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.
Last Sunday at my home church, our YOUTH
Pastor, John Marc was, along with several students, recapping their recent trip
to FORWARD. https://forwardconference.org/index.html
All the kids took some time to talk about the
trip, the highlights and more importantly some of the lessons learned. As you can see from the link, Forward offers a
pretty remarkable lineup of content, worship and speakers. So, it most certainly is an environment for
enlightening and inspiration.
But as John was “teeing up” the kids he shared
that he ENCOURAGED the students to LEAN IN each day; to listen with intention
even when the attention span wanted to wane for there was always something to
LEARN, something that would resonate.
And as I was traveling down to Atlanta yesterday
and had the 8 hours or so in the car, I got to thinking about what John had
encouraged. And I can honestly say that
over the last 11 years when I have employed that strategy, I have LEARNED, I
have been INSPIRED, and I have been ENLIGHTENED.
And many times, what I gained was something or a relationship that I
would need or could cultivate sometime “down the road”.
I think about why I am down here today. I have a friend Kevin who is an expert in the
area of SBIRT engagement. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to
Treatment. So, I was “leaning in and learning” via a FAITH-FOCUSED WEBINAR on
this subject so I could then forward him the content. What resulted from me “leaning in” was a
connection to KELLY. Kelly is a leader
in GEORGIA who is hosting her 9th FAITH/SECULAR Recovery Conference
today and tomorrow. I had never heard of
Kelly or the organization that is hosting me today, but because I leaned in, I
know there is something to learn or someone to meet that I can bring back to OHIO
to help our folks (and myself I am sure) in our journey of RECOVERY.
I am CONFIDENT you have similar stories. I am sure you have had those Sundays when you
felt the Pastor might have been eavesdropping on your week because the message seemed
written for you!
And as I thought about this, that each day ALL day
GOD is wanting to intersect with us, engage us, educate us, and lead us. Our job is to BE AWARE, to LEAN IN to the day
with INTENTION and ATTENTION.
Made me think of this passage…This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid,
grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike
“What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we
really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are...Romans 8:15 (MSG).
We aren’t to have a “grave-tending” life but rather
one that is ADVENTUROUSLY EXPECTANT! I
translate that as one that LEANS IN and is READY to EXPERIENCE GOD and ALL the
wonderful things a FATHER who loves us has for his kids today.
So, the encouragement today should be obvious. LEAN IN and GET READY to LEARN. GOD has something (maybe MANY things) for you
today!
Every happening, great and small, is a parable
whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message. - Malcolm Muggeridge
I love you all!
Opportunities
for Hope
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