LOVES SINNERS

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 have recently been counseling several folks who are “devastated”with their sin. They feel like they have made SO MANY mistakes, taken SO MANY wrong turns, made SO MANY bad decisions that there is no hope. The enemy has taken a dump truck’s worth of GUILT and unloaded it right on top of them.

They feel trapped.

They feel overwhelmed.

They feel hopeless.

And they sense that there will never be a way for them to be “good enough, long enough” to crawl out of the hole that their sin and bad choices has left them in.

Well I have good news!

Jesus CAME for folks like these and YOU!

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Plain and simple.

GOD gave JESUS for “us sinners” not for “saints”. GOOD THING too, because there are a whole lot more on the “sinner” side of that ledger than “saints.

Romans 3:23

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

But I can understand how my friends are feeling. We talked a few DISPATCH’s back about the struggle to do “right” and then falling short of that; and then the hurt and unsettling feelings that follow.

I wrestle with them myself.

But I want to offer a little hope this morning; a glimmer of light that emanates from the top of that “pit”.

The Lord LOVES sinners! He hates SIN, but LOVES the sinner!

I mean it would be easy to expect and believe that a loving heavenly FATHER would care for His children when they are behaving “well” or when they are being hurt, persecuted, or misunderstood. But our LORD’S LOVE doesn’t stop there!

God comforts his kids even when they have sinned.

It is true.

That is what makes our GOD so amazing; that grace for when we have “gotten it totally wrong”.

The truth is Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save anyone who believes in Him!

John 3:17

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Time and time again during Jesus’ ministry when He encountered folks doing the unthinkable, (woman CAUGHT in adultery, one of His best friends betraying Him) Jesus didn’t PILE ON, HEAP GUILT or OFFER CONDEMNATION.

Instead JESUS offered forgiveness.

Mind you He never condoned the sin or the action and did not defend the actions or completely erase the consequences. But time after time JESUS provided COMPASSION and an opportunity to “flip the script”.

John 8:11

…Go and sin no more.

John 5:14

…don’t sin as you did before…

I say it a lot. GOD GET’S US.

He understands our human frailty. And even before we do wrong, He knows the poisonous harvest that we will reap from sin. He knows we will be seeking some comfort resulting from our foolishness.

I am grateful that we serve a loving and gracious God who does not abandon His children at their hour of great need.

He even offers His Spirit to wade into the mess we have made, guide us out of the pit, soothe our broken heart, and provide the grace to rebound!

Ephesians 2:5

We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.)

I hate it when I sin. We all do.

It makes us feel unworthy of His care and solace. Yet God's forgiveness is based on His great mercy rather than our conduct.

You catch that?

GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS BASED ON HIS GREAT MERCY RATHER THAN OUR CONDUCT!

Pretty remarkable huh?

So here is your “takeaway” today.

Jesus Christ sacrificed His life to save you from your sins and He will ALWAYS love, comfort and offer freedom for you even when they get the best of you.

Don't believe just me, believe the LORD.

Romans 8:38-39

…I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.

Have a blessed day and weekend!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

DON'T BUY THE LIE

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.

John 8:44

…there is not an iota of truth in him (the ENEMY). When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars.

I love that translation from the LB. It really sums up our enemy.

“When he (the devil) lies, it is perfectly normal”. It is his nature to lie, to twist the truth, to manipulate and cause questions. He is an architect of chaos and strife; doing his best day after day to fill our heads and hearts with lies, with uncertainty and pain.

But why bring “him” up today?

Because he seems to be “showing” up an awful lot lately both at FREEDOM and the JEREMIAH TREE ministry. Sometimes I feel like he is standing outside the door of both handing out “liar flyers”.

“You can’t recover”.

“Aren’t you ashamed; everyone knows.”

“GOD has had enough.”

“90 days of sobriety and for what? You blew it all on a binge they will be done with you this time.”

I mean the enemy has gone so far as to try to set up camp right next door to our FREEDOM CHURCH polluting the air around the parking lot with the wisps and aroma of crack being smoked just to derail those looking for a way out.

But that is what he does; employ the known tactics and spread the familiar lies all in an effort to keep us from our potential, from our mission, and our calling. He wants us to “buy his lies”.

Well I am not buying and I believe it is time for a little truth!

Why?

Because I know it is not just the growing numbers who are seeking relief by coming to FREEDOM or those who are seeking assistance from my awesome team at the JEREMIAH TREE who are being lied to and challenged. All of us are being attacked continuously by this enemy; this liar and the best way to defeat a liar is to expose him to the TRUTH!

So when He says, “You can’t recover”. GOD says:

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

So you WILL recover!

When he says, “Aren’t you ashamed, everyone knows.” GOD says, “Transparency is cathartic!”

James 5:16

Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.

When he says, “GOD has had enough.” GOD says:

Romans 8:1

...there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus.

When he says, “90 days of sobriety and for what? You blew it all on a binge they will be done with you this time.”

GOD says,

Proverbs 24:16

…for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again

Hebrews 13:5

God has said, “I will never leave you or let you be alone.

Isn’t the TRUTH amazing?

Press back against those lies the enemy wants you to believe. Instead of giving him that space in your mind and heart to dispel and dispense his deceit, turn to the TRUTH! Instead of marinating on the mendacity, mediate on our FATHER who cannot tell a lie!

Numbers 23:19

19 God is not a man; he will not lie.

God is not a human being; his decisions will not change.

If he says he will do something, then he will do it.

If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised.

Resolve to no longer buy the lies! Instead invest in what GOD gives FREELY and what SETS YOU FREE!

John 8:32

...the truth, and the truth will make you free.

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

A LITTLE KINDNESS PERHAPS?

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.

Usually following my talk and prayer at FREEDOM several folks come up for personal prayer, just to talk or seek a little quick counsel.

Last night was no different.

But I did meet someone new. She wasn’t necessarily new to FREEDOM but was new to coming up afterwards. Now before I go further, I should let you know that last night’s talk was about GODLY sponsorship; how to be “good and GODLY” friend. Our primary passage was:

Proverbs 27:17

17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Maybe over the next couple of weeks I will further unpack some of the thoughts of the talk for the DISPATCH, but today I wanted to share this little conversation.

This FREEDOMER was thankful that I shared the importance of “being kind” to each other.

That point was made during the talk; that part of being a good and GODLY friend was to be a nurturer, an encourager; to seek to see the good in one another and offer words of affirmation rather than condemnation. That point struck a chord with her.

As we chatted, she began to share how discouraged she sometimes felt after attending her traditional meetings. She was frustrated because she felt that too often the conversations and the group discussions would start fine enough but would eventually degrade into catty verbal volleys. She talked of how disappointed she often felt after leaving a meeting where instead of folks lifting one another up, they used the time to tear one another down.

But she is sadly right; and it is not just limited to the “rooms”of AA or NA. Truth is folks just aren’t very kind to one another.

Scan the NEWS FEED on FACEBOOK or watch scathing “back and forth’s”on TWITTER and you will see what I mean. The cut down and put downs are celebrated. Bullying is on the front page. Social media has given us a safe place to expel our venom with little to no remorse.

Society sadly is trading kindness for criticism and love for lambasting.

Yet the BIBLE tells us as CHRISTIANS we are to be quite different. Romans 12 even says we are not to “fit in” with culture rather rise above it. We can do this by just showing love and kindness.

I mean Jesus couldn’t have made this more clear or succinct. We are to LOVE others and not tear them down.

Mark 12:31

You must love others…

That is reason enough don’t you think?

As this FREEDOMER and I wrapped up our chat and said goodbye, I thanked her for the encouragement! I was grateful that she walked out of the meeting last night hopeful and encouraged rather than disappointed and upset.

But I share this conversation in order to inspire all of us today to “being kind”; to loving. Our world celebrates the salty and cynical; let’s fight back with some genuine sweetness and sincerity. Instead of the callous comeback let's exude a little kindness and patience. There is never a bad time for a kind word or deed.

I closed my little talk last night with a challenge! It stemmed from this verse.

1 Peter 4:8
…love steadily and unselfishly, because love makes up for many faults.

I want to challenge those of you reading this today as well!

I believe if we will try and do exactly what that verse says to do; love each other consistently and kindly I believe we will begin to see past one another’s faults, appreciate the good in those around us and begin to put a dent in this defeating and deprecating culture that surrounds us. And it can start with something as simple as a kind word.

Proverbs 16:24

Kind words are like honey—enjoyable and healthful.

So are you up to the challenge; ready to try a little kindness and love today?

I sure hope so…so does JESUS.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

FOR THE HOPELESS

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 spent some time yesterday sharing the work of the JEREMIAH TREE at one of our community churches. The audience was Sunday School attendees.

I grew up going to Sunday School, learning the Bible stories, and being fascinated by the flannel-graph. So it was a real treat to share the work and GOD with them yesterday; took me back a little. I look forward to working with this lovely and dedicated group of folks!

But after my part of the morning was over, I opted to hang out and attend one of the classes; an adult discussion who was working from Max Lucado’s book, “Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear”. A great book for the burdened by the way.

We read from the chapter devoted to hopelessness.

The discussion that followed was thought provoking. Many in the group shared times in their lives when they felt hopeless; times when life’s circumstances had done its best to blot out hope’s light.

One had suffered a period of temporary blindness and talked of how dark and fearful that time was for him.

Another had just finished consoling her son who was dealing with the impact of a suicide in his unit.

Another, who at one time was trapped by a failing and suffocating relationship, talked of times when hope or relief was elusive.

Perhaps you too have experienced a period in your life when hope was nothing more than a word; a time when tragedy or circumstance had made the light of hope impossible to see.

Well there is good news for my friends from Sunday School and for you too! As Max pointed out, there is always HOPE because there is ALWAYS JESUS.

He is OUR HOPE! And while many of us KNOW this to be true and we would be quick to saying we believe in that hope, we all have times in our lives when it doesn’t FEEL to be true.

It is during those times, those “hopeless” times when we need to cling to the little verse Max shared in the lesson.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…

JESUS is that "WAY" out of our hopeless situations!

JESUS embodies that TRUTH that truth that radiates with HOPE!

Proverbs 23:18

Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Lamentations 3:24

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

And I could go on listing; there are at least 98 more HOPEFUL truths I uncovered and that was just one search!

And JESUS is LIFE for when “life” seems too hard, too messy and too broken!

Romans 6:23

…the free gift of God is eternal LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The point today is simple, almost obvious, but bears re-visiting!

Regardless of how impossible or hopeless life may seem, regardless of how dark and challenging the circumstances, we should never allow the enemy or those situations convince us that all hope is lost. There is always hope for there is always Jesus!

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!

So if you are feeling drained you of your hope today, I have a WAY that is rooted in TRUTH that will help you rediscover a HOPEFUL LIFE! His name? JESUS!

Matthew 11:28

Get away with me (JESUS) and you’ll recover your LIFE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7fwCkAGACE

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

LOVE WATCHING YOU LOVE

:

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 know you have all heard it before, but it does bear repeating this morning. I am a blessed person! GOD has truly delivered real and lasting blessing into my life; taking what I thought were nothing more than distant memories and resurrecting them into beautiful, vibrant and living experiences!

Isaiah 61:3

…He will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness.

Last night brought to an emotional close the chapter on 10 young ladies high school soccer careers. Now before you go and move on to the next thing or roll your eyes because you have heard this before, just hang with me. Today’s DISPATCH is less about soccer and more about the power of community, friendship and love.

These 10 young ladies, the senior soccer class for 2014, have been together for more than 10 years. In that time they have laughed together, shared together, hurt together, won together and lost together. They have shed tears of joy and tears of sadness. They have sweat and toiled together and they truly without question deeply love each other. Their dedication to each other makes an important and touching statement; that love is truly the glue that holds us together!

1 Peter 4:8

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other…

Early on in their careers I knew this bunch was special. Many observers have commented as to the bond that exists between this “perfect 10”. I have heard the words unusual, special, remarkable and unseen to describe them. Their dedication to one another IS all of those things. They have picked one another up when another has been injured or when illness surfaced. They are silly TOGETHER, serious TOGETHER but mostly they have just “loved” TOGETHER.

They personify this passage.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

And one with 10 strands is nearly indestructible!

But this “strand of 10” made me ask this question of myself and you today.

Are you appreciating those friends and blessings that GOD has placed in your life; those individuals who have your back, who love you in spite of you, those deep-spirited friends?

These girls do. And GOD says we should as well!

Philippians 4:8

…if being in a community…means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.

Take a second today to thank GOD for your community, your friends and those who love you! Don't ever discount or take them for granted. You will honor GOD when you do!

To close out today and the week a little footnote. I want to say that I am so very proud of these 10 ladies; not for one single shot on goal or miraculous save; not one win or the way they handled a loss.

No I am thankful and appreciative of this band of sisters who have taught me and shown me how love really works.

1 Corinthians 13:7

If you love someone, you will be loyal to him (HER) no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him (HER), always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him (HER).

That is all of you, Xpress.

I do deeply love watching you love.

Have a blessed weekend.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

NO TIME FOR IDLENESS

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.

Have you ever gotten into trouble when you had a little too much time on your hands with nothing to do?

The Bible warns us about idleness.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

I will be honest, I do my best to keep moving and doing because when I down-shift and slide into idle, my mind tends to take me to places I would rather not go.

Places like regret, pity, frustration, or worse; you know... sinful places.

St Benedict said "Idleness is the enemy of the soul” and Henry Manning commented that "To have too much to do is for most (people) safer than to have too little."

That is the case for me.

I like having something to do, because if I don’t I find myself slipping into old patterns; wasting time being "less than productive"; "less than 'pastory'".

You ever struggle like that?

The enemy loves it when we shift into idle, when we are coasting. For it is then our minds become fertile ground for him to bring temptation or discontentment.

You see often the true measure of our walk with Christ and our faith is revealed when there is “nothing to do”. "It is what you do when you have nothing to do that reveals what you are,” someone once penned.

The truth is there are many accounts in Scripture of folks who were upended by idle times and idle minds.

David entertained and acted on his lust.

Solomon’s “boredom” led to a house full of wives, concubines and buckets of lament. And there are more.

But the danger of idleness is not reserved for those “back in the day”. It is a very real trap of our enemy.

But there is a way to guard against the trap!

Galatians 5:13, the foundational verse for our FREEDOM ministry, spells out the way to guard against the temptations that usually accompany an idle mind.

It says,

Galatians 5:13

…use your freedom (freedom of time applies here) to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows.

Want your walk with Christ to grow and flourish? Turn those idle times into serving times!

Don’t allow yourself or your mind to shift into idle. Don’t allow temptations or old thoughts to occupy space in your head. Instead when you find yourself with time on your hands, looks for an opportunity to serve. Better yet, use the time for prayer and ask GOD where He wants you to serve.

Instead of being idle, seek inspiration!

Philippians 4:8

…you’ll do best by FILLING YOUR MINDS AND MEDITATING on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will WORK YOU into his most excellent harmonies.

See that? GOD wants to WORK you! So let HIM! Let's get those minds off idle and into gear and ready to serve!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney