LISTEN TO THE RIGHT VOICE

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 (MSG)

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

“Two types of voices command your attention today. Negative ones fill your mind with doubt, bitterness, and fear. Positive ones purvey hope and strength. Which one will you choose to heed? You have a choice, you know.” Max Lucado

2 Corinthians 10:5

We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.

How did you wake up this morning?

Rip roaring and ready?

Or sad sullen and salty?

The choice is yours you know.

I know you want to tell me you had a bad night, the kids were restless, the bed was lumpy, and when you woke up the coffee was cold, the eggs were runny and everyone else in the house took their grumpy pills. I know you want to tell me that your boss is an egomaniac, that work is unbearable and there is no gas in the tank to get there anyway.

All of that could be true. It could.  I pray it isn't. I do.

But wait...

Did you know you know that you also woke up to new mercy and grace today?

Lamentations 3:23

…his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Did you know you woke up to a GOD of provision and special care just for you?

Psalm 55:22

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you...

Did you know that you woke up to a GOD who is in the practice of provision?

Philippians 4:19 (V)

19 Know this: my God will also fill every need you have according to His glorious riches 

Come on, that “reset” things a little didn't it?

Feeling a little more “rip roaring”. Maybe a little?

Those "TRUTHS" clearly are better things to be thinking about rather than all of those unpredictable and negative CIRCUMSTANCES. Wouldn't you agree?

You see, far too often we forget that our contentment is a state of mind and not a state of circumstances. We can choose to allow the swirl of this broken planet to dictate our mood and responses or we can allow GOD’s truth to shape our thoughts and reactions.

Sometimes all it takes is a quick reset to turn what looked to be a hopeless day into a hopeful one; a bad day to a blessed one. It is all about perspective and our reaction.

So ask yourself.

Which voices am I going to listen to today?

Those that want to drag me down and further depress me in the inevitable mess?

Or am I going to trust GOD and His Word?

Don't forget.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I love you all…

Have a great day today!

Freedom Church

REFRESHMENT

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.

Yesterday Pastor Anna from AHOP shared in both services the passage regarding the DRY BONES in the desert. You can find it in Ezekiel 37.  Give it a read when you have a few minutes.

To net it out; GOD miraculously breathed life into a mess of dry bones in the desert.

There are a lot of applications for that passage.  For example until GOD breathes into us WE can’t really understand our purpose in life.

But what I took away and wanted to share with you this morning is that often we are like those bones. We experience “dry” times in life.  We all have those times when we feel as disjointed and disconnected from GOD just as those bones in the desert did. 

(Like I said, go read the story).

And what we NEED is a breath of refreshing from the LORD.

Perhaps work has drained your spirit’s tank to bone dry. Perhaps a crisis in the family is sucking the life out of all of you.  Maybe an illness has been robbing you of sleep or steadiness and you feel disjointed.

Whatever the cause the result is that you feel “dry and disconnected" just like those bones.

GOD wants to “reconnect" with you this morning. He wants to refresh you. And HIS word will breathe in the hope you need; the refreshment you require.

Psalm 23:3 (MSG)

...God...True to (HIS) word, (will) let you catch (your) breath and send (you) in the right direction.

When we are feeling disconnected and sapped in our SPIRIT our FIRST move should be the same of the prophet Ezekiel; look for, listen to and TRUST GOD to do what GOD says HE will do.

Check this out.

Psalm 18:20-24

God made my life complete when I placed all the "pieces" before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I’m alert to God’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

See that?  GOD will RECONNECT!  GOD will REFRESH.

We just have to ask.

Here is the truth.

God is in control of the times and seasons. Sometimes we feel completely connected and in tune with GOD and other times we do not.

But HIS constancy and the consistency are assured.  So HE will help us!

Hebrews 13:5

God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help;

So if you need refreshing today.  If your spirit is dry and challenged, remember the promise of GOD, take heart in the testimony of the psalmist.  GOD’s WORD and HIS PRESENCE will always welcome you to catch your breath, reconnect, find refreshment and restore your spirit!

As you drink from the deep well of Scripture, the Lord will refresh you and cleanse you…For the Bible is the very breath of God, giving life eternal to those who seek Him.” ― Francine Rivers

 

Have a blessed day!

I love you all

Freedom Church

 

WHINING TO WOW

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.

"Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." ― Babe Ruth

Feeling defeated?

Life producing lots of lemons and you can't seem to find the sugar and water yet to make lemonade?

Take heart.

Don't cash out.

Don't give in.

Don't allow the enemy to deceive you into thinking that you are done or there is no "light at the end of the tunnel". 

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Failures come.

But the important part is that FAILURES also GO.

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."

― F. Scott Fitzgerald

The next pitch is going to be served up.  Another chance for success is just around the corner.  New opportunities for change and possibilities are on the horizon.

The key is to keep striving toward them.

The key is to never quit trying; to never lose heart.

GOD will HONOR  and fuel your perseverance!

2 Timothy 2:12 (NLV)

If we suffer and stay true to Him, then we will be a leader with Him.

I will be honest with all of you this morning.

I have wanted to throw in the towel this week.  Too many problems.  Not enough resources.  The plate is too full and my energy is waning.

But GOD reminded me when He woke me up this morning that HE WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING. Therefore I must take that as a charge to "keep striving, to keep progressing, to keep going".  

I must remain true to the calling in spite of my own fleshly failings and my own propensity to WHINE a little too much. 

As Tom Hanks so memorably coined in "A League of Their Own", "there is no crying in baseball", and there is no whining in ministry.

GOD doesn't enlist whiners.  He enlists warriors.

And the good news is HE doesn't leave us under-equipped.  Instead of GIVING up He says GIVE IT OVER.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Each time he (GOD) said.I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.

Well that is me. 

I could be the leader of the weak brigade!

But maybe I am speaking to you today.  Maybe you are punch-drunk from ALL you are facing right now.  Maybe you have been "whining" a little as well.

Well in the immortal words of Jenn Biel, Crazed Zumba Instructor, we need to.

"Suck it up, buttercup". 

There is no room for whining!

GOD'S power is coursing through our veins.  His resolve is OUR resolve. His WISDOM is ready to take over and begin to solve the problems.  So don't give in. 

Instead GIVE IT OVER.

Then watch out!

You will go from WHINING to WOW in no time!

.No matter what you go through in life, no matter how many disappointments you suffer, your value in God's eyes always remains the same. You will always be the apple of His eye. He will never give up on you, so don't give up on yourself." ― Joel Osteen

 

Have a blessed weekend!

I love you all

Freedom Church

SPIRIT LED DAY

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.

Who or what is in charge today?

What I mean is, from where or from whom are you taking your cues and getting direction today?

It is “the world”? I mean is your mind already filled this morning with what it is that you have to do? Have you already fired up the calendar on the I-Phone and with great dread and apprehension seen that enormous list of “stuff” that needs done?

Or are you listening to “YOU”? Maybe you have decided today is a “me” day. Nothing wrong with “me” days really, but you have to be careful that “me” days don’t turn into “me first” days.

How about a GOD first day?

Galatians 5:16-18

My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit…?

There is a good suggestion. Let's be SPIRIT LED today. What do you say?

Before you decide today is going to be a “to do” kind of day or a “me” kind of day, before you set your agenda or cave to your personal wants and desires, bring GOD into the frame first. Simple plan. Simple familiar verse. It is what we should want most.

Matthew 6:33

What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.

It doesn’t take much for any of us to “get out of frame” when it comes to life. It doesn’t take much to lose sight of GOD’s plan for our lives when we choke it out with our personal agendas and our inherent selfish nature. It is easy to be blinded by the demands and allures of this world and meander down a wrong path.

I witnessed it first-hand yesterday. Found myself with a little too much "me" on the agenda and not enough GOD.

So will you join me this morning in getting back in frame?

Let’s clear the deck. Put the agenda away. Turn the noise off. Forget what it is that “think you really want” and let GOD have the floor. Give GOD your undivided attention this morning. Listen for Him and respond to Him.

Psalm 85:8 (NLT)

8 I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people.

That will keep us both "in frame".

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

BREATH OF PRAISE

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.

 

Psalm 150:6 (KJV)

6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

 

That is you my friend.

That is me.

 

Today our opportunity and task is clearly defined.

You are reading this.

I am assuming you are breathing while you do.

If you are not and have a cell phone or a friend close by, perhaps 911 is in order.

Otherwise, it is time to “praise” GOD.

 

Can you thank and praise Him for the air in those lungs?

Can you thank and praise Him for the ability to have that breath dance across your vocal chords in order to speak and articulate things today?

Aren't you thankful you are able to take IN some of smells of GOD's BREATH as a wonderful “fall day” approaches? (check local listings).

 

The point today is simple.

Praise GOD today.

Don’t limit your praise time to the 3 to 4 songs on a Sunday.

Take the time to praise and thank GOD continuously throughout today.  We are called to do that.

 

Colossians 3:17 (NIRV)

Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus. Always give thanks (PRAISE) to God the Father through Christ.

 

Anna Brooks encouraged our praise team last night to embrace the presence of GOD in “all things” and in “all things” praise Him.  

Even our breathing! 

Even in our ailments and challenging times. 

We are that "every thing" that is called to PRAISE the LORD!

 

Romans 12:12(LB)

Be glad (praise) for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.

 

Remember God woke you up today.  That is worthy of a day of praise.  He didn’t have to.  There must be a reason for it.  My guess is to praise Him for we are BUILT for that; to HIM praise; built to glorify GOD.

Psalm 71:8(ESV)

(Our) mouth(s) (are) filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.

So if you have been given breath today then the task is a simple one.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 63:4 (V)

I will bless You with every breath of my life; I will lift up my hands in praise to Your name.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCH1e3JgBjk

 

 

I love you all…

Freedom Church

 

 

Pastor GDelaney

HE HOLDS THE FUTURE

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.

 

“…because I know who holds the FUTURE and life is worth the living just because HE LIVES.” Bill Gaither.

 

The last 24-36 hours haven’t been to “great” to say the least.  Lots of frustration.

Struggling with selfishness.

I even missed a DISPATCH.  That is rare for me.

 

Then to top it off I had my little ailment that surfaces from time to time decide to resurface and steal all my sleep and cause about 24 solid hours of severe discomfort between Sunday and today.

 

But now this morning I realize it was all to “wake me up”. For you see while I was trying to have a little pity party and had decided to wander into a little time of “woe is me”, GOD woke me up and put me back to work and off the "woe".

 

He reminded me to “be still”. Psalms 46

He reminded me that HE holds the future. (Thanks Darris for going "old school")

He reminded me that HIS grace is sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12

He reminded me that I better get back to trusting His handle on things and His provision for things. Proverbs 3, Philippians 4.

 

And how did He do that?

By “addition” not subtraction.

While I was “feeling overwhelmed” and seeking relief, GOD sent a mom who was reeling from circumstances beyond her control.

God had a homeless family of 5 walk up our street and into our church with all of their belongings in tow and no food in their belly.

God sent another family of 6 with no prospects needing a way to Kentucky for a new start.

Then GOD blew my phone up with a family of 7 from Philadelphia with no prospects.

Not to mention a man who was living in the woods with no ID, no family and no options.

And that is not the half of it.

In fact GOD sent me and my team the single largest number of issues we have ever faced in one day at Freedom Church or the JEREMIAH TREE and He decided to send them while my stomach was in knots.

 

Why?

To remind me that I NEEDED HIM more than ever.

 

You catch that?

TO REMIND “Mr. Fixit”, “the 'GO TO' PASTOR Greg” that maybe I am TOO BIG for my BRITCHES and that I better get back to TRUSTING HIM with all of this HEAVY LIFTING rather than myself.

 

So my friends I am confessing to you today that I NEED GOD more today than ever.  I am confessing that today is BEYOND my capabilities. I am confessing I need help.

I need HIM.

It is time to TRUST.

Philippians 4:6 (TLB)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.

 

For today looks like it will be another “overwhelming” one.

The budget freeze is still there.  No additional support is in sight.

The bill keeps growing at our homeless alternatives.  It will again today.

The homeless and hurting keep coming and the needs keep increasing.

But it is not time to worry. Why?

 

“I KNOW” who holds the FUTURE and I am going to TRUST HIM.

Psalm 9:9-10 (LB)

All who are oppressed may come to him. He is a refuge for them in their times of trouble. All those who know your mercy, Lord, will count on you for help. For you have never yet forsaken those who trust in you.

 

How about you today?

 

I love you all…

Freedom Church