Category Archives: Uncategorized

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.

Why Do Love Our Enemies?

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Jesus tells us a lot of things that we like to hear. Things about forgiveness. Things about mercy. Things about grace and compassion and joy. Things we like.

But, Jesus also says some things that are tough to hear. Some things that are challenging. Some things that we don’t understand and really, may not even like.

Like what we read today.

Listen to what Jesus says to us in Luke 6:27-30:

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

urlMan. We we look at that, I don’t like that. I don’t want to have to forgive my enemies. I don’t want to have to have to do those things.

They’ve wronged me. They’ve hurt me. They are my “enemy” for a reason.

Why? Why do I have to do that? Why does Jesus tell us to do that?

First, prayer can change them. Really. I can. Prayer can change you enemies. It can. It can change their hearts. Soften them. Make them a new person, a different person. Prayer can really change your enemies make them a different person.

Pray for them. It will change things.

But, even if it doesn’t change them, it can change us. They may stay the same. They may not be different.

But, prayer will change us. It will change our heart. Our patience. Our ability to deal with them.

Prayer will change things.

It will change who they are. And, if now, it will change who we are.

The best thing you can do for you enemies is pray for them. The best thing you can do for you is to pray for them.

I know it doesn’t make sense. But it’s true. Today, may we pray for everyone. And pray for those that are our enemies.

And God will do great 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.

Temptation

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I think sometimes the worst part about being a Christian is temptation. What do Imean by that?

Well before you were a Christian, temptation was a reality, and we may give into things, but in many ways, we probably lived our lives seeing what we can get away with. If no one knows, then it’s ok. What’s it matter if it is wrong?

Now, as a Christian, I know there are things that are wrong. And I know that I, and you, are tempted every day to do things that we know are wrong. And I know that we tend to give into temptation.

And, we don’t like it. I don’t like the way that I feel when I fall. I don’t like the way that I feel when I choose wrong. I don’t like the way that I feel when I give into temptation.

We long for a day when we don’t face temptation. We love for a day when don’t have deal with this struggle. We wish we didn’t have to face it.

But know this. When we do face temptation, we serve a God that understands. We serve a God, that through His son, understands what we are going through. That has been where we are. And knows.

Listen to what the Word says in Hebrews 4:15-16:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Today, the Lord knows your temptations, knows your weaknesses, and knows your struggles. He has been there. He has walked it. He knows.

So, when we turn to Him in our moment of temptation and weakness, He will be there. He will give us strength and courage. He will give us what we need to fight it, to stand up against it, and to overcome it.

And when we fall, He will pick us up again. He will love us. He will forgive us.

Temptation is a constant struggle. And I am thankful to serve a God that understands it. And that walks with us, even in the midst of it.

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

Whose Praise Matters

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Whose praise are you trying to earn today? Whose approval are your trying to get today?

Your boss?

Your peers?

Your co-workers?

Even your preacher or your church?

Today, whose approval are your desiring?

Listen to what Paul says today in 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6:

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

Paul said, I didn’t come seeking your approval. I came seeking God’s. I didn’t come seeking the approval of man, I came seeking the approval of God. I didn’t come seeking to earn man’s praise. I came seeking God’s praise.

Your value and worth doesn’t come from what other people think of you. It comes from what God thinks of you.

He loves you. He sent His son to die for you. And He will do all in His power to help you be faithful today.

Today, in your life, whose praise matters to you? The praise of God? Or the praise of man?

Today, seek your worth not in what others think of you. Find your worth in what God thinks of you.

Because, in the end, that’s the only praise that matters!

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.

The Unbaptized Sin Podcast

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The sermon podcast for Sunday, October 23, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website.  This is the fourth and last sermon in our series “The Unbaptized Arm.”  This sermon deals with “The Unbaptized Sin.”  It deals with the sin in our lives that keep us from fully living in God’s life. Sin desires to drive us away. God desires relationship.  The text for this sermon is Genesis 3:1-13.  Also by clicking on these verses you can see my notes from the sermon as a note in the YouVersion online Bible.   You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking the link below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.

CLICK HERE

The Unbaptized Sin

The Tears Will Come

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Everyday in the Morning Office, there are several scriptural passages assigned for each day.  It really is a neat thing when the Spirit moves and feel and see the commonality between them. Today, I noticed something in both one of the Psalms and in 1 Peter

First, Psalm 17

11 They press me hard,
now they surround me, *
watching how they may cast me to the ground,
12 Like a lion, greedy for its prey, *
and like a young lion lurking in secret places.

And, 1 Peter 3: 13-15

13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.

In both of these, there is this notion that suffering will come. We will face those that are against us. All will not be easy.

The tears will come.

So then, the question is not will trouble come. The question is, what will we do with it when it comes. When we face trials, when we face opposition, when we face times of trouble, what will we do.

When those seeking out for us come, what will do?  When suffering visits our door, what will we do?

Are we walking with the Lord now, so that when trouble comes, we may find strength?

Today, this is a day He has given us. There will come good and bad, joy and pain, laughter and tears. They will both come.

We can’t expect a life of only laughter. What will we do when the tears come?  What will we do when trials come? To whom will we turn?

Scripture tell us to turn to God, in whom we have our hope.  May we turn to Him, not only in the good, but in the bad. And may we find His peace is there for us, in all of life.

War on the Soul

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This morning one verse out of 1 Peter wouldn’t leave me alone:, 1 Peter 2:11

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul

I think what stood out to me is this notion of the things we “desire” can actually do great harm to our soul.  The things of the flesh, that look so appealing, can actually do great damage.

Bishop Ward once said something to us in a meeting, that has always stuck with me, “Temptation promises life, and gives death.  A discipline promises short term pain, but gives life.”

How many of us get caught up in things we shouldn’t do, that we know are wrong, but still desire?  How many of us get tangled up in temptation that does war against our soul?

That is the story we each face.

Today, what is at war with your soul?  What temptations look so good to you, but in the end will harm you?  Let us stay away from them.  Let us flee from them.  Let us not get caught up in them.

God will give us strength.  Let us seek after what give us life, not death.