TOGETHER

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.

It has been a most interesting week.  So different and quite frankly hectic, that today is the first day I have been able to sit down to reflect and write this entire week.  Hence a rare “SATURDAY OFH”.

I was in Washington DC earlier this week. And one of the amazing things I was asked to do while there was to “present” in front of the House VAT (VALUE ACTION TEAM) Coalition.

The Values Action Team is a group of members dedicated to advancing policy that promotes traditional values by building and strengthening coalitions with like-minded citizen groups and amplifying their voices to achieve common goals.

What an honor that was!

And it is always interesting, especially when I am presenting to a group like this the “surprised faces” when I tell “the story”. 

Opening with the line that I am in long-term recovery from a near death experience rooted in addiction usually grabs a little attention. And I was late in the agenda of the day and that agenda was chocked full of “complicated” issues surrounding religious liberty, policy fears and the like.  To be honest it was a bit of a downer session.  So, I was blessed to interject a little hope as I shared the amazing work that SO MANY of my friends are doing in OHIO and beyond to help others!

But what I wanted to dive into a little this morning was the notion, that VAT idea, of “we are BETTER together”. 

I travel all over the country these days ENCOURAGING the CHURCH to “get together” to help those who are facing the challenge of substance use disorder/disease and in the chains of trafficking.  And yet many churches, denominations, and groups often prefer to “go it alone” despite the evidence that we ARE BETTER together.

Jesus WANTED it for us!

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—

Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

So, they might be one heart and mind with us.

Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.

The same glory you gave me, I gave them,

So, they’ll be as unified and together as we are—

I in them and you in me.

Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,

And give the godless world evidence

That you’ve sent me and loved them

In the same way you’ve loved me. – John 17:21-23 (MSG)

Whether it is in the world of politics, advocacy, or ministry we are stronger when we set aside the petty to pursue the PURPOSEFUL and that starts simply by EMBRACING EACH OTHER with LOVE so that we CAN EMBRACE OTHERS with the same.

A quote I often use when I share this notion is from Mother Teresa, "None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." – Mother Teresa

For as we LINK together, serving and loving others we DEMONSTRATE the evidence of GOD’S love for us and them and bring the LORD GLORY!

Have a blessed rest of your weekend.

I look forward to getting back on schedule next week!

I love you all!

Opportunities for Hope