THAT "6 to 10" SPACE"

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 spent the last couple of months participating on a panel of recovery and treatment professionals. One of our goals is to improve the overall success of folks who emerge from treatment and migrate into recovery.

Yesterday was the culmination of those session and I believe the team came up with some great ideas. The good news is we have a little funding to implement them. So please join me in prayer as we begin to put pen to paper or hammer to nail on the recommendations.

The panel consisted of pastors and small group leaders, police officers, directors of treatment facilities, mental health professionals and current recovering folks. And while opinions and ideas were varied and the solutions proposed vast, one thing was clear.

Recovery is a choice.

As much as we, the “so called experts” can build, construct and concoct opportunities, create education and mentoring offerings and housing solutions, the decision to recover begins and is MAINTAINED in the simple 6 to 10 inch space between someone’s ears. And motivating “good” choices has been the challenge of not just addiction and recovery professionals but that of doctors, dentists, pastors and many others for the balance of time.

In fact our entire existence and way of life was impacted and started by a choice. Eat from the tree or not if memory serves.

Every day each of us are presented with choice after choice. I call them Y’s in the road. For the one in recovery, we have chosen the wrong route for a long time and now are seeking to go left where we used to go right. But we aren’t exclusive or alone in our challenge with choice. All of us have “knowledge of right and wrong”. We have that garden pair to thank for that.

What we do with that knowledge is simply a choice.

So today I just want to encourage all of us to “seek GOD” when it comes to choice. Let’s let GOD help us with that little six to ten inches of space in our heads. GOD has the best for us in mind. He has even offered to help us to navigate the landscape!

James 1:5

If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.

And never believe for a second that you have it all figured out. Instead allow GOD to influence your choices.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!

Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!

I know there is nothing profound or revelatory in today’s little encouragement. But our choices are powerful and they do compound. We can't discount them. Every one of them leads to a consequence; good or bad.

Therefore let’s resolve today to taking the “right Y” in the road; making the best choices possible; to giving GOD access and reign over that little space behind the eyes to asking Him for help!

Why?

Well for starters that “body glowing with health and bones vibrating with life” sounds awfully good to me!

How about you?

Have a great weekend…

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

BIGGER THAN THE BOBBLE

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.

One of the toughest things about being a “recovery” Pastor is the fact that those who I help are “recovering”. Hence there is the real prospect everyday that someone will stop recovering; even if only for a second.

I categorize most of those moments as “bobbles”, but to the one in recovery, their family and friends, bobbles sometimes get blown out of proportion.

I have seen a “bobble” completely crater a recovery; when the “event” undid months and months of good recovery process.

And the sad part it doesn’t have to.

Bobbles are part of our human frailty; they are products of our flesh. But GOD is faithful show grace to the“bobbler” in spite of his intolerance toward the bobble.

Why?

Because GOD understands we will bobble. He understands we will stumble and loose our balance and way. In fact GOD knows we can’t navigate life for very long stretches without a bobble or two blemishing the trip.

Romans 3:23

…we’ve...proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us...

James 3:2

We all stumble along the way

Yet praise GOD He continues to show grace to the “bobbler”. In more familiar terms, while GOD can’t tolerate nor accept our sin, GOD offers grace for the sinner through Jesus.

A.W. Tozer said, “When God justifies a sinner everything in God is on the sinner's side.”

That is good news. "GOD on our side" is good news!

And while we can intellectually grasp that GOD loves us that He is on our side, those days when we bobble the enemy does his best to convince us that because of the bobble we have blown it.

No redemption. All is lost. You can’t recover.

That is hogwash.

And that is why I work really hard each day to deal swiftly with my bobbles; to quickly embrace the grace that GOD has granted me via this powerful truth!

1 John 1:9

But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done.

Bobble bounced! Redemption received. Grace granted.

If I shared this simple and familiar truth once yesterday I did 100 times. And from the litany of texts last night and the trials that are clearly on tap for today, I sense in my spirit it will be the order of today as well.

For I was bombarded yesterday by bobbles; clients, friends, members of the fellowship and even my own. They started early and with a furious flurry they kept right on coming.

Yet regardless of how many, regardless of the bombardment, the truth still stands.

Bobbles are no match for grace.

Romans 8:1

So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty.

So can I offer something to you today? Perhaps you had a bobble or two yourself.

When you bobble, quickly seek balance.

The enemy is going to be relentless in his efforts to unbalance you, to cause a bobble or two and then condemn you for it. Don’t get discouraged when it happens. Don’t keep stumbling.

Instead apply truth. Accept GOD grace. Right the ship. Get your balance. And move ahead.

You can. GOD will help!

Jude 1:24

There is One Who can keep you from falling (bobbling) and can bring you before Himself free from all sin.

His name is Jesus and His grace will bring balance back after the bobble.

Have a blessed day.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

WHAT COULD I SAY ABOUT...

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.

“What could I say about…” I think is how it began.

Yesterday they laid to rest a sweet sweet lady.Diana.

Simply put, she was one of the “good ones”!

Generous.

Doting.

Loving.

Compassionate.

Caring.

Those are just a few words that barely brush the canvas of her life; a few “words I could say about” her.

Yet I was touched by the words of her daughter, a dear friend of mine.

She penned a lovely tribute where I believe she started each sentence with “What could I say about…”Then what followed were those amazing descriptors, those samples of sweetness that had come to characterize her loving and special mom.

That got me to thinking this morning.

“What could we say about…” Jesus today?What descriptors or word pictures would leap to mind?What about His character would flow to the lips and pen?

Perfect.

Holy.

Righteous.

Compassionate.

Forgiving.

Empowering.

Discerning.

Proven.

Incorruptible.

“Un-failable”

Infallible.

Trustworthy.

Famous.

Renowned.

Loved.

Worshipped.

I know an exhaustive list is impossible.Not enough words. Not enough ink as a famous song describes.

For me, “what can I say about Jesus” other than Savior.

For…

Romans 5:6

When (I) was utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for (me) a sinner who had no use for him.

He did that for you too.

GOD has gained a great lady in Diana this past week.She had an indescribable Savior too.

What could YOU say about HIM today?

Have a great day!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

REFINING

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.

1 Peter 1:7

These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return.

That is what he shared.

Who you ask?

S.N. last night at FREEDOM CHURCH in Xenia.

S.N. was speaking from EXPERIENCE when he shared that passage. He had and continues to face MANY trials. S.N.’s life has been littered with sad circumstances and poor decision making. Hit past dotted with moments of incarceration, accusation and difficulty. Lost loved ones, long patches of despondence, black outs and trouble had done their best to define him.

But there was S.N. last night wearing an ear to ear smile through a less than managed goatee. There was a fella who had “seen and done” a lot; drugs, alcohol, you name it and now the only thing he was interested in doing was “JESUS”.

All that mattered now was “coming glory” and not a checkered past!

S.N. tells a remarkable story.

It is one of perseverance, redemption, grace and power!

It is validation that GOD can take the worst of us, redeem it and free us!

Ephesians 1:7

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!

We all will be faced with trials in this life; some circumstantial, some by our own doing and deciding. But one thing is perfectly and crystal clear. No trial, no difficulty will be wasted if we see them as S.N. sees them; as refinement from our FATHER.

A wise man has said that GOD loves us the way we are, he just doesn’t want to leave us that way. And the truth is that the trials we face are just the pathway to a more amazing hope and future possibility!

So let’s be like S.N. Let’s not cower in the face of trial rather we should like he does and EMBRACE them! We should let those difficult times refine us and define us.

The WORD says we are to even REJOICE in them!

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 patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Perhaps in the last days or weeks you too have been “tried”.

Don’t run!

Rejoice!

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

You are being refined for glory!

Have a blessed day…

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

HARMONY

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.

Sunday’s are usually good days for a “battery” charge. Are they for you?

Good time of worship.

Good word.

Good fellowship.

Sadly yesterday’s time “in the pew” was cut a little short. One of our Freedom “fellowship” who recently had some surgery turned ill and had to be run back home to rest. Pray for N.S.

But before leaving I was able to grab one little word. Harmony.

Many artists have penned and crafted songs about harmony. McCartney and Wonder for starters. Quincy Jones pulled together a diverse team to breathe life into “We are the World” an anthem designed to bring folks together.

Nothing like a little good HARMONY.

If fact I grew up traveling, singing and listening to a whole lot of good 4 part gospel harmony over the years. There is nothing like a good quartet to make a little harmony; especially with a patented big bass slide at the end of song. (Sorry Anna B. but it is true).

Let’s face it harmony is a good thing; it is pleasing to the ear and it is pleasing to community.

In fact Webster calls it a PLEASING combination or arrangement of different things. Its synonyms are words like balance, coherence, concinnity, consonance, symmetry, symphony, and unity.

Clearly things we all should pursue in life.

At least that is what GOD says.

Colossians 3:12-14

Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others. Don’t worry about making a good impression on them, but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently. Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church (that is us) will stay together in perfect HARMONY.

Romans 14:19

So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words…

GOD motivates us to harmonious living. He knows the power of our collectiveness. He also knows the dangers of divisions and knows the enemy wants nothing more than to isolate us and separate us thus making us and the work more vulnerable.

That is why Paul was inspired to MOTIVATE us with this charge.

Philippians 2:2

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit 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.

In other words seek and live in harmony.

So let’s give harmony a try today. We can’t go wrong and the benefits are extraordinary.

1 Corinthians 13:11

Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure.

Have a blessed day…

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

PRIDE IN ITS PLACE

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 days when I need to tread cautiously; days when I get enamored with my“busyness” or days when I get ahead of GOD or worse yet, leave him out of the equation.

It is then that I have to pull back a little, maybe find a devotion to read or decompress a little with good input to counterbalance the overextension of activity or“overGregging” things.

Paul had good counsel for those moments and days. He said for us to…

Romans 12:3

…not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith.

And I will admit it sometimes my judgment is not overly sound. I get a little too caught up in what “I” am doing, a little too enamored with all “I” am accomplishing or have my hand in and lose sight that everything I do, have, say, embrace, manage, or influence have been gifts from GOD. I need to remember I really should be dead.

John 5:30

I can do nothing on my own…

So every now and then I have to give myself a check. I have to look in the mirror and give myself a little narcissism “nudgedown”.

And I will be honest I struggle with that these days more than any craving.

But I know GOD is not a fan of arrogance. He most certainly doesn’t dig pride. And when my pride gets out of balance or out of check, He graciously and lovingly sorts me out and brings me back down to size. Painfully sometimes.

I need it. I need to constantly be looking to put pride in its place.

Max Lucado puts it this way,

“The Bible says, the Lord will tear down the house of the proud. God hates arrogance. He hates it because we haven’t done anything to be arrogant about. Is there a Pulitzer for ink? Can you imagine a scalpel growing smug after a successful heart transplant? Of course not. They are only tools. So are we. We may be the canvas, the paper, or the scalpel, but we are not the one who deserve the applause.”

I so want to be a tool of the LORD. But the enemy wants me to toot my own horn and draw attention. The enemy knows that what feeds my ego.

So I share this insight into me today as a confession of sorts. That is good for me; good for all of us to do in fact.

1 John 1:9

But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution…

I have to be on guard for the pollution of pride!

But I am guessing that I am not alone. I am surmising there may be one or two more of you out there who battle with “prideful” moments. So I am glad I could share. Thanks for holding me accountable.

And if you struggle along the same lines, I offer this thought.

When we lose sight of “why” we are doing what we are doing, when the frustration of the challenge or the “atta boys” divert our attention from the FATHER, reset and remember. Everything we do is for one reason and one reason alone; to bring GOD GLORY.

1 Corinthians 6:20

For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it.

And hopefully that will put pride back in its place.

Have a blessed weekend…

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney