Monthly Archives: January 2014

Who Does God Use?

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Burning-BushWho will God use?  Who will God speak to, and speak through?  Surly God will only use the spotless.  The perfect.  Those that haven’t made mistakes.

God would never use a murderer, would He? Surly not.  God could find someone better, more suitable than a common criminal, right?

He’d never use someone like Moses, right?  Wait, what’s that you say, Moses is one of the heroes of faith, one that gets it right that does it right?  Sure, he is.  You know what happens in Exodus 3:1-2, when he sees the burning bush, right?

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

God spoke to him in the bush that was burning, but not consumed.  But, Moses was not just shepherd. He was a murder as well.  Listen to what happened in Exodus 2:12:

He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

Moses was a murderer.  Yep.  Moses.  That Moses.  Under penalty of law, he should have been executed.  One of the many reasons why he ran.  He was someone that had done the ultimate wrong.   Something that many of us may consider unforgivable.

And God used him.  God wasn’t done with him.  God had a plan for him.

So today, let’s not give up on someone that God still may yet use.  If God can used a murderer like Moses, he can use anyone.  God hasn’t given up on folks.  Neither should we.

Who does God use?  Anyone He chooses.  He can, and will use anyone.

Today, may we remember that.

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 phone.

What is Truth?

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imagesWhat is truth?  That may be the question of this age, and every age.

When Jesus was before Pilate, one of the questions that he asked Jesus was this – what is truth?

In an age of conflicting ideas about truth, about revelation, about right and wrong, one of the things that we have to get right is this. What is truth?

Well, listen to the words of Jesus this morning in John 14:6:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus says this.  Truth is not a concept.  Truth is a person.  Truth is not an idea.  Truth is a person.

He is truth.  He is the way.  He is life.  No one comes to the Father, but through Him.  He is truth.

So, to know truth, here is the answer.  Know Jesus.  He is the source of our truth.  It’s not that He is a truth.  He is THE truth.

I told my folks at bible study here at Asbury that my goal is not to make them better people.  My goal is to help them meet and know Jesus better.  If we have met Jesus, I truly believe that He will take care of our actions. That’s what He does.  He will burn away the things in life that we shouldn’t be doing. And He will increase in us the things that we should be doing.

Chase Him.  He will take of the rest.

So, today, to know truth, chase after Jesus.  Seek Him.  Know Him.  Give yourself and your life to Him more and more and more.  He is truth. For the questions we face, the decisions in our lives, the choices we make, turn to Him.

Seek Him.

Know Him.

And in that, we will know truth. We will. Because He is truth.

Today, in all things, seek Jesus. And we will find truth.

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 phone.

Listen to the Word

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open-bibleEvery day I try to share with you a biblical passage and a short reflection on it.  It is my sincere hope that this is a help to you and your faith.  I enjoy doing this, and I truly hope it is a blessing.

I always want the Word of God to be fresh and relevant to you, and I try to put some story or some take it on to help it sink into your life.

Today though, as I was reading this passage, it spoke to me so loudly, that I just want to let the Word speak.  Whatever it is that you are doing, please take a moment, and read this.  Listen to it.  Ponder it.

And try to apply what it says to your life today.

I know that I am.

This passage speaks so loud, about what the Christian life should be.  The Christian life is not a life of just Facebook statuses or Tweets or Christian music or anything like that.  It is a changed life.  It is about the grace of God wrecking us and changing us.  We should be changed people, by His grace.

Today, no frills.  Just stop for one moment.  And listen to the Word.

Romans 12:9-21:

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.  Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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 phone.

The Next Verse

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There are certain passages of scripture that we all know so very well. Verses that we all have memorized, or at least have a good idea about they say.  John 3:16, for instance, is a verse that most all of us know pretty well.

Another verse that a good many of us are familiar with is Jeremiah 29:11.  Listen to what it says:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

imageThat’s a verse that is close to many of us, a verse that has been a rock of help and support in difficult times. God has a plan for us, a good plan, a plan that will be for our benefit and for our good.

I love verses like that.  Verses that give hope and peace. Verses that we can hold onto.

But, something I like to do, when looking at a “famous” verse, is look at the next verse.  Look at what happens next.  Look at what follow.  Listen to Jeremiah 29:12-14:

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

In 11 God talks about a hope and a future for us.  But look what it says in these.  When you seek me with all of your heart, you will find me.  I will be found by you.

God will be found today, by you.  Are you looking for Him?  For hope? For peace?  For life?  Are you really looking for what counts? Are you broken, discouraged, or doubtful?

Today, are you looking for God?

Hear His promise.  You will find Him.  You will.  He has promised us that.

Today, He has promised us a hope and a future. And has promised something even better.  If we search for Him, we will find Him.  We will.

Seek Him today. And you will find what you are looking for.

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 phone.

For all the Scared and the Restless

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There are times in life when we do no fail safe.  There are times when we may be worried, we may be fretting, we may be fearful.  We may be facing a tremendous test or issue.

We may be in a season now where don’t feel “safe.”  Where we may feel unsure or unsteady.  We’ve all been there.

We may be there now.

If we aren’t or ever have been, at some point, we will be. We will all feel that way.  It’s ok.  It’s human.  But, for all of us that are scared and restless, listen to the words of Psalm 63: 7-8 today:

for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

12-Benn-(Benejou-Rabinowicz--1905-89)--Psalm-91-4God is the one that is our help.  God is the one that strengthens us.  God is the one that sustains us, no matter what.

No matter what it may be in your life that is terrifying you.  No matter what it may be in your life that is scarring you.  No matter what is making you run.  No matter what.

You are safe in the shelter of His wing.  His right hand will uphold you. You can trust.  You can be believe.  You can hope.

You can know joy, during any struggle.  Because you are safe in Him.

So, for all the scared and restless, you can relax.  You can breathe.  You can hope.  Because God is there.  He has this.  He has you.  It is ok.

Rest in Him today.  You don’t have fret or fear.  He has 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 phone.

Be Careful

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imagesAll that glitters is not gold.  Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.  These are phrases that we have each heard in our lives that teach us to be careful.  To look.  To listen. To dig deeper than outward appearances.  To really search the trust of the matter. 

To look deep.

Just because something “looks” good at first glance doesn’t necessarily mean that it is good, or is the right thing, or that it is true.  Look.  Listen.  Dig deep.

In regards to the Bible.  Just because some TV preacher said it, or just because a famous preacher tweeted it, doesn’t make it true.  Dig down deep your self.

In relationships, just because  you think someone is wrong, or you have heard that they have done something awful, take a moment to actually find out what happens.  Don’t always assume the worst.

In temptation, something may look appealing.  It may look like fun.  It may seem like something that no one would ever know about, what’s it going to hurt?

Stop.  Look.  Listen.  Consider.  Dig deep.  Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.  Look deep.  Listen to what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:14:

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Paul is talking about false teachers, about how what they say sounds good, but in truth, what they say is wrong.  Paul says be careful.  Even the devil look right at first glance.  But he brought destruction.

Be careful.  Don’t assume.  Dig.  Learn.  Listen.  Look.

With the bible, look for yourself.  Read yourself.  Seek help and wisdom from those you trust, but you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to read and learn from yourself.

With others, seek truth, not just assume the worst.  Truly get to know others before making a decision.

And be very, very, very careful with temptation.  It may look appealing, but it will destroy, when left unchecked.

Be aware.  Be careful.  Trust in God.  And follow Him, 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 phone.

Impact

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You have no idea the impact that you can make today. Seriously.  You could change the world, today.

Today, through some action, through some word, through something you do, you can change the world. You can do something amazing. And the the thing is this, you can do this amazing thing, no matter where you.

How?  Look at what happens today in John 1:40-42:

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

impactAndrew was impacted by hearing Jesus.  He heard His teaching.  He followed Him, he allowed Jesus to change him.

And then, with the change that Jesus made in his life, he told someone about Jesus.  He told his brother, we’ve found the Messiah.  We’ve found the one that will save us, that will change us, that will redeem us.

And Peter was the one that preached the sermon at Pentecost, where thousands were saved.

And Peter would have never known Jesus if not for his brother Andrew, that took him to Jesus.

And Andrew would have never done that, if Jesus hadn’t changed his life.

Today, you can make a huge impact.  How?  First, understand this truth. God loves you.  More than any mistake you’ve ever made.  You are a loved child of the king.

Seriously.  You are.  Hear those works.  Believe that.  Let it impact you.

And, let the impact of grace in your life, bleed over into all your life. As one affected by grace, let that grace touch others.  Let it impact others.  And you never know the difference that will make.

Just like the difference that it made in Peter.  And through Peter.

Today, you can make a huge impact.  Let God’s grace truly warm your heart today. And let that grace, through your life, impact someone else.

Today, we can change the world.

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 phone.

After the Mountaintop

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mountain-top[1]Yesterday at Asbury, I preached about baptism, our promises to God in baptism, and God’s promises to us in baptism.  Baptism is extremely powerful, holy, and sacred moment in our lives.  It is a profound moment, a moment that we need to always remember, a moment that really defines God’s love for us.

It can be what is called a mountaintop experience.  A time when we really feel God’s power.

Mountaintops are great.  They are awesome.  They are holy.

But, here’s the thing.  They don’t last forever.

Listen to what happens to Jesus, after His baptism, in Matthew 4:1-4:

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

After the mountaintop, reality sets back in.  There are still problems.

There are still worries.

There are still challenges.

There are still problems.

We can’t stay on the mountain forever.  There are things that we must do.  Challenges we must face.  Battles we must fight.  Tests that remain.

But, remember this.  The God that is God on the mountaintop is the same God that is God in the valley.  He is God in the midst of the storm.  He is God in the midst of the test.

He is God in the midst of the trial.

And He will not let you go.

No matter what.  You can trust Him.

On the mountain or in the valley.  He is God.  And you can trust.

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 phone.

The Body is Like . . .

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I guess I’ve started a trend of pop culture devotionals!  Yesterday we talked about how God calls use to places that we don’t want to go, and I used Doctor Who as part of my illustration.  Today, I’m talking about the Body of Christ.  And I’ve got a totally different pop culture reference.

Today, listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:18-21:

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.

One of the things that we can be tempted to believe, as Christians, is that what we are passionate about is the most important thing.  And if you really loved Jesus like I love Jesus, then you’d care about my mission, or my passion or my whatever.

Or, if you really loved Jesus, you’d like my style of worship.

Or go to my church/denomination.

Or share my view point.

Or agree with me.

And, that’s simply not the case. Paul reminds us that we are body. We are all different. We all have our different callings, different passions, different likes, different dislikes.  We are all different.

But, we focus not on our differences, and focus on the Gospel, and focus on the things that unite us, we see this.  We all matter.  And the body needs all our passions.  It needs your passion.  It needs my passion.  It needs all of us. And all of us have a part to play.

Individually, we are ok. Together, we can do AMAZING things for the Kingdom. We are stronger united and together than any one of us are alone.

1545230_10153672258090043_1758123088_nLike Voltron.

Yes, Volton. Each of the lions has as different strength (and color) but they only achieve their true purpose when they unite. Then, they smash evil and accomplish good (all in 30 minutes, no less)!

So, today, let’s work together.  Let’s do great things.  Let’s unite for the kingdom.  And do amazing things.

When we do that, just like Voltron, we find our true strength, and are able to defeat the darkness, and bring forth the light.

By being the Body. And working together.

That’s our purpose.

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 phone.

I Don’t Want to Go

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dont-want-to-goAnyone that’s friended me on Facebook or followed me on Twitter, knows that I’m a big Doctor Who fan.  And I’m not going to go too deep into why I love the show, because we don’t have the time to explain everything. But, I really do enjoy it.

In this show, “The Doctor” doesn’t die, but when it’s time for a new actor to take the place of the old he “regenerates” or changes into the new character, while staying  “The Doctor.”  In the show, when the 10th doctor regenerated into the 11th, his last line was a famous one for Doctor Who fans (aka whovians).  He said this – “I don’t want to go.”

But, go he must, for the show had to go on with a new actor. He had to go.

Sometimes in life, there are places that we don’t want to go. But, we must. There are places that are essential that we have to go to, even if it isn’t our desire or our “want” to. But, go we must.  Listen to what happens today in Matthew 16:23-24:

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Jesus tells us where we must go.  To the cross.  Not just to His cross of our forgiveness of our sins, but our cross of dying to ourselves.  Dying to what we want to do, dying to our desires.  Dying to us.

And living to Him. Living for Him.  Living in Him.

We may not want to go. But when we go, we find His life. For when we die to ourselves, and live for Him, we find life.  Life eternal.  Life everlasting.  Life now.

We find life in Him.  Today, may we go to the cross.  And may we find His life.

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 phone.