AD's January 2016 Devotional

Fully Embracing God’s Sovereignty in 2016

Who or what will be in control of your life in 2016?    A Sovereign God or a random set of circumstances?   God’s Sovereignty evokes a sense of security conceptually but often distress pragmatically.   We can see this in Jesus’ birth. 

Jesus’ birth was prophesized to be in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).   It was only one of the many details of His life that was prophesized.  Statistically if only eight of those hundreds of prophecies were fulfilled, it would be at 1 in 10¹⁷ odds (“Science Speaks,” Stoner).   God’s Sovereign control of the minute details of Jesus’ life has strengthened believers throughout the centuries.  He is a Sovereign God that we can trust implicitly!

Yet, do we fully embrace God’s Sovereignty in the details of OUR lives when we feel “out of control?”   Think of Joseph and Mary.  Caesar Augustus’ decree for a census disrupted their lives at such an inconvenient time.   Their forced journey to Bethlehem accentuated their powerlessness in light of the almost god-like power of the Emperor.  Their lives could have been marked by resentment but instead they fully embraced God’s control of their lives.  The Messiah was born when and where He needed to be born and all of our faith was strengthened.

Regardless of your present circumstances, fully embrace that you serve a Sovereign God Who is orchestrating the minute details of YOUR lives.  As Proverbs 19:21 (TLB) affirms, “Man proposes, but God disposes.”   Trust Him with the details of your life and ministry right now and throughout this New Year.

AD's December 2015 Devotional

 

I See You Seeing Me!

“Enough of this!” screamed Hagar’s inner voice, as she fled from her mistress’ abuse.  After Sarai had forced her to conceive a son for Abram, she felt used and alone but God had not abandoned her.  The angel of the Lord found her beside a spring of water in the wilderness and asked, “Where have you come from and where are you going? “I’m running away!” she replied. “Go back and there I will bless you…” God exhorted her.

In that moment of vulnerability she discovered God’s sustaining love.  Hagar exclaimed, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” (Gen16: 7-14 NLT). In Hagar’s extreme circumstances with a challenging pregnancy, she sees God seeing her and that revelation changes everything.  God’s place for her growth was in her trials, not away from them.  (Devotion ideas from a sermon by Cheryl Jamison--Regional Retreat.)

Seeing the One who sees us in all of our circumstances is a key to our maturity.  There is a special mirror called the infinity mirror where one mirror reflects the image of a paired mirror in such a way that there is a depth of images of what appears to be a thousands mirrors.  In Hagar’s moment of despair, God’s infinite love invades her space, changes her attitude and gives her a depth of understanding of how much God loves her.

Whatever your circumstances, choose to look deeply into God’s infinite mirror of love as you fulfill your calling with His Grace and His Mercy.

AD's November 2015 Devotional

Moving your witness from the abstract to the concrete

A famous child psychologist, known for affirming children, had a sidewalk poured in front of his house.   When the neighborhood children wrote their names in the fresh cement, he lost it, “You stupid kids, get off my property.”   The neighbors were shocked and confronted him.   He defended his outburst saying, “It’s true, I do love kids but only in the abstract…I can’t stand them when they’re in my concrete!” 

Hopefully we are not like that psychologist, loving people in the abstract but not connecting with them in our real lives, in our concrete.   We need to reach people in where we actually live!   Here a simple formula on how to keep it real, i.e. how to R.E.A.C.H. people:  Keep it Relevant and Relational, Easy, Anointed, Christ-centered and Honest.    

We also need to watch our attitude!   When Jonah was called to a specific group of people that he resented, he rebelled because he was afraid that God “was a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”   Jonah 4:2.  When our “righteousness” keeps us from loving the very people that God loves, we need an attitude check.   Let’s keep our witness fresh as God keeps us broken and our witness authentic.

From SO CAL devotions: https://vimeo.com/142902026

AD's October 2015 Devotional

It’s Not Over Till It’s Over

The world had written Roberta Vinci off.   Serena Williams, the U.S. women’s tennis darling, was making a bid at history.   Williams was going after the coveted Grand Slam, winning all four major championships in a single calendar year.  All that was between Serena and her desired goal was a semi-final match against Vinci, an unseated Italian, and then the final match.   The sports commentators were so focused on Williams’ final match that it seemed that Vinci didn’t count.    It was assumed that Williams would quickly dispose of Vinci since the odds were 300 to 1 against Vinci.

Vinci knew that in all likelihood she would lose.  She had in fact scheduled a flight home immediately after her expected loss to Williams.   The morning of the match, Vinci decided that the dream of beating Williams was so absurd that she determined just to concentrate on putting the ball in the court and NOT to focus on Williams.   And then it happened…Vinci beat Williams in a historic upset that stunned the sporting world.   This confirms what I believe as a believer: “It’s not over till it’s over!”

As believers in the Almighty God of all creation, we should realize that’s it’s not over, until it’s over.   David, the young shepherd boy, refused to submit to fear when his kin mocked him for facing Goliath.   Instead of focusing on the odds against him, he shouted to Goliath,  “You are coming to fight against me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I’m coming against you in the name of the LORD who rules over all. He is the God of the armies of Israel. He’s the one you have dared to fight against.  1 Sam 17:45 (NIRV)

Whatever giant you may be facing in this very moment, take heart, “It’s not over till it’s over.  So, keep your eye on the ball and leave the results to God.