CRYSTALIZED PERSEVERANCE

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.

Through the fire!

What a great night at FREEDOM. It was good to be back. And yes, while vacation was a bit “busy”at times, there is nothing like getting back with my little extended family to share and fellowship in recovery.

And last night we were treated to a wonderful testimony of hope.

Crystal shared a story that all of us can draw from. It was a story of ups and downs, of challenges and trial, of life and sadly even death. A Hollywood script writer would have had a tough time duplicating Crystal’s real life journey toward recovery. What a blessing it was for me and those there to have her share that journey.

But before Crystal shared, Debbie sang something she calls “Crystal’s Song”. I included a link to it below. It is a song of perseverance! And that is today’s DISPATCH word, PERSEVERANCE.

Crystal has walked through the fire of losing her mother to drugs, of being separated from her kids due to her habit, of incarceration, a failed marriage, a spousal incarceration, and intense addiction. Yet her countenance and enthusiasm would never have given that impression. Crystal has discovered that life is not guaranteed to be easy, but does guarantee an ESCORT when we need help through it. And she is leaning on that ESCORT minute by minute and day by day and HE is delivering miracle after miracle in her life!

It was in her darkest times, the times that life pushed her to her knees in desperation that GOD revealed Himself to her. It is a message for all of us; that our most successful battles are fought on our knees. (Thanks Pastor Stanley).

But it is true, when the fight or the fire becomes most intense, that is when we are being called to surrender and it is in that surrender that we find the strength to persevere!

Paul understood this!

2 Corinthians 12:10
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Perseverance is something that is developed when we weather the trials, the fires, and the storms of life dependent and fully submitted to GOD. Perseverance comes when we allow GOD to assume His position at the front line of our trial and blaze the way through on our behalf!

Deuteronomy 9:3
…be assured today that the LORD your Godis the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire.

What a wonderful promise.

So if you see a trial looming in the distance, if life’s cauldron has turned up the heat, let GO and let GOD develop an amazing strength and perseverance to get through it!

Romans 5:2-4

…we^[a] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we^[b] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLeC5hmRZX4

I love you all.

Have a blessed day.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

WHO YOU RELYING ON?

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.

 

Well here we have arrived at FRIDAY and today’s DISPATCH word is RELIANCE.

Do you ever stop to think just how much we really do rely on other each day?

I mean yesterday, I am relying on a team of mostly college kids to insure that I am strapped in appropriately to an absolutely crazy thrill ride in Harry Potter Wizardly World of Wonder or whatever it was called.  Suddenly I am playing Quiddich, encountering spiders and ghosts flipping upside down, sideways, forwardways, under and over ways…

And yes it was thrilling and a lot of fun but it made me realize that during that little experience, I was relying on a core of engineers, builders, electricians, motion specialists, physicists, etc to make the adventure fun and safe for me and the family.

We take little leaps of faith all day long don’t we? We rely on so many others, things, and infrastructure to navigate our day and we don’t give it a thought.

So why do we sometimes find the concept of relying on GOD, who gifted all of us, oversees all things, promises to provide for us, and work all things for our good so difficult?

Romans 8:28 (ERV)

28 We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.

I think many of us are lulled into a false sense of self-sufficiency most days.  We think we are in control of most things.  Truth is, we really don’t have a whole lot of control over much of anything.

Yesterday, I trusted my VERIZON phone to find the motel and the park, my van’s locks to protect my stuff, my bank to supply the funds for my purchases, the oil refinery to properly concoct my gasoline…you get my drift.

If I am going to rely on all of these man-made things, then I most definitely need to put GOD at the top of this list of “reliable sources" as His presence in all things.

Therefore I am going to acknowledge His omniscience.

I am going to make an effort to begin to pray that into my days.  “GOD, I will first rely on you for this day; it’s events, it’s provision, it’s protection and it’s results.  You know exactly what I need for today, I trust you above all others."

Remember, He has our best interests at heart!

Psalm 56:4

By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

Psalm 62:8

Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him.

Have a blessed weekend.

I love you all…

FREEDOM CHURCH

 

 

Pastor GDelaney

PERSISTENT?

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.

Persistent?

Are you persistent? Do you have convictions that regardless of circumstances, obstacles or challenges you will stick to them?

Are you persistent in your recovery?

Are you persistent in your walk?

Yesterday we were priveledged and blessed to spend some time in Animal Kingdom at WDW and one of the attractions is a little 30 minute musical based on “Finding Nemo.”

Now I have done a DISPATCH or two in the past about portions of this movie. All of us in recovery need to check out the “FISH ARE FRIENDS NOT FOOD” number, it will hit home. But today is more about Nemo’s dad.

If you don’t know the story, Nemo is scooped up by a fisherman, separated from his dad and eventually ends up in a fish tank in a dentists office.

Yet his dad, who is a neurotic and "fearful sort" travels the entire sea in an effort to find his son. He survives sharks, jellyfish, a ride on an intense current, and the distractions of laid back turtle all in the pursuit of his missing little Nemo.

Nothing was going to stand between him and finding his little boy, not even his OWN FEARS.

That got me to thinking. Are we as persistent in our pursuit of our recovery? Are we as persistent in finding Jesus?

We should, there is incredible blessing when we do!

Romans 2:7 (NLT)

7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

I love the advice that Dora, the little forgetful blue fish continues to give Nemo’s pop throughout the little musical; “Just keep swimming”, but she says a little something more profound to dad. To paraphrase, she asks a question. She asks Nemo’s dad, “What do we do when things come unglued?”

We swim!

That is great counsel for all of us.

When life begins to fall apart, when adversity comes, ever when life’s sharks are lurking, or the subtle and dangerous jellyfish are poised to sneak attack, we must keep going!

We stay persistent!

2 Corinthians 4:16

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

So, just keep swimming…!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR7F5FUBbpw

I love you all…

FREEDOM CHURCH

Pastor GDelaney

ELUSIVE CONTENTMENT

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.

Contentment.  That one is a difficult DISPATCH word huh?

That little “state of mind” is downright elusive.  We think we have it, then circumstances shift and like sand leaking from between our fingers so does our “contentment”.

Why is that you think?

I think it all stems from how we define contentment and where we go looking for it.

If you take contentment literally you come across definitions like this…

…satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

Pay close attention to that little definition.  It says contentment means “I am satisfied”, I am not seeking it in something or someone. It says contentment means we are “not chasing” the next thing, the next high, the next deal, the next house, car, “whatever”.  It says “we just have it”.

Yet every day I work with folks who are still seeking contentment, chasing it like a dog chasing his tail; looking to the world for contentment and it is leaving them wanting more; begging for something more.

In fact, I was in that same boat for years.  I had the job, no peace.  I had the cars, no joy. I had the cash, no contentment.

And I am going to be blatantly honest here, there are days where I still pine for some of those things (I am still silly and human) I have begun to learn in recovery and in my walk with Jesus that true contentment is only found in Jesus and is served up to me with the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Our sense of joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment in life increases, no matter what the circumstances, if we are in the center of God’s will.

Billy Graham

Jesus put it this way…

Matthew 5:5

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

Jesus is reminding us, He made us, gifted us, equipped us, has our back, is walking with us, helping us, sticking up for us, providing for us.  We should be “good with that” shouldn’t we?

The question is how do we begin uncover this mystery of contentment?

Pretty simple.

Pursue Jesus.  He is the source of real contentment.

Seek first a personal, transforming relationship with Jesus, and then claim the joy, the fulfillment, and the spiritual abundance that He offers; in other words real contentment.

Take a little cue from Paul…

Philippians 4:12-14

….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.

That "ONE" is Jesus!

Billy has another good one…

We are never more fulfilled than when our longing for God is met by His presence in our lives.

Billy Graham

Therefore, don't chase after contentment, just be contented today.

I love you all

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

PATIENCE PRACTICE

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.

Have patience.

Today’s DISPATCH word is “patience”.  How do you do in that department?

Yesterday was a day for a little patience. Sometimes the happiest place on earth, aka Disney World, becomes more about the time in the queue than time in the attraction.  Add a torrential downpour, some tired teenagers, a couple of sore legs and a little medical issue I will share later on, I needed a little patience! 

But, sometimes, we do not want to practice patience do we?

We should.

James 1:7-8

But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing...

As Christians, patience reflects GOD working in our lives.

Come on, think about it.

Anyone can react in a negative fashion-with irritation, impatience or demands-but when we respond with kindness, gentleness and calmness, we give an awesome testimony to the transforming power of God.

So instead of flipping the rude driver or the poor waiter the bird, maybe hoist a little prayer, take a little breath or hold it together. It is your chance to show others that the Holy Spirit is working for you.

GOD wants us to wait quietly in a difficult circumstance and not rush ahead or get aggravated.

Proverbs 14:29
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exposes and exalts his folly.

Developing a patient temperament is not a smooth process. Believe me, as hard as I try, the old Greg, who was QUICK to anger and impatient, shows up from time to time.  Ask Katie the ticket taker at Space Mountain, I am betting the word Pastor or Christian were not the first words that popped in her head when it came to me.

But I must and we must continue to pursue patience. We need to accept that we will make mistakes and we will find ourselves still acting in our old impatient ways from time to time. It is important to forgive ourselves when it happens and try again, remembering the Spirit will help us make fewer of them.

How about we start today acknowledging that difficulties will come but commit to practicing patience?

Colossians 3:12

…Be even-tempered, content with second place…

Be blessed today!

I love you all

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

GRATEFUL DAYS

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.

I am grateful.

The next couple DISPATCH’s are going to focus on one word.  Today’s is grateful.

Are you grateful? I couldn’t be more grateful this morning.  Not because I am on vacation, not because we are having “fun”, but just because of “being”.

All day long the family kept asking “what do want to do next dad?”  “Splash Mountain, go back and rest, Haunted Mansion?”  And all I could say is “I’m good with whatever.”  It wasn’t because I didn’t care or didn’t have a plan, I was being honest.  Whatever we were going to do was just fine. Why?

Because I am grateful just to be around for the questions.  I am grateful to be included in the conversations. 

God has blessed me with a great bunch of kids a wonderful wife and a new shot at life.  So what “I do” each day clearly isn’t as important to me as “being” around to do it.

Now before you roll your eyes or say “Come on Pastor”, every day isn’t vacation, you have bad days, all of life isn’t chocked full of blessing.  I have seen you down in the mouth or frustrated.”

Yes, I have “not so blessed” days too.

But that shouldn’t change my appreciation for life and GOD.

GOD still calls us to be grateful and appreciative of ALL things.  So why I do have my share of “less than blessed days”, they are fewer and farer between these days not because the days are better, but my attitude about them is better.

You see GOD didn’t guarantee that ALL days would be peaches and cream, but regardless we are to be “grateful”

Ecclesiastes 7:14

...on a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days So that we won't take anything for granted.

GOD is teaching me that I need to be grateful all times.  “don’t take anything for granted.” 

Expressing gratefulness changes our attitude about God, ourselves, and our situations.  

Gratitude opens our eyes to the wonder of the small things that GOD blesses us with daily.  Air, provision, community…you get the drift right?

Sure it is easy to be grateful when all is clicking along swimmingly and I will admit that the last couple of days it has been “easy to be grateful.”   But GOD calls us to gratitude and appreciation at all times.

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

So just ask yourself this morning, am I grateful?  Am I appreciative of just “being” or does it all have to be going my way to be appreciative?

Psalm 107:42

If you are really wise, you'll think this over—

     it's time you appreciated God's deep love.

I love you all.

Have a blessed day.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

A Prayer for Aurora

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.

Psalm 119:76

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise

Was all set to go down a different road this morning when I wake up to the horrifying news of the shooting in Colorado.  Ironically my entire family and several of Hillary’s dear friends attended a similar premier of the BATMAN film in Orlando.

The news of the morning is sobering.

It is a morning for prayer for the families of those who have suffered such unbelievable loss; the innocent.

I love you all.

Have a blessed weekend.

SUPPLIER

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 was a long day on the road yesterday.  I am convinced that the country stretched yesterday and they moved Florida to just above Australia on the global map.

But the time in the car gave me some time to think.

Last Monday night we had more than 10 new faces come to FREEDOM. Now granted, they were familiar faces, but they were new to our fellowship.  Each one had a “different” challenge, each one had a “need”; a unique need for which they were seeking provision.

One needed a job.  Another needed direction for the “next thing”. Another needed treatment.

Truth is, from God's perspective, being in “need” can be spiritually beneficial. We “need” to start to understand that.

Tom Thompson my dear friend from the REFUGE says that we when we are “done”; have come to that place of need and have decided to stop, that is when GOD can start.  However, our pride often keeps us from seeing that. 

We need to take a page from Paul when we are in “need”.

For Paul understood that in his “need” GOD had what He “needed”.

2 Corinthians 12:10

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sometimes it takes the bottom falling out for us to remember that GOD is a GOD who promised to provide.

Philippians 4:19

Amplified Bible (AMP)

19 And my God will liberally supply ([a]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Trouble is we are a worrisome lot.  We are quick to panic when life gets a little out of frame or our path gets a little rocky.  We forget that GOD has our best interest at heart 24/7 365!

Matthew 6:30-33

…don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? …Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Maybe you are facing a “big” need today? Maybe the bottom just fell out.

Maybe it is a new need or that pesky reoccurring need.  Whatever then need, give this a try.  Take GOD at His word with the need.  He promised He would fill it right?  Don’t worry about the “how” or the “process”.

Today see your need as GOD is inviting you to trust Him and His Word with it.

I love you all.

Have a blessed day.

Freedom Church

WHY NOT YOU?

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.

I shared this little excerpt from motivational and empowerment mogul Steve Maraboli at FREEDOM MONDAY.  I just really liked it.

I added a couple shots of the WORD for good measure to Steve’s thoughts.

I know it will sound a little silly, but read it out loud and replace the “you’s” with “me’s”.  See if it doesn’t reset your perspective for the day ahead!

“Why Not You?

Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?

Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. Why not you?

Psalm 145:5

 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.

Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. Why not you?

2 Peter 1:0

…your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?

Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. Why not you?

Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?

1 Peter 1:14-16

…Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. Why not you?

Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. Why not you?

1 Timothy 6:18

 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?

Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?

Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, & so much more. Why not you?

Today is a new day!

Many will seize this day.

Many will live it to the fullest.

Why not you?”

Have a blessed day!

Freedom Church