DARE TO...

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.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best. - Maraboli

Yesterday was a “high intensity day”. 

For while we rejoiced over the weekend of the many lives set free in Hillsboro via our Hope over Heroin outreach event, the follow-up for those still requiring some practical assistance needed to be done. 

And while I was merely on the fringe of most of these important connections, helping the team from Highland County find beds for treatment and detox, we had a lot to find.  And a couple of the cases were particularly difficult given our current shortage of available in-patient detoxification beds in the state, and this required the proverbial needle in a haystack exercise.

BUT…

I am happy to say that today we have people getting help everywhere from Norwood to East Liverpool from Oberlin to Mt. Vernon and several spots in between!  GOD knitted together several folks who “DARED TO BE for another” over the last couple of days.  And except for maybe one young lady who is still being tormented to stay in her trafficked and addicted situation, those who sought help are being helped.

Kim D., Bill M., Heather G., Tim E. and so many others DARED to help and they HELPED!

That brings me back to the little quote from Maraboli today. 

It is one you may have seen before.  

But I love how it sets the tone for HOW we are to approach our days as FOLLOWERS of CHRIST.

We must be DARING!

Dare to heal!

Dare to direct!

Dare to lift!

Dare to encourage! 

I love how the author eludes that when we DARE to GIVE of ourselves we will FIND delight! 

And we will! 

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

– Luke 6:38 (NIV)

So, the message is crystal clear today.

Don’t sit on the sidelines today.  Be DARING and BOLD.

Be willing to extend your hands.  Be willing to mobilize your networks on behalf of another.  Be willing to lend an ear, take a chance on someone, and give of yourself. 

Dare to BE what GOD desires you to BE today!

Remembering that this…

way gives us such confidence, (SO) we can be very bold.

– Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)

  

Have a blessed DAY!

I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE