DO MORE

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.

 

“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.” ― William Arthur Ward

In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

Proverbs 14:23 (AMP)

 

I shared this little quote from Ward yesterday and I thought I would come back and unpack it a little for us today.

 

I think it is a great quote for “the CHURCH” (that is us by the way) don’t you think?

 

Often when asked by a surveyor or poller if we “belong” to a church we will often answer yes, we may even offer the name or denomination for good measure.  But the question might be better asked by inquiring if we “participate” AS the church.

Are we active?

Do participate in the community outreaches?

What about the education offered?

Discipling?  Do we?

 

The next one is even more “challenging”.  Do we move our caring to "helping" when we can?

 

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17 (NIV)

 

Ward doesn’t get any easier, does he?

Move from mere fairness to kindness?

To “practice” our faith not just merely believe?

Be a forgetter as well as a forgiver?

Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it.

1 Corinthians 13:5 (ERV)

 

And that last statement, do more than dream…work.

 

I have been so blessed of late as I travel to other churches, events, and ministries sharing the work of the REFUGE to see so many who too have “had a dream” and now are going to WORK.  Whether it is places like “Creation House” in Elyria or PAARI in the Northeastern part of the State.  Whether it is “The Front Door” in Montgomery County or the Quick Response Team in Miami County , folks are translating the dreams that GOD has inspired into “real work”; work that is making differences in the lives of the oppressed, the addicted, the homeless and trafficked.

 

So ask yourself today.

Is there something, someone or some place that could use your PARTICIPATION, YOUR HELP or PRACTICE, YOUR KINDNESS or LOVE?  Is there someone or some place that could use your WORK?

 

The Bible encourages us to: Make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16 NLT)

 

The question is will we?

 

 

I love you ALL!

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)