PROGRESS

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.

I had the pleasure of not just doing a “drive by” A House of Prayer in Xenia’s Freedom gathering last night but was able to settle into the worship and the topic.

And the WORSHIP team shared this song from Cory Asbury, “The Father’s House”. The Father's House - Cory Asbury (Lyrics)

The Father's House - Cory Asbury (Lyrics) The Father's House - Cory Asbury (Lyrics) // After taking a year off to rest with family Cory Asbury just releas...

It is a great song for our FREEDOM friends, many of whom are on a new journey, a new “progression” in life.  And there is a little lyric in that song that especially sticks out for me as one of those “progressing” people.

Arrival's not the end game

The journey's where you are

You never wanted perfect

You just wanted my heart

Ruminate for just a tic on that lyric, especially the part that YOU (GOD) never wanted perfect, YOU (GOD) just wanted my heart.

Often, we think we must up our game in order to have access to the Father, for the Father to notice us or accept us.  Yet Cory is right, GOD doesn’t ask for perfection.  He knows that is unattainable.  But He does find pleasure in our progress.

God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus…

So, let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Philippians 3:14, 15-16 (MSG)

If you have every been in the rooms of an AA meeting, you will hear this read.  “We are not saints. The point is, that we are WILLING TO GROW along spiritual lines…We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.”

In Romans 12 Paul encourages PROGRESS in this way, “be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. -Romans 12:2 (AMP)

Friends, I have heard it said that if we aren’t progressing toward what GOD desires for us, we are not then stationary, we are regressing, going backwards.

So, the encouragement today should be clear.  COMMIT yourself to PROGRESSING.  God is beckoning us to do so committing to helping us see WHERE that is leading.

He is looking for progress TOWARD perfection, that perfection being His Son.

But the love of God will be perfected within the one who obeys God’s Word. We can be sure that we’ve truly come to live in intimacy with God, not just by saying, “I am intimate with God,” but by walking in the footsteps of Jesus. 1 John 2:5 (TPT)

Have a BLESSED DAY!

Opportunities for Hope

COURAGEOUS

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.

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

That is a familiar passage, right?

It shows up on lots of “Bible Bookstore Stuff” doesn’t it.

And why not?

It is INTENSELY AFFIRMING.

But it is ALSO requiring ACTION!

Yes, GOD is WITH YOU, but that doesn’t mean we are to be PASSIVE and content to just rest behind the ever-present shielding of the Lord, but rather use that ASSURITY to STEP OUT into the WORLD with BOLDNESS and CONFIDENCE. because GOD is WITH US, WHEREVER. 

And that WHEREVER part is crucial.

It reminds me of this passage:

If I go up to heaven, you’re there!

If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too!

If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there!

If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting!

Wherever I go, your hand will guide me.

your strength will empower me.

It’s impossible to disappear from you

or to ask the darkness to hide me,

for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.

There is no such thing as darkness with you. – Psalm 139:8-12 (TPT)

Yet I share those familiar yet resonate passages today because of what I was witness to yesterday. 

I was blessed to share with some friends at NEW LIFE CHURCH in Hancock County Ohio.  They were HOSTING a Mental Health Awareness and Equipping Day. 

That is a bold and courageous move in and of itself given the stigma still VERY prominent in the faith community regarding mental illness and addiction A faith community where some still SHAME those challenged by mental health and addiction maladies.  A faith community that is still mired in tired stereotypes and strategies to deal with complex mind, soul and spirit issues. 

So, the mere fact this leadership team was CHALLENGING the stigma and offering PROVEN and blended help and education was deeply refreshing. 

So yes, I led with that verse today to COMMEND my friends from Findlay for their courage. 

But what MOST impacted me yesterday was the COURAGE of 3 remarkable leaders.  

One was a LIFELONG CHRISTIAN and LEADER who was DEALING with depression.

Another a CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR who since she was a teen has been negatively impacted by shame, depression, anxiety and unfortunately a bevy of clueless “CHURCH FOLKS” that had often led her to contemplations of suicide.

And finally, a lovely mama of 5 whose family had battled addiction and she the mental strain of “trying to hold it all together”.

Telling THOSE stories boldly and unashamedly in a church is no easy task.

Trust me.  I know.

But EACH and EVERYONE of them realized that GOD was WITH THEM, even in the darkest of their seasons and even when “the church” wasn’t. 

And it was their collective courage and candor that opened the eyes and convicted many in the seats, but it also stirred one fella to rise from his seat and vulnerably share his very current and very active challenge with substance use.  It was THE AFFIRMED BOLDNESS and COURAGE of the speakers that inspired him to SEEK the help he desperately needed.

Now I wish I could put a red ribbon on this and tell you our addicted friend found deliverance after lots of prayer, I wish I could tell you that he even accepted our offer to find help at my center or the REFUGE.  I wish I could tell you that I knew where he was this morning.  I can’t.

But what I can tell you with confidence is that that fella would not have made his struggles known had it not been for the COURAGE of those others who were willing to REMEMBER that GOD was with them through the nerves of public speaking, that GOD was with them as their shared some of their most intimate challenges and that GOD was with them to “help them help” this one who most needed it.

Therefore, friends, I simply share this with you today to ENCOURAGE YOU to HAVE COURAGE. 

GOD is indeed with you today, WHEREVER you go. 

So:

Don’t be shy with your story.

Don’t be timid with your testimony.

Be BOLD!

Be CONFIDENT!

Be WILLING! 

You never know WHO might need to hear WHAT GOD has done for you!

Remember...

“The hardest thing to ever do is to reveal the naked soul to the world. However, in doing so brings healing, growth, strength, and powerful inspiration!” ― H.E. Olsen

I love you all!

Have a BLESSED DAY!

Opportunities for Hope

LOSS OF AN ICON

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.

I was reflecting on my friend Michael Jones as I was driving home from Cleveland late last night.  I had taken my son and 2 of his friends to RocketMortgage Fieldhouse to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the phenom Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.  It was Ian’s Christmas gift as he is a big NBA fan.

And the reason Michael came to mind on the drive home was prior to and during the game they prepared and delivered some poignant tributes to Kobe Bryant. 

 

Before the game began, the Cavs held the ball for a 24 second clock ‘violation’ in honor of his number 24 after the Pelicans allowed for an 8 second backcourt ‘violation’ to honor his other number, 8.  That was following a moment of silence prior to the National Anthem. There were several highlight reels shared during timeouts.  Each in its own way very honoring for a sports legend tragically lost along with his daughter and 7 others this weekend. 

Kobe’s loss has resonated around the world, even in my home for when I walked in the door on Sunday, I found my son in tears from the news. 

And sadly, some even are capitalizing on it as evidenced by the T-shirt huckster selling a Kobe tribute shirt outside of our parking garage.  SAD.

Kobe was talented, relentless, dedicated, passionate, a WARRIOR, known for being a loving dad, and an insightful mentor to many. 

Some of you know one of my “vices” is I do watch and listen to quite a bit of sports radio and coverage and many of the respected voices and most gifted pens have shared their memories and their laments.  Rightfully so.  It is not often when an icon is taken from us prematurely.  Payne Stewart comes to mind for me. 

But so, does Michael Jones. The icon, Michael Jones.

Now some of you along this distribution will say, “WHO”?  Michael Jones?  Did he mean Michael Jackson and make a mistake? 

No, his name was Michael Jones. 

He was a good friend, a bit of a spiritual son. 

And he too was talented, relentless in his pursuit of the Father, dedicated, passionate and a WARRIOR.

And like Kobe on Sunday, we lost Michael as suddenly and inexplicably on Monday.  After doing what he loved, playing games with his friends, this time pickleball, a massive seizure pilfered his last breath.

The loss was equally shocking; more so for many of us because of our intimate connection to Michael. 

Now for those of you who knew Michael knew he loved to WORSHIP.  He worshipped a “little weird”, that is indisputable.  Michael would shadow-box while he worshipped the Lord.  What he was “fighting” I never was totally sure, I assume it was his challenges, his demons, his fears and what not.  Maybe he was doing the fighting for friends who couldn’t.  Maybe he was reminding himself that he needed to fight for his Father in this world. 

Some of you who read this blog are probably more qualified to tell us “why”, but that is what I always thought.  From my lens, worship for Michael was TRAINING.  It was training his mind, his heart, and his spirit for the battles in his life which were many.

And that led me to this passage,

Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. Psalm 144:1-2 (NLT)

Michaels training instilled in him a gentle spirit, a huggable demeanor and a captivating smile.  His training prepared him to defend the Lord who he sincerely loved! And despite limitations that may have discouraged others, Michael “fought” through them to become a light to many, an encouragement to the depressed and source of energy for the wearied.

For those of you who didn’t know Michael, I am sorry.  If you had, you would have never forgot him.  And I know if he were still with us, still hugging, still smiling, still fighting he would encourage you to do what he did.

Love folks.  Smile more. And never stopped training, fighting for the Lord.

fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, for this is your calling—celebrating in faith before the multitude of witnesses! – 1 Timothy 6:12 (TPT)

That is your assignment today.  Follow that icon Michael Jones' lead.

Michael fought.  Michael won.  Michael got his prize.

I love you all!

Have a BLESSED DAY!

Opportunities for Hope

FLOW GO

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.

Good day! 

Pray that this finds you doing great today.  I took some time away from the blog to refresh.  But was feeling the tug of the Holy Spirit the last couple of days to get back to spending some time behind the keyboard as it is where I can pause and focus on what HE has for me each day.

And yesterday I posted this from Martin Luther King, “I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key...

Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love...1 John 4:7 (TPT)

So, just what is it to allow LOVE to continually pour from us?

That is a tough order.

Continually pour love when the other person gets the promotion or the part?

Continually pour love when we KNOW “they” are responsible for my hurt?

Continually pour love into those “leaky people” who rarely appreciate it or worse yet take advantage of it?

Yep.

GOD loves us despite us and  He says, you want to look like me, want to look like my Son, then love; continually.

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:6 (ESV)

be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us…Ephesians 5:1 (ESV)

Dr. King in his channeling of John was articulating, Jesus’ overarching ethic of love that SHOULD continually be both our ENERGY and EMPHASIS.

Simply and obviously put, we are to do unto others as our heavenly Father through Christ has done unto us. He did what was best for us when he sent his Son for us. He offers to us HIS BEST each and every day. Hence, we, in turn, are to do what’s best for others. Even when less than what’s best is embraced as acceptable or short term satisfying. (Think revenge).

So then how do we know what love requires? How do we get our FLOW?

According to the apostle Paul, God’s Spirit will always nudge us in the direction of kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). 

Therefore, when we open our FLOW for the day, let’s do our best to max those out. 

That’s what love requires. 

That’s what following Jesus looks like.  That's what "looking like Him" looks like.

That’s what will make our FLOW GO!

I love you all!

Have a BLESSED DAY!

Opportunities for Hope

UNCOMFORTABLE

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.

Good morning my DISPATCH/OFH family.  Christmas is coming! Love all of you so very much! 

You know, I have been offered the rare “opportunity” to live in the house I grew up in as a kid.  A lot of “less than favorable” circumstances led to that, but in recent years I have come to appreciate not just having a place to live but the familiarity of it especially at this time of the year.  From the moment of the first fall colors to the Christmas season, being “at home” is, we very COMFORTABLE.

Yet as I was thinking about “how comfortable” Christmas can feel when surrounded by the familiar, can you imagine just how “uncomfortable” the ORIGIN of Christmas was?

A scandalous pregnancy.  That couldn’t have been anything comfortable.  Awkward at best.

People whispering. The morality police making their judgements. Joseph’s buds questioning his judgment to hang in there.  UNCOMFORTABLE!

Then the census.  Really?  They had to think, now?  Now we must pack up and take a long trip?

How comfortable do you think that trip was?

We complain these days because they have reduced our airline comforts by shrinking the seats and the snacks not to mention pillows being at a premium. 

Can you imagine what their trip was like?  Mary in her condition? Not to mention she was so young. 

My parental friends think about trying to take more than an hour trip in the car with your adolescents.  And our couple didn’t have any IPADS or Switch’s to distract. 

And then they hit town, exhausted; Mary in contractions and no one has anywhere for them to land?  You’ve got to be kidding right?  And we thought the trials and tribulations faced by the fellas from Planes Trains and Automobiles was harrowing.

Uncomfortable doesn’t do the journey justice.

And that should enhance your appreciation for the OBEDIENCE and PERSEVERANCE of our main characters, Mary and Joseph.  They PRESSED on.  They didn’t waver.  They had both heard from the angel and regardless of challenge, they had an obligation to that prophet fella Micah and the rest of those revered prophets to get to Bethlehem and have this child.

Period. End of story!

And they did.

They weathered the MOST uncomfortable to brings us the ONE of ALL COMFORT and REST. (2 Corinthians 1, Matthew 11…)

So, think about that while you are experiencing the inevitable “discomforts” in the next couple of days; traffic, stolen parking places, missed sales, cramped aisles, and rude folks.

Then take a breath.

And thank GOD.

And then pause to remember our brave travelers who willingly weathered the most UNCOMFORTABLE of circumstances so Mary could give…

…birth to a son and name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. – Matthew 1:21

I love you all!

Have a BLESSED DAY!

Opportunities for Hope

A LIFE MULTIPLIED

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.

Good morning my DISPATCH/OFH family.  It is good to be at the keyboard today.  I pray that ALL of you are doing well in this holiday season!  Don’t forget to take a breath. 

Soak the time in, because there are no guarantees.

Case in point, this past Tuesday I was honored to lay to rest little Camiyah, the grand-daughter of a special colleague who though works for a competitor (see eyes rolling cause I really don’t have those), is a dear friend, an advocate for the recovering and an amazing lady.

Little Camiyah, 18 months, was tragically killed in an auto accident on Thanksgiving.

As I prepared my remarks, never doing the funeral of a child before, I sought some counsel and got some excellent direction from some trusted friends and mentors including my mama.

And while deeply sad, I was able to share the TRUTH that Camiyah was with Jesus.  Indisputable. And to be able to paint that picture to offer that hope that resonates from 1 Thessalonians 4 was for me heartening and I pray for the family, reassuring.  My mama even gave me a wonderful poem to share, you will find it here. https://aislingjenningsphotography.wordpress.com/tag/spending-christmas-with-jesus-christ/

But I want to share something else from this heart-breaking situation.

Camiyah’s mama is in recovery.  She will boldly cop to that. So, I am not breaking any anonymity my AA/NA friends, she is quite proud of it.  And as I mentioned, grandma works in my field as one of the outreach team at Brightview Health.

Now why share this.  Here is why.

Camiyah donated some of her organs to others in need.

From what I was told, her heart went to a child down south.  Her liver to another one in need, a kidney as well.  But it is the second kidney’s destination that will make you pause.  In fact, when the story was shared, I immediately thought of this promise.

To all who mourn he will give…a joyous blessing – (From Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)

The second kidney if you can imagine went to a grandma and not just any grandma but a grandma who was mobilized into caring for her grandchildren following the death of her daughter to, wait for it, drug overdose.

I can’t make that up.

Remember, mama’s in recovery and grandma serves the recovering community, dealing with overdose and hurt every day.  And yet GOD offered this blessing amid the mourning.  Hope for another through their tears.

I found that to be remarkable and inspiring.

In fact, I didn’t know this story until I after I had penned my talk.  And yet within my talk I shared that I was believing that Jesus had already paused to show Camiyah the other kids she had helped not knowing that that population was much bigger than I had originally thought.

Think about that for a second. 

Four lives suffering through tragedy of their own given the gift of their grandma.  So, while we can’t bring Camiyah back, Camiyah has been multiplied in amazing ways.

I found that story while paradoxical to offer a comforting assurance. And it reminded me of this quote from Charles Swindoll, “If God gave such forethought into your birth (see PSALM 139) and designing your body, surely, He’s given no less attention to your future.”

…Even when we don’t fully understand it.

RIP little Camiyah.

I love you all!

Have a BLESSED DAY!

Opportunities for Hope

GRATEFUL HAPPINESS

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.

Here we are, ‘Gratitude Week’.

Pastor Mark at my home church yesterday asked us to be SENSITIVE to the time of year.  He asked us to "constantly" be SELECTING SOMEONE/CIRCUMSTANCES to SHARE gratitude for & with. 

Simple assignment, right?

A few days ago, I shared a little study about the IMPORTANCE and IMPACT of gratitude on the brain.

Neuroscience Reveals How Gratitude Literally Rewires Your Brain to be Happier

Neuroscience Reveals How Gratitude Literally Rewires Your Brain to be Ha... Neuroscientists have found that if you really feel it when you say it, you'll be happier and healthier. The regu...

Gratitude RESULTS in happiness!

Why is that you think? 

I have always taken the lead of Dr. Charles Stanley when he surmised that HAPPINESS is CIRCUMSTANTIAL and thus “a choice”.  He maintains that JOY is SUPERNATURAL because it comes from the LORD as our strength and a gift of obedient living.  Happiness on the other hand can ebb and flow based on our response to what is happening to or around us. 

I will give you a personal example.  Last Saturday I was REALLY happy when the Buckeyes were up by 21 points against Penn State.  In fact, I moved from my typical “edge of seat, nail biting posture” to putting away my laundry, relaxed feeling that this one was “in the bag”.  I was GRATEFUL and HAPPY!

But in a matter of minutes my HAPPY left, my gratitude for JK Dobbin's ability waned as Penn State, benefitting from sloppy play on the part of the Bucks, made the score 21-17.  Thankfully the boys righted the ship and won the game, which of course made me happy and grateful.

And while I know for some it seems ridiculous to have one’s mood PREDICATED on the performance of a bunch of 18-22-year-old kids, I can’t seem to overcome it. LOL. 

Just wait til we tangle with the villains from that team up north Saturday.  I am confident my mood swings will be pronounced.

But I share that little, and yes silly, example to hammer home the point that HAPPINESS is a circumstantial thing and if we KNOW that being GRATEFUL for LIFE, for BREATH, for GOD, for SALVATION, for GRACE; the list could go ON and ON, then WE SHOULD take my good Pastor’s advice and be READY to EXPRESS and SHARE GRATITUDE!  It is HEALTHY! 

whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God – Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul even went so far as to say, REGARDLESS of CIRCUMSTANCE, be GRATEFUL!

I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:12-13 (MSG)

So there is the assignment.

…let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! - Henry Ward Beecher 

And happiness to boot.

I love you all!

Have a BLESSED DAY!

Opportunities for Hope