GOD'S GOODNESS

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.

It was a long day yesterday.

Lot of friends in “trouble”.

One experiencing a devastating loss, another suffering with confusion as to “what was next”, and still another still languishing in denial and manipulation. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. Another was recovering from a cutting episode and yet one more had decided to go “back out” and was on the verge of losing it all again.

But why share these things with you?

Why open on such a downer?

I share them to remind us of the goodness of GOD.

Now I know what you are thinking... how can tragedy, mistakes and loss remind us of the goodness of GOD?

It is quite simple.

Because GOD has and will continue to have victory! I don’t care how long days seem to be or how bleak the circumstances, we can STILL go to GOD knowing that we will have victory over the struggles and trials of life. That is not just talk that is rock solid truth.

1 Corinthians 10:13

…All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t it reassuring to be able to speak that over the things in your life as well as be able to speak it into the lives of your friends and family in crisis?

That GOD is always GOOD even when all else is BAD.

Plain and simple.

Cut and dry.

Cook it and book it. Chiseled in stone and unshakable!

Truth! The GOODNESS of GOD is not bound or impacted by circumstances. It overcomes! It challenges! It repairs! It restores! It gives hope!

It brings BLESSING out of the BAD.

Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Perhaps you had a long day yesterday. Maybe you have a friend or co-worker who needs to hear the GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD message. Maybe you have a family member who could use a boost.

Believe it!

Share it!

Nahum 1:7

God is good, a hiding place in tough times.

He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help,

No matter how desperate the trouble.

It will change things for them and you!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

WORD-SOAKED

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.

49 scriptures.

Last night my good friend Lisa Fulton “threw the Book at ‘em’” so to speak.

I described her time of sharing as “soaked in the WORD”. It most definitely was an encouraging and affirming revelation of the amazing ability of GOD’s WORD to have relevance, clarity and direction.

But that is what GOD’s WORD is all about. It is not the dusty writings of some bearded travelers in sandals and smocks it is most certainly the organic, living breathing Word of GOD.

2 Timothy 3:14

…Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

Often we save reading our bibles for the Sunday “lesson” or grab it on our way out the door to keep up appearances when the ushers greet us at the door. Why?

As Lisa pointed out with passion and clarity last night, REAL LIFE issues like anxiety and depression can be “treated” and broken by the unerring WORD of GOD. Don’t think so?

Let’s give a look-see at anxiety...

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ...

You get the drift?

The WORD of GOD is amazing.

Struggling with anger?

Proverbs 14:29

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

What about lust?

Galatians 5:16

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

I could go on but you get what I am saying.

Don’t ever discount the power of the WORD of GOD and its impact on your day. GOD has a WORD on ALL things.

So stop GOOGLING for life’s answers. Instead go grab your WORD and see WHAT GOD has to say about what you are dealing with!

It’s in there!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

GOOD START

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.

Getting off to a good start is crucial to a successful race.

Swimmers and track athletes spend countless hours on the blocks honing the craft of getting off the perfect start.

They tune their muscles and mind so precisely so that as soon as they hear the crack of the starters pistol or the beep of the electronic starter they spring into action and a good race is underway!

Our days are not much different. A good start can set the tone for an entire day.

Let's face it, we all have experienced the devastating effects of a “bad start” haven’t we? Wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Have a morning spat. Spill the coffee. Burn an egg. Carry yesterday’s concerns and anxiety into today. Those things usually don't translate into a good day do they?

And never forget, the enemy would love nothing more to damage your “start”; to dampen your mood, to put a little “cranky” in your crankshaft just to ruin the potential of the day.

That is why it is crucial to “practice” getting out of the blocks on a good foot and in good position to run today’s race!

Start here.

Proverbs 4:23

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.

Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.

Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.

Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.

Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

Set your heart and mind to listening and doing what the Lord commands.

Colossians 3:2 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

John 14:15

If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.

Then when the gun sounds, pursue them. Don’t get distracted. Don’t allow the enemy to hurt your start or keep you from a “good run” today.

A good start will set a good state of mind and a good state of mind can make for a good day. Don’t minimize its importance!

Pause. Take a breath. Time for a little prayer? Filled up with a little Word? (Oh that’s right you’re reading this) You poised? You relaxed. The day is out in front of you. Heart ready? Mind ready?

3-2-1

GO!

Philippians 3:14

…I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running,

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

TRUTH IS THE TRUTH

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 been talking a lot about trials and adversity this week.The intent was not to dampen our spirits but rather to shed a little light that sometimes we can be overwhelmed with all that life is dishing out. But as hard as life may try it can't change Jesus. As hard as the enemy may try to convince us that the world is too chaotic and that GOD is absent from our equation, the TRUTH is still the TRUTH!

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Good days, bad days, hard days and those that are a “piece of cake”are all in HIS amazing consistent and more importantly CONSTANT control. And since life is anything BUT constant or let alone consistent, it is crucial to remember that GOD remains steady, steadfast and by our side through each and EVERY day! He would never leave us hanging.

Isaiah 49:16

I’d never forget you—never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.

I have spoken with many of you in the last few days who feel so alone and so isolated.Maybe you are one who has been on a bit of a “sin binge” of late and feel like as a result GOD has checked out on you.Maybe you are one who has had the rug pulled out from under you at work and suddenly you find yourself with too much month and too little money.Maybe you are the one who has made some recent changes but things are so different and weird your anxiety has topped out and you are scared to get up.

Don’t fret.I know you feel like you can get no traction or that the problem is too big.It is not!

Jeremiah 32:27

I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?

Our consistent and constant GOD wants to steady the course for you.He wants to come along side you and remind you that these challenges; this adversity, this change won’t overwhelm you. We have even learned this week they will likely strengthen and advance you!

So don’t allow the circumstances of life or your frailty of flesh get you down or take you out today.Don’t get so wrapped up in the problem or those unsure feelings to miss the TRUTH of GOD that is right there for the claiming!

No matter what it is that you are up against, no matter what feelings of inadequacy or fear you are feeling the TRUTH is the TRUTH. And the TRUTH says:

Matthew 19:26 ESV

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this (WHATEVER THIS IS) is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

DON'T PRESS "0"

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.

We sure don’t like to wait do we?

We don’t like lines, we don’t like hold music, we don’t like being asked to step to the left or park in that “little special” place next to the drive thru. Come on be honest. You didn’t wake up this morning and say I sure hope I get stuck in traffic, have a long wait for my McWhatever or Grande’Cappawhatsit.

We are an impatient lot. We want what we want and we know full and well when we should get it.

So what do we do? We press “0”to reach the operator. We tap our foot impatiently in line. We let out an audible sigh hoping the person on the other side of the counter steps it up a bit.

And often in life these little strategies work. We are able to speed up the burger and fries. We might even get our pizza “comped” for being delivered past the expected time. And while impatience is occasionally rewarded down here on earth, GOD calls us to be just the opposite. GOD tells us to wait!.

In fact He even says great things happen to those who are “waiters”and who are not toe tappers and "sighers”.

Isaiah 40:31

But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak.

But we try to do the same with GOD that we do with the phone queue at customer service. We press “0” over and over again trying to speed up our answers. We pace and fret wondering if GOD has heard our prayers and question why He is so slow to respond.

Yet, GOD tells us to "be still". In fact waiting is one of the essentials of the Christian life. For waiting keeps us in step with GOD’s timing for us, not our own.

I know in our world, we are pressured to “hurry and decide, or lose out.”I can honestly say, I struggle with waiting too. But the Lord asks us to stand against this culture’s way of operating and to wait until we receive His signals, His direction, His suggestion, His guidance and His response.

Why?

Because His plan is the best plan and His timing is the best timing for us!

Isaiah 30:18

God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

Perhaps you woke up today anxious for an answer from GOD in a situation or circumstance. Maybe you have been waging a battle for some time and you can’t see any progress.

Resist the temptation to get frustrated with GOD and look for ways to manipulate and accelerate. Instead “be still”, step back, exercise a little patience and wait. If you do, GOD will make Himself apparent and your outcome will turn out right! He promises.

Psalm 37:34

Wait passionately for God, don’t leave the path. He’ll give you your place in the sun...

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

KICK IN THE TEETH

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.

“All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Walt Disney

That is a great quote. But not many of us want to believe its truth do we?

We are not much for adversity. We don’t like trial. We are not wired for challenge and conflict. Rather we are a society that enjoys our comforts. We love our remote controls so we don’t have to get up from the couch. We enjoy our plush Ez-Boys and sectionals. Central air anyone?

I don't believe any of us are big fans of adversity.

But I think what Walt was saying is that often it TOOK a CHALLENGE, it took a little conflict; a little suffering to keep him on track or to help him ascend him to new heights of creativity or resolve.

The truth is our true mettle is not proven sitting on the couch in a vegetated state. GOD knows that it is in the fire of life that our true character and true gifting emerge!

1 Peter 1:6-7

These troubles test your faith and prove that it is pure. And such faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. When your faith is proven to be pure, the result will be praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ...

Yet far too often we run from adversity instead of meeting it head on. Or worse yet we sulk in it; kick the can down the road; play the “woe is me” game.

GOD reminds us over and over again that ADVERSITY is a part of life and our response to it should not be running or pouting but learning and overcoming! Why? Because thanks to GOD we have what it takes to do just that!

1 John 5:4

…because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world.

Maybe you have been kicked in the teeth recently. Maybe you are staring down some obstacles that seem overwhelming and unmanageable. Maybe you know that you are going to face adversity the minute you walk out that door.

Don’t cower!

Don’t run!

Don’t sulk!

Proverbs 24:10

If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

Instead embrace it! Learn from it! Be better through it!

It may just be the “best thing to happen to you”!

I love you all…

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

FRONT ROW SEAT

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.

My friend Joy and I talk often how while our roles in ministry have their moments of challenge, fatigue and frustration, we are truly blessed to have a “front row seat”.

What do I mean? Let me first back up a bit.

Joy is the Executive Director of SAFEHARBOR HOUSE (http://www.safeharborhouse.org/) a wonderful ministry dedicated to helping broken and hurting women find freedom in CHRIST from prostitution, drug addiction, homelessness and pain. She is my buddy. It is an honor to serve alongside her!

Almost daily she, amid the drama and tears, sees women who once were disenfranchised, past over, and hurt, women who have made drastically radical and awful decisions, find healing in Jesus. She has story after story of reclamations, restorations, and reconciliations. And she has got to watch GOD work in these lives from HER “front row seat”.

Well yesterday I had a “front row seat” experience myself.

B, M, and S all were baptized.

B, the oldest of the group was a long-time alcoholic who had found sobriety and now Jesus. M, a skeptic and a cynic who had previously turned to heroin for relief, emerged from the baptismal tank a changed fellow, FREE and full of a new hope for the first time in his life. S, a young teen who had suffered with fear and sadness so severe she had resorted to cutting, found herself in the healing water of Jesus and seeing a new door to FREEDOM opening.

John 5:24

I assure you, anyone who hears what I say and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life. They will not be judged guilty. They have already left death and have entered into life.

And I (along with about 500 other AHOPPERS) got the front row seat to see all of them enter a "new life"!

But you don’t have to be in “official” ministry to SEE what GOD can do; to have your front row seat. All you need to do pause and...

Psalm 34:8

...open your eyes and see— how good God is.

Opportunities for transformation are everywhere.

You have a co-worker struggling in his marriage? Maybe a cup of coffee after work to talk would be a “front row seat”opportunity for you to see GOD work a miracle.

Got a friend who is overwhelmed? Maybe going over to help with some things around the house would give you a “front row seat”to see GOD change a perspective.

Never forget GOD is still in the miracle business; GOD is still into changing the old to new!

Isaiah 65:17-18

Pay close attention now: I’m creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten.

Therefore there are “front row opportunities” all over the place! We just to make ourselves aware of those people and situations that NEED JESUS! We then, like my buddy Joy, need to be responsive and equipped to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus and then get ready to watch what GOD will do!

Psalm 105:5-6

Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles…

Then you too will get your chance at a “FRONT ROW SEAT”!

I love you all…

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney