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.
Coincidence or happy accident?
Or…
Divine intervention?
Have any of those ever happened to you? I am sure
they have.
You’ve bumped into someone unexpected at the
airport or someone that you really needed to see of chat with shows up in the coffee line or on your
feed at just the right time?
Well I was privileged yesterday to be a part of
the National RX Summit’s Advisory Team dinner.
It was a most unexpected honor. I
was given the chance to pray for the dinner and for the team.
After doing my prayer, which was later kiddingly described
by the CEO’s son as a little sermon disguised as a prayer, I was seated with
the family of John Eadie. Not that
anyone really should know who John is, but John was awarded the HAL ROGERS Beacon of Hope award
at the opening plenary of this conference for his work in the PDMP space. What is PDMP you ask? In a nutshell PDMP (Prescription Drug Management
Program) professionals implement systems and strategies to regulate prescribing
of medications. In Ohio we have something
called OARRS. It serves several purposes
like limiting doctor shopping and keeping doctors from overprescribing medications
like Xanax and Oxycodone.
But, enough of my “shop talk”, let’s get back to
John. He is a dear family man who upon receiving
the award for 40+ years of service to public health was brought to tears. It was clear his children and his bride of 54
years were so proud of him.
Yet as we were having some discussions about that illustrious
career, he began to share how hard his fight was to bring order to New York’s
prescribing guidelines in the 80’s and early 90’s.
He spoke of being up against incredible odds. He spoke of being underfunded and targeted by
“big business” to thwart his plans. Yet each
time and after times of reflection and prayer, GOD would bring exactly WHO or WHAT
he needed to keep fighting the fight or to bolster his efforts. Some of the intersections he shared were
amazing, impossible.
And I can say that this “David” eventually slew his
giant and now what he started in New York is being implemented nationwide and
is saving lives.
When I asked him, “Why would GOD care about the
way doctor’s prescribe medicine?” He said, “Drugs improperly used disconnect;
disconnect us from the Lord and from each other. And that isolation is just what
the enemy wants.”
He is right!
Now let’s go back to the first question. Were those needed connections, motivations
and intersections for John happy accidents, coincidences, or divine? After seeing the impact those perfectly timed
engagements had on John and his work, I lean toward the latter.
So does John.
In fact, he talked about the remarkable peace he
had each time GOD opened a door and when he, despite intense opposition, would
walk through it.
Now I know, talking about pharmaceutical drug
systems isn’t to exciting. However,
misuse of opioids still impacts nearly 12 million people in America today. But that number continues to go down each year
thanks to John’s work, John’s perseverance, his courage and his obedience.
Tozer said this…
“Why do some persons 'find' God in a way that others do not? Why does
God manifest His Presence to some and let multitudes of others struggle along
in the half-light of imperfect Christian experience? Of course, the will of God
is the same for all. He has no favorites within His household. All He has ever
done for any of His children He will do for all of His children. The difference lies not with God but with us.”
So, my simple encouragement is to seek GOD today
as John did and continues to do. You will FIND HIM, and it won’t be by coincidence.
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. – Jeremiah
29:13 (NIV)
Love you all…
OPPORTUNITIES
for HOPE
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