CHASING WHAT?

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?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

What are you chasing?

Better place?

Better job?

The“right” one?

How about karma? Or is it self-actualization?

Maybe you aren’t quite so deep a thinker and it is just cool rims for your supped up Vega or Chevette (now that dates me huh?).

Face it we are “seekers” and chasers by nature. We never stop pursuing. Whether in mind or body, we are constantly chasing something.

That is why I asked you the question, what are you chasing?

I mean all of us have visions of “something” else; a grander life maybe our face on the cover of “Rolling Stone”. Let’s be real, no one wants the same old same old day in and day out right?

Sadly though chasing after the world's vision of fulfillment often leads to emptiness. And that emptiness often leads many to “finding something” to fill it.

Some try saturating their minds with new ideologies and experiences, eager to find the one that will finally fill the hole inside them. Others (many of us) went searching in and with things that proved to be destructive.

That is why it is important to know what you are chasing because genuine satisfaction comes only through GOD.

And daily we must make a decision to make the Lord our pursuit and give ourselves fully to that goal!

Philippians 3:12-14
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I haveit made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running…

When we make CHRIST our pursuit, we will begin to experience the satisfaction and fulfillment we crave. Don’t forget, GOD has crafted a purpose and a plan for each of us that matches our skill-set and talents, a fulfillment that is in alignment with the gifts HE has given us and that match HIS WILL for our lives!

That is what we are to be chasing because we know that is GOOD!

Romans 8:28 (NLV)

²⁸ We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan.

You are chosen for HIS PLAN and that plan is designed for HIS GLORY and it is a plan that is chocked full of hope!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

So before you get running this morning, take a pause and ask yourself...

“Just what AM I chasing today?”

If you need a little extra help…then…here is a suggestion.

Joshua 24:15 (NLV)

…choose today whom you will serve (CHASE)…for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Have a blessed weekend!

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

BOWLING PIN

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?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

There you are, standing helpless like a pin at the end of the bowling lane. Life is just a few feet away, sizing you up, picking its spot and staring you down. Then methodically life approaches, takes a lusty backswing and hurls a huge ball of unexpected circumstances right at you.

You know it’s coming right at you. You cringe.

You can’t move right or left. You know it is going to rock you into the pit at the end of the alley. You try to brace yourself but POW!

Head over heels you go; flying up in the air, wildly careening off of other pins, spinning around uncontrollably until finally coming to a brief rest.

You take a breath.

But then what happens?

Life decides it wants another shot, so it scoops you up and plops you right back down for the next frame.

Uh oh…here we go again!

Ever feel that way? Like life has become a never ending set ups and knock downs?

I know I have.

But did you know that while life can knock you down, it sure doesn’t have what it takes to knock you out.

Did you know that?

Did you know that regardless of the number of times life sets you up and knocks you down you have what it takes to keep going!

So don’t give up.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. ¹⁷ We have small troubles for a while now, but these troubles are helping us gain an eternal glory. That eternal glory is much greater than our troubles. ¹⁸ So we think about what we cannot see, not what we see. What we see lasts only a short time, and what we cannot see will last forever.

That is right!

Even when our bodies and minds are worn out, even when we are tired from the dishing that life is doling out, even when we it seems like we can’t take one more “strike”, our spirit will sustain us!

Proverbs 18:14
The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble…

I was speaking with a dear friend just yesterday and she was so tired.

Her emotions were frazzled and she was completely exhausted. She had been through at least 9 frames just yesterday. She wanted off the lane badly.

But after a long talk and a time of reassurance, she was able to again remember that this world and these circumstances may knock her down, but they couldn’t keep her down.

Maybe you are there too today, tired of the knock downs and the set ups.

You too may be beat and battered. Don’t give up; keep getting up, keep standing firm, life doesn't have what it takes to knock you out.

Here is why.

1 Peter 5:10

… keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

Who is in the Mirror?

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?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Ok.

Go and look in the mirror. That’s right. Stop reading and go look in the mirror and take a hard gaze at it. Give yourself a full “once over”.

I will wait.

Welcome back!

Ok, what did you think? How did that person in the mirror look?

Happy or harried? Enthusiastic or apathetic?

Are you looking good? Feeling ready? Positive and ready to face the day!

Or did you just scare yourself back into bed?

Did the mirror show someone who is positive about today, its prospects and its opportunities or did the mirror return the look of dread, foreboding and angst?

If the mirrow has you leaning toward the latter, then let’s change that attitude this morning.

Did you know that:

“The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we choose to express. It is not a gift delivered to our door each morning, nor does it come through the window.” -- Charles Swindoll

So let’s choose to make today a positive one.

Why?

Because GOD told us to.

Psalm 118:24 (ERV)

²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made.
Let us rejoice and be happy today!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG)

^16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

That is reason enough don’t you think? And don’t you have a lot to be thankful for, to be positive about? Come on…you know you do!

Look around!

Psalm 34:8

…open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you…

You see that! You are blessed.

I know - I know that person in the mirror might want to convince you otherwise, but you can’t refute the truth, right?

So if that person in the mirror is less than “cheery” this morning, don’t let him or her set the course for the day. Make a choice.

You have the power to choose today whether to be bummed or blessed!

Still not convinced?

Okay, let's start small. Give me a little smile…

Come on, smile…I’m waiting…J

Proverbs 15:13 (MSG)

¹³ A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

There you go!

Have a blessed day!

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

TESTED TOUGH

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?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Really GOD, really?”

“For real?”

“As if things weren’t tough enough already and now this?”

“GOD, just in case you've noticed things haven’t been actually hitting on all cylinders these days for me. You know, the marriage, the debt, that goofball boss.”

“Maybe I am all “trialed out”. “Maybe?”

You been there? Felt that way?

Loaded down with “WHY’s”?

“WHY ME?” “WHY NOW?” “WHY THIS?”

Perhaps a little perspective would be helpful.

1 Peter 1:7

⁷These tests have come to prove your faith and to show that it is good. Gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire. Your faith is worth much more than gold and it must be tested also. Then your faith will bring thanks and shining-greatness and honor to Jesus Christ when He comes again.

Truth is GOD allows trials to test our faith.

That old saying you see all the time, “what does not kill us makes us stronger”applies here.

The test is to improve us, refine us, and advance us.

So never get overwhelmed with the trial that you start believing GOD wants you to fail. Instead, His intention is to strengthen your faith. Look at that verse a little again. “These tests have come to ‘prove your faith’”.

Untested faith is unproven faith.

GOD uses the test to lead you to Him. He uses the pressure to develop patience, endurance and expectancy in us. To FORGE our faith.

Romans 5:3-5
We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patiencein us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

So we can’t be so quick to cash out when the trials or the tests come. We can’t be so quick to complain and whine when they hit the door. We must instead face them openly and honestly if we’re to become mature believers. Never forget, GOD wants to bring out the best in us.

Romans 12:2

…God brings the best out of you, develops well-formedmaturity in you.

So GOD has a purpose for every challenge He allows to come your way.

Our job is to seek the purpose in the pain, to stand firm and allow Him to accomplish His will in our lives.

Have a blessed day!

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

REMEMBER

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Himtoday?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Got you’re to do list handy?

Given today’s calendar a review? Know where and when you are supposed to be later?

Got gas? Don’t forget the “honey dos” for today.

Bank, grocery, pharmacy, probably a couple of other errands I am sure.

For heaven sakes don’t forget to grab the kid at the pool after swimming, remember the day you “forgot” him…yikes!

Remember it is the last week of the month, got all of the bills paid, obligations met, and budget updated, July is just around the corner.

There can be a whole lot to remember some days huh?

But I will be honest. There is a reason I average just south of 4000 text messages and who knows how many emails a day. There is a reason I have my calendar on my home computer and my phone.

I have trouble remembering things. Do you?

No wonder. With all of the chaos and noise; the Twittering, the status updates, the 24x7 news cycle, it is so easy to get distracted and side-tracked. I mean come on, there is only so much workable space left in my feeble nugget for information.

But scripture reminds us of something that we MUST remember.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NLV)

12 Remember also your Maker while you are young…

Jeremiah 51:50

Remember the Lord, though you are in a far-off land. . . .

Now I know what you are thinking. I am far from young and I am not in “a far off land”. But work with me a little.

You are up and moving aren’t you? Reading this aren’t you? Then you are “young enough”. J

And that “far off land” might be the business trip or the overwhelming work week lurking over the horizon.

The point is, if we are not careful it is easy to forget GOD.

But right now, in this moment, while you are reading this little DISPATCH, pause and remember GOD; remember all that He has done on your behalf.

Remember that God has a plan and purpose for your life. Take the time to seek it out.

Did you know that GOD has a “will” for you today? He does.

He wants you to listen for it, watch for the signs and be obedient to it.

And "don't forget", God is constantly remembering you.

He is constantly thinking about you.

He is aware of you.

He never forgets you.

Psalm 139

…You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going.

See, He remembers you.

So what do you say? Let’s kick off this week and be sure to remember Him.

Have a blessed day!

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

EVER PRESENT HELP!

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?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“It is just too much!”

“This deadline, this pressure, this adversity, this craziness, I can’t do it. I don’t know if I can make it.”

“I can’t hold on much longer!”

Yes you can! Don’t let go! Your refuge is right there!

Do you hear me?

It is right there!

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Jeremiah 16:19

LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress...

All these challenges, all this pressure is to send you a message! Come back to GOD! Don’t go running away. Don’t entertain thoughts of “dealing with it”on your own.

2 Corinthians 7:10

Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets; end up on a deathbed of regrets.

There is purpose in the challenges!

Remember Pastor Josh’s message from a couple weeks back AHOPPER’S this stress, this pressure is a compliment.

James 1:2 (MSG)

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

So don’t cash out!

GOD promises that as long as we hold to our convictions under pressure and challenges, He will continue to do a good work in us. There is no wasted motion with GOD.

He started this; He wants you to trust Him to finish it!

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who begana good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

So hold on! Lean on Jesus. He will hold you together!

Colossians 1:17

Christ was before all things. All things are held together by Him.

I love you all.

Have a blessed weekend.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

"CHARLIE BROWNERS"

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?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

 1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

When I was little I used to read “Charlie Brown” books all the time.  I loved that little crew of kids, still do to be honest.  But I always had a soft spot for Charlie.  As hard as he would try, nothing ever seemed to go right.

Try to kick the football, Lucy would yank it away.

Try to be the winning pitcher and Peppermint Patty would take him deep.

Try to fly a kite and he would suffer defeat at the hands of the kite eating tree.

Charlie just never could “get over”.  Not even the little red-headed girl gave him the time of day.

And almost always in the last frame of the strip would be Charlie letting out a big “UGH” or a heavy sigh; one more day, one more defeat.

Well here it is only Thursday and I have spent my week with several “CHARLIE BROWNS” that is for sure.

Account after account of some dear folks who are feeling low and isolated; beaten and tired; confused.  They are feeling defeated and dare I say distant from hope and possibility for a turn around.  The football has just been pulled, the losing run just cleared the fence, the tree has not only eaten their kite, but he was laughing with every chomp.

They (and maybe you) could use a lift.

So here it is.

Yesterday is gone.

A fresh start to this day is about to break.  A second chance is peeking over the horizon with the morning sun. 

GOD is waiting to offer you a “good morning”!

Check this out!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New Century Version)

17 If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!

GOD is ready to flip the script today!

Give Him a chance to help you.  He has what you need to finally kick the field-goal, strike out your adversary and craft the most beautiful and majestic kite you have ever seen. 

Let Him step in!  Others have and GOD listened.  He will do the same for you!

Psalm 30:2-3
God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out.

Psalm 103:6-18
God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.

Embrace the new chance for a better day that the dawn has brought you!

Shake off that old “defeated” attitude!  No more “UGH’s” and “SIGHS”. You have what it takes today to be successful! 

GOD on your side!

Romans 8:31

31…Since God is for us, who can be against us?

So come on my little “Charlie Browns”, let go kick that ball!

I love you all!

Freedom Church