HOPE REMAINS

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)

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

“Cause I never want to go back to my OLD LIFE”.

Last night at FREEDOM was astounding and I want to share a little of it, but I want to start with a little confession.

Yesterday, Monday, at the JEREMIAH TREE was no picnic. There seemed to be too many challenges and far too many large buckets of distress to handle. I will admit when I got to FREEDOM last night for pre-service counseling I was not in the counseling or FREEDOM spirit. The enemy was getting the best of me. I was doubting what I was doing.

But then FREEDOM started and GOD again proved why He’s GOD and I am not. He pulled me from my funk and brought fresh perspective to an otherwise jaded day. And he did it with folks emerging from incarceration. Isn't that just like GOD?

We welcomed to FREEDOM some guests from KAIROS PRISON Ministry. http://www.kairosohio.org/

As Kenton and his team of past prisoners shared, they reminded all of us once again that no trial, no challenge, no oppression or bad decision is beyond the hope and grace of Jesus. And as Natalie and Anna led this simple little song, GOD presence descended on our gathering and hope and possibility permeated the room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6rS_V0TTeY

Then Steve, Steve and Sheila went about GOD’s business.

They all shared stories of failure and crime; times of incarceration and loss. They poured from their experiences the pain and sadness of sin but followed those tragedies with incredible testimonies of GOD’s faithfulness of GOD’s truth and of GOD’s power to heal and deliver!

Steve (1) relayed a story of abandonment and pain that gave way to acceptance and love!

John 15:16

“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you…

Steve (2) suffered loss after loss after loss; dead end after dead end only to find ETERNAL hope in Christ!

Colossians 1:5

The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.

And then Sheila, who had tried to shoot and kill her husband for his abuse and who was given an “undetermined” sentence (in other words no release date), lavished on our team and me the incredible gift of forgiveness; its power and its influence on those around us.

Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Like I said it was an amazing night in the presence of GOD.

But perhaps you woke up this morning feeling isolated and imprisoned by life. Perhaps you woke up this morning feeling as I did yesterday, wanting to give up and cash out.

Let us all take a page from our KAIROS friends whose mission and message is the one of the HOPE found in CHRIST!

Let’s allow HIS hope to do for us what it did for them; open doors and break down the “prison walls” of apathy, sadness, frustration, uncertainty, bitterness and selfishness!

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you…

And let's again embrace the FREEDOM that is found in JESUS!

Thanks again to KAIROS for reminding us once again of the HOPE that is found in CHRIST!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

MORE

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)

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

“All we want and all we need is found in Jesus. All we ask is MORE OF YOU!”

That is a beautiful lyric.

Is that how you feel today; that all you need is found in Jesus?

If so are you seeking more of Him today?

I mean if all we need is found in Him then why would we look anywhere else?

But we do don’t we?

We look for “what we need” in “things”, relationships, careers, pursuits, stuff, and just about anything else that comes to mind instead of realizing that ALL we need can be found in the LORD.

1 Corinthians 8:6

For us there is only one God, and he is our Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things were made through him, and we also have life through him.

Don’t you love the end of that little verse?

We have LIFE through Jesus.

Just like the lyric says. All we want or need is found in Jesus. My friends LIFE is found in Jesus! ALL LIFE! Everything in it around it and through it STARTS and FINISHES with JESUS! That is why HE CAME!

John 10:10

…I came to give life—life that is full and good.

I want more of that!

Don’t you?

Yet there are countless things going on in our world that can serve to distract us from Jesus aren't there? Countless things seeking our attention.

But don’t give them the time of day today. Instead make today about Jesus.

Pause right now and acknowledge Him.

Thank Him for the day. Invite Him to join you on today’s journey. Remember He has all you are going to need for today.

Let Him know you are ready to learn from Him. Open your mind and heart for MORE!

Psalm 119:2

2 Blessed are those who seek him with their whole heart…

I believe when we do, when we seek MORE, GOD will give more!

Ephesians 3:20

God can do anything, you know—far MORE than you could ever imagine…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXNNxV-G_z8

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

YOU ARE NOT

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)

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

I was counseling and sharing with a woman yesterday at the JEREMIAH TREE who was just at her “wits end”. Family troubles, health troubles, confusion, financial woes were the topics. She was on the edge.

But after several Kleenex and some very serious searching in the scripture we came to a less than revelatory but significantly powerful conclusion.

GOD is GOD. We are not. And we need to trust Him.

I know, pretty "simple" but seriously true.

In fact later in the day I popped into my house to grab a quick soda and TBN was on and there was Bryan Duncan, singer and recovering addict, saying the same thing.

GOD is GOD. We are not. And we need to trust.

I love when GOD does that! Lets me know HE is paying attention! But it is the truth. GOD is GOD.

Colossians 1:16

Through his power all things were made: things in heaven and on earth, seen and not seen—all spiritual rulers, lords, powers, and authorities. Everything was made through him and for him.

But do we really “understand” that?

I would say no because if we did we wouldn’t try to play GOD as much as we do.

What do I mean "play GOD". You know what I mean.

We love to be in control. We love to feel as if we are calling the shots. We love to act as if OUR plan is the BEST plan with no regard as to what GOD’S (BEST) plan might be.

Come on! I am not the only one am I?

I believe we all “wish” we were GOD from time to time. Or at a minimum that GOD was more like a genie in a bottle and was at our beckon call and command.

But GOD knew better and GOD certainly knows better.

He knew we are not capable of consistent and good decisions. He knew our flesh would blind us constantly as to the difference between good and “not so good”.

So GOD has opted to STAY GOD and the sooner we realize that He is GOD and we are not, the better!

So let’s be simple.

Let's decide today to let GOD be GOD.

Psalm 37:5

Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you.

And us be us.

And then watch as the “simple” straightens us out.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWPWfp1sxoQ

I love you all!

Have a blessed weekend.

Freedom Church

PHONE A FRIEND

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)

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

Ecclesiastes 4:12

By yourself you’re unprotected.

With a friend you can face the worst.

Can you round up a third?

A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

Know any “loners”?You know the ones.

They like their isolation. They prefer solitude to socialization; seclusion over accountability.

They aren’t much for gatherings and meetings.Not big on the whole sharing and caring thing.

You know who I am talking about right?

It isn’t you is it?

You don’t find yourself retreating or isolating when the world presses in on you do you?When things get tough you don’t go into hiding do you?

I hope not.

Why?

That was me and it was “not good.”

I used to be a retreater and a lover of my seclusion.Yet I learned later on that that all that seclusion and isolation did was left me to be alone with my addiction and all of the joyful thoughts of that dysfunctional marriage. Yuck!

It was not a healthy place to hang out that is for sure.

There is even a little saying for the recovering:

"When you're home by yourself you're behind enemy lines."

And boy is that ever true!

It is why SOLOMON penned this little nugget of inspiration above…

Ecclesiastes 4:12

By yourself you’re unprotected…

GOD created us as social creatures.I mean right out of the chute He recognized the importance of “each other”.

Genesis 2:18

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone...”

Yet the enemy loves to pin us in the corner and keep us isolated and vulnerable.It is there he can do the most damage!

So when life presses in don’t isolate yourself.

Seek some companionship. Call a buddy. Phone a friend.

We all need help from time to time.Machismo is overrated my brothers.Sad songs, a glass of Chardonnay and a box of tissues are not the answer girlfriend.

I know we need GOD when life gets low, but we also need each other!

2 Corinthians 1:4

…God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us….

Maybe you are feeling isolated and alone today; feeling like no one will understand or no one is there.

TRUST GOD.He will come along next to you to help but more importantly He will direct you to someone who has just what you need and the word you need to hear. That person is out there. 2 Corinthians says so!

So trust the wisdom of Solomon and don't choose isolation. Remember...

…With a friend you can face the worst.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

PACKS A PUNCH

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)

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

Was posting a message to FACEBOOK yesterday when a little post from who I consider a dear and faithful man of GOD popped up.

“Anybody got a word of encouragement for a tired, discouraged man?” was the post.

For all of its flaws, FACEBOOK does have a few merits and after this posted, more than 25 comments of encouragement came pouring onto my friend’s wall.

It is nice to see the “body” respond when another is hurting or down.

That is one of our jobs you know. You’ve heard it time and time again in past DISPATCH’S. We are to encourage one another!

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…

But the truth is life can often zap the enthusiasm right out of any of us. We all get discouraged like my friend; even the GODLIEST have gloomy days. But GOD reminds us over and over again that HIS SPIRIT that lives in us is greater than any discouragement, lie, depression, or gloom that the enemy can throw our way.

In fact GOD reminds us to tap into that continuously; that we are to encourage OURSELVES in that SPIRIT when life takes us low.

Jude 1:20-21

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love ...

Yes, FACEBOOK friends are wonderful for a “pick me up” when we are down and despondent, but nothing compares to the amazing and uplifting hope and power of the SPIRIT OF GOD!

So let’s not let gloom gain an advantage!

Remember Jesus has got our back today; HE is offering personal encouragement like no other!

John 14:1

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Allow HIS HOPE, HIS PEACE, HIS POWER and HIS SPIRIT to pick you up flow through you and overcome your discouragements.

Oh, you are wondering what Iposted for my dear discouraged disciple?

Here you go...

…“My words pale...BUT HIS pack a punch!

Romans 15:13 (ERV)

13 I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I love it when the LORD does the talking for me!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

STORM TRUST

STORM TRUST
A little technical challenge today...sorry for the delay...be blessed!



... 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)

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

This little passage was shared yesterday.

Matthew 8:23-26

23 Jesus got into a boat, and his followers went with him. 24 A great storm arose on the lake so that waves covered the boat, but Jesus was sleeping. 25 His followers went to him and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We will drown!”

26 Jesus answered, “Why are you afraid? You don’t have enough faith.” Then Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves, and it became completely calm.

Jesus hid away for a quick respite, He was out of sight for just an instant and then when the storm came up they forgot everything He had taught them about faith and assurance.

Isn’t that just like us? We do that don’t we?

We are rock solid on Sunday’s or at the Bible study. We can recite scripture and offer praise. We may even share a little application or two. But “separate us” from all of that for just a second and have a little adversity pop up and watch how we are a lot like the disciples.

We panic too don’t we?

We forget what we know.

We focus on the storm.

We think we are about to perish.

But just like them, we aren’t going to perish.

Jesus is there. Just like in the boat.

Jesus is at peace. Just like in the boat.

And our storm doesn’t faze Him just like the storm the disciples faced. Why?

Because HE controls it all. Just like from the boat.

We need to remember that.

Remember storms will blow up around us from nowhere all the time.

But don’t fixate on the storm. Instead remember…

Jesus is at peace.

Jesus is in control.

Jesus is still here.

Deuteronomy 31:6

6 Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid …and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.

I love you all!

Freedom Church



Pastor GDelaney

WORK IT

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)

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

Ok.

Pause for a second. Take a deep breath. I want you to close your eyes in just a second and take 10 seconds to remove yourself from your surroundings. While you are gone I want you to think of a way that GOD is “working” for you today; ponder something that GOD worked out so that you might be blessed today.

Ok. One…two…three. Close your eyes.

……….

Welcome back.

What crossed your mind?

Air?

Those budding flowers.

Your desk? Maybe that family you pecked on the cheek a few minutes back. Is it the baby growing inside of you? Did GOD arrange safe passage for you to get from A to B?

What it was is up to you. The point was to get you to remember that GOD is constantly “working” for us.

Keeping this earth on axis and spinning at the precise speed is no simple trick. Keeping that ozone balanced so we don’t step out and turn to bacon on the front porch probably takes a little ingenuity and precision don’t you think?

GOD never ceases “working” for us.

Blessing us. Interceding for us. Revealing things to us. Comforting us.

Psalm 145:9

The Lord is good to all. And His loving-kindness is over all His works.

So if the Lord constantly “working for us” and we know that all of that “work” is for our good…

Romans 8:28

We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him

Doesn’t it stand to reason that we should be ready and willing to “work”for Him?

I mean it makes sense right; that we should reciprocate?

I mean GOD is putting in 24 hour days for us. Shouldn’t we be motivated to give back at least a portion of that to Him?

I think so. And so does GOD.

How do I know?

He built us for it.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

So I want to encourage you today. Take a look around you and soak in all that GOD is doing for you. Then take another look around and uncover something you could “do” for GOD.

Honor GOD by serving someone else. Leverage a gift or talent GOD gave to you. Do something for HIS glory and not your own.

Remember, GOD has and continues to “work” for you. Why not repay the blessings and do a little “good work” for Him today?

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney