DEALING WITH FEELINGS

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.

Ask anyone. My emotions get the best of me more often than I would care to admit. I can be rash. I can be impulsive. My mouth can pop off with things that make my heart curious and those around me scratch their proverbial heads.

And while I am daily striving to improve, there are still some things that incite the “worst” in me. Just come to the house on Buckeye football day or let someone talk smack about my FREEDOM family and Pastor may not be the first label you would attach to me. But I am working on it.

But I am sure I am the only one who struggles with throttling my feelings. I am sure that never is a problem for you right?

The truth is that one of the most challenging things in our walk with Christ is "dealing with all of these feelings”. Sometimes I wonder why GOD gave us “so many of them”. I mean many people take medications to keep them in check. Other folks try aromatherapy and mood rooms to rein them in. Others still lean on magic rocks and incantations to "subdue the moods".

But life can get downright GOOFY when we are controlled by our feelings.

Why?

Feelings fluctuate

Feelings change from day to day, hour to hour, even moment to moment. Not only do they change, they lie.

I love this from Joyce Meyer on the fickleness and the faultiness of“feelings”.

“For example, you may be in a crowd of people and feel that everybody is talking about you, but that doesn't mean they are. You may feel that nobody understands you, but that doesn't mean they don't. You may feel you are misunderstood, unappreciated or even mistreated, but that doesn't mean it is true. If we want to be mature, disciplined people, we must be determined not to walk according to what we feel.”

And just how do we do that? How do we “temper” the tantrums and “marshal” our mayhem?

By seeking GOD rather than following the “feeling”.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

Most of the time we can corral those crazy feelings by just taking a step back from the impetus, taking a deep breath and counting to ten. This allows GOD a chance to weigh in or give us a second to bring Him to the situation.

2 Corinthians 10:5

…(fit) every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

Christ never had an occasion where He left His emotions and feelings unchecked. Even when He cleared the temple He was fully in charge of His anger and His wrath, it didn’t control Him.

So today instead of following those faulty feelings, let’s step back, take a breath, count to 10 and then let's do the most important thing, pray; give GOD the chance to help.

Philippians 4:7

…Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 7 The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand.

This peace will keep your hearts and minds (and FEELINGS) through Christ Jesus.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

UNCONDITIONALLY

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.

“Lord I'm amazed by you

How you love me.

How wide, how deep, how great, is your love for me.”

Hard to fathom sometimes the depth and the breadth of GOD’s love isn’t it? Especially when our “performance”doesn’t measure up or when we don’t act so lovable.

But GOD does love us just the way we are.

Sadly we live in a society that is very “quid pro quo”;very "I scratch your back and you scratch mine". In other words we operate in a sphere of CONDITIONAL love. And it is because of this cultural influence that we (you and me) have such a hard time with the thought of someone loving us “no matter what”.

But we are NOT GOD and GOD does love us no matter what. That's it. End of story. "It's a wrap" they say.

In fact, GOD is love; He is capable of PERSONIFYING and DEMONSTRATING love at the same time.

Don’t think so?

His WORD confirms the personification…

1 John 4:8

…because God is love.

…and the demonstration…

Romans 6:8

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Yet I get it. There is a natural tendency to assume we must strive to “deserve” our blessings and love from GOD. We know GOD “says” He loves us unconditionally and we can “sort of”understand this intellectually, but the truth is we ALL struggle with believing it deep down don’t we?

But today take your head out of the equation. Today don’t let your intellectual limitations keep you from the truth and the blessing.

No matter what has occurred in your past or what you feel right now, the Father’s love has always been freely given to you. God pours His love upon us without exception — no ifs, ands, or buts.

John 17:24

…you loved me before the creation of the world.

So ask yourself. Are you rejoicing in the Father’s unconditional love today?

If not, why not? He is waiting with open arms with a big hug and warm embrace for you today! Accept it!

Unconditionally!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

GIVE YOUR BEST

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.

“In the dust of defeat as well as the laurels of victory there is a glory to be found if one has done his best.”

― Eric Liddell

“Here’s what you need to keep in mind. You no longer have yesterday. You do not yet have tomorrow. You have only today. This is the day the Lord has made. Live in it.”

― Max Lucado

Are you committed to “giving your best” today?

What is that? You are not feeling it? A little under the weather? Tired of trying?

Shake that off!

“Even when we are not AT our best we are to still GIVE our best.”

― Greg Delaney

Colossians 3:17

Whatever you say or do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through the Lord Jesus.

Did you catch that? “WHATEVER you say or do…”.

Even when we “aren’t feeling it” we are still called to give our GODLY best to the situation. Even when it isn’t going our way we are to persevere “In Jesus Name”. And especially when we are on the top of the mountain we are to GIVE THANKS to GOD!

The fact of the matter is we are to do our best with each day we are given.

And the surest way to get the best out of each day is to commit that day to serving, speaking and honoring Christ.

Plain and simple.

An old song said it well…

Give of your best to the Master;

Give Him first place in your heart;

Give Him first place in your service;

Consecrate every part.

Give, and to you will be given;

God His beloved Son gave;

Gratefully seeking to serve Him,

Give Him the best that you have.

I know some days it is hard to contemplate doing anything but just surviving. As Pastor Shannan posted just a few hours ago, following JESUS is HARD!

But our GOD not only understands that life is tough but also fully understands that perfection for us is unattainable. It is why He gave us Jesus; and that is why GOD deserves our BEST.

JESUS.

So today…(and every day)...

2 Timothy 2:1

Concentrate on doing YOUR BEST for God…

I love you all!

Have a blessed weekend.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

TRUSTING ALL THE WAY

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.

Had a little DISPATCH distraction yesterday so my apologies for a missed entry. However for those who are aware of my daughter’s situation, ALL IS WELL! Thanks for your prayers. For those of you who don’t, my oldest is undergoing some treatment for thyroid cancer. But do not fear or fret, for GOD has her in the palm of His hand today and all is progressing positively.

In fact brings me to this morning’s thought.

The enemy does his best in times of trouble to lie to us. He tells us we are alone. He tells us there is no hope. He tells us no one cares. He tells us that it is going to turn out badly.

LIES! All lies.

And should we be surprised?

John 8:44

…there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

So guard yourself against the deception!

Now I am not saying that all of us don’t suffer bad news and sad consequences in life. We all do! All of us have experienced tragic events and been hurt by life. Instead, what I am saying is that the enemy does his best to conjure up wave after wave of fictitious feelings in order to depress us, deceive us and derail us when those times are tough; to get our eyes off of the TRUTH!

And what is the truth?

That GOD knows life will have it’s moments; it’s unexpected hurts, it’s unforeseen and inconvenient diseases and pain.

John 16:33

…In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties…

Yet GOD has committed to be RIGHT BY OUR SIDE through each and every one of them! So don’t believe the lies! Trust instead!

Malachi 3:6

I am the Lord, and I do not change.

The Lord doesn’t move or take a break when our backs are against the wall or when we are facing a crisis. Quite the contrary! We are as WILLIE penned, “Always on (HIS) mind” and always in His sights.

Isaiah 49:16

I drew a picture of you on my hand. You are always before my eyes.

So take heart if you are facing a treatment like my eldest or are up against a challenge. TRUST the TRUTH and HOLD ON! GOD has got you in His sights and in HIS hand!

Deuteronomy 31:6

Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you;

AND

Hebrews 10:39

…stay with it and survive, trusting all the way..

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

NEVER RUNS OUT

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.

“So many mistakes.”

“Failed again.”

“Walked right into ‘another one.’”

“Let my guard down for one second and WHAM!”

We have the best of intentions and the best of plans and yet more often than not “something” happens.

We forget to look before we leap.

We count our chickens before they are hatched.

We opt for the two in the bush instead of that solid bird in the hand.

In other words we simply get it “wrong”.

We let ourselves down. We let others down. But more often than not we let GOD down.

And then what happens? The old enemy comes creeping around to heckle us and kick us in the gut.

“You know what you did? That sin is gonna cost you big time with the big fella.” “GOD is going to cash out on you for that one.” “You have really done it this time; another relapse? Really what is wrong with you?” “Wait until everyone finds out, that “church” you attend will make you sit in the balcony alone with the other failures for sure.”

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The TRUTH is we DO get it wrong. We get it wrong A LOT! GOD knows we will.

Romans 3:23

Everyone has sinned and fallen short...

But GOD’s love for us NEVER changes in spite of all of the wrong decisions, the wrong steps, the blown calls or the mistakes. HIS love NEVER fails even when WE DO.

“His love never fails it never gives up, it never runs out on me…” Brian and Jenn Johnson.

That is so very true. GOD’s love doesn’t fail. It is impervious to our sin. It stands when all else falters. It endures forever.

Psalm 136:26

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Perhaps one of those early quotes describes your yesterday; a day racked with failure and mistakes. Don’t listen to those lies of the enemy. Wake up to this truth and take heart this morning in the unfailing, unending and mistake free LOVE OF GOD!

Romans 3:24 (MSG)

...Out of sheer generosity (AND HIS GREAT LOVE) he (GOD) put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. (WITH HIM TODAY) And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

His love never fails.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

MEND THE GAP

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.

Not many folks who know me now or get the DISPATCH know about the period in my life when I traveled a ton. When I say a ton, I had one year in my career when I was “somewhere other than home” 270 days out of 365. So I have seen a few airports and the inside of my share of hotel rooms.

But something from those travels came to mind yesterday when Pastor Anna was delivering her poignant, albeit abbreviated, Sunday talk.

It was the phrase “MIND THE GAP”.

"MIND the GAP" is a warning to train passengers to take caution while crossing the gap between the train door and the station platform. It was introduced in 1969 on the London Underground and that is where I first saw and heard the expression. I used the underground extensively on my trips to London.

You needed to be “mindful of the gap” or you could subject yourself to some pretty severe injury possibilities.

But as Anna was sharing yesterday about JESUS being a bridge for us to the FATHER, this little phrase popped back into my mind but in a different way.

GOD knew of the “deadliness of the GAP” for us. He knew our sin “separated” from Him and as a result we couldn’t experience eternity with Him. And while the sacrifices, priests and rituals served their purpose, those methods still kept us at an arm’s length from a personal relationship with Him.

That is when GOD decided to “MEND THE GAP” with the giving of His Son.

Ephesians 2

It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish!

Thanks to GOD’s amazing compassion for each one of us and HIS desire that none of us perish, GOD MENDED THE GAP between us and Him that our sin and disobedience had created.

How awesome is that?

We didn’t deserve it.

GOD could have easily left the old inadequate covenant in place. But instead GOD mended that relationship and for those in CHRIST, that MEND can’t be broken or severed ever again.

Romans 8:38-39

Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thank GOD today for "MENDING the GAP!"

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

FORGETFULNESS SEA

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.

From Max this morning:

Next time your day goes south, here is what you do: Steep yourself in the grace of God. Saturate your day in His love. Marinate your mind in His mercy.

He has settled your accounts, paid your debt.

“Christ carried our sins in His body on the cross.”

"And I will remember their sins no more."

That was yesterday for me. My day went so far south I was sure there was a SOUTH POLE penguin in the tub last night mocking me.

I hate days like that.

We had a little glitch at the JEREMIAH TREE with the power (something I should have taken care of and forgot). That caused a little “team-strife” We got word of a couple of very sad relapses. And I decided to respond with some selfish, self-serving behavior by opting out of some ministry opportunities in lieu of mindless entertainment under the guise of "fatigue".

One thing is for sure, I will not receive “Pastor of the Year”nominations for yesterday’s adventure. in fact I hope to quickly forget May 9, 2013.

But you know what is very cool?

GOD already did.

And thank GOODNESS He has!

I woke up with new mercy and new grace; to new opportunities and a fresh slate! So did you!

Lamentations 3:22-23

It is because of the Lord’s loving-kindness that we are not destroyed for His loving-pity never ends. 23 It is new every morning. He is so very faithful.

I am grateful for that!

I am so very thankful I have a GOD who doesn’t just forgive but FORGETS!

"And I will remember their sins no more."

GOD erases the board, destroys the evidence, burns the microfilm, and clears the history! He doesn’t remember! He doesn’t keep a list in the vault. When I woke up and accepted that grace this morning He didn’t peer over His nose and say “DELANEY, why should I forgive you for yesterday? You have done that 526 times before in May alone!"

No instead He promises…

Psalm 103:12

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Today, especially today, I am so thankful for the promises of GOD’S amazing FORGIVENESS but HIS mindboggling FORGETFULNESS as well.

Helen Baylor has a wonderful lyric I will leave you with today to wrap this little thought up…

Sea of Forgetfulness…

I stand before you guilty and unworthy

How can I be forgiven and holy?

And I know I break your heart

But you promised I could start all over

and all the things I've done

you've placed them each and every one

Into the sea of forgetfulness

You've placed all of my sins

For I'm the one who keeps reminding you

Over and over again

Into the sea of forgetfulness

As far as the east from the west

Seventy times seven

You've forgiven me

And you keep cleansing me

And placing my sins into the sea of forgetfulness

You welcome me with open arms of mercy

In spite of all I've done

You still keep loving me

And I only need to ask

and you erase all my past forever

My debts have all been paid

and they've all been washed away...

It’s your unfailing love that covers me

and all my multitude of sins

It’s your steadfast love

that keeps reminding me that I'm forgiven

Placing my sins into the sea of forgetfulness

I love you all!

Have a blessed weekend!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney