GOD'S WORD

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

My left ear is a little weary today.  In fact both of them.  Now I know those who know me well are saying how in the world could you’re ears hurt because your mouth never stops chirping, but I am serious.

 

I did a lot of “listening” (and some sharing) yesterday.

 

Seriously.

 

Opened with a dear brother who wants to link arms with CHAMPIONS for the at risk youth of Mt. Vernon .  That migrated to a Pastor’s chat regarding next steps in Wooster and Wayne County .  Then a great session with a lovely team in Warren County ready to collaborate with two CHAMPIONS for trafficked and addicted women.  Sprinkle in a 90 minute “park” on I71 South and some counsel with the mom of a man in need of the REFUGE, a CHAMPION in Newark who is seeing GOD change him and his culture and a dear lady trapped in abuse looking for relief it was “listening” sort of day.

 

But one beautiful thing remained in common throughout the day, one thread kept the conversations elevated and hopeful. 

 

THE WORD.  GOD’S WORD.  Certainly NOT mine.

 

All day long we SHARED the WORD together. 

It was enriching.

 

We shared its promises, its advice, its admonitions, its hope and its direction.  And what made the day even more palpable, we did a hearty amount of praying and listening to GOD.

 

Why?

…For whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are. - Hebrews 4:12 (TLB)

 

Exposing what we thought we should do.

Exposing the truth of the challenges.

Exposing the HOPE of the future.

 

Because…

He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God…

Hebrews 4:13 (TLB)

 

The HOPE from the WORD of the prodigal was for the mom desperate to see a change in her son.

The VALUE of children to JESUS was for the Pastor burdened for their future.

The IMAGINATION of the Father when considering how to engage the CHAMPIONS of Mason into a project was for the women.

 

We didn’t have to SEARCH for answers or prospects, for inspiration or validation.  It was ALL there waiting for us in the WORD.

 

“The word of God is full of assurance.” - Akita

 

Yet we often relegate the WORD to Sunday sharings or the weekly small group Bible study.  But without it yesterday we would have been reduced to “our ideas”, experience and toothless hope. 

Yet with IT our CONVERSATIONS were permeated with REAL solutions, REAL possibilities and REAL direction.

 

I share this today for ONE reason and that is to PRAISE GOD for HIS AMAZING and CHANGING Word.  I walked away from yesterday assured by IT, invigorated by IT, validated by IT and HOPEFUL because of IT.

…the Christian who lets it (the WORD) dwell in him richly by constant meditation upon it…tests and reforms his life daily in response to it.” ― (from Packer)

 

The question today is a simple one.

Are you READY with and for the WORD today?

Odds are you will need it too.

 

 

I love you ALL!

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)