Monthly Archives: December 2012

Mary’s Response

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A couple of quick notes today before our reflection. First, if you are in the Petal area, we’d love you to worship with us tonight at Asbury for our Candlelight Christmas Service. We have services at 4:30 and 6 p.m.

Second this will be my reflection for a few weeks.  I’ll be out of pocket and with family most of this week, and next Monday, January 31, several of us from Asbury are leaving for a trip to the Holy Land.  While in Israel I am going to attempt to have a daily post and keep you updated on our journey, as well as share some photos.

Merry Christmas to you, and your family.  Now, on to today’s reflection.

theangelusI love Mary’s response when she is told that she will be the mother to God’s Son.

She has just had her world rocked. Everything that she had planned for her life is forever changed.

God has big plans for her. Hard plans. Challenging plans. Difficult plans.

Now, these plans will be for her good and for the good of the world. They are going to be blessing to her. To me. To you. And to everyone that’s ever lived.

But, they will also forever change her life. That’s the stakes. And listen to Mary’s response in Luke 1:35-38:

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Let it be to me according to your word.

She trust in God, and His plan, even when she knows that it will be a challenge.

Even when she knows that it will be hard.

She believed, even when God’s plan was not her plan. Because she knew God’s plan was the right plan.

Today, may we be the same. May we do the same. Today, may Mary’s response be our response.

Lord, let it be to me according to your word.

Amen, and amen.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Grace Upon Grace

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Grace-Upon-Grace4

Grace. Grace. Grace. Grace.

That’s what it all comes down to. That’s all that matters. That’s all that it’s all about.

Grace.

God’s total, unmerited, undeserved, unearned, unimaginable, grace.

Grace that loves us when we are unloveable. Grace that forgives us when we are unforgivable.

Grace that says that no matter what, God is with us, God is for us, God will never leave us.

Grace. Grace. Grace.

Listen to what is says today in John 1:14-17:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The Word became flesh – God Himself became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen God. We know God. We get to experience God.

And in His fullness, we received grace upon grace. Grace is given through Jesus Christ.

God just loves you today. No matter what has happened, is happening, will happen.

God loves you. You are precious. You loved. He born for you. He died for you. And He rose for you.

And He’s coming back to get you day.

When I make a point to Asbury, I’ll alway say, listen to me church.

So, today, listen to me church. God loves you. You are loved. It’s called grace. You can’t earn it.

It’s given. No matter what. You are loved.

Today, it’s all about grace. Grace upon grace.

Live in God’s grace today. And each day.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Cause and Effect

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I’m a believer, most of the time, in cause and effect.

I do X, it causes Y to happen. I eat 3 dozen donuts, I buy new pants. You see how it goes.

Today’s reading has a beautiful picture of cause and effect. Look what happens in Psalm 119:48-50:

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

CauseAndEffectThe Psalmist says – I lift my hands to your commandments. I will meditate on your statues.

Ok, so then what happens?

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

The Psalmist remembers God’s hope and God’s promise. And because of that, he has hope, in the midst of the trials of life.

Cause and effect.

Remembering God’s promises gives hope in the midst of trials.

Today, that’s a good lesson for us to learn. Are you in trouble? Afraid? Worried? Stressed? Hurting?

Remember God’s promises. Remember what God said He would do. He will never leave your side. He will never forsake you. He will never forget you.

Remember His word.

Receive His peace.

Today, may we see that in our lives. May we remember who God is, and how He loves.

And may that knowledge give us peace!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

A Light has Come

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lightI’ve been reading and talking a lot about darkness recently. Part of was the text that I preached from Sunday was John 1, which talked about The Light coming, and how it shines in the darkness.

And the darkness has not overcome it.

Remember y’all, that darkness will not overcome the light. It’s not going to happen. Light will win in the end.

With all that’s happened in the world in the last week, it’s easy to think that the darkness is going to win.

It’s not. Light wins.

Today, we see this passage that we all know so well from Isaiah. Listen to what it says in Isaiah 9:2, 6-7:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The people in darkness have seen a great light. Light has shown on them.

The darkness has fled. It is gone. It has vanished.

Light has come.

Well, what is this light?

Isaiah continues. To us, a child is born. A son is given. He is wonderful counselor, might God.

Prince of Peace.

He is the Lord.

He is Jesus.

No matter what darkness you are waking in today, let His light shine on you. And in you.

Maybe it’s the darkness of sadness over Newton.

Maybe it’s the darkness of worry over your own children.

Maybe it’s the darkness of depression.

Of fear.

Of worry.

Of brokenness.

No matter what darkness you are in right now, a light has come. A light as shown.
Let it shine in your life. Let it shine through your life.

Let it drive out the darkness in you. Let it shine out the darkness through you.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Why Do We Pray?

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Why do we pray?

The goal of prayer is not to get what you want. The goal of prayer is not to get your wishes met. The goal of prayer is not have your desires granted.

That’s not what prayer is about.

Now, in prayer, the things that we pray for will be answered.

God will hear our requests. He will hear our concerns. He will hear what we are praying for.

The Bible tells to make our requests to God, and do it often, and repeated.

But, the goal of prayer is not have our wishes granted.

The goal of prayer it be in relationship, communion, and conversation with God.

Listen to what happens to Jesus today in Luke 22:41-44:

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

c39_jesus-praying1He prays to the point of having sweat drops of blood. That’s passionate, powerful prayer. That’s prayer that is focused, that is searching, that is dependent on God.

And His prayer should be our model. For He prayed, not my will, but yours.

Being fully human, He wanted this cup removed from Him. Being fully God, He knew this was the purpose of His coming. And, He prayed. And accepted God’s will.

In this prayer, He found strength. He found resolve. He found purpose. He found what He needed for the hour that was coming.

Today, God may not answer your prayers in the way that you want them. He may not do it as you’d like.

Pray anyway. Be faithful anyway. Seek His face anyway.

And know though, that He will answer them.

And He will give you the strength you need for this day.

And you will be brought closer to Him.

Today, no matter what you face or what is going on, pray. Seek His face. Pray.

And know that God will be with you, in all things.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

How Do We Respond to Tragedy Like This?

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I know many of you are watching the news and are aware of the tragedy in Connecticut. Just a couple of words of encouragement as we process what we see. Remember, in this time of Advent and Christmas, we celebrate the fact that God, through Jesus, drew near to us. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1).

In that, God, through Jesus Christ, felt our hurt, loss and pain. Jesus wept. (John 11:35). In times of unspeakable loss, He is not distant to our pain, but He weeps as we weep.

Remember, He is with us, and with all that are brokenhearted right now. And, through the cross, He suffered, as we do. And He rose from the dead, thus defeating the power of sin, death, and the grave.

So, what do we do? First, we pray. Pray for the families. Pray for the children. Pray for all that lost loved ones day. Pray.

Pray for our local teachers. Police. Emergency Responders. We pray.

Hug your children. Tonight. Each night. Love them. Care for them. Pray over them. Teach them. Love your families.

And even though it seems really dark right now – remember what I always say. I cheated. I read the end of the book. I know who wins in the end. God wins.

Satan, sin, and death will be defeated in the end. Hold fast to that.

Remember. Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4.

I love you, but most importantly God loves you.

Andy

What God Sees When He Looks at You

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How do you see yourself today?

What do you look at when you look in the mirror? What image do you see? What do you see staring back at you every morning?

I want you to listen what God says through Isaiah 62: 3-4. Listen to what God says that He sees when He looks at you.

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.

girl-looking-in-mirrorA crown of beauty. A royal diadem.

The Lord delights in you. Hear that. He delights in you.

He looks at you, and He loves you. He forgives you. He restores you. He breathes new life into you.

You are His light. You are His precious. You are His jewel of great worth.

This is not love, that we love God. This is love, that God love us.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Your failures? Your mistakes? Your faults? Your weakness? Your trials?

What does God see? His child. That He loves and adores.

He loves you. Always has. Always will. You are loved. Today. No matter what. You are loved.

Live in that knowledge today. See yourself as God sees you, as one that He loves.

Today, remember how He sees you. You are His delight.

Hear that.

You are.

Live secure in that knowledge. No matter what.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

For Our Good and God’s Glory

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One of things that I know in life that is true, is that all things will work out for our good and for God’s glory.

All things.

God is going to use every circumstance of your life and everything that happens in your day today for your good. And for His glory.

Listen to what God says through Paul today in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12:

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1-all-things-markHe says that God will give us power to fulfill every good work, so that the name of Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him.

In other words, today, in what’s happening, God, through His power, will work it out, in some way so that He receives glory.

No matter what it is. Somehow, no matter what’s happening, He is going to use it for His glory somehow.

His name will be praised through the circumstance of your life.

I don’t know how all the time, but it will.

And likewise, even if you don’t understand, He will work it out for your good as well. Somehow, someway, whatever it is that you are going through, God will work it out for you good.

You may think it’s impossible. And it may not be immediate. But, this situation you are going through, somehow, someway, God is going to work it out for your good, and for His glory.

He promised.

And He is true to His word.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

God Remembers

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One of the things that I’ve written about many times is that God forgets. He is a forgetful God.

What do I mean by that?

When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins. He will forgive, and forget.

That gives me, that gives us, great confidence.

In our reading today, through, we see that God actually does remember through. Listen to what it says in Luke 1: 72-75:

to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

rememberZechariah is praising God for His faithfulness, and he says this in his song of praise. He says that God is a God that remembers His promises.

He doesn’t forget. He remembers what He said that He would do. He remembers His covenants. He remembers His promises.

He remembers that He promised not to leave or forsake you.

God remembers. He remembers His word. He remembers what He said that He would do.

He has promised to deliver and save us.

And He will.

Today, rest in the knowledge that God forgets our sins. And live in the hope that God remembers His promises!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Build Each Other Up

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Today, you have a choice to make with your words. You can use them to build others up, or you can use them to tear others down.

Each of us, today, we have that choice.

Listen to what Paul writes to us today in 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11:

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Build UpFor those of us that believe, God’s desire for us is not wrath, but to obtain the joy, rest, and peace of salvation. That’s God’s call and God’s plan for you today.

That what is what He longs for you today, to build you and let you know that life.

And, that’s not just His plan for you, it’s His plan for all that believe today. For every Christian, for every believer, He longs to have them to know that peace and joy of full salvation.

Today, each of us get to play a part in that plan. With how we treat each other. Do we help others know God better?

Do we build them up?

Do we encourage them?

Do we point them to Christ?

Today’s let’s do that. God will place before us today someone who needs encouragement. Someone that needs someone to believe in them. Someone that just needs some love and some hope.

You can do that! You have that chance today. You can do that!

Today, we can tear down, or we can build up. Today, through His grace, may we build up!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.