SYMBIOTIC

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.

A "symbiotic relationship" is a relationship of mutual benefit and/or dependence.

There is your science/social lesson for today my friends.

Now I am sure you are wondering why I offered that little nugget.

Yesterday I along with my buddy Marisa had a couple of different working sessions with some remarkable partners.  We are working to mobilize so many disparate organizations, ministries, Pastors, non-profits, governmental agencies, funders, and folks to join us in the offensive against opiate addiction, and we CERTAINLY need symbiosis; inter-dependent relationships that will be to the mutual benefit of those suffering in addiction and its consequences.

And as Marisa and moved from meeting to meeting, town to town, relationship to relationship we were equally enthusiastic about the POTENTIAL, the COLLABORATION, and the MOMENTUM!

And on the trip home, I realized it was a DAY of SYMBIOSIS; all us independent in our function yet intensely dependent, needing the benefits, talents, insights, and gifts of one another.

It made me think on my way back from NEWARK about our relationship with LORD that ultimate in symbiotic relationships.  We ARE dependent on Him for His benefits.

Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)

 ...forget not all His benefits...Psalm 103:2 (NIV)

That redefines “dependent and beneficial” don’t you think?  In fact, one of our KEY partners in this effort to bring hope to the addicted is CALLED the BRANCHES of RECOVERY! (Thanks Casey S!) 

And yes, while the LORD is our SOURCE, He most certainly leans on us to do our part down here.  He is depending on us to share the benefits of our relationship with Him to the others we encounter, partner and work with.  He asks this of us to inspire one another, to sharpen one another and to link spirits to one another.

And why?

Christ (that VINE) has no body (or BRANCHES) but yours (OURS!),

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours. - Avila

So here is the simple message for today.

Let’s practice some SYMBIOSIS with the LORD and those around us.

Let’s DEPEND on Him and let’s pray and allow Him to show us the ways in which we can be beneficial to others by being hands, feet, eyes, and compassion.

"Pray like it all depends on God, but work like it all depends on you.” ― Dave Ramsey

I love you ALL!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE