GOD'S 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.

“Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.” - Life's Healing Choices - The "HOPE" Choice.

My Thursday’s at the Montgomery County Jail are extraordinary.  Last night I along with 14 men and 2 other leaders spent 90 minutes exploring the amazing and simple truth that GOD exists, that they matter and that GOD desperately was pursuing them for a life changing experience.

For many in that room, GOD had become something to “avoid”.  In fact one “older” inmate made the comment that his sin had caused him to try and find places to HIDE from GOD; his shame was too great and his sin too much for him to think of GOD being able to even look at him.

It was wonderful to share with him this truth of GOD’s pursuit!

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord appeared to us…saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

EVERLASTING LOVE!

UNFAILING KINDNESS!

Another was a young fellow.  He was confused.  His “auntie”, a GOD fearing woman was imploring him in her letters to “find GOD”, to “let GOD” have him.  But he was racked with guilt.  He couldn’t forgive himself.

It was wonderful to share that GOD was ready to change him.  All he needed to do was what he just did.  Admit he was “faulty”.  The change had already occurred.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The TRUTH is remarkable.

It cuts through even the most hardened of hearts.  Evidenced by 14 blue jump-suited sinners with tears welled in their eyes as they felt the embrace of the Father, as they grabbed hold with both hands that GOD was ABLE to do in them what they didn’t and couldn’t believe was possible!

Philippians 1:6

I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished…

But let’s be honest. From time to time WE ALL need to be reminded that GOD truly does exist in our lives, that GOD deeply cares for us, pursues us and that HE is in the business of offering change and hope each day!

1 Peter 1:21

…your trust can be in God...your faith and hope can rest in him alone…

Perhaps you are a little like my new inmate friends today.  Perhaps you are dealing with some guilt. Perhaps you are dealing with feeling that GOD is “distant” and inaccessible.

Go back to the TRUTH.

GOD cares about you.

GOD is pursuing you.

GOD is always looking to change you.

GOD loves you.

Psalm 103:11

For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers.

 

I love you all.

Have a blessed and hopeful weekend!

Freedom Church

 

BE AVAILABLE

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 having sleep issues for a long time.  It is a consequence of a decade of “never sleeping” but instead “passing out” I am afraid.  Plus throw on a few extra pounds and a pinch of a restless mind and you have a delicious recipe for “sleep issues”.  So finally yesterday I took a step in understanding what is amiss and went to the MVH Sleep Center and got a “little device” that I wore last night that monitored a “night with me”. 

Of course the night was less than “restful”, but I am hopeful that the team at MVH can sort things out and “non-narcotically” treat the sleep issue.

By now I know you are all wondering what does this have to do with anything “DISPATCHY”.  Well I am telling you about the study and the trip to MVH to actually share something else.

The trip to MVH was supposed to take 10 minutes.  It took 70.  Why?

The nurse who was demonstrating how to use the equipment knew of what I did in helping addicted folks and we then spent an hour discussing the challenges a couple of her friends were facing. We unpacked possible resources.  She was so appreciative.  She had been “praying” for what to do to help!

What a blessing it was to share Jesus, His hope and the possibilities for the ones she was so concerned about.  On top of that, I learned that my wife had ministered to her and her family in the death of her dad in 2012.  I learned that she used to even attend my home church in Xenia back in the day.  It was an unexpected hour, but an hour well spent; a blessed hour.

Got me to thinking about why I was at the sleep center yesterday.  Was it to get some help?  For sure.

Was it to help another?  I believe that too. 

I believe that GOD often intersects us with others in need and is counting on us to help.

“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” ― Teresa of Ávila

Yet often, as I was talking with another brother earlier in the day, the busyness of our schedules and lives often “hinder our help”.  We don’t take the time. 

That is why we have to make a concerted effort to watch for those doors of opportunity to share Jesus, to offer a comforting word or provide an encouragement and be willing to walk through it; even if it is a little awkward or inconvenient.

Now I am not saying I get this right most times.  I don’t.  To be honest I am more introvert than “extro…”  But I do believe it is our calling as Christians to be available, to offer a helping hand and encourage!

Matthew 5:13-16

You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

So here is a little assignment.

Take a look at your schedule today.  I am sure it is packed full of to dos and meetings and such.  But don’t allow the calendar or the clock to completely dictate your day.  Be aware of those you meet.  You never know, GOD may open the door to share His grace, His hope and His love.

Don’t miss the chance!

You will be blessed!

 

I love you all.

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney

FEELINGS AND FACTS - 7.15.2014

FEELINGS AND FACTS
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.

Our feelings do not affect God’s facts. They may blow up, like clouds, and cover the eternal things that we do most truly believe. We may not see the shining of the promises—but they still shine! His strength is not for one moment less because of our human weakness.
- Amy Carmichael

I talked a little last night about the “challenge” we all tend to have at one time or another with our feelings. Not only can they be faulty and fickle, they also can be a little demanding. Our feelings often want to dictate our actions, create rationalizations and justifications. Our hearts often are deceptive, they even lie to us and our feelings more times than we would like to admit want center stage.

The trouble is our feelings are not good barometers for action. And left unchecked and given free reign they can even prove damaging!
Proverbs 14:30
A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.

That is why I love that little quote from Carmichael above.

Our feelings, though sometimes very strong, even justified do not affect GOD’s facts. So even though sometimes our feelings tell us to “retaliate”, GOD’s WORD says that is HIS job. Even though our feelings can justify us to be “bitter”, GOD’s WORD says forgive. Even though our feelings can sometime leave us feeling betrayed and alone, GOD’s WORD promises a constant and forever faithful GOD is always at our side.

So we must do our best each day to not allow our feelings to cloud the TRUTH of GOD. We must work diligently to not allow them to take the place of GOD either.

“Don't let your feelings be a God to you.” ― Joyce Meyer

So today I want to offer just a simple instruction; an encouragement if you will for when those pesky feelings decide that they want to be in charge.
2 Corinthians 10:5
…(fit) every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

That is right!
Instead of letting our feelings have run of the house and mind today, let’s step back, take a breath, count to 10 and pray; give GOD a chance to help. Ask yourself that old but VERY effective cliche'. "What WOULD Jesus do?" And if you are not sure what HE would do...then pray.

Philippians 4:7
…Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 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.

This should put those feelings back in their place and allow GOD’s facts to dictate the response and our actions.

I love you all.
Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

GREATER ESCAPE

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.

Hey just a reminder to:

 "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" 1 Peter 5:8

He is just waiting.

Just waiting for the chance.

Just waiting for the chance to diffuse an otherwise productive morning.

Just waiting for the chance to deflate a promising opportunity.

Just waiting for the chance to derail what was to be a “praising day”.

Just waiting for the chance to demand your attention if only for a minute.

Just waiting to destroy everything.

John 10:10 (V)

The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy…

The truth is we have an enemy. And he is always looking for the chance to track us down, trip us up, and tempt our fallibility; all with intentions to trap us.

He is constantly looking, scheming, scouting, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to:

...Bring back the hurt or remind us of a past mistake.

...Use our own anxieties to diminish our trust and faith.

...Cast doubt.

...Cause chaos.

It is times like these that TRUST is crucial, that FAITH is paramount, and that we remember GOD is there to help us ESCAPE!

Psalm 145:18 (NIRV)

The Lord is ready to help all those who call out to him. He helps those who really mean it when they call out to him.

I daily work with people (including that fella in the mirror) who are relentlessly pursued by the enemy.  The enemy uses the past to haunt, the present to stress and the pending to create anxiety.  He is tireless.  At times there feels like there is NO ESCAPE.

But our GOD is greater!

Our GOD is stronger!

GOD is higher than any other as the song says.

So when we sense the attack, we must remember that Psalm, we must put down our pride and ask for the help needed to deal with the attack, to turn the tide, to press past the temptation to take GOD’s ESCAPE!

GOD is faithful.

GOD will help!

GOD will!

1 Corinthians 10:13

God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. But He always provides a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward.

Under attack?

Escape is available.  Take it.

Endure.  Move on!

 

I love you all.

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney

TRANSFER THE WEIGHT

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.

Is the prospect of a new week ever a cause for dread?

Maybe there is a big deadline looming. Maybe things at the office are tense and uncomfortable. Or maybe there is some uncertainty regarding a doctor’s visit or a session with the counseling team.

Whatever the circumstance one thing is for sure, worry makes “whatever” more “weighty”.

Don’t you agree?

I know for me, worry is challenge. I, according to the “experts” was (and sometimes still am) an official worry wart. Don’t believe me, just ask the 8 doctors that used to treat me regularly.

But GOD has been peppering me with this little passage.

Matthew 6:25

I tell you this: Do not worry about your life…

I mean peppering. 

I am being put into situations where I need to share it, situations where I need to apply it, and situations where if I don’t believe it, I would have no fingernails left.  Situations like this week where if I am not careful I will be weighted heavily by worry.

But I know I am not alone.

But GOD promises to lift the weight!

Matthew 6:30-33 (MSG)

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax... People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over...things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

We so often see the circumstances of life through a lens of worry and fear. Anxious, fearful thoughts fill our minds: “I am going to lose my job… my children are going to get hurt… my marriage is going to crater… this will be a failure...I will not be able to make it financially… my goose is cooked!!!”

Yet there is Jesus imploring, “Do not worry about your life.”

Jesus wants us to abstain from anxiety.

It is wasteful. Worry does not solve problems… it does not dry tears… it does not draw us closer to God. It is a total waste of time and energy.

Matthew 6:27

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

But mostly worry, is well…sinful. That’s right.

Sinful.

Why?

Because worry is the opposite of faith and Paul says…

Romans 14:23

Whatever is not from faith is sin.

Worry tells God we do not trust Him, and we don’t think He is not able to take care of us and the situations we face.

So what to do?

Transfer the worry. Give it to GOD. Remind yourself that “HE ALREADY” owns it.

Psalm 24:1

The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains.

And He wants it.

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest...

Let's both exercise a little faith today.

And release the weight of worry.

 

 

I love you all.

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney

DEVIL-DRIVEN DISTRACTIONS

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.

Distractions. Diversions.

Detours. Deceptions.

Just a few little “D” words that are the specialty of another “D” word... the devil.

These things do their best to “disrupt” our day don’t they?

Maybe a detour of gossip with the morning coffee? Maybe you get wind of some criticism before you can even get your second sock on. Perhaps you are welcomed to work by a distracting conflict with a co-worker and that casts a cloud on the day.

There are probably countless examples, but hopefully you get my drift that it can be difficult to stay on track sometimes isn’t it?

That is why it is so important to pause and reset our minds and Spirits each morning before the deluge of those “D” words has a chance to kick in, because they are certain to try.

The enemy uses whatever is available to drive a wedge between us and GOD each day. He wants to kink that spiritual life-line; he wants to be the fly in our ointment and the pebble in our shoe. He will do anything, use anything, and try anything in a diligent effort to cloud your calling.

So today's message is short, succinct and to the point.

Ditch the distractions.  

Mine tends to be a little "too much surfing" and not enough study.  And that leads to no good.

So let's both some action this morning.

Ephesians 4:27

Don’t give the devil a way to defeat you (us).

Don’t allow those devil-driven distractions to derail us.

1 Peter 5:9

Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in our faith

Instead let's make a concerted effort to stay focused, to remain steady, and to approach the day with a clear mind and purposeful agenda and leave those distractions in the ditch.

Ephesians 1:16-17

…ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do…

Have a blessed and "devil-distractionless" day and weekend!

I love you all.

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney

BUILT FOR ETERNITY

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 (MSG)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how,

“We weren’t built for time but eternity…” – Mo Mahalsky…

Profound words made at the head of a casket a week ago today.

Applicable for those pressure packed days that seem too overwhelming or when present hope seems distant or fleeting.

Good words for when the troubles of the day start to press in or look to create anxiety, intensify strife or diminish hope. Good words to help remind us that this present circumstance, this challenge we are facing will not last forever. Good words to help us keep the faith!

1 Peter 5:9-11

…keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

You see

Joy does come in the morning.

New mercy follows each sunrise.

The future is bright!

Hope works!

Lamentations 3:26

It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God.

You see we ARE crafted and designed for the long haul. So…

2 Corinthians 4:18

Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

So keep your chin up today.

GOD is always faithful.

In the face of present pain there is always the hope of coming and eternal bliss! 

My friend uttered those words about time and eternity as we laid rest a friend whose one world class athletic prowess had been racked and reduced by renal failure.  He faced the hardest of times.  His time had elapsed.

But now he celebrates for HIS ETERNITY has begun!

For he wasn’t crafted to just be what he had become while here on earth.  Quite the contrary, he was crafted for an eternity with GOD.  As we all are.

John 6:40

For it is my Father’s will that EVERYONE who sees his Son and believes on him should have eternal life—

So you can hope today my friends as you face the daunting moments. You can!  The pain is promised to be temporary.  The payoff is glorious.  

Just keep the faith!

“You’ll get through this. You fear you won’t. We all do. We fear that the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. Here in the pits, surrounded by steep walls and angry brothers, we wonder, Will this gray sky ever brighten? This load ever lighten? We feel stuck, trapped, locked in. Predestined for failure. Will we ever exit this pit? Yes! Deliverance (ETERNITY) is to the Bible what jazz music is to Mardi Gras: bold, brassy, and everywhere.”

― Max Lucado, You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent  Times

 

Have a blessed DAY!

I love you all

Freedom Church

 

 

Pastor GDelaney