SECRET WEAPON

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)

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

Proverbs 10:28 (ESV)

The HOPE of the righteous brings joy…

And…The joy of God is your strength! Nehemiah 8:10 (MSG)

YEAH HOPE!  THANK GOD FOR IT!!!!

I was sharing the stage yesterday with 3 friends.  Jennifer, Pastor Nancy, and Dr. Ortiz.  They are IMPACTING women to say the least.

Hope radiates from them!

Jennifer is a tireless champion for the addicted, a member of Mr. DeWine’s amazing team.  Pastor Nancy of St. Mark’s in Columbus is one of the brightest lights in Columbus for the hurting disenfranchised and addicted. And Dr. Ortiz, despite being the last stop for those in addiction (she is Franklin County’s Coroner) she is a leader in all areas of community activation against this challenge.

And they along with me were tasked with inspiring the FAITH leaders of Franklin County TO ACTION and collaboration!  

To inspire them to start SHARING HOPE!

Not an easy task.

In fact, one Pastor from Hilliard made the comment that in the 3 years of ministry in his community, despite countless efforts to connect to his fellow Pastors and community church leaders, to date not one of those invitations had been accepted.

Sad.

That is HOPE deferred and the Bible says that makes us heartsick.

BUT enough of that.

The thought for today was shared by Jennifer yesterday during our luncheon/presentation.  She said that ALL that were in attendance regardless of denomination (we had leadership from the Jewish community there) that EACH one gathered had the SECRET WEAPON to battle and eventually DEFEAT this scourge.

We all have HOPE. (Proverbs 23:18)

Hope CHANGES everything. (Right Ed F.?)

And that HOPE is to BE SHARED!!!

Ironically, when I first met Jennifer due to a myriad of life challenges and struggles, she wasn’t “too hopeful”; borderline atheistic. But now, she is the CHAMPION of HOPE; a CHAMPION of confirmation and possibility!

You see HOPE changes everything

So why share this “well-worn” encouragement today.

I know that many of you are struggling today.

Many of you are dealing with what seems like a HOPELESS END rather that believing that you have ENDLESS HOPE!

But you do!

It will never be cut off because of CHRIST! (Psalm 71:5)

And we NEED TO SHARE THAT HOPE always!

So that is your job today! Share your HOPE realizing that:

“The greatest need for our time is

(US to commit to)

loving others regardless of religion or culture, pouring itself out in a life of service, offering HOPE to a frightened world, and presenting itself as a real alternative to the existing arrangement.”

― Brennan Manning, The Signature of Jesus

Let’s SHARE our HOPE!

Have a blessed and HOPEFILLED weekend!

I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE

 

Pastor GDelaney

CHECK IN FOR YOUR CHECK UP

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)

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

Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living and reorder our lives under God.

Lamentations 3:40 (MSG) 

John Maxwell suggests a “Question for God” every morning:

What is the main event today? What do you want me to focus on today?”

Warren and Baker suggest that all of us need to…reserve a daily time with God for Bible reading, self-examination and prayer in order to know God and his will for my life and to gain the power to follow his will.”

Don’t kid yourself or discount these opening remarks and scripture today. 

We ALL could use MORE time with GOD. 

We could all stand for more time in PRAYER, more time in HONEST SELF-EVALUATION, REPENTANCE, and CONFESSION.  We ALL have ROOM for GOD to grow us, prune the less desirable out of our lives, show us the habits that need corralled and provide the healing we need.

I know I do.

Yet, far too many days I suffer from what some call...

“MARTHA-SYNDROME”.   

You remember the story of Jesus coming to visit Mary and Martha and Martha being so consumed with the work, the stress, the anxiety of the job at hand that she sacrificed time at the feet of Jesus for the busyness, right? (Luke 10)

If I am not careful that is me. 

Not only do I sacrifice TIME WITH GOD to “work” for GOD, I often allow the frustration of the work and my frailties to intersect thus making me a GOOD candidate for potentially “sinful” stress, anxiousness, and irritability.

That is NOT GOOD! 

A little wacky when you pause and think about it.

But something tells me I am not alone.  

I believe that is why Paul says:

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. - From 2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG)

Andy Stanley takes it a step further and suggests we ask this question:

“Do you think God can be trusted? Or do you think you always need to take things into your own hands?”

So, the thought and encouragement today is clear.

Carve out some time for just YOU and GOD today!  Give yourself a little checkup and "check in".

Ask GOD to set the agenda.  Ask the question, “What DO YOU want me to focus and work on today?” 

And then tune your ear and trust GOD for the answer to the question of focus and direction.

The day will be better I am sure.

I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE

TIME FOR PRAYER

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)

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

Short and sweet today.

Ever heard the saying, “Life is fragile, handle with PRAYER”?

Far too often reserve our prayers for the "church house, the formal occasion, the dinner table, before we lay ourselves down to sleep or when faced with crisis or challenge. Yet Paul pointed out that prayer needs to be constant (1 Thessalonians 5:17), that the conduit of communication between us and the Father needs to be open in all our waking moments!

I mean we are up one minute and down the next; have things seemingly under control and then, WHAM, something or someone pulls the proverbial rug out. Without that communication line open we are relegated to our own understanding; something GOD said we shouldn’t lean on. (Proverbs 3:5)

The essential point is we must heed Paul’s instruction. "Never STOP praying"

And right now, is a good a time as any to get started!

Chambers remarked,

“Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning.”

So let's not!

Don’t ever underestimate the power, the timing, or impact of prayer. 

Be open.

Stay open.

Nothing is too small or insignificant.

Remember GOD is invested in you INTRICATELY…

…he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! 

Luke 12:7 (MSG)

…let’s choose to be intricately engaged on our end too!

And now that communication lines are open, leave them open! 

Remember my friends…

“The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer.” ― KB Meyer

Have a blessed day…

I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE