Asbury Christian Fellowship

09/11/2026

DAILY DOSE OF JESUS! 09.11.26

Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV) says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."

Do you remember where you were, how you heard? Do you remember the horror, the fear, the uncertainty? For millions of people, for an entire nation, September 11, 2001, permanently divided life into a “before” and an “after.” I try and remember what life was like before that day. Before terrorism became our new way of life, but it is hard. The stark images of that morning serve as a sobering reminder of the fragility of human life and the hard reality that none of us truly knows how much time we have left on this earth. In an instant, our collective sense of security was deeply shaken. Those people in the World Trade Center were just going to work, to earn a living for themselves and their families. They had elderly parents who depended on them. Young children, wives and husbands that they kissed goodbye on their way to school; “Have a good day, see you tonight.” Those on the planes were headed off to once in a lifetime vacations, business trips, to visit family they had not seen in a while. And then there were the first responders. Men and women who already are prepared for the worst before they clock in, but they had no idea what the worst really looked like until that day. Yet, as we look back, we are reminded of a powerful truth: tragedy and evil can change the world, but they cannot and do not change the character of Almighty God. He remains the unchanging anchor who sees the brokenhearted, strengthens the weary, and binds up our deepest wounds. Remembering 9/11 is not just about looking back at the rubble; it is about looking upward with determination toward the light. In the dark days following the attacks, the world witnessed an incredible outpouring of courage, selflessness, and unity. We saw those first responders run directly into danger to save people they did not even know and every day citizens open their hearts and homes to strangers. We witnessed bravery by citizen on a plane that would have killed possibly hundreds, thousands more if they had not acted. But out of the deep brokenness, God birthed a spirit of profound compassion. That day changed the world as we knew it. There was another day like that. One Friday on a hilltop called Golgotha. That day God also birthed a new spirit of compassion, hope and love. It took a bit, but on that day those first responders took action and ran headlong into the fire, facing the enemy with every step and thanks be to God they did. Maybe you are facing your own personal "rubble" or the world’s most dangerous terrorist is trying to bring you down. You’re feeling weary from the turbulence of the world, remember that what is meant for evil, God can use for good. We can’t change 9/11/2001, we can only remember, but on this 9/11/2026 remember that you serve a God who is the Creator of all things, Sovereign and Mighty, Compassionate and Gracious, Present and Reliable, Faithful, Forgiving and full of Mercy and Love. Amen

09/10/2026

DAILY DOSE OF JESUS! 09.10.26

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (GNT) says, “Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, I will still be joyful and glad, because the Lord God is my savior.”

I live in a world; you live in a world that tells us we can only flourish when conditions are perfect. When our cupboards are full, our bank accounts are healthy, and our health is good. The cultural definition of a thriving life requires external security: a stable environment, and a smooth path forward. When those things dry up, we have a tendency for our spiritual growth to stop too. But biblical flourishing operates on an entirely different economy. It is an “even though” kind of growth. In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet looked out at a landscape of devastation. The crops were failing, the fields were barren, and economic collapse was imminent. By all human metrics, there was no reason to hope, let alone thrive. Yet, Habakkuk doesn't just resolve to survive; he vows to REJOICE. His joy was not anchored in his circumstances, but in the unchanging character of God. Like a tree planted deeply by streams of water, your spiritual life is designed to defy external conditions. “God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, the sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever.” (Full Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr, 1892-1971) That prayer has been shortened over the years and leaves out the; “as He did”, “His Will”, and “supremely happy with Him forever” parts which are the most important parts. You are designed to flourish even though the path ahead is uncertain. You are designed to bear fruit even though your heart is heavy or you are walking through a season of painful healing. True flourishing means your roots are anchored so deeply in God’s unfailing love that the droughts of your life cannot wither your faith. God does not wait for your circumstances to clear up before He begins working in you; He plants you exactly where you are, providing the secret sustenance of His Holy Spirit to strengthen and restore you from the inside out. It reminds me of driving down the interstate and seeing the places where they cut through the rock to make the path and you look up and “even though” there on that rocky vertical face, you see a tree growing up, flourishing where it is not supposed to. “Even though” there is little soil. “Even though” the roots are being pressed on by the pressure of the rocks. “Even though” it does not sit beside a stream of clear fresh water. “Even though” and against the odds, it reaches up towards the sun. You are designed to be like that. “Even though” you may be going through a drought right now, defy the external and cling to the eternal and grow UP TO THE SON! Amen

09/09/2026

DAILY DOSE OF JESUS! 09.09.26

After John the Baptist was thrown in prison, he began to wonder if Jesus really was the Messiah. So John sent a message to Jesus asking, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?” Matthew 11:3 (God’s Word)

Last night during our Teen Discipleship class our topic was; John’s Question. John the Baptist was a man of bold, uncompromised convictions. He was the precursor to the Messiah, the one prophesized in Isaiah 40:3 as a "voice of one calling in the wilderness". The one to prepare the way. The one who stepped into the Jordan River and confidently declared Jesus to be the "Lamb of God." Yet, fast-forward to the end of his life, and we find John sitting in a dark, cold prison cell in Herod’s fortress of Machaerus east of the Dead Sea. The fiery kingdom even John expected Jesus to throw down hadn't yet materialized, and his own circumstances were growing increasingly grim. In that place of isolation and unmet expectations, a small shadow of doubt crept in. John did not hide his confusion. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus directly: "Are you the one, or should we look for another?" It is easy for us to judge John's wavering faith, but we were not there. His story reveals a beautiful truth about the character of Christ. Jesus didn't meet John’s doubt with anger, scolding, or rejection. Instead, He responded with immense patience and tangible proof to John. He told John’s disciples; Andrew and Phillip (as most scholars agree on) to go back and report what they saw: the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, the dead being raised, and the poor hearing the good news. Jesus gently reminded John of the ancient prophecies in Isaiah, “…the blind will see, and the deaf will hear, then the lame will leap…” (Isaiah 35:5) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:1) John was not asking as much out of doubt as he was confirming that he knew the assignment, he had completed his task of preparing the way for the Messiah. It is my belief that he sent those two disciples so that they could see Jesus for themselves, hear Jesus and believe that He was who John paved the way for. John’s faith was so deep, so unshakeable, so bold, so unapologetic and so trusting God, that the answer he received was his blessing. Jesus was anchoring John's fragile emotions back to God's eternal Word. And Jesus may have even slipped in a “Well done, good and faithful servant, I’ll see you soon.” So, now, how does this apply to you? Are you in a fragile state, emotionally, spiritually, physically? Do you feel like you have exhausted your last appeal and your fate seems sealed. If you find yourself in "prison" today (metaphorically of course) —facing unanswered prayers, painful circumstances, or silent seasons, or that because of your faith in God Satan is trying to lock you up—know that it is entirely normal to wonder if God has forgotten you. Doubt is not the enemy of faith; it is often a catalyst to seek a deeper truth. Jesus does not push you away when you ask hard questions. Bring your questions, your fears, and your unmet expectations to Him. He is strong enough to handle your overpowering doubts and you wavering faith with absolute tenderness. Ask the question and let Him reveal the answer! Amen

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

DAILY DOSE OF JESUS! 09.08.26

Matthew 17:14-23 (NIV) says, "When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. ‘Lord, have mercy on my son,’ he said. ‘He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.’"

ARE YOU ON YOUR FAITH JOURNEY OR A SIGHTSEEING TOUR?
Have you ever had an incredible spiritual experience—an extraordinary time of worship, or a mission trip where God moved in a big way? I have. Trips to the Holy Land, Emmaus Walks, Mission Trips to build homes devastated by natural disasters, Medical Missions to bring healing and hope to the poorest of the poor. My heart was on fire for God in those moments. Everything was amazing. Until I got home. Suddenly, everything that could go wrong went wrong. That incredible spiritual high, that amazing God encounter felt long gone. What happened? Well, what happened was that I was the one that changed, but the world I returned to had not! The real world came crashing back in – problems, challenges, and bumps along the road – causing that mountain top experience to seem like a distant memory. In the Gospel of Matthew, the disciples of Jesus had a similar experience. They had just been used mightily by God when they meet a man they could not help. That man’s life had been hit hard. He was a desperate father whose son had been tormented by seizures, and those seizures were cause by and were demons that had taken over his son and even Jesus’ own disciples did not know what to do. They felt helpless, scared, overwhelmed, exhausted and stressed; this father fell to his knees in front of Jesus – desperate for help. The situation seemed bleak. Yet this turned out to be just the right moment – a turning point in this man’s faith journey, disciples’ faith journey and for the demons’ fate journey. Often, it takes coming to the end of ourselves, our helplessness, our exhaustion for real faith to begin. I can’t tell you the number of nights I lay awake overwhelmed by the needs in the church, the family, the community. I wonder sometimes; am I still on a ‘faith journey’ or just a ‘sight-seeing tour’. Am I in the game or just watching from the cheap seats. Because all of us at one time or another wonder if the prayer is too big, the need too great, the result too impossible to ask for. Maybe you have felt that too. Maybe you are feeling it right now. It’s in those moments that I feel the spirit of the Lord seep back in. Hope floods my spirit, washing away the doubts and fears. And that’s the hope I have to today for you! That you come to the end of your physical strength, your finite knowledge, and your limited options – allow God to really start moving in your life! This happened in the story of the father and his son. When life’s challenges almost crushed this family, Jesus healed the boy. And the same can be for you! Have you reached a point of helplessness, fear, overwhelmingness, exhaustion, stress and desperation like this father? Have you, like the disciples, become too self-reliant, feeling that faith in Jesus’ yesterday is enough for today – yet, suddenly, you are powerless? Where are you on your faith journey? I have a dear friend that every time he goes on a trip, I usually say to him; “Have a safe trip”, to which he responds, “where is the adventure in that?” Sightseeing can be wonderful, but it is not until you immerse yourself and commit to the journey that it goes from ‘sightseeing journey’ to a ‘faith journey’. Submerse yourself and truly involve yourself in the wonders you are only seeing from a distance that you have those life-changing moments, and you have that adventure. Today, take time to see what the Lord has done, is doing and will do in your life! Amen

09/07/2026

DAILY DOSE OF JESUS! 09/07.26

Colossians 3:23 (NIV) says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as you are working for the Lord! BUT…. TODAY IT IS NOT ABOUT WORKING FOR THE LORD; IT IS ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE LORD AND PRAISE HIS WORK FOR YOU!
“Come to Me, all you who LABOR and are HEAVY-LADEN and OVERBURDENED, and I will give you to rest. I will EASE and RELIEVE and REFRESH your souls. (Matthew 11:28 AMPC) Just focus for a second on the capitalized words. Which one(s) applies to you?
As believers, Labor Day offers a unique invitation to step back and look at our daily toil through God's eyes. Working for the Lord is great! But even greater is fellowshipping with Him. Relaxing in Him. Communing with Him. Praising Him. Coming to Him. Since before the garden incident we have been destined for toil and work, the incident made are part more difficult and it wasn’t going to be easy but as the saying goes; nothing worth having comes easy, and especially your salvation. It took some work, some sweat, some tears and lots of blood. Work is not a consequence of the Fall; it was designed by God before sin ever entered the world. God Himself worked during creation and called it "very good," and Jesus Himself spent most of His earthly life working with His hands as a carpenter. Whether you LABOR behind a desk - a busy household - homeschooling young minds - operating a farm - stand behind a checkout counter for eight hours, your daily exertion holds inherent value. When you transition your mindset from merely "earning a living" to treating our daily tasks as an OFFERING TO GOD, your ordinary work transforms into an act of profound worship. However, the modern world frequently pressures us to tie our entire identity, self-worth, and security to our production numbers and achievements. When you get trapped in this endless cycle of striving, you become deeply weary. This is precisely why God established the rhythm of rest. True rest is more than just pausing your physical exertion; it is a spiritual declaration of trust. When you step away from your labor, you actively acknowledge that the universe relies on God’s power, not yours. You can safely halt your striving because Jesus has already completed the ultimate work required for your redemption on the cross. When He declared, "It is finished," He meant it! This Labor Day, He invites you to trade your heavy burdens for His perfect peace. By doing so, you honor the Creator who sustains you through both your seasons of labor and your moments of rest. Amen

09/04/2026

DAILY DOSE OF JESUS! 09.04.26

1 Samuel 17:47 (TPT) says, “The entire world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone gathered here will learn that the Lord does not save by means of the sword or the spear. The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will deliver you into our hands.”

Some battles will wear you out trying to fight them in your own strength. But this morning, I’m reminding myself: this one belongs to God. I don’t have to know how He’s going to work it out. I don’t have to have all the answers. I don’t even have to see a way forward. My job is to trust Him, obey Him, and remember who is standing with me. Do you really believe that a small scrawny little shepherd boy could defeat a descendant of the Nephilim with just one small stone by himself? Israel’s army lost their faith in God and pulled back in fear trying to figure out how THEY could defeat a soldier of Satan, but THEY forgot that THEY had God on their side and all they had to do was to ask Him to join the battle, but then we wouldn’t have one of the greatest testimonies of the Bible. A testimony where it explicitly shows how we don’t need to fight our battles alone; God fights our battles.
As you know I am facing a battle of health and my God is facing it with me. I know He will heal me, how doesn’t really matter. God is in all things because He created all things, inspired all things give gifts to all people. Whatever you’re facing today, don’t let the size of your Goliath make you forget the size of your God. The battle belongs to the Lord.
Why Fighting Alone Fails
• Human limits: Your physical and emotional energy runs out quickly.
• Heavy burdens: Carrying every problem by yourself creates constant stress.
• False control: Trying to force a solution often deepens the frustration
How to Find Relief
• Surrender control: Let go of the need to fix every outcome by yourself.
• Shift your focus: Turn your worries into quiet prayer or reflection.
• Accept support: Trust that you do not have to carry the heavy weight alone.
Are you trusting God with a battle right now? I SURE AM! Amen