ON THE GRID

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.

Back on the grid.

For many it seems the minute they decide to repent and ask GOD to turn things around, life seems to get even tougher.

At FREEDOM we call that coming “back on the grid”.

You see when we were actively swimming in our sinful and selfish nature, locked in addiction or embracing daily disobedience, the enemy doesn't have to do much to keep us on his team.

Yet when we have a change of heart, when we decide that a life of active disobedience and sin is not for us and we repent and seek GOD, we pop back up on the enemy’s radar. Don’t doubt me on this one. I have seen it happen first hand.

I have witnessed someone accept Jesus on a Monday and before they leave the parking lot, their dope contact that they haven’t heard from in months will blow up their phone.

I was in the home of a couple who had emerged from a long battle with heroin and their old drug dealer popped up to the house like the pizza delivery man.

The truth is the devil never rests. He is constantly looking for openings to attack.

1 Peter 5:8

...The devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.

D.L. Moody used to say, “The devil never kicks a dead horse.”

When God begins to work, the devil isn’t happy about it and will do everything possible to prevent it. Wherever Jesus Christ is magnified, the devil goes to work to stop it from happening.

That is a reality my friends.

Perhaps you have experienced this “on the grid” feeling.

You go to reconcile an estranged relationship and the traffic makes you so angry before you get there that you forgot what you were going to say.

You finally decide to reach out to resolve a long running conflict only to find the other party totally unwilling to take the call.

You do your best to serve another or be benevolent and encounter bitterness, resentments, untruths, or are thrown under the bus for your efforts instead.

What we can’t forget friends is the devil never lets up.

2 Timothy 3:15-16

Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.

But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed...

The enemy wants us distracted and wrongly focused in order to keep our eyes off of CHRIST, the source of our strength and hope. He plants seeds of deception to make us question ourselves, misinterpret things or to mislead us.

We must daily prepare for these sorts of things. They will come from many sources; strangers, circumstances, colleagues maybe even friends and family.

So…

Ephesians 6:13-15

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long…

So my friends get ready. You are likely "on the grid" today.

Remember your prayer, the Word, and that GOD is there to help!

Have a blessed weekend.

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

PAUSE BUTTON

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.

Are you wearing out?

Have you come to the end of your own strength? Whipped?

Is it causing you "stumbling a smidge"?

This world can sap your energy in a minute can’t it?

Deadlines, pressure, frustrations, demands to do more with less, windows to complete tasks shrinking, being told to push, push, push.

More with less!

What used to take a week now needs completed in 24 hours and the pace seems to be quickening.

What to do?

Guess what? GOD wants you to hold on for a second! Push the pause button!

WHAT?

I know what you are saying. “I don’t have time to wait on the Lord. I have cut-offs and targets. Have you seen what happens to me when I DON’T deliver? I don’t have time for GOD’s help. GOD doesn’t get my pressures.”

Uh…really? Did you really just say that?

GOD totally understands.

GOD says, “I’ve got this. Wait a second, let ME move, let ME take a gander at what has got you in a tizzy and bring perspective to the situation.”

Isaiah 40:27-31

27-31 Why would you ever complain saying,

“God has lost track of me.

He doesn’t care what happens to me”?

Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?

God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.

He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.

He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.

And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired,

gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don’t get tired,

they walk and don’t lag behind.

When we genuinely lift our hearts and prayers to God, He renews our strength. When we pause to breathe, GOD restores our breath.

So if you are almost too weary to lift your head today then here is a little tip.

BOW IT INSTEAD.

Offer your concerns and your fears to your Father in heaven. He is always at your side, offering His love and His strength. He will lift your head when the time is right.

Psalm 3:3

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

He promises to give you exactly the strength, the wisdom, the insight, the intuition, and the direction for this day.

So hit the pause button and wait. Then get ready for the lift.

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

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.

Go ahead. Do it!

I want you to get up from what you are doing and find a mirror and stare directly into it and say, “Hello you! Me and you, we are going to be encouraged in the LORD today!”

I don’t care if your co-worker is in the stall right next to the mirror or if you boss is touching up her mascara. Be bold! Don't sweat it if the kids are in the bathroom at home and think you are a blithering wackadoodle.

Pump it up!

With a glint in your eye and smile on your face, encourage yourself.

What do you mean no? Don’t be wimpy! Encourage yourself!

You are not the first to do this…trust me!

1 Samuel 30:6

David encouraged himself in the Lord his God…

Don’t wait for someone else to come along and tell you how good you look today or that your hair looks MAHHVELOUS to trip your trigger. Don’t wait for good fortune or a positive spin to materialize to lift your lid.

Conjure up some real encouragement! Some GODLY encouragement!

Look out! Here comes one!

Psalm 139:14

I(you) am(are) fearfully and wonderfully made...

BOOMSHAKALA!

Maybe slip in a little…

Ephesians 2:10

You are…

…God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works.

BOOOO YAHHH!

Don’t let the day get you down. Don’t let the on-set of winter frost your faith. Infuse a little self-encouragement with that morning java!

Come on! It isn’t silly. It can change your whole attitude and improve your day.

Still don’t believe me?

Here is a little blast of blessing.

Colossians 3:12

12 God has chosen you. You are holy and loved by Him.

Woop Woop!

David daily encouraged HIMSELF in the LORD and he was considered a man after GOD’s own heart. So let’s jump on that bandwagon shall we?

Oh my, you better grab hold of something...here is a barn-burner!

You are…

Romans 8:17

…a joint heir with Christ.

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!

Encouraged?

I am…how bout you?

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

HOPE WILL APPEAR

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.

"Where are you GOD?"

"Can’t you see I am in a mess here?"

"My kids are rebelling and they don’t know the danger they are in. They won’t listen to me. I am scared. Are you listening?"

"The police are at my door, I know I was wrong but I can’t leave now my family needs me. What do I do?"

"Why did you do that mom? Why didn’t you ask me for help?"

"I have really been trying to do right, I really have you know it and I know it, so why all the bad stuff GOD?"

So many questions.

So many crises.

So much chaos.

So much noise.

Consequences. Confusion. Conundrums.

It is all so loud. It is all so overwhelming.

Yesterday was one of those days for me. Too much. Too fast. Too many half-truths. Too many uncertainties.

No clear cut answers anywhere. No real path appearing out of the midst telling me where to go, no glowing revelation or wash of discernment telling me what to say.

I will be transparent this morning. I got overwhelmed.

And true to my old sinful nature, my old fleshly self, I got angry with all of it. Kicked the ground. Said stupid things. Made stupid arguments. Had a little textbook temper tantrum. Thought about cashing in on all of it. Even said I bet the devil was enjoying kicking my "you know what" around the parking lot.

Then morning came.

Things are always better in the morning, at least they are for me. And low and behold, the mercy and faithfulness of GOD was there to meet me just like every morning before. Except today I really went looking for it.

Lamentations 3:22

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,

his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.

They’re created new every morning.

How great your faithfulness!

And even though yesterday was brutal for me, GOD reminded me THAT IT ISN'T ABOUT ME.

He reminded me that it was so much more brutal for those going through the pain, asking the questions and seeking the answers.

I needed to remember that and stop and listen for His help.

Maybe it was brutal yesterday for you as well. Maybe you need to stop and listen too.

As I sit here at the computer in the quiet of the morning with my coffee on my right I am reminded that GOD has got all of these. We just need to rest our minds and remember His faithfulness and trust Him to go to work.

Lamentations 3:28-29

When life is heavy and hard to take,

go off by yourself. Enter the silence.

Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions:

Wait for hope to appear.

You see that is the TRUTH.

Hope WILL appear. Answers will surface. Directions will come. Plans will crystallize. Why? Because GOD is GOD and that is what He does.

2 Corinthians 6:1

…God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen…

And that is what I am going to do. Just listen.

How about you?

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

YOUR LITTLE

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 a wonderful old song called “Little IS MUCH WHEN GOD is in it.”

A profound little title huh? But let me tell you it is a title loaded with truth!

Often we think that our “GOD STUFF” needs to be grandiose and huge. We need bombastic events and months of planning. We rent arenas and make up flyers. We advertise and promote. We higher musicians and string up lights. We heighten the anticipation for a big GOD sighting.

Yet more often, GOD operates in the little things.

The blessing of a donated turkey from one family to another in need; GOD is in that.

A warm coat given to a less fortunate child; GOD is in that.

An open door to a family in crisis; GOD is in that.

And yes, while Jesus was good at the biggies no doubt (I give you Lazerus and that whole water and wine gig), He always understood the power of “little”.

Matthew 10:42

And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

I believe that sometimes we lean too much on the “big” when Jesus encouraged our “littleness”.

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

The KINGDOM of HEAVEN?

Little IS much WHEN GOD IS IN IT!

5 loaves and 2 fish were little. With GOD in it, it became a feast.

A band of 12 misfit friends was little. With GOD in it they changed humanity.

A baby in a manger was little. With GOD in HIM He rewrote eternity.

GOD does some amazing things with the little.

A GODLY attitude with the cashier today at Starbucks could brighten someone’s day.

A little extra tip left in Jesus name to a frazzled waitress can make immeasurable change.

A little time in prayer spent with someone mired in a mess can infuse much needed hope and turn a situation around.

An inspired phone call may be just what is needed to pull someone from the ledge of death.

How do I know?

Because each one of those examples are REAL!

Lives are changed with the seemingly little. Trust me.

So don’t you discount the impact that you can have today with YOUR LITTLE.

When GOD is in it, little IS MUCH.

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

BLACK FRIDAY

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?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

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 thought I would send a “little rerun” of a DISPATCH I penned on BLACK FRIDAY last year…I think the message is still applicable!

Love ya! Pastor G…

Many of you are either heading out for a BLACK FRIDAY excursion or already back, catching a cup of coffee or a Monster energy drink in preparation for another dive in the mosh pit of shopping insanity.

Well I bid you safe travel and pray you don’t lose any limbs wrestling a spry grandma to the ground for the last of the “whosits or whatsits” you seek.

I wanted to just encourage you that as you fly face first into the fray today, remember who you represent.

We hear so many awful stories of bickering and fighting on this goofiest of days.So as the tempers rise and the intensity peaks, just remember who you are.

You are Jesus’ rep today in this madhouse.

Not being preachy, just wanted you to pause; that’s all.

Philippians 2

…Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

The way we live for God should permeate all areas of life; even BLACK FRIDAY.

The way we act reflects our faith; others will equate our attitudes and actions with Jesus.

Just a gentle reminder.

This is as much for me today as anyone; at least this year my wife can't don her“KOHL’S KAP” on and tie me to the bumper of the car kicking and screaming to that torture chamber. An experience in that store on Black Friday can make the most steady of Christians lose their religion.

But, think about how the golden rule—"Do unto others as you'd have others do unto you"—it applies here.

That’s all.

No throw-downs today my FREEDOM friends. Put your shopping carts back to save the employee’s time.Let another who has the screaming kid ahead of you in line. No tug o war over the “gotta have” sweater.Be cheerful.

I have the upmost confidence in all of you!

Have a blessed and safe day.

Also, have fun and a wonderful weekend.

I love you all.

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney