April 16 – Don’t Be Scared

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

Today is April 16. Every year I write something in memory of my Mama Sarah and in honor of my mom, Maxine Stoddard. On this day 37 years ago, my Mama Sarah was murdered by my biological father and at that point, many lives were forever changed. She was murdered on my mom’s birthday (April 16) and buried on mine (April 18). You can read all the details of this day and some of the effects it’s had on me and my family through the years in any of the above posts, but the thing I always cling to in this, and any tragedy, is the truth found in Genesis 50:20:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

And Romans 8:28:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God is at work in all things. And the power of God is not that He always stops bad things from happening. The power of God is that He can (and will) bring good out of everything.

So, today, this is where my mind is going. I think about the fear that must have been in my Mama Sarah’s heart as she walked out of the house with me in her arms before she was shot. I think about the fear that must have been in hearts of Maxine and Connie Stoddard with the loss of their daughter and now the unknown future of adopting their 2-year-old grandson.

That fear that they faced could have paralyzed them. It could have kept them from moving or doing anything. It could have caused their world to crumble.

But you know what? They looked the fear that they faced in that moment, they looked it in the face and did the right thing anyway. They chose to not give into fear. They chose to do the right thing in spite of the fear in their heart. They trusted even in the darkness.

This is not to say that everyone in my story is perfect. That’s far from true. I’m not, Mama Sarah was not, my parents are not. But I do know this. In the midst of uncertainty and danger and fear, they chose not to give into the fear. They chose to do the right thing, even when they were afraid. They chose to trust that God had a plan, even in the midst of human brokenness.

They chose trust and obedience over fear.

So must we today. I have no idea what you are facing today. You may be very, very afraid. The future may be unknown. There may be great pain in your life. There may be things in your life that you have no control over. Things that make you very, very afraid.

It’s ok. We all are afraid at times. We are. But don’t give into it. Don’t. Faith is bigger than fear. Trust in the fact that there is a God bigger and smarter and wiser than you. That has a plan. Trust. God will bring something good out of it, even if you don’t understand what.

He will. That’s what He does.

Don’t be scared. No matter what you face. One of my favorite quotes from my favorite the shows, Doctor Who is this. The main character, The Doctor says, “Courage isn’t just a matter of not being frightened, you know. It’s being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway.”

Yes, you may be afraid today. Believe me, I understand. I learned at very young age everything I hold precious could be taken from me. Relationships can be ended. Harm can come. I always have that fear in my belly. Always.

But I can’t give into it. I have to (by God’s grace) be strong and lean on God’s grace. I have to, and we have to, have faith, not fear. Because fear never wins. And faith does. It always does.

So, today, don’t be scared. Have faith. God has a plan. Trust. Obey. Move. And don’t give into the fear. All things will work for our God and His glory. I believe and know that.

Don’t be scared. It’s going to be ok.

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, and you thought our app, you can now watch our worship services from Asbury too!

While the Nations Rage

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

Each day with the readings that I use for these reflections, there are Psalms that are suggested for that day. Today, one of the Psalms that is given is one of my absolute favorites. Psalm 2. Listen to what this great Psalm says:

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;

That’s not the whole of it, just part. But that is just such a powerful image. Why do the nations rage? They plot and scheme. There is so much chaos, so much trouble, so many things going on here in the world that stress us, that worry us, that cause us such great concern.

And the Lord in heaven laughs. All the stress and worry and chaos of this world are nothing to Him.

Let me say that again – all the stress and worry and chaos of this world are nothing to our God.

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Relax. Rest. It’s ok. Seriously. It’s all ok. The stress of culture. Of the world. Of this moment. All the things that are you worried about. It’s ok.

The stress of the personal. The things you are dealing with in your own life. In your family. In all this. It’s ok. Really.

God has this. He really does. He has it. This nothing to Him. All the things that turn the world upside down, the Lord laughs. While the nations rage, the Lord has it.

Rest in Him today. He has it. Rest in Him.

Why?

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

First, it’s good to be back doing these reflections. I took a couple of weeks off from them; I was in Nicaragua for a week with our youth on a mission trip, and then last week I was at St. Simons Island in Georgia for the Order of the FLAME Conference. Took good, busy, and kingdom minded weeks. But it’s good to get back into my routines!

One of the questions that we ask, or are tempted to ask, in life a lot is why? Why did this happen? Why did this happen to me? Why did this happen to them? Why is this happening? Why is one of the questions in our lives that pops up all the time.

And that’s ok. We want to know. We want to understand. It’s a question and a concept that every one of us, everyone, deals with and works with. Especially when something bad or tragic happens. We want to be able to make sense of the chaos and confusion and brokenness. We want it to make sense.

We want to know why?

And we aren’t the only ones. Look today at want happens in John 9: 1-3:

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

The disciples saw a man with tragedy in his life. He was born blind. And they wanted to make sense of it. They wanted to understand. So, the only way (in their mind) this made sense was for him to have do something to cause this, or his parents to have done something to have caused this. Someone did something to make this happen (in their mind). That’s the only way that this made sense.

So, they ask, whose fault is it? Why did this happen?

And notice what Jesus said. He said this man didn’t do anything neither did his parents. God is fixing to do something.

I love how Jesus reframed this question. He said – this thing, it will be for God’s glory. God is going to use it. God is going to bring something good out of it. God is going to make a difference through this. Something will happen that is amazing and beautiful because of this.

Because that’s what God does. He makes beauty out of the mess. He brings grace out of the pain. He brings resurrection out of death. He brings life.

So today, there may no be an answer to the why. But there is a point to the problem. God will bring something good out of the why. Because that’s what He does.

52 Weeks (Week 9)

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

This week as we continue memorizing the last verses of Romans 8, we take a look at Romans 8: 31-32. As we have mentioned, these last verses of chapter 8 in Romans are so encouraging, some hopeful, just so good. Listen to what we see here in 31-32:

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

We see here this reminder. If God is for us, then who can be against us? If God is on our side, pulling for us, calling us, leading us, pushing up, then what in the world do we have to fear?

Nothing.

If God is for us, then who can be against us?

No one.

This is how much God loves us. He loves us so much that He didn’t even spare His son so that we can know life and know life eternal. So how much more will He be with us and for us in all things? All things.

Today, no matter who you face, no matter what trials come your way. No matter what is happening, hear this.

No really. Listen. Listen to this. Know this to be true. Because it is. It is really and truly true.

God is for you. God is on your side. He is. He really is. No matter what happens today, God is for you. No matter what happens today, God is on your side.

Trust that today.

God is for you. Don’t lose hope!

Facing a Challenge

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

Sometimes in life, something happens that we ask ourselves, can I do this? Am I big enough for this task? Can I handle this challenge?

We’ve all been there at some point. We’ve all had something dropped in our laps, something go on that we think to ourselves, I can’t do this. I just can’t.

So, what do we do when that happens? How do we handle that challenge? What are our options? What do we do? One of my favorite examples of something like this happening in the Bible is Matthias. Listen to his story as found in Acts 1: 23-26:

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

We don’t know much about him in scripture other than what we just read. We know he was part of the group that was with Jesus, we know he was faithful, and we know that he was then called to step up into a group that was so very important.

And we know that he did.

So, what do you do when you face that challenge? I think that verse in the passage is so key – “Lord you know the hearts of al, show us which one of these two you have chosen.” When that challenge comes, we trust in the one that has called us to that place.

When God has placed your or led you to a place where you think, I just can’t do this, remember that. God has placed you there. God has led you there. It is God that is at work in getting you to that point. It is God that had called you.

Through Him, by Him, with Him, you can do it. You can. If He has led you to that moment. You can do it.

That challenge me be a new opportunity. Or it may be a moment of pain. Or it may be a something that even hurts. The challenge could be a million different things. But if God is the one guiding you and holding your hand, He will lead you in that moment.

Trust. When the challenge looks to great. When your strength looks too small. When you are unsure, unsteady, and maybe even unready. Trust.

God has you there. And He will not leave you. He knows your heart. And He knows what you can do.

Trust.

#realtalk – Faithful Steps

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

I finished out #realtalk our short series on marriage this past Sunday and I had some folks ask if I would share a brief overview of some of the things that I talked about in that message. Quickly, I want you to know that I have a great marriage, but it’s by no means perfect. And the reason it is so strong is because of the grace and strength of my wife, Holly.

Those aren’t just words that I’m “supposed” to say. I mean it. She really is the rock of our marriage, and none of this would be possible without here.

Second this is not “7 easy steps to a perfect marriage.” There are no easy steps. Marriage is tough and awesome. There aren’t easy steps. There are only faithful steps. If we take some faithful steps, God will do great things.

So, just a few of the quick points I made Sunday.

1. Submit yourself to Jesus. It all starts with you and your walk with Jesus. Everything in life eventually walks itself back to that. It all goes back to our walk with Jesus. We will never be the husband or wife you want to be with our Jesus. We will never be the friend, co-worker, anything without Jesus. It all starts there. None of this is possible without Him.

2. Communicate. James 1:19 says this:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

We have got to communicate, and that starts with learning to listen. It’s an old saying, but it’s true. We’ve been given two ears and one mouth for a reason. We have to listen. And by that, I mean really listen. Part of the problem with communication is that just don’t really hear what the person is saying. So, if you are having problems with communication with your marriage, two suggestions.

A. Speak concisely. Say what you mean. Be honest. Say exactly what you mean with nothing else there. Make it simple to understand.

B. Don’t assume. When the other person is speaking, don’t assume their meaning. Don’t assume you know what they mean. Take them at their word, don’t assume a hidden meaning. If you aren’t sure what they are saying ask for clarity. It’s ok. That’s how you recapture communication. 3. Schedule yourself

3. Schedule yourself. Just like we budget out our money, we must budget out our time. Work each other into your schedule. It says in Psalm 90:12:

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

We must make time. Dave Ramsey talks about knee to knee conversations where you turn off the TV, put the kids to bed, and talk. You have to build that into your lives and into your schedule. And this is one of the things that I struggle with the most. I’m a workaholic and would work all day long. I’ve had to learn to work my family into my schedule. They matter more than anything.

4. Remember what you love about each other. That’s one of the worst things about being in a bad spot in a marriage or a relationship. We can forget what we loved about each other to begin with. The Bible talks about remembering our first love. Sometimes we have to stop and remember what it is that made us fall in love them to begin with.

5. Serve each other. That’s the entire point of Ephesians 5: 22-33. Marriage is not about what you can get out of it, but what you can give to it. If you are in a bad place with your spouse, do two things.

A. Pray for them. You may do it through clenched teeth, but pray. See if God doesn’t change you heart.

B. Serve them. Do something nice for them, desiring nothing in return. Serve them. Give to them. And see if in that action God doesn’t do something.

6. Serve together. It says in 1 Peter 4:10

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Each of us is called to serve. Serve together as a family, as a couple. Do something for someone, do something for your church, do something for the kingdom. And that will bring you together. It will. If you as a husband and wife will serve together in some way, it will strengthen your relationship in amazing ways.

7. Don’t sacrifice each other for your children. Your kids are part of your family, but they are not the totality of your family. I put it like this; the most important lesson I can teach my kids is to love their mother. The way that I love my wife will determine the type of man that my daughter desires to marry and will determine the type of man that my son will become. The example I set loving my wife will shape my children more than I can ever understand.

If you’d like to hear this most recent message you can click here, or if you’d like to hear the previous week’s message, click here.

52 Weeks (Week 7)

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

This week in our 52 Weeks, 52 Verses, we get one of my absolute favorite verses in all of Scripture, this is one of those verses that I’ve built my life around. This is one of those verses that gives you hope, gives you confidence no matter what you are facing.

If this year of memorizing the Bible does anything, it’s for weeks like this and verses like this. This is one of those that you need to hide close to your heart, and pull out when you need that hope.

Listen to and learn Romans 8:28:

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

All things work together for good for those called according to His purpose. All things. Here is the hope that this vese gives me. All things in life, the bad, as much (maybe even more so) and the good work together for our good, if we are called to God’s purpose.

What does that mean? First, it means this. God has a purpose. God has a plan. And while we have free will within that, God is at work, guiding, calling, challenging, pushing, prodding. God is at work in all things, to bring something good out of it. God has a plan that is bigger than our human choices.

Now, I don’t understand that and am not going to claim to. But I know it’s true. God has a plan and a purpose.

And for those of us that love Him, all thing will work according to that plan.

All things. They will.

So, today, trust. God is at work in all things, for His purpose. And for our good. In all things. He really is.

Memorize this one today. Write it on your heart. Write it on your soul. Cling to it. For all things will work for our good. And for His purpose.

Simplify

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

I like things that are simple. The older I get, the more I really want things to be simple so that I can understand; see the big picture, a see what is really at the heart of the matter. Simplicity is a good, good thing.

We often look at the Bible, look at issues of faith, and think that they can be too confusing. They are too complicated. They can’t really be understood. And there are many, many things in the Bible, many things in faith that are hard to understand. One of the things that we can struggle the most to understand is this. What does it mean to be a Christian? What does the Christian life look like, what are we supposed to do as Christians.

Paul in the book of Galatians spends time going to the heart of the matter for the Christian faith. He really wants to simplify the understanding of what the Christin life should be. Look at what he writes today in Galatians 5: 13-14:

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Yep. That’s a good, simple word. He gets to the heart of what the Christian life should look like in regards to how we are to treat others. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the laws about how we are supposed to treat each other, all these things, they are simplified here.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

That’s it. That’s the heart of the law. That’s the heart of the faith. As Jesus reminded us, the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all of our mind, our soul and strength, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

That’s the heart of what this whole Christianity thing is about. Love God. Love neighbor. That’s the Gospel, that’s the law, that’s the faith, simplified.

Today, don’t worry about the complicated things that you can’t understand. Focus on this. Love God. Love neighbor. The rest will take care of itself.

Focus on What Counts

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

Be careful what you wish far. What you wish for may look good. May look great. But, it can be dangerous. We need to always examine ourselves for what it is that we desire, and just what we are willing to do to get that.

Listen to what Jesus says today in Luke 9:23-25

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Jesus tells us this – what is it worth to have the entire world, to have everything you could want, everything you could dream of, if you lose your soul. If you lose yourself. What is that worth?

Is there anything on the earth that you can think of that would be worth having, if it would cost soul? It may be tempting to say, sure yes, this thing. Sure that’d be great.

And then you gain it. You can gain it all. Wealth, power, status, fame, everything. But if you lose yourself. If lose your faith, your family, your relationships, your friends, your life, what is that thing worth?

Nothing.

Life is not made up of the stuff that we think we desire. Life is made up of those relationships. With God. With others. And yes, even with ourselves. These relationships, they define us. They give us life. They give us purpose. They really define for us what it means to live.

Don’t loose that today. Focus on what counts. Focus on what matters. Focus on what is truly life. Not “the world” not the things that you think you could desire to make you happen.

Not thing things of this world.

Relationships. With God. With others. That’s what counts. That’s living. That’s purpose. That’s what it’s all about.

Today, and each day, focus on what counts. Don’t gain the world but lose your soul. Because if you were to do that, you really aren’t even living.

Today, let’s live. Let’s focus on what counts.

Detours

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

Ever had life all planned out? Knew what you were going to do? Had a schedule, had an agenda, had it all figured out?

And something happened that blew all of that out the water?

Ever had to take a major detour? Yeah, most of all of us have at some point in our life. That’s part of life. Something that happens all the time. It’s part of our human experience, something that we each go through.

It’s even something that Joseph and Mary went through. There were some very unexpected detours that they had to take in Jesus’ early life. Listen to what happens today in Matthew 2: 13-15:

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

We see that they were in Bethlehem, but they they had to flee to Egypt to escape Herrod. We don’t really think about this, the chaos this would have caused to Joseph and Mary. Joseph had a job waiting for him back home. They had a life planned out. They were going to be faithful, they were going to follow God, but they knew what life would be about.

And now this. Now they have to run away to Egypt. They were being faithful. They were doing it right. And life still made a detour.

Why? Because God had a plan. He was going to call Jesus back out of Ebphy, just as He called the Israelites out of Egypt. God had an amazing plan for Jesus in this.

What may have looked like a detour to Joseph and Mary was part of God’s divine plan for Jesus.

Today, the detour you face may not be that. It very well may be part of God’s divine plan for you.

You just have to trust. God has a plan. He knows what He is doing. Even if we don’t know what He is doing.

These detours, they aren’t that. They are something greater, something bigger.

Today, trust. God will use your detours in amazing ways. Ways you can’t even imagine.

Today, may we trust in the detours of our life.

RevAndy.org

Tag Archives: Faith