women, fighting through life on their own for the sake of their kids. 

Makes all the more important and relevant that CLEAR has a group to support these unsung heroes amongst us. Hats off to Tina Stenman and Ruth Sill, and their incredible team who each month come alongside these single moms with encouragement and friendship and support. 

If you are a single mom, and want to connect - or - if you are someone with a soft spot in your heart for these moms - join the team on April 28th at the CCV Building for a meal and some conversation (childcare provided). See the Events calendar for more information, or contact Terri Stone - terri@moviechurch.com