At 11:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve an incredible and comforting
feeling resonated with me. I was content and happy with 2017. I thought, has this ever occurred? It was not
that 2017 had no trials, tragedies, or disappointments. Instead, it was about
how I dealt with everything that I faced, the good and the not so good. I
paused there when my counter thought was the not so good, rather than the bad.
We tend to look at life as good or bad. You see, God makes good of everything
taken together for His purpose for those who love and obey Him. God shows mercy
to those who love Him and keep His commandments. I’m not referring to just the
Ten written by the finger of God on the stone tablets. Jesus gave us the two
greatest commandments—
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them
debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of
all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this:
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and
with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as
yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark
12:28-31 NIV)
Love and obey.
I went to sleep shortly after midnight—I didn’t even pop the
cork of the champagne I bought. What was I celebrating? That one year had gone,
and another arrived? I was content. When I would wake, God would continue to do what He has been doing
all along—loving me as a perfect Father, me, a son of God, a reflection of His
glory. God saw that all He created was very good. And that includes you. You
are part of God’s creation, and He is pleased with how He made you. Revel in
that!
When I woke this New Year’s Day, my first thought was one of
gratitude. What was different about 2017 from previous years? Yes, my two
daughters announced that they were pregnant, and they would add to my heritage
as Papa, and we celebrated that good news at our Christmas gathering! What was
on my mind this New Year’s Day was that I have a score of new friends. I’m not
referring to Facebook friends or acquaintances; I mean true friends, people who
will pray for you, guard your back, and walk alongside you. It’s been a long
time since I had such Brothers and Sisters in Christ—twenty years.
So, what aroused this unexpected connection to meet people
who would become new friends? Sadly and tragically, my nephew died from
fentanyl-laced heroin overdose—and I
came out of seclusion. The new people I met on Labor Day at the prayer vigil
that led to “Do Something, BC” about the drug epidemic in Brown County were
surprised that I have lived in the county for twenty-five years. God told me to
attend the prayer vigil, and He would give me something to say. I chose to obey and come off my hill of
isolation where I had spent five years writing three full-length novels— The
Ephesus Trilogy – PURSUIT, SCANDAL, and CONQUERORS (click on https://Revelation7Strong.blogspot.com).
I chose to Do Something— “Don't just
listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling
yourselves.” (James 1:22 NLT) At the prayer vigil, I shared my heart, divinely
led to speak, and likened our prayer meeting to that of the twelve disciples
who gathered to pray with Jesus before his arrest, but when the soldiers took
him away, they scattered and broke the band of brother’s bond. I said, “We must
do something to stay connected and do what God’s word says and open our arms to
the addicted and receive them in love and not reject them with shame.” A spark was
created in me and the people attending. That spark organized a movement to Do
Something, BC. In no manner of speaking am I saying that I created that spark—
God created that spark and ignited the fire to Do Something because God saw
that all He created was very good. And that included the drug addict.
Yet, because I stepped up those stairs to speak to the small
crowd and offered to help in any way I could—as a pharmacist, a wellness coach,
and an advocate for the addicted— I was no longer hidden in the hills, and in
short order, I made new friends as we mingled and discussed what’s next. I met
a group of young adults, and one of them said to me, “I just saw a vision of
you as a huge link as big as a man, as thick as a man. The chain was designed
as a weapon to destroy the works of the enemy. The chain also represented that
you were right where you needed to be at the right time. Joined together with
others for a common goal. You’re right on time!”
Fast-forward to December 20, 2017— The Brown County
Commissioners certified my appointment to the Brown County Health Board, a
four-year term. Why? I stated to them that my purpose and passion was to
establish a “Pathway to Recovery in New Life” for the addicted— And they wanted
to Do Something. God created the spark and the fire of God is burning in Brown
County.
Love and obey and God will make good of all things for His
purpose. It is a matter of choice.
“God
said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” ~Genesis 1:26
NKJV
“God
saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” ~Genesis 1:31
NKJV
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Copyright 2017 © Jeff Cambridge
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