Monthly Archives: February 2014

Listening to the Bible

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bible460The next two weeks at Asbury, I’m going to be preaching on the Bible, as part of our series “The Path.”  I’m very excited about these messages, as I think that for many of us, the Bible can be really scary.

There are so many things about the bible that we feel like we don’t understand.  That we aren’t sure that we can understand.  That cause us to throw our hands up and say, there’s no way that will ever “get it.”

If you’ve ever felt that way, we’d love to have you join us Sunday, or if you can’t, listen to our messages online or on our FREE mobile app.

As I prepare for these messages, I keep hearing God point me over and over to His word as I prepare for these.  Listen to what I read today in 2 Peter 1:19-21:

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

I really, truly believe that God’s word will speak to us, when we listen.  You don’t have to always understand it. God isn’t always speaking just to your head.  Sometimes (most times) He is speaking to your heart.

He loves you.

He has claimed you.

You are His.

He wants you to grow, closer to Him, and closer your neighbors, your family, your friends.

He has given us His Word as His love letter to us.  Take time to read it.  To listen.

He will speak through it you.  I know He will.  May we take time to read, and to listen.

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.

Something Unexpected

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One of the things we see so often in scripture is that one of the main things that Jesus will do sometimes is push us out of our comfort zone.  He will call us to a place that we may not want to go, He will ask us to do things that we may not want to do, He will place us in place that we would not place ourselves in

Listen to Luke 5:1-5:

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

imgresJesus tells Simon (Peter) to let down his nets on the other side.  Peter was an expert fisherman.  He had done it his entire life.  He knew what he was doing.  He was a pro.  Why would he do that?

He knew what would happen.  He knew this was a waste of time  He knew there was no point in this.

And then something unexpected happened.  Listen to Luke5:6:

And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

Peter did what Jesus asked, even through it looked a little crazy.  Even through he had no reason to expect that it would change things.  Even through he thought it was pointless.

He obeyed.  And Jesus did something unexpected.  He did something amazing.  He did something no one could see coming.

Because that’s what He does.

Today, will you do that thing that is different, that Jesus is calling you to do?  You have no idea what He may do with that.  Today, He wants to do something unexpected.

So, hold on tight. And see what He is up to.

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.

Give Us Rest

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maxresdefaultDavid Crowder Band is one of my favorite Christian bands ever.  I love their spirit, I love their art, I love their lyrics, and I love their passion for leading the people of God in worship.  There version of one of my favorite hymns, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing is very different, but very good.

One their last album they have what may be my favorite of their songs.  It’s called “Give Us Rest.”  I just love the notion of singing to God, saying, give us rest.  We are tired. We are worn out. We are exhausted.  We can’t do any more.

Oh great God, give us rest!

Is that your prayer today?  So many days, it is my prayer.  As a busy body, sometimes, I just need rest.

Today, don’t just listen to the words of that song, listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Today, there is rest.  No matter what you are facing.  No matter where you are.  No matter what is going on. There is rest.  Really, there is.

Now that doesn’t mean that everything will get better at this exact moment.  It doesn’t.  But, you can rest.

You can put down your burden.  You can lay it aside.  And you can know that the very  God of Creation holds you in His hand.  You can rest today.  Really, you can.  You can rest.

Today, cast your cares upon Christ, because He cares for you.

Rest.  In Him.  Rest.

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.

A Slow Death

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Some of the ways that we hurt ourselves are quick and painful.  Some things that we, intentionally or unintentionally, to ourselves can very quickly cause great pain, great damage, and great hurt to us, to others, to so many relationships.

But, not all the things that hurt us are fast.  Some are slow.  Some are a slow death.  In 1 John 3, John talks a lot about love, about being there for each other, about helping each other out in whatever way that we can.

But then, he says these words in 1 John 3:14-15:

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

poisonHating others is a slow death.  It’s so slow, you may not even know that you are dying.  You may be unaware of the pain that you causing to yourself, and the pain that you are causing to the relationships in your life.

When you hate, when you don’t forgive, when you hold things against others, when you allow pain to turn into hate, you are slowly, but surly, dying a slow death.

The only way to live, to know peace, is this.  Forgive.  Let God.  Give it God.  Allow His grace to take away the hurt, the pain, the loss, everything.  Allow His grace to wash over you.

Allow His grace to make all things new in your life.  Allow to allow you to forgive.

Allow it to allow you to love.

aWhen we  hate, we die a slow death. Today, may we be truly alive.

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.