WAXY HEART

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.

 

Sorry I missed all of you yesterday.  Too little night followed by a little too early morning.  Hence a little later the submission this morning.  Needed to get at least 20 winks before wading into today!

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Yesterday was the Franklin County Coroners Annual Opiate Crisis Summit.  And over 400 health care, social work, mental health, law enforcement and faith professionals gathered for information, education, networking, and mobilization.

 

Dr. Ortiz does a marvelous job of bringing together subject matter experts and is also quite gifted at organizing some of the brightest minds and hearts on the subject. 

 

In recent weeks, my heart and efforts have been pulled into helping find resources and engage the “church and faith” communities in helping with something called NAS (Narcotics Abstinence Syndrome).  It is a malady/condition experienced by infants birthed by addicted mothers.  In Franklin County alone over 1000 infants were challenged with the ailment in 2016.  So, it is a severed issue. There is an important role for the church to play in ministering not only to these babies but their families as well.  So be praying for new on-ramps and work to help us engage it!!

 

But it was while a prominent expert in the space, Dr. Krissanna Deppen was sharing about the challenge that a little comment was made about how folks/families respond to crisis like NAS.  And that is what I thought I would draw on for today’s OFH.

 

She said when “LIT” wax and clay respond most differently; one melts and the others hardens.  She then asked the group that was gathered what is the “state of your heart” when this problem is exposed to “the light”, when it is LIT?

 

Is your heart being melted and softened to respond?  Or are you like many whose heart has hardened with cynicism toward the addicted moms forgetting the challenge of the children, a heart that only seeks to punish for the bad choices made?

 

Tough question.

For yes, while the moms do need to be held responsible for the choices made, both they and the children need compassion and soft hearts to help them navigate their way through the consequences.

 

So, that leads to a question for today.

 

When challenges in our communities or neighborhoods arise, when they are given “light”, how do our hearts respond?

Do our hearts melt or harden?

 

The Bible says a lot about our hearts. 

(GOD SAYS) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekial 36:26 (NIV)

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8 (ESV)

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. - Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)

 

And while you may not be drawn to the light of the challenge with NAS and that is OK, are you being sensitive to the things GOD IS shedding “LIGHT” on AROUND YOU? 

The widow who could use a call?

The family who could use a hot meal?

That kid in the neighborhood that could use a mentor?

That recovering addict who could use a ride?

That mission the church keeps talking about?

 

How is your heart responding? 

Melting? Softening? Or hardening?

For: 

“The funny thing about the heart is a soft heart is a strong heart, and a hard heart is a weak heart.” - Jami

 

Have a blessed day!

I love you all

 

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE