ASCENT

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.

I had the distinct pleasure at the 7^th Annual Ohio Opiate Conference of spending 90 minutes with Jody from an organization called ASCENT.  (www. http://ourascent.com) Check them out...

They offer an app and a team of peer supporters (recovery coaches and counselors) to help folks in recovery STAY CONNECTED.

We are kicking it around for use within the CHAMPIONS efforts because healthy and helpful communication is a lost art these days but so critical to healthy recoveries.

For GOD asks those that follow Him to be communicators! 

“Encouraging communicators”.

We are to be "BLESSERS".

It is true.

Ephesians 4:29 (MSG)

…say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you.

Yet many of us feel too overwhelmed or feel like there isn’t time or bandwidth to encourage someone else. That is why I am encouraged about this possible partnership with ASCENT.  It “pushes” active and intentional communication.  It helps our recovering community to “find the time” to be in community and to be encouraged in helpful & needed communication!

Some might say our social media world is not ideally suited for “real communication”, I would beg to differ.  It can be a great platform for encouragement and blessing.  And one doesn’t need something like ASCENT, as potentially cool as it seems, to leverage it.

You can encourage someone today.  You can.

I bet you didn't know it but the Bible knows the impact of positive text to a friend; an encouraging tweet a lively and friendly “snapchat” or Instagram post.

Proverbs 12:25 (MSG)

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

I know it can be hard to do given the busyness of our schedules and the demands on our time. Kids, jobs, organizational requirements, and packed schedules are true time drainers.

But carve out a little space for encouraging another today.

Use the tools you have. There is always time for an uplifting tweet. 

Waiting in line at the grocery? Fire off a positive post!
…Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out...

Hebrews 10:24 (MSG)

GOD and the recipient loves it when we do!

For in fact GOD says blessing and encouraging others will impact us positively as well.

1 Peter 3:8-9 (MSG)

…bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good…

Here’s what you do:

Say nothing evil or hurtful;

Snub evil and cultivate good;

run after peace for all you’re worth.

God looks on all this with approval…

GOD says if we want OUR days to FILL UP with GOOD, then we are to encourage others to experience the same!

So what do you say?

Take a second. Find someone in your sphere of influence, your circle of friends that could use a little boost and do what GOD asked us to do.

Bless ‘em!

Encourage them!

Communicate!

I love you all!

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)