Tag Archives: God

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.

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.

He Will Rejoice

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We often think of us rejoicing in the Lord.  We think about each of us, giving praise to God through our songs, through our music, through our actions, through all that we are.

We think of so often of us, truly rejoicing and worshiping the goodness of our God, the greatness of our king. We think of all that we want to bring to God, all that we want to give to God. For He is worthy of everything that we could possible ever give to Him.

Everything.

But, today, let’s think on that concept a little different.  Listen to what is says today in Zephaniah 3:16-17:

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

imagesThe Lord will sing over us.  He will love us.  He will quiet us with His love.

It isn’t just that that we will sing our praises to God.  It’s that He will sing over us.  Think about that for just a moment. God loves us so much that He will lift up His voice and sing over us.  What a powerful image.

Seriously. Stop right now and think about just how much it is that He loves you.  He does.  He loves you more than your human brain can understand.  Man oh man, He just loves and adores you.

Don’t forget. Don’t forget that.  He loves you. He will sing over you.  You are His.

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.

Listen

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listenOne of the pieces of advice that I offer to people quite often is to trust your gut.  Listen to what you gut tells you.

Why do I say that?  Why do I recommend that?  Well, I believe that all us, within us, have a conscience.  Now we are all broken and make mistakes and are prone to choose wrong. But, I also believe that each of us has within us a conscience that will let us know that somethings are just wrong.

That is part of God’s image within us, that the fall has not corrupted.  That is part of what God has made that is good.  And yes, sin has greatly affected us, part of God’s goodness remains.

And, for those of us that are Christians, we have within us the spirit of God.  God’s spirit lives within us, it calls us, convicts us, challenges us, comforts us, draws us to Himself.

God’s spirit within us will lead us.

Listen to it.  Listen to what God is trying to say.

Listen.

Hear what happened to Paul today in Acts 17: 16-20:

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.”

Paul listened.  His spirit was provoked.  He was faithful.  And God did great things.

Today, what is God wanting to do in you and through you?  Are you listening?  Do you hear?  Listen for God.

Listen.  And you will hear.

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.

Discipline

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Man, I don’t like disciplining my children.  I really don’t.  I don’t think that any parent does. That’s the hard work of parenting.  No parent like having to do that part of the work.

I will all of parenting was bubble gum and fun and games. But, there are times (lots of times) when you have to say no. When you have to punish.  When you have to be that old oak tree that our kids bang their heads on to learn that they can’t just do what what they want.

We have to discipline our kids.

Why?

Because we want them to grow into fully formed, functioning, moral adults and citizens.

Well, what’s our heavenly Father’s goal for us as Christians?  For us to grow into mature disciples.  And that means, sometimes, yes, He will discipline us.  Listen to what it says in  Psalm 94: 12-15:

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

potters-handsGod’s desire for us isn’t for us just be happy. It’s for us to be holy.  It’s for us to be different. It’s for us to be followers of Christ, with all that we are.

Why?

Because that’s where life is truly found, in Christ.  In following Him. So, just as a parent will discipline their child to get them to the point that we want them to be as a mature adults, so will God do with us, getting us down the road of faith.

God’s desire for us is for us to be faithful.  Because that’s where life is found. Totally and completely in Him.

Today, if He convicts you.  Or challenges you. Or guides you down a path that you don’t think you want to go, thank Him for that, even if you don’t feel like it. Because He’s growing you. He’s forming you. He’s helping you to be the person that He made you to be.

He loves you. Just like as a parent our discipline can be the greatest sign of love to our kids?  So is it for God.

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.

Like a Child

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Today we read about Jesus taking the little children to Himself and blessing them. We love this image. We love this story. We’ve probably seen a million artistic interpretations of it.

But, for a minute, don’t think about the story, but listen to it as it’s found in Mark 10:13-16:

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

jesus-and-childrenBefore you get to Jesus, have you ever wondered why the disciples wanted to keep the kids away from Jesus. I mean, who doesn’t love kids? Aren’t they important?

In Jesus day? No. No, they really weren’t important. They really weren’t that valuable. They really didn’t count for much.

That’s why the disciples where trying to keep them away. Jesus was an important man. He didn’t have time to waste with children. He has important stuff to do.

And Jesus says no – let them come to me. They matter. They are important. They are mine. And in fact, not only do they matter, but if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven, you’ve got to be like them.

It isn’t just that they matter. But you can learn from them.

The person that you think is unimportant. That doesn’t matter. That you may have written off, today, you can learn from them. God can speak through them. God can reach out to you through them.

If we will listen. Everyone matters. Everyone is made in God’s image. Everyone count. Today, who have you written off that God may want to speak to you through.

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.

When the World Spins Out of Control

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Habakkuk is one of the neater books in the Bible. In this book, the author talks about his list of problems and worries. He talks about all things that worry him, that concern him, that overwhelm him.

Many things. Many legitimate things, many things that caused him worry, pain and confusion. Many things that deeply bothered his soul. Many things that made him doubt, have struggles and have worries.

He talks about them.

And then at the end of chapter 2 he says this:

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

worshipGod is in His temple. God is on the throne. God is at work. God is still alive. God is still working.

God is in control. When the world spins out of control. When life seems going way to fast, going in ways that you don’t like, you don’t understand, you can’t control, remember this.

The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before him. He is God. He is Lord. He is at work.

Stay calm. Trust. Even in the dark. Even in the fear. Breathe. Know this.

The Lord is in His temple.

He is in control. Even when life seems to be out of control.

God is in control.

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.

Boasting

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Paul lived an amazing life. If you can see it, do it, or experience it, he pretty much did.

Both in terms that are pretty awesome – seeing Jesus, preaching across the world, starting churches, writing a good portion of the bible.

And things that were not so good – persecuting the church. Helping in the stoning of Stephen. Various kinds of trials and persecutions.

He has seen a lot. He had done a lot. He had a lot things to be proud of and a lot of things to hang in head in shame over. And today in 2 Corinthians 11:28-30, he talks about what it is that he will boast in. Listen to what he says.

And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

boasting_296He says that he will boast not in his strengths and accomplishments, which he had just listed a few verses before, but says that he will boast in the things that make him weak.

Who in the world does that? And if so, why in the world would they do it?

To show that their strength comes not from themselves, but from God. Paul says that he will boast in his weakness, because his weakness shows the power of God at work in his life.

So today, in that area of weakness in your life, that area of hurt and pain, in that area, you can boast. Why? Because that area can show the strength of God within you. Because it’s not you that does it or is faithful in that area. It’s God.

Today, don’t boast in your strength. Boast in your weakness. Because in your weakness, God’s strength is show.

Today, if we boast, may we boast in Him!

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.

I Just Love This Passage

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Today’s reading is one of my favorite readings. I say that a lot about a lot of different passages, but this is really one of my favorites.

Listen to what it says in Luke 18:2-7:

He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

widow2Man, what a great passage. First, I just love the description of the judge in this passage. It says he feared neither God, nor respected man. That’s a pretty bad dude. I mean, he didn’t like God or people.

But being a judge, he had the power to grant requests and make judgements.

So, this widow comes to him over and over and over and over and over, and eventually she wore him down and he gave her the request she sought.

And Jesus said – let your prayers be like that! Just wear God out. Keep praying and praying and praying and praying.

Because He is not an unjust judge. It’s not that He is just. It’s that He IS just. Justice is God. God is the perfect holy and just God.

He will take care of His people. So, if even an unjust wicked judge will grant the persistent requests of someone, how much more will a perfect God grant ours.

Today, don’t give up. Keep praying. Keep praying. Keep praying. And pray some more. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Give it to Him.

And He will answer your prayer in the way that it needs to be answered.

Don’t give up today. Jesus has told us to keep at it.

I just love this passage. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Keep at it.

And God will hear it. And He will honor it. He has promised.

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.

Marvel

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glory1Are you ever amazed by God? Just taken aback at what He has done? Sometimes we can lose that, can’t we? Sometimes, we can just take so much granted.

Forget how good He is.

Forget what we have to be thankful for.

Forget what He has done for us.

We don’t do it on purpose. It isn’t like we plan on forgetting. It isn’t like we think it’s a good idea. We just get busy. We lose focus. We take for granted. And we forget.

Listen to what Jesus says today in John 5:19-20:

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

He says, greater works will happen, so that we will marvel. Greater things will happen so that we will marvel. Everything great, all of this is done for God’s glory.
And so that we can marvel.

We can marvel at God’s grace in our lives. Marvel at forgiveness. And mercy. And love. And peace.

Marvel at what God is doing in us.

Marvel at what God is doing through us.

Marvel at His goodness.

Today, don’t take Him for granted. Don’t take that grace and mercy for granted.

Stop. Think. Look. Listen. Praise.

And marvel. Marvel at the goodness of God.

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.