Tag Archives: Trust

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.

It Will Get Better

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it_gets_better_by_incessant_star-d30th5dThe worst thing about trouble and pain and suffering is that we sometime think that they will never end.  They will never get better.  It will never stop.  It will always be like this.  It will never change.

This is just the way that it’s going to be ever.  It will never change.

That’s what we can think when we are in the midst of a tough or tragic situation.  We can think, we can believe that this just the way that it’s going to be.  This is the new normal.  The tears will not end, the pain will not stop.

This is just the way that it is.

Ever felt that way?  I know that I have.  I know that’s what pain makes us think sometimes.  But, that’s just not true.  It will get better.  Listen to what Jesus says in John 16: 20-22:

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

It will get better.  Your sorry will end.  Your pain will end.  Your tears will turn to laughter.

It will get better.  Don’t forget that.  Don’t give up hope. Don’t quit.  This moment is not the end.  It will get better.

Jesus loves you, He is here for you and He has not left you.  It will get better.  It will.

Don’t give up.  No matter what.  Don’t give up.

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.

Thirsty

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Ever been thirsty before?  I mean, really thirsty?  Give out?  Worn out?  Tired?

Listen to what the Word says in Psalm 42:1-2

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

a toddler drinking water from a garden hoseThat is what will satisfy you today.

Not work.  Or power.  Or success.  Or fame.  Or money.  Or anything else.

No religion.

No hobbies.

Nothing.  Only God.  Only God will satisfy.  Only God.

Today, drink from the well that won’t run dry. Drink from God’s goodness and mercy. Drink from His life, His power, His grace. Drink from the living waters.

And you will never thirst again.

Today, are you thirsty? Today, drink from God’s living water and never thirst again.

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.

Blinded

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fri 02You ever get frustrated with folks that aren’t Christian?  You ever just really get fed up with the world, with the way that people act, that their choices, their decisions, the way that their mind works?

There’s something that I say from time to tim – I don’t expect lost folks to act like Christians.  I do, however, expect Christians to act like Christians.  So, if you are spending your time, expecting people that don’t know Jesus Christ, to act like me or you, than you are just wasting your time.

They aren’t.  They simply aren’t.  Listen to what it says in 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We see here that the god of this age (Satan) has blinded the unbelievers to the truth of God.  So then, what is our move?  What are we to do?  What are our options?

Pray.  Build relationships.  Take Christ with you.  Shine the light.  Take it with you.

In your words. In your actions.  In all that you do.  Shine His.  The light will shine in the darkness. And the darkness will not overcome it.  Take the light of Jesus with you.

But first, and foremost.  Pray.  Pray for those that you know that don’t love Jesus.  Pray for those that you know that need to love Him better.  Pray.

Pray for His word to spread.  Pray for the church.  Pray for yourself.

Yes, they are blinded.  Don’t get frustrated.  Don’t get angry.  Love.  Trust.  Pray.

And let God take care of the 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 phones.

Thorn

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We’ve all go something that plagues us.  A sin.  A doubt.  A worry.  An illness.

Something. We’ve all got something that we wish we didn’t have. We’ve all got something that we’d give anything for God to take away, something that, if we didn’t have to deal with it, would make our lives much, much easier.

We all have it.  I do.  You do.  Paul did.  Listen to what Paul writes this morning in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

600-02347969Paul has what he calls his thorn in the flesh.  We don’t know what it is, no one does.  All we know is this, that is caused Paul great pain, and he badly wanted to be rid of it.  And God told him no.  It would not be removed.

Why?  Wouldn’t it be better if it was gone?  No.

Why?  Because in his weakness, Paul would find God’s strength.  When Paul had to rely upon God’s strength, he’d find more power, strength, and might then he’d ever imagine.  When he was weak, God strength is made know for all to see.

So is it in all our lives.  In our weakness, when we rely upon, we find God’s strength.  When we rely upon Him, we find more power than we’ll ever know.

We He is our strength, then we all have all the strength we need.

Today, even with any thorn you may face, God’s strength is all that you need.

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.

Jumping into the Deep

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Man, I love to talk about things that I don’t understand. I love the mysteries. I love talking about the complicated things, the things that we can argue about, fuss about, come to strong and different opinions about.

We all enjoy that.

But, it’s also frustrating, because there are just some things, that as much as we want to, we’ll never know. We’ll never understand, we’ll never get, they will will just never figure out. And, I don’t, by nature, like that.

But, you know what?  I’ve come to be ok with it. Really.  Listen to what Jesus says today in Matthew 11: 25-27:

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Jake-Jumping-Off-Diving-BoardJesus says this, some stuff is just hidden from the wise and understanding. There are some things that are just beyond us.  Some things that we could just debate and ponder and argue and fuss about for years.

And we are never going to know and never figure out.

It just is.

So, he tell us, there ‘s stuff that God has literally hidden from the wise and the understanding.  But, if we come as a little child, in simple, honest faith, we’ll understand.

Yes, there’s stuff that we don’t know. There’s stuff that we don’t understand. But, there comes a point when we’ve got to just jump off into the deep and trust.  God knows. He understands.  He sees.  He has it all figured out.

And we’ve got to trust.  Yes, there’s some stuff I don’t understand. And you know what?  I’m ok with that.  Because I know God.  And I know salvation. And I know to trust Him.  And you what?

That’s enough.

Today, jump into the deep.  Today, trust.  And today, you’ll find 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 phones.

When We Don’t Know What to Do

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Sometimes we don’t know what to do. We don’t know what decision to make. We don’t know what road we should choose.  We don’t know what door we should open.

Sometimes we just don’t know what we should do. We are at a loss. We just don’t know.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all had that happen. We all can be unsure.

What do we do?  Listen to what it says in James 1:5-6 when we are unsure:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

two_pathsJames tell us this morning that when we are unsure and don’t know what to do, what we should do is this.  Ask God for wisdom.  Ask Him for help. Ask Him and allow Him to lead us to what we should do.  I think that this verse shows us that there are two main things that we should in these times of indecision and uncertainty.

First, ask God for wisdom.  Ask Him for help.  Stop trying to figure it out on your own. Stop trying to think that you’ve got all the answers and have it all figured out.  Ask God for help.  Really.  I know it’s simple. But do it.  Stop.  And seek His face.

Many of us do that pretty well. The second can be a little bit harder.

Second, have the confidence of belief that God is going to give you that wisdom. Believe it. Claim it.  Know it.

Have faith. Even when it’s hard, challenging, or doubtful.  Believe.  Trust.  Hold fast.  He is going to give you wisdom.  He is.  He promised.  He has assured us in His word that He will.  Trust in it.

Trust in Him.

Believe.

So, today, if you are in a situation where you don’t know what to do, ask God for wisdom. And believe, truly believe, that He will give it. And hold fast, until He leads you in the way that you should go.

He will not fail 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 phones.

Calm

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We talked yesterday in worship at Asbury about God’s promise for us to not be afraid. Fear can be a powerful thing in our lives. We can have thing that are “real” that make us afraid, and we can have things that are not “real” that make us afraid.

Our past experience can make us afraid, our context can make us afraid, the things in our mind can make us afraid. Fear is something that we all know, that we all understand, and that we’ve all dealt with before.

So, when we talk about fear, listen to what we see in Matthew 8:23-27:

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

1435669599_45ff54895b_oJesus and the disciples are in a boat. And what they face is a real fear. It’s something to really be worried about. These are experienced fishermen. They know a thing or two about about storms. This isn’t their first rodeo.

And whatever it is about this storm, it terrifies them. These normally brave fishermen, in their element are so scared that they think they are about to die.

And how does Jesus respond to their fear? Why are you afraid you of little faith. Then he rebuked the wind and sea, and their was calm.

This is a God that controls the wind. The sea. All of it. Every last bit of it. There is nothing in creation that He’s not in control of, that He doesn’t have power over, that He can’t calm.

Even us.

Calm.

Today, you don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to live in fear. You don’t have to live in worry. You can be calm.

Because God is bigger. You can trust in Him today. You can rely on Him today. He’s bigger than the wind, the waves, the storm, all of it.

He has got this. So you can be calm.

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.

Letting Go

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walk-by-faithI want to see how everything is going to turn out. I like knowing where we are going, what we are doing, how things are heading. That’s what I like. That’s what I feel comfortable doing.

I don’t like the unknown. I like knowing. I like being in control. I don’t like letting go. So for someone like me, today’s reading is one that I need to hear a lot, because I don’t do it by nature.

Listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:5-7:

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

We are reminded today that we walk by faith, not be sight. Faith is the key, in everything.

We are saved by faith. We walk by faith. We live by faith. Faith is it.

What is faith? Trust. Belief. Letting go. Turning over control. Letting God take the wheel. Knowing that even if we don’t know where we are going.

He does.

And that’s why we can trust and have hope and walk by faith. Because He knows where we are going. He knows what is happening. He knows where the road is headed. He sees.

Even through we don’t. We walk by faith. We can trust. We can hope. We can believe. We walk by faith and not by sight.

But, because we trust in God, we can trust in where the road is taking us.

Today, let go. Trust. Walk by faith. God’s got this.

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.

Live Unafraid

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Greetings from Shiloh Camp Meeting.  My first night of preaching went great last night, I’ll be preaching today at 11 a.m. and again at 7 p.m. today, and each day through this coming Sunday.  If you’re around the Jackson area, come join us!

unafraidIn life, fear creeps up, doesn’t it? Fear of the unknown. Fear of the known. Fear of the past. Fear of the future. Fear of the present sometimes.

Fear of others. Fear of so many things.

It’s so easy for us as people to be afraid. To give into fear. To give into worry. To give into the things that terrify us.

It’s so easy. And we do it so often.

That’s why one of the main commands of scripture that we see over and over again is this – do no fear. Do not be afraid. To not give into that killer of fear.

Listen to this command in Psalm 56: 10-12:

In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.

I love that encouragement. I just in God. What can man do to me? Seriously? What can man do to me, or to you?

God has us. God has our back. God is on our side. God goes before us. He is our light, our shield, our fortress.

Why should we worry? Why should we fear?

Who should we fear?

No one. Live today unafraid. For you have no one to fear. God is for you. Who can be against you.

Live with that courage and that confidence today!

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