Be a Blessing

Pastor Scott Downing

Be A Blessing.

To be a blessing is the challenge of CCC, a theme that also runs throughout the Bible.

Shawn has called us to be a blessing. And it might be that our first thought is to look for a person or group that needs a blessing. Lord knows, these last weeks have brought forward many that need an abundance of blessing through our prayers and our wallets.

I often hear the phrase at CCC: “Breath in, breathe out.” I remember my Lamaze class with Janet but I do not think this is the main point behind this particular use of the phrase. If being a blessing is “breathing out” – what is “breathing in”?

I find the answer to this in Genesis 12:1-2, where God is telling Abram (later he will be renamed Abraham) to pack up and get out of Dodge (well, more like Ur). Then the LORD told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others.” (NLT)

Breathing in involves two things:

We must trust our heritage and our future to be defined by God, and
We kneel before Him

Abram cannot be who God is calling him to be unless he leaves Ur; unless he is willing to leave a place he has known for a place only God knows. The security that comes from our past identity and resources may hinder the radical image makeover God has planned for us (see Colossians 3:5-10 where the apostle Paul contrast our prior “old self” with a new self which is renewed in knowledge and image).

Leaving things behind isn’t enough. Ask any seventeen year-old if they are ready to make a break with their past and strike off to new adventures. What the self-emerging young adult most often does not have is humility and a true understanding of their being.

Abram receives blessing from God as he kneels before God. It is in God Abram finds himself and his future. The word used when God says, “I will bless you” – that word for ‘bless’ is a Hebraic word for kneel. There are other implications to this word, but at its root it involves a sense of adoration, worship – kneeling. To receive blessing from God acknowledges His greatness and we cannot but help to humbly kneel before Him.

God’s desire to bless Abram is not terminal; it does not go into Abram and stop. Genesis 12:2 is clear: “and I will make you a blessing to others.” To be a blessing to others is to pray and act in a way for others that brings them prosperity, integrity and wholeness. Through Abram, initiated and sustained by God, we are now breathing in the blessings breathed into him – and now breathed out to us.

So, how’s your breath smell? I pray it smells of all things divine. Be a blessing.

Being A Blessing in Africa

Through your blessing others, CCC has been able to be a blessing in places around the world. You have already heard and seen excellent reports of some of our mission trips. But did you know that CCC also sponsors individuals who go on a mission trip? Recently, we heard the report about an “eastern Asian country.”

Marc Rico went to Africa and spent several weeks there working at an orphanage/school and doing some street work. This has been a long time dream of Marc and God breathed into him the opportunity.

Blessing With a Benjamin

Remember the $100 placed under the seats? The point was to be a blessing by passing the Benjamin onto someone else. We have some great stories that resulted from your thoughtful, prayerful use of those funds. Below is a letter sent to me, along with another letter that was included.

Hi Scott:

Here is a copy of the card I received from Suzette Wong who is marketing Director for Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living facility.

I actually met with and gave the donation to Linda Johnson who is the Director of the facility. She was very nice and extremely grateful. She gave me an extensive tour of the grounds and really appreciated what CCC was doing.

Based on the card it sounds like they have created a neat way to increase the amount even more and “pay it forward.”

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of this process. “Giving” truly is better than “receiving” and I think it made a lot of people happy!

Take care and God bless,
Kevin Rouse

Dear Kevin:

The residents and staff at Diamond Terrace wish to express a heart felt thank you for your extreme thoughtfulness and generosity in giving $200 to the residents!

It was such a nice surprise and truly warmed the hearts of us all. The residents have decided to have a summer celebration with the money donated. On that day, which is yet to be determined, each resident has chosen to donate at least a dollar. The combined monies will be donated to the Northern California Alzheimer’s Association.

It’s such a big joy for us to not only be recipients of giving, but to also be a part of continuing the giving!

Many blessings to you and yours.

Diamond Terrace.

What an incredible story!

And here is another way in which the people of CCC have blessed our community:

Karen Goelz, Director of Donor Services
Children’s Hospital & Research Center Foundation
747 Fifty Second St.
Oakland, CA 94609

Dear Karen,

Clayton Community Church in Clayton, California has been so blessed and has really been focusing on being a blessing in our community and beyond. We want to touch others’ lives as we have been touched…we want to give to others as God has given to us.

In a recent Sunday service, the church challenged the congregation to give back to its community. The church leadership placed 50 envelopes containing $100 each under random seats in the church. Whoever sat in those seats was challenged and blessed to give to the community. We, the blessed recipients of these envelopes, are matching the church’s gift and are giving it to your foundation.

We chose your foundation as we have friends whose children have benefited from the wonderful care your foundation provides. It is remarkable to us the care that you provide to God’s children without regard to ability to pay. As we feel strongly about children living the most normal life possible while experiencing treatment for an illness or injury, we would like the enclosed donation of $800 to go toward the Child Life and School Program.

Thanks for your wonderful work. God bless you!

Sincerely,

Mike, Jackie, Kyle, Evan, and Julia Bearden
Mike, Trudi, Chris, and Kaitlyn O’Connell
Chris, Linda, Zach and Nicole Rodgers

The Campus

You may have picked up a brochure in Sunday’s bulletin that advertised a new emphasis in small groups: The Campus.

The Campus is a series of classes and experiences that bring the value of spiritual growth in an accessible format of short-term commitments, affinity groups, prayer and task groups.

Check out the new classes: Everyday Prayer, Emerging Video, What’s in a Name?, Train Wreck at Dysfunction Junction, Buddha and Christ, The Arts and Tabletalk.

Look in Sunday’s bulletin and at the new Life Development Ministries tent for more information.

SDS 201 & 301 Starting

201 Explores the four essential habits for your growth in spiritual life.

First class: September 11, 10:30 AM in the library @ DVMS.

301 Engages your self–discovery in spiritual gifts! By His Spirit, God has gifted each of us for encouragement and blessing. Unwrapped your gift yet? Find out how.

First Class: October 16, 10:30 AM in the library @DVMS

You can sign up using the tear-off sheet in the bulletin or emailing Jennifer Lutz at jennifer.lutz@claytoncc.com