ROCK and a HARD PLACE

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.

Isaiah 43:1-3 NCV

He says, "Don't be afraid, because I have saved you.

I have called you by name, and you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.

When you cross rivers, you will not drown.

When you walk through fire, you will not be burned,

nor will the flames hurt you.

3 This is because I, the Lord, am your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

The title heading for this passage from Peterson’s Message is called, “Between a rock and hard place.”

And we all have been there a time or two haven’t we?

It makes me think of that scene from Harrison Ford’s movie “The Fugitive”. He is falsely accused and running from the US Marshals and Tommy Lee Jones has him trapped against the top of the spill-way water-fall. His choices are to jump over the edge or be taken back to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

That is being caught between a rock and hard place for sure.

Honestly we all have times where life plops us smack-dab in the middle of rocks and hard places more often than we like. You know, those tough times where there seems to be “no way out” or our choices are limited at best.

But even on our darkest days, we must remember that God’s love remains constant; that the promises of Isaiah 43 are true.

Like the old song says:

“God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength

For each new day

He will make a way”

We all encounter adversity. The fact that we experience it is not nearly as important as the way we choose to deal with it.

I was working with a couple this weekend and over and over again, that quote from John Maxwell kept coming back to mind.

“ Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it ” ― John Maxwell

And that is so true!

When tough times arrive, we have a clear choice: we can begin the difficult work of tackling our troubles . . . or not. Truth is when we summon the courage to look our adversity squarely in the eye, he usually blinks. And if you don’t think you can do that, think again!

2 Timothy 1:7

New Life Version (NLV)

⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.

As believers, we know and must remember that God loves us and that He will protect us. In times of hardship, He will comfort us; in times of sorrow, He will dry our tears. When we are troubled, weak, or sorrowful, God is always with us. We must be quick to count on the ROCK that cannot be shaken. (PETRA/CHRIST- right Pastor Mark?)

So when troubles come, when the rock is pressing on one side and you heels are dangling off the edge of the cliff, remember.

Isaiah 43 (MSG)

…When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.

When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.

When you're between a rock and a hard place,

it won't be a dead end—

Because I am God, your PERSONAL God,

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

STICKY SIN

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.

You ever find yourself slipping back into an “old groove.”

I know your nose just curled up or you raised an eyebrow and probably uttered a little “what” under your breath, but work with me a little this morning.

Maybe an old groove is “lustful thinking”. Maybe an old groove is “undisciplined internet surfing”. Maybe an old groove is loose talk or profane language. Maybe an old groove is white lying.

You following me?

Old grooves are those sinful habits that when left unchecked really do some damage.

The Bible warns us about “old grooves”.

1 Peter 1:13-16
[ A Future in God ] So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

When we choose to serve GOD, to accept CHRIST and give Him access and reign in our lives, GOD expects us to “give up the grooves” so to speak. We are to live as He wants us to live and we know longer have the excuse of “ignorance” or apathy to lean on.

GOD makes it clear. We are to remove those old what I will call “STICKY SINS” from your heart and lifestyle and live in a more GODLY fashion.

Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Sticky sins or those “old grooves” are those sins that we consciously or unconsciously bring upon ourselves and they usually occur because we have not completely cut our relationship with the chronic sinful habits. Like the verse says, we “easily slip back into them.”

I will be truthful this morning, lustful leering fits in the “old groove” for me. My loose tongue when I am frustrated or angry is a sticky sin for me.

But GOD is calling both you and me to shed those “sticky sins” and to “give up the old groove”.

But Lord knows that is not an easy task. But it is one that we must do! And cutting our relationship with chronic sinful habits requires serious choices.

When we find ourselves thinking about how to gratify our sinful natures, we are setting ourselves up for an occasion to sin. This thinking process can be very subtle and deceptive.

We may meet a friend at a restaurant with the best of intentions to help them or talk with them and then suddenly there is a drink in our hand and the paparazzi is snapping our photograph. (Ask Josh Hamilton)

You might head over to a friend’s house with every intention of helping his recovery and before you know it you have snorted 3 caps and blown 15 months of recovery. (Real story)

Sticky sins and old grooves are like the song says “hard habits to break”!

But GOD wants more from us. He wants all of us. He deserves it.

And He wants us FREE from those sticky sins!

Ephesians 4:21-24

…Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

So today if you are struggling with a sticky sin or can’t seem to lift yourself out of an “old groove”, ask God to help you be honest with yourself and see those habits for what they are, CHRONIC, DANGEROUS and ROTTEN.

Then ask GOD to help you to make the right choices.

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Prayer:

“Father, help me to be honest with myself when I make these serious choices. Help me to make choices that will keep me away from any occasion for sin. Help me to honestly avoid the things and situations I know would be enticing. In Jesus’name Amen.

I love you all.

Have a blessed weekend!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

CENTER OF ATTENTION

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.

FROM THE WISDOM HUNTER

I thought I would pass this little devotion along this morning. It strikes a real chord and cements the power of Matthew 6:33 once again.

Matthew 6:33

New Century Version (NCV)

33 Seek first God's kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.

Center of Attention – Wisdom Hunter

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8

Jesus deserves my undivided attention, yet I struggle with distractions. My mind is drawn to musing over pressing issues at work that never seem to go away. My heart engages in emotional cares for others in crisis that I am unable to control. My eyes look ahead in worry or behind in regret. It is at these pivotal points that I desire my eyes to stay fixed on Jesus in prayer and not on others or myself. Faith makes Christ the center of attention.

The eyes of our souls can be blind to belief or they can open wide in anticipation of the Almighty’s faithfulness. If we close our spiritual eyes we extinguish hope and miss our Master’s comfort and instruction. It is when we gaze into the eyes of Jesus that He sees right through us to the heart of the matter. What matters to the Lord, becomes what matters to us. Like reading glasses, the Bible brings into focus the character of Christ.

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:29-30

You will sink into the waters of doubt if you stare at the winds of worry. Walk on the water of God’s will when you look unto the face of Jesus. Your faith in Christ replaces fear with the fortitude to follow in His footsteps. It is much better for you to be in a raging storm walking toward the Lord, than to be on the dry shore absent His presence. Make God the center of your attention and you will persevere through pain.

Perhaps you give work less attention, giving more attention to understanding the needs of your family. Maybe you spend less time and money on hobbies and more on serving the poor. Furthermore, your resolve to lean into the Lord means you will not be shaken by circumstances or conflict. He is your rock of refuge and your strength to endure. Keep Christ the center of your attention and receive His loving attention.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1b-2a

Prayer: Lord keep my eyes of faith fixed on your loving face of hope and grace.

Wisdomhunters.com

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

TOUGH 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?

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.

Luke 6:27-30

"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

“To you who are ready for the ‘truth’”…

That right there is some “tough truth” don’t you think? That is some of that as Jack Nicholson would say “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH” truth, huh?

I get it. It is no picnic and seems to fly in the face of our very nature to “love” those who have not shown the same for us. Let’s be honest, if we responded simply out of our natural impulses, we would probably be nice when people were kind and likely be vengeful, angry, or hurtful to those who are the same.

Yet there is Jesus again, going against the norm; setting a different standard, raising the bar for those who believe and follow Him, and He is teaching us to love even when those around us seem unlovable.

Yes, that is right. We are to love the guy who cuts us off in traffic, the one who cheated his way and stole “our”promotion, even that one who hurt you deeply.

That is hard one to swallow I know.

But Jesus showed us that it can and should be done. Jesus didn’t set a standard He wasn’t able to meet Himself and as His representatives, we are to do make every effort to emulate that lifestyle.

2 Corinthians 5:28-20 (MSG)

…The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them.

Never forget, Christ loved us enough to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8

New Life Version (NLV)

⁸ But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Surely, out of gratitude for what He did and with His strength, we, as His followers, can love others.

But trust me, while it’s hard to respond to unkindness with love but when we do it can lead to great blessing. For when we love in the way Jesus loves the Father is pleased and He will bless it.

1 Peter 3:9

⁹Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God—that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].

Treating others as we want to be treated is what builds the deep, satisfying connections that all people desire. It is what Jesus desires of us.

So my encouragement for today is love unconditionally as Jesus loves. You can’t go wrong.

John 14:23
Jesus said, “The one who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Fatherwill love him. We will come to him and live with him.

See?

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

SHARPEN 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?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

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.

How sharp is your edge today?

Most of you know I am a “FOODIE”. I love cooking, catering, and being creative in the kitchen. I even had the chance back in a previous life to work in some professional kitchens as both a sous and a prep chef.

And every morning before we began to work in the kitchen, we would unload our knife rolls and sharpen everything from the chef’s knife to the paring blade before we got to work. You didn’t touch a veggie, a protein, nothing; until the knives were sharp and ready for the work ahead.

Did you know that GOD is as concerned about the “sharpness” of your mind and spirit as my fastidious chef’s were about their knives?

Did you know that GOD wants us to be prepared for the day ahead in the same way my chef’s wanted our equipment to be prepared for the service of the day?

He does. He knows what you are about to face and if you are dulled and unprepared it is a “recipe” for a tough day.

Ephesians 6:13

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own.

You see in the kitchen a sharp edge is a matter of safety and efficiency. A dull knife is a dangerous knife and makes the job way more difficult.

It is the same thing in life.

God wants us to be spiritually sharp.

Jesus even warned about the “dangers of dullness”.

Matthew 13:14-15

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

^{14 [a]}In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘^[b] You will keep on hearing, ^[c]but will not understand;

^[d]You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

¹⁵ For the heart of this people has become dull,

With their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes,

Otherwise they would see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return,

And I would heal them.’

In the kitchen a knife can quickly lose its edge from the wear and tear filleting, chopping, julienning…you get my drift, right?

In the same way, our minds and spirits can be dulled from the bombardment of the world, our challenges, our circumstances, and the attacks from the enemy…you with me now?

So I ask you again, how’s your edge this morning?

Did you take some time to pause and seek GOD to sharpen your resolve, to refresh you’re compassion, to enhance your awareness of His presence for the day ahead?

Or are you stepping into today unprepared, still dulled from the work and efforts of yesterday?

If so, then ask God to open your eyes to see and your ears to hear. GOD is waiting to "heal" and sharpen you.

Open the WORD and allow it to restore your edge!

Sharpen up!

Hebrews 4:12
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

I love you all.

Have a blessed day.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

"COUNT-on-ABLE"

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.

We heard such a wonderful and encouraging message yesterday at AHOP delivered by one who fully understands the faithfulness of GOD, Anna Brooks.

She has experienced the faithfulness of GOD through an unparalleled journey of hurts, loss, betrayal, disappointment, confusion, and questions. And in spite of ALL of it, she continues to emerge undaunted and remains anchored in the promises found in the WORD.

Lamentations 3:22-23

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

And yesterday as Anna delivered passage after passage of GOD’s faithfulness it served as a strong reminder that all “recoverers” and believers should turn to and count on the WORD when times are difficult and circumstances get tough.

It is through HIS WORD that God has given all of us an assurance that will provide sustained encouragement through every season of life.

For God truly IS faithful. HE is SUPREMELY “count-on-able”! J

We CAN count on Him to be and do exactly what He says.

For He is trustworthy!

Psalm 37:5

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

He loves beyond our wildest dreams!

Romans 5:8

New Life Version (NLV)

⁸ But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He is sturdy and FAITHFUL!

Joshua 1:5

New Life Version (NLV)

⁵ No man will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. I will be with you just as I have been with Moses. I will be faithful to you and will not leave you alone.

He is so committed to our best interest that He will use any facet of His nature—Comforter, Discipliner, Savior, etc.—to guide us safely through life’s changes, it’s rough roads and it’s overwhelming circumstances.

He is there. He is prepared to help. He is capable to help and He is FAITHFUL to help!

Hebrews 13:5

I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.

Therefore, I encourage you. Take a page from Anna’s testimony this morning and embrace the faithfulness of GOD!

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations,

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney