CRY FOR HELP

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.

Failed as a father.

Failed as a husband.

Eleven DUI’S. And no, that is not a typo. Eleven and all the trouble that comes with that sort of thing.

And it was then, 50+ years into his journey of life, that he tried something different.  He asked for help.

Psalm 118:5(ESV)

Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.

And no the journey didn’t suddenly become rainbows, puppy dogs and unicorns as I like to say, but the journey became hopeful; the journey started to have purpose and possibility.

His name? Bud.

Just Bud.

Bud cried. GOD answered.  God sent a friend.  God then sent a fellowship. God offered Jesus. Bud received all with open arms, mind and heart. And life began to change.

It was a wonderful evening with Bud last night at FREEDOM.  It is always such a treat to watch and witness what only GOD can do.

Psalm 118:23 (NCV)

The Lord did this, and it is wonderful…

Bud has witnessed and is living first-hand what happens when we “put down contempt and investigate” as the AA BIG BOOK suggests we do.  Bud has continued to investigate and he has found what we all will find when we do, a GOD who loves us, is faithful to lead us and who desperately wants to restore us to Him via His Son Jesus.

Romans 3:24

He (gets) us out of the mess we’re in and (restores) us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

Bud has seen his family restored.

Bud has seen his “fatherness” restored.

Bud has seen the failed man in the mirror rejuvenated to one with hope and possibilities!

And others are noticing and being inspired. This was a quote that someone who heard Bud’s talk shared last night on FACEBOOK

From Traci:

“We use to drink BUD LIGHT but now my friend Bud found the light. Jesus Christ!”

And it all started with a simple cry for help and GOD helped; GOD turned it around and GOD restored.

Where are you today?  Are you in a desperate place? When you look in the mirror what looks back? Is it perceived failure? Do you think there is no way out?  Do you think you can never be changed or restored?

Think again.

Remember Bud.

“The work of restoration cannot begin until a problem is fully faced.” ― Dan B. Allender

Bud faced the failures.  Bud sought the “restorer” and GOD delivered grace, hope, change, possibility and life!

Titus 3:7-8

We were made right with God by his grace. God saved us so that we could be his children and look forward to receiving life that never ends. This is a true statement.

And it all started with a cry for help.

 

I love you all

FREEDOM CHURCH

MORE OF YOU - 3.24 POST

MORE OF 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?
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.

The strength of a man consists in finding out the way in which God is going, and going in that way too.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher…

“I just want more GOD”, he said with conviction.
And coming from the mouth of this brother, a statement like that I can bank on.

Counseling folks who are battling the biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual challenge of addiction can often be demoralizing. This is especially true when the one on the other side of the desk is still blinded by denial or refusing to own their part of their challenge.

That is not the case with my friend quoted above.
He is a delight to work with.
Never denies. Quick to own. Open to change.

And yesterday when he made that statement, I believe him. I know he will take some of the tools and suggestions we unearthed in our session and apply them, use them, embrace them and employ them.

Why?
He wants MORE from life than a crystal meth hit and profit.
He wants MORE from life than being hazy from pain medication and booze.
He wants more from life than just meaningless “encounters” if you will.
So just as John surmised…
He (GOD) must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. (John 3:30)
…my friend wants the same. He wants less self and more spirit in his life.

He wants more GOD.

How about us?
Is that our desire this morning?
More GOD?
Why not? After all...
Matthew 5:6 (AMP)
Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous…are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

After my friend left, I was reminded of an old Gaither song.
“More of You, more of You…
I’ve had all but what I need, just more of you.
Of “things” I’ve had my fill and yet I hunger still
Empty and bare, Lord hear my prayer
For MORE of YOU!”

Are you hungry?
Do you wish to see where GOD is going and go there too?
Do you want MORE?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z31dMydUZs

I love you all
FREEDOM CHURCH

FAZE-FREE

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.

“There is something you can't fix, can't heal, or can't escape, and all you can do it trust God. Finding ultimate refuge in God means you become so immersed in his presence, so convinced of his goodness, so devoted to his lordship that you find even the cave is a perfectly safe place to be because He(GOD) is there with you.” ― John Ortberg

Yesterday I met with a dear couple.  They suffered a tragic loss a year ago or so.  And since that loss they have been trying to “sort it out”.

Bereavement is hard.  Lucado says its root word is “reave”, which means to rob, plunder or steal.  Unexpected loss leaves us reeling in a wash of “wish I would have's” and "what if that didn’t happen’s”.

We are “robbed” of what “could have been’s” as well.

But as we shared, GOD began to REMIND us all that His goodness, His presence, and His lordship could be trusted with our unanswerable questions.  That GOD is always REFUGE.  God is always the safe haven.  GOD is always trustworthy. God is ALWAYS good. 

Therefore...

Psalm 62:8

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

“Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us.” ― Jerry Bridges

When things are especially hard we need to lean on and trust passages like Romans 8:28. And while it can be a struggle we want to believe that GOD does make things good.  Remember GOD is always GOOD!

But something caught my attention about the TRUSTWORTHINESS of GOD as I was encouraging them from GOD's Word yesterday.

Take a look at this. Right after Paul lists all the things that could “upend us” all the things that could have us “running for cover and “caves” as it were, we can still TRUST!

Why?

Romans 8:39(MSG)

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.

WOW!

Nothing can faze us BECAUSE JESUS loves us.  

Because JESUS loves us…that is enough. 

Period.  

If everything else craters around us, Jesus’ love for us will NOT.

GRAB THAT THIS MORNING and HOLD IT WITH BOTH HANDS. NOTHING CAN FAZE YOU!

Betrayal? Nope!

Confusion Nope!

Uncertainty? Nope!

Angst? NOPE!

Friends in times of strife and hurt we should JUST TRUST.  GOD isn’t fazed. Nor should we be!

 

His grace is sufficient. His power unending. His steadiness unshaken. 

Paul then goes on via Petersen’s paraphrase to put the exclamation point on this simple but POWERFUL POINT today!

…absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

That messed me up yesterday.

Nothing can get between us and GOD’s love not because of ANYTHING I will do or not do but solely because JESUS, our Master has embraced us and LOVES US.

Period. End of story.

WOW.

That should lead to a "FAZE-FREE" day don't you think?

 

 

I love you all

FREEDOM CHURCH

TIME FOR FAITH?

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.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ― Corrie ten Boom

Are you staring at some uncertainty?

Perhaps there is an opportunity on the horizon, but it comes with some risk and demands some “real faith”.

Maybe there is some writing on the wall that would indicate “change” is coming and that “unknown” has you fearful, apprehensive or “borrowing trouble” like my dear Grandma Winnie used to say.

Or maybe things that were once tightly wound are starting to unravel or at least look a little more thread-bare?

Is it time for some faith?

It is time to “trust that unknown” to GOD?

“Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” ― Brené Brown

All of us have had times when clarity was scarce; times when we wished GOD would “serve up” the best next answer. 

Yet GOD instead says trust me.

GOD says seek me.

GOD says listen to me.

GOD says have FAITH in me.

GOD says I got this and I have got your best at heart.

Romans 8:28 (LB)

… all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.

It is kind of funny to me.

We believe we have “needs”.

We “need” to know. We “need” some help. We “need” direction.  We “need” resource. We “need” clarity. We “need” control.

But GOD isn’t motivated by our need.  From His perspective, those have been “covered”.

Philippians 4:19 (AMP)

19 And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches…

What motivates GOD is our faith.

Galatians 3:11

…the righteous will live by faith.

Hebrews 11:6

…It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

And faith trusts the unknown to the known.

So the question for today is this.

Are you pensively staring at an “unknown future”?

Then is it time to have the faith to trust it to a "known GOD"?

Matthew 17:20

If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…Nothing will be impossible for you.

“True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie.” ― A.W. Tozer

 

I love you all

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND…

FREEDOM CHURCH

 

UNIQUE EXPRESSION - Missed post - 3.18.2015

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.

“Unique expressions of GOD’S love” she said.
“That is what we all are”, she said.
I asked her, “Say that one more time.”
“We are all unique expressions of GOD’s love.”
Let that sink in for a second. I told her I was going to “lift” that for later use. She didn’t mind. I think she had lifted it too.
I love that.

Doesn’t that “label” clear up any doubt of what GOD intended for each of us; for us to be a “fearfully and wonderfully made” expression of His love? Doesn’t that label “fit” nicely?

I am choosing to embrace that view of me today; GOD’s view.
You should too.

GOD constructed you uniquely. He constructed you out of love. He constructed you and “called you good”. Why we don’t believe that some days is hard to fathom.
Why do we let the labels of others continue to define us?
Labels like:
Failure.
Tramp.
Mistake.
Good for nothing.
No account.
Like I said, "hard to fathom".

I understand we all from time to time have doubts about ourselves based on what others say. The enemy is good at doubts. The enemy is good at lies. The enemy is good at using others to perpetuate them.
John 8:44
…he is a liar and the father of lies.

But our GOD is a GOD who CANNOT lie (Titus 1:2) so if He says we are things like:
…His workmanship…(Ephesians 2:10)
….are greatly loved… (Colossians 3:12; Romans 1:7;
Thessalonians 1:4; Ephesians 2:4)
...then we TRULY are the “UNIQUE expressions of GOD’s love.”
We NEED to believe that unequivocally!

So put that in your HEART, SPIRIT and MIND today as you head out to work, school or ministry. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
GOD crafted you.
GOD loves you.
What more do you need know today?
You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.” ― Max Lucado,

So:
Embrace your uniqueness!
Embrace HIS love for you!

I love you all.
FREEDOM CHURCH

GROWER NOT GROANER

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.

A little wisdom from the pages of Mr. Lucado today…

“Negative thoughts never strengthen you. How many times have you cleared a traffic jam with your grumbles? Does groaning about bills make them disappear? Why moan about your aches and pains, problems and tasks?

Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)

Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.

Instead measure the gifts of God. Collect your blessings. Catalog his kindnesses. Assemble your reasons for gratitude and recite them.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NCV)

Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.”

Sure it is easy in our culture to EMBRACE the negative and to be glass half empty folks.  Corruption, frustration, misgivings of others, and things like that often pervade the day.  It is easy to ride the wave of woe isn’t it?

“With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” – Dr. Wayne W Dyer

That is true!

So today, I want to just issue a little “challenge” of sorts.

Be a grower not a groaner!

Be joyful. No matter what.

If you start to feel the joy waning, pray.

As you pray, give thanks.

Got air in your lungs right?

Upright and able to read this DISPATCH today right?

Maybe you are on your own tablet or nifty-geewhiz phone right?

Give thanks!

If NEGATIVE thoughts serve to “deflate” you and to sap your strength, then to counter with joyful thoughts, thankful prayers, and attitudes of gratitude should do just the opposite. They should STRENGTHEN you!

Right?

Don’t believe me?

Believe GOD.

“for the joy of the LORD is your strength." – Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

“...We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.” – Francesca Reigler

Therefore "work" to GROW today. 

Don't groan!

I love you all

FORSAKEN?

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.

“When God sets His heart on you, you will be tried often. But the longer and harder your affliction, the more deeply God has set His heart on you, to show you His love and care.”  - Dave Wilkerson

It’s not always easy to get over some of those bumps in the road, those disillusionments and disappointments. Sometimes it is going to take a strong will. Sometimes, it may take courage. Sometimes all you have is your faith to whisper, “I refuse to be trapped. I’m not going to any past pain define my future. I’m pressing on. I’m straining forward, knowing that God has great things in store for me.” 

2 Corinthians 4:16 (PHILLIPS)

…wish you could see how all this is working out for your benefit, and how the more grace God gives, the more thanksgiving will redound to his glory. This is the reason why we never collapse. The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength. These little troubles (which are really so transitory) are winning for us a permanent, glorious and solid reward out of all proportion to our pain. For we are looking all the time not at the visible things but at the invisible. The visible things are transitory: it is the invisible things that are really permanent.

Are there times in your life when you “feel forsaken”?  Afflicted?

Oh you know what scriptures like the one above say that the trouble you are in is “transitory”.  But in the moment when the trouble is pressing on every side it is easy to forget scripture; it is easy to discount truth like “never leave or never forsake” isn’t it.

Don’t. "When God sets His heart on you, you will be tried often"...

The solution is not to avoid trouble but to change the way we see our troubles. God can correct your vision. –Max Lucado.

God can.  God will! 

God didn’t sugar coat things for us in His Word.  He said we would face trouble. He said we would face challenges and disappointments. He said we would be tried. But He also made it clear that our present troubles paled in comparison to His coming glory and that He had already overcome it all! (John 16:33).

Our job is to allow Him to correct our VISION about the trouble.

“God is more concerned with our knowing Him than He is in our half-hearted pleasures of comfort, ambition, and success. So much so that He often allows pain and suffering into our lives to clear the clutter of mute, deaf, and unworthy idols that can never deliver on their promises…” ― Tullian Tchividjian

So don’t be discouraged when challenges come.  GOD still loves you! 

For as we were reminded yesterday, when we draw close to GOD He will draw close to us and that is never more true than when the pressure is on!

So I ask...

Are you troubled today? Disappointed? Frustrated? Oppressed?

The trial is transitory. GOD promised.

GOD is there to help. GOD promised.

GOD wants you to trust Him with the trouble.

GOD has His heart set on you.

He’s is right there just like He has always been.

Seek Him. Trust Him. 

He won't forsake you.

My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I'm sick or in good health, whether I'm in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am. - Brennan Manning

 

I love you all.

FREEDOM CHURCH