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.
Quite the day yesterday.
Spent most of it with new friends Darryl and Tracy Strawberry, two amazing and authentic CHAMPIONS for those suffering from substance use challenges and for their families. Strawberry Ministries :: Darryl Strawberry :: Tracy Strawberry :: Adiction recovery, redemption, restoration
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And as I was “just in the wings” as Tracy and Darryl shared their stories for the media and for Christian television I was reminded of the amazing truth of this passage.
he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory. – Isaiah 61:3 (TLB)
Spending the day with these “graceful oaks” only served to embolden our efforts to see ALL captives to addiction a doorway to FREEDOM.
You see as I spend time with church leaders and concerned folks regarding addiction and its grip often they get paralyzed focusing on “the symptoms”; drugs, alcohol, porn, anger, the whatever. Yet our focus really should be on the “WHY” behind the “WHATEVERS” which is rooted in brokenness or trauma.
And that is WHY I am so encouraged to have been honored to establish a relationship with Tracy, Darryl and their team as well as folks like www.reachfortomorrowohio.org who are FAITH motivated trauma experts in order to continue to advance the messages of hope and healing to the church to EQUIP THEM to turn the tide on this gripping issue!
And that leads me to today’s thought. One I have hit before I am sure.
Psalm 34:18 (NIV) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
I am so grateful for that truth!
GOD weeps when we weep.
Hess said it this way…
When we are happy or when we are blue,
God is aware of whatever we do;
All of our sorrows He takes as His own—
And He will never leave us alone. —Hess
When I reflect on the stories of Darryl and Tracy I am reminded that GOD loves us so much. He hurts when we are hurting, and He never takes His eyes off us. All He wants us to do is take that important first step toward Him. Darryl did through the door of a dope house. Tracy did too.
Made me think of that familiar hymn, “THE SAVIOR IS WAITING”
If you’ll take one step toward the Savior, my friend
You’ll find His arms open wide
Receive Him, and all of your darkness will end
Within your heart He’ll abide
It was and is true for my new friends.
It is true for you too.
For…
“God is the Champion at bringing people from a place of destruction to a place of total victory. As they reach that place of victory they become trophies of his grace. and they are set on the display as a fragrant reminder of God's goodness.” ― Joyce Meyer
I love you all!
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE
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