911/411

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 was counseling last night with a good friend. We have been friends for more than 20 years, but a recent challenge in his family and marriage has elevated our discussions from the strategy of the softball diamond to matters of the heart and spirit.

My friend is “new” to faith. Even though he has been surrounded by believers for quite some time, he has only recently begun to “experience” GOD personally.

You see my friend is going through a very difficult time in his life and as we chatted about those challenges last night he shared a little personal revelation. He said that life had gotten so difficult that the only place he could turn was to the Lord; he had run out of all other options.

Now you need to understand something, this friend wanted NO part of any Jesus discussions in the past. He had always been standoffish when it came to discussions of faith or conversations about Jesus. But this challenge, this crisis was serving to pull the proverbial scales from his eyes and was pulling him into the presence of GOD almost daily.

It is astounding to watch.

And while clearly he is not the first to experience GOD in crisis...

2 Corinthians 7:11

And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible…

...GOD is responding to Him in some amazing ways!

Yet my friend is not alone. Pressure does draw us nearer to GOD and GOD is always right there for those "911" calls of life.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What I find more encouraging from my friend in need is that he is discovering that GOD is not just a “911” GOD, but a “411” GOD as well.

What do I mean?

He has begun to seek GOD proactively for the answers to his questions and for guidance to his problems and GOD is showing up "big time" for him! Time after time in recent days my friend is drawing near to the throne of grace and is finding the help in his time of need! Scripture and GOD are becoming "real" for the first time in his life!

The truth is WE ALL often relegate GOD to just emergencies; treating GOD like that little lever behind the glass on the wall.

We get in trouble we cry out.

We face difficulties and we call the padre.

In times of tragedy where is the first place to get a bump in attendance? That is right, the church.

But GOD wants to be so much more to each of us. He wants to be the “411” call as much as the “911”call.

Matthew 11:19

…Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

GOD wants each of us to daily learn from Him; to draw inspiration from Him minute by minute; to commune and laugh and cry with Him constantly. He wants us seeking Him through His Word and getting the “411”!

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 17 Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.

Maybe today you are not in crisis and needing the “911 GOD” but don't stop seeking Him!

Don’t let today slip by without pulling out GOD’s Word and getting the “411” too!

I love you all…

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

PERIOD. END OF STORY

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.

Woke up today “extra” blessed.

To be frank, I don’t have many days when even if I am a little creaky and bleary around the eyes, I don’t wake up blessed. Near death experiences will help you to appreciate days when you WAKE UP on this side of the dirt!

But yesterday was a day of blessing that infused itself right through my slumber and to my keyboard this morning.

My daughter Hillary who was diagnosed with cancer just a few short months ago received a very positive prognosis from her doctor yesterday. All indicators point to a full recovery and healthy life for her!

She even gets to return to her job at Disney World!

And while that news was stunning and “over the top”, what was more astounding was my daughter’s quiet resolve. After the doctor had stepped out I had my arm around her and she said, “I always knew I was alright”.

Amazing right?

Hillary is the quiet one of my kids. She rarely “expresses”much. She can be a bit hyper when stressed. We even call her the Hilacopter sometimes because when she is under a little duress she flaps her hands swiftly and sounds like a helicopter.

But no Hilacopter yesterday. Just steely confidence.

She had placed her faith in GOD from the get-go and she stood on His promises without waver. I knew my faith and her mama’s was steady, but hers was “matter of fact”.

Her view was GOD had her and cancer didn’t. Period, end of story.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

And while yesterday’s outcome was positive and promising, I am convinced that had it even gone in the opposite direction, Hillary’s reaction would have been the same.

GOD has got it. I am alright.

Hillary doesn’t wear her faith on her sleeve or brandish it about. She, like I said, is quiet and introspective. But she confirmed a vital truth yesterday with her response.

IF YOU…

Matthew 6:34

…Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen … God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

I am so grateful that she is on the road to a cancer-free future, but I am even more grateful for her testimony of faith and determination.

I learned from her yesterday, but I believe that is a lesson for all of us each and every day.

“GOD’s has got it. I am alright. Period, end of story.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

…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.

Have a blessed weekend!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

PROPER PATH

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 day long today we will be presented with "roads".

Some that go right and some that go, no NOT LEFT, but WRONG. Continuously over the course of our day we will need to make choice after choice, decision after decision, and pick "road after road". And while some may be innocuous, like whether to have WINGS or a salad, others will be little more impactful.

And it is in choosing those impactful "roads" that we need some DIRECTION!

The good news is that GOD, yes GOD, has mapped out rock-solid road for each of us. His SPIRITUAL GPS is set to a course that is steady, that is true, and that is safe. All we must decide is if we want to follow it or head down our own trail.

We read that:

Psalm 119

You’re blessed when you stay on course,

walking steadily on the road revealed by God.

You’re blessed when you follow his directions,

doing your best to find him.

That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;

you walk straight along the road he set.

You, God, prescribed the right way to live;

now you expect us to live it.

Oh, that my steps might be steady,

keeping to the course you set;

So that sure seems the way to go doesn’t it?

However even though we see GOD’s directions, hear GOD’s directions, even know GOD’s directions we will still choose not to follow them? Why is that you think?

It is pretty simple. We like being in control and GOD, being the gentleman that He is, will let us set the course on our whims even though we all know what usually happens when we plan the path.

We pick paths full of:

Potholes.

Breakdowns.

Wrecks.

Accidents.

Delays.

In other words, the WRONG roads.

Doesn’t make much sense does it?

Especially when GOD has proven and promised again and again that His road will lead us to happiness!

Joseph Smith Jr. says it this way…

“Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.”

Look, I don’t know where you may think you may be going today.

However why not pause just for a second before you journey forward and listen for GOD’s direction.

Jeremiah 7:23

‘Obey My voice... Walk in all the way that I tell you, that it may be well with you.’

He will point you to the proper path and the right road for you!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

180 MOMENTS

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 arrived to praise and worship team practice last night a defeated fella. The day, thanks mostly to MY choices and reactions, had left me sapped and to be honest a little sullen.

Don’t feel sorry for me. I did enough personal sulking and “kicking the can” for all of us. Trust me. I clearly didn’t pay much attention to my “mirror-mate” and all of that affirmation I shared yesterday. There are some days where I NEED to practice what I write.

But toward the end of practice and before choir had kicked into gear, Pastor Eric was led to share from Psalm 118. He thought he was providing context for a song we have been sharing with AHOP and he was. What he didn’t know was he was speaking exactly what I needed to hear.

I pulled a few verses for you today. Maybe you need hear them too.

Psalm 118

Praise the Lord because he is good!

His faithful love will last forever…

I was in trouble, so I called to the Lord for help.

The Lord answered and made me free.

The Lord is with me, so I will not be afraid.

No one on earth can do anything to harm me.

The Lord is my helper.

I will see my enemies defeated.

It is better to trust in the Lord

than to trust in people.

Many enemies surrounded me,

but with the Lord’s power I defeated them.

They surrounded me again and again,

but I defeated them with the Lord’s power.

They surrounded me like a swarm of bees,

but they were quickly destroyed like a fast-burning bush.

I defeated them with the Lord’s power.

My enemy attacked me and almost destroyed me,

but the Lord helped me.

The Lord is my strength and my reason for singing.

He saved me!...

Lord, I thank you for answering my prayer.

I thank you for saving me.

Lord, you are my God, and I thank you.

My God, I praise you!

29 Praise the Lord because he is good.

His faithful love will last forever.

Isn’t it wonderful how the WORD of GOD can reset the most ransacked of days? I felt completely out of frame and oppressed at 5:35pm and 90 minutes later I was refreshed and refocused.

That is a supernatural thing. That is evidence that GOD never loses sight of what we need.

How else can one explain the 180 degree change?

We just need to be listening for it.

I need to seek it more fervently.

Perhaps you too have been having a less than stellar set of days, join me and grab hold of the promises and power in this passage.

GOD loves you FOREVER!

GOD protects you FOREVER!

GOD answers you FOREVER!

GOD saves you FOREVER! (Even when you don’t feel like you are much worth saving)

GOD REIGNS FOREVER!

GOD has "got this"...whatever "this" is.

Can't you feel things turning around already?

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

MIRROR MATE

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.

How is that guy or gal in the mirror doing today?

Aside from needing maybe needing a little more sleep, how are things looking?

Ready for another day?

Ready for the today’s challenges; it’s triumphs and trials?

I know it may seem silly, but we all need to spend a minute with the one in the mirror because they are going to be with us all day today. There is even an old saying in recovery. “Everywhere you go there YOU are.”

So why not take a second to chat with the person staring back at you in the mirror and make sure that you both are on the same page for today? In fact maybe it would help if you took a moment to remind that person of a few things before you dive into the fracas.

Like what you ask?

Hows about…

2 Corinthians 5:17

(WE ARE IN CHRIST) and "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Maybe you both needed that one because yesterday was a complete train wreck and a new start was just the ticket.

Or how about reminding that mirror buddy that…

Philippians 1:6

… he who began a good work in you (US) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Yon needed that one did you? Were you two considering throwing in the towel today? No need for that now. The GOOD work is underway!

Say you need another one for your mirror mate?

Hows about…

Galatians 4:7

You (WE) are God’s child, and you will receive everything he promised his children.

That should ward off those feelings of discouragement the two of you woke up with right?

You may be saying Pastor this is silly, but I don't think so!

It is important from time to time to remind ourselves of these truths!

Why you ask?

Far too often WE (you and that person in the mirror) are our worst enemy. We let the lies of the enemy pollute our identity and that in turn can pollute the day. We enter too many days defeated instead of empowered by GOD.

Sometimes we just need to pause and inspire the one in the mirror!

So rub the sleep from your eyes and look squarely at the one staring back at you in the mirror and say confidently…

Psalms 139:14

(WE ARE) am fearfully and wonderfully made…

Now "both of you" go and have a blessed and productive day!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

LET ME OFF!

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.

Was heading down to Cincinnati last week and went past King’s Island. My kids get passes to the park every Christmas from their aunt and uncle and just love to buzz down and take their cracks at the BEAST, the VORTEX and the other roller coasters.

And if your heart and spinal cord are in good shape, those coasters can be quite the thrill!

But when LIFE turns into a roller coaster that is a different story altogether isn’t it? That is more the nauseating, discombobulating type of coaster experience; the one where your legs get wobbly and you struggle to find the nearest secluded spot to deposit your lunch when it finally comes to rest.

Over the past 6 or 7 weeks, I have met with so many who are hanging on by their proverbial fingernails to a “life coaster” whose dips and twists are relentless. A "coaster" that won’t slow down much less stop for a second to let them get off and regroup and rest.

I mean it seems one day life is going great. The FACEBOOK posts are positive and upbeat then the next the TWITTER turns tragic and the EMOTICONS are frowns and sad faces. I know it is a painful experience. I have been on my share of them too.

But the truth is life IS a roller coaster. It is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, careens and chasms. But those who follow Christ CAN smooth out the ride.

Yes we can.

Remember life is 10% what happens to us (the coaster ride) and 90% how we respond. So we can choose when to hang on or hang it up. And the best news is that GOD knows our plight. That is why He is always urging us to let HIM manage this ride; to let Him help us when the ride gets too rough or scary or when we feel like we can't hang on anymore.

1 Peter 5:7

Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you.

Perhaps life has got your head spinning and your stomach sinking like double helix or a classic loop-da-op. Maybe you need a break from all of the big climbs and death defying falls.

Then take the break. It is there. You can proclaim that old line from the show, "Stop the World, I want to get off!"

Get off and let GOD do the riding for you for a spell. Let Him deal with the corkscrews and +90 degree pitches.

He will eagerly jump into that seat!

Psalm 50:15

…call for help when you’re in trouble—I’ll help you…

All you have to do is ask.

Matthew 11:28
“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest."

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney