every addict matters

As I was running yesterday I saw a lady outside of a local business wearing a shirt that caught my attention. On her shirt I read these words… Every Addict Matters. I was caught by and held on to that statement.

This past year I met a man who speaks around the country that shares a message he calls “You Matter”. That man is Bobby Petrocelli. That statement has stuck with me since that last fall.

Another reason why that lady’s statement caught my attention is because of our commitment to serve people who are battling addiction. Our transitional homes for homeless men offer help for those in addiction. Our church has hosted recovery ministry for many years. Currently that is Celebrate Recovery that meets on Tuesday’s at 7pm.

Recently one of the men we have been serving passed away due to a relapse of addiction. His death hit me hard as do the tough times that so many we are close to have hit. Addiction is a very difficult and a very real thing.

God has called our church to remind others that they matter. They matter first to God. They matter to each of us because we love people. That is why that lady’s hit me, and that is why I am sharing with you this e-devotion.

It is not Black Lives Matter that I bring to you. It is not Blues Lives Matter or Police Lives. It is people matter. And one of those groups of people that keep pulling at my heart are those who find themselves in one of the most difficult places I have experienced. That would be in the throws of addiction.

John 3:16 NLT

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God loves people. That is settled. Every person. He gave His greatest gifts for people who to know and experience His deep and unending love.

Mark 12:33 NLT

And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”

We are called to love God and love others. Give that phrase another look. People matter. Every Addict Matters.

Now go live it out. Know that you matter and every person you come in contact with matters.

Who is it in your sphere of influence that needs to know they matter?

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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