AD's September Devotional

Life is a journey not measured by landmarks of accomplishments as much as a deepening sense of who and whose we are and where we’re going. God has planted eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The sense that we’re not really home until we’re home with Jesus compels us to live as transients in this world in our journey of faith, traveling lightly, unencumbered. (Hebrews 11:8-16) It also gives us a sense of identity.
   In the 2001 movie, “A Knight’s Tale,” young William Thatcher sees a Knight riding through his medieval town and declares, “Someday, I’ll be a Knight.” A man locked up in the stocks, laughs and says, “A thatcher’s son becoming a Knight! You might as well try to change the stars!” William asks his father, “Can a man change the stars?” “Yes, William. If he believes enough, a man can do anything!”
   Young William gets a chance to be a Squire to a Knight. As he is leaving for his journey he says, “Father, I am afraid. I won’t know the way back home.” His father says, “Don’t be foolish, William, you just follow your feet home!”
   By a twist of fate, he gets a chance to prove that he is worthy of Knighthood. As a man, now back in his hometown, in the hearing audience of his father, he is declared to be “Sir William Thatcher."
   William would not settle for the status quo. He followed the destiny that was placed in his heart by his father. His journeys of faith led him in his quest for Knighthood and eventually back to his father. Our Heavenly Father puts eternity in our hearts and we must follow His sense of destiny for our lives as we follow our feet back home… to Him.

ADs August Devotional

The Day after Tomorrow 

the day after 

the Centennial Celebration

   One hundred years ago, a group of 300 delegates of a newly formed Spirit-empowered movement pledged themselves to do “the greatest work of evangelism the world has ever seen.”  

   In August, at the Centennial of that movement, the Assemblies of God will celebrate how God Sovereignly molded and shaped us with a clear and compelling mission to reach the lost. We’ll celebrate our miraculous growth from 300 members to 67 million members in 300,000 churches worldwide.  

   The day after that celebration, what will be our defining vision? Sure, times have changed. Methodologies have to adapt to those changes. But, in those changes, we must never forget that our reason for being must not change.  

   Humanity is still lost without Jesus. Our General Superintendent Dr. George Wood defines our ageless mission clothed in the contemporary vernacular as the “human right.” Former AGWM Executive Director Loren Triplett once said, 

“You don’t measure yourself by your success. 

You measure yourself against the unfinished task.”  

   The day after tomorrow’s celebration, I pray we will sense the urgency of the hour to thrust us into the next 100 years of evangelism should the Lord tarry. 

    John 4:35 (NASB)  

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, 

and then comes the harvest’? 

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes 

and look on the fields, 

that they are white for harvest.

ADs July Devotional

A well-dressed street musician stands statute-like holding his string bass instrument. It’s Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 6 pm in the middle of a prominent plaza in Sabadell, Spain. A little girl around 10 years old runs up and drops a coin in a hat lying upside down by his feet.  He begins to play a deep and beautiful tune, “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Soon, one by one an entire orchestra and two choirs join in the celebration of joy that mesmerizes and delights everyone within hearing distance of this captivating flash mob.
   Sure, this “spontaneous event” was orchestrated and sponsored by Banco Sabadell in celebration of its 130th anniversary. Sure, the 100 members of the orchestra and two choirs had spent their lives in disciplined training for occasions just like this one. Sure, someone had meticulously planned where and how this experience was going to take place, but don’t tell this little girl! As she stands transfixed by the impromptu crescendo of the members of this group, she knows! She started the music! It was her coin that began it all.
   At times in ministry, all we have to give is a small coin. Our talent, resources and time may seem insignificant (Matt 13:31-32). Let’s be honest. It has never been about our resources, but God’s. Take your little coin. Drop it at God’s feet. Then watch in wonderment. God has already prepared a joyous event. Soon His joy will be evident in all that hear His music.
http://www.Godtube.com/watch/?v=WKKZ6LNX

ADs June Devotional

 

Just Too Much Stuff in Our Heads!

One of our granddaughters (GRD) had just petted a black bunny rabbit in a pet store and was in a crisis.  Riding home in the van, she cried for 15 minutes desperately trying to convince her mother, “I don’t want to wash my hands.  I don’t ever want to wash off the bunny.  I want to feel it forever and remember it forever.  (Sob)  I want that black bunny…Stop laughing Mom!”  One hour later…”I feel like I should be able to have my own things now.  I feel like I should be married now.”  Her Mother, “Oh yeah…”  GRD, “Yeah, because I am the oldest one.  So, I am old and young.  And I should be able to have my own bunny now.”  Her younger sister, “Why are you still talking about this?  You are killing me!”  GRD, “You are killing ME!”  Younger Sister, “You’re the one who won’t stop talking about a black bunny”.  GRD, “There is just too much stuff going on in my head right now, the bunny, math, 5 and 10s, clean the cage, feed the dog, feed the fish, feed the hamster, there is too much in my head, I can’t handle it!”

Sometimes as missionaries we’re just like my granddaughter…too much stuff in our heads!  In those times of insanity, we need to find our peace in Jesus.  As Isaiah 26:3 (TLB) says, “He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!”  Whatever your black bunny crisis is put it in right perspective as you turn your thoughts often to Jesus.