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.
Last night I was in Adams County Ohio.
It was a late night. It was another community forum regarding the opiate challenges we face in Ohio
If you aren’t from Ohio or even if you are, you may not know where Adams County Cincinnati , Dayton , Columbus
And because it is remote, rural and “connected” it has become a feeding ground for all the tiers of drug activity for some time. It is also an impoverished area which only adds to fuel to the fire. In fact as the local law enforcement and medical teams were sharing last night, Adams County
Those numbers are staggering given the sparseness of the community.
I would ask that you pray for the folks of Adams County
---
Yet it was what happened while we were setting up for the event that I really wanted to share with you today. My colleague CB was giving me the run down of her upcoming vacation. She is soon headed to see her son in California
Now that would seem a little innocuous but what made her little statement bring tears to my eyes and goose-bumps to my arms was that she said, “We are going to go see my son”.
Her son just a few years ago was deeply, and I mean deeply challenged by an opiate addiction. He was lost and had completely removed himself from her and the family.
One of the things about opiate addiction as Sam Quinones author of “Dreamland”, one of the best sources of information about our challenges in Ohio, says is “Opiate addiction is an isolating disease that DEMANDS isolation.”
Folks who are caught up in the throws of addiction isolate from society. There really is no place for them other than around others like them. Family is not an option. Friends are few. The “church” is still trying to figure things out.
So the opiate addicted often retreat to lives of "chosen aloneness".
So when CB’s son, who now by the way is a PROMINENT and “in-demand” peer coach for the addicted, a person who has turned things around so drastically that he has become one of the most formidable voices for recovery in Los Angeles County, asks for COMMUNITY and FELLOWSHIP with his family, THAT is the BEST sign of RECOVERY there could be.
That is goose-bump worthy.
It is why I started to tear up.
CB’s son had planned his own PRODIGAL PARTY.
His folks were NOW welcome in his home.
It was time to introduce the new young lady GOD had blessed him with.
It was time to continue to mend fences and open the doors of continued healing.
It is SO GOOD. It is so GOD.
These are the stories that fuel the flame of the work.
My friend CB was beaming; one proud mama for sure! Her son had been through hell and yes some of it was his own doing he would quickly admit that, but with a simple ‘yes’ to the Father and to recovery, GOD faithfully was doing what GOD faithfully does…rescues and RESTORES!
...you’ll welcome us with open arms when we run for cover to you. Let the party last all night! Stand guard over our celebration. You are famous, God, for welcoming…
I wish I could be there for that welcoming party at LAX in a couple of days and an invitation to this restoration celebration.
For some reason I believe that party WILL last all night.
For:
…after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself RESTORE, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
Have a blessed weekend!
Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)
No comments:
Post a Comment