Digging Deeper – Just Accept It

Avatar photo C.A. Phillips on March 20, 2026

 

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

John 8:36 (NLT)

 

JUST ACCEPT IT

 

At some point in your life, you have been mistreated. Someone has lied to you, stolen from you, physically hurt you, taken advantage of you – or worse – done one or more of those things to someone you dearly love. As painful as it is, forgiveness is the only way to move beyond it.

Sometimes we resist forgiveness because we do not want to let someone off the hook. We would rather harbor resentment and quietly long for them to get what is coming to them.

As difficult as it can be to forgive the pain inflicted by others, there is one offender we often have an even harder time releasing: ourselves.

We think, “Jesus can forgive what they have done, but I cannot accept His forgiveness for what I have done.” And the devil will continue whispering that lie in your ear.

You might say, “I have destroyed relationships. I have caused irreparable harm to others. I have disappointed so many people. I just cannot forgive myself.”

Here is the good news: you are right, you cannot forgive yourself, but Jesus forgives. You simply need to accept it.

Instead, our tendency is to hold ourselves captive, replaying our failures and reminding ourselves how badly we have messed up. Jesus does not want that for us, and He was not crucified so we could live under the weight of self-condemnation. He took on our sins and bore the ultimate penalty so we would not have to.

Are there consequences for our actions? Yes, and they can be crippling. However, Jesus calls us to do three things:
• Confess our sin
• Repent, which means turning completely around
• Lock eyes with Him daily

When and where possible, we should do our best to reconcile with those we have hurt, but there is no guarantee that reconciliation will always happen.

It is important to remember that it is Jesus’ death and resurrection that forgive us and give us hope. Punishing ourselves for past sins accomplishes nothing for the kingdom, but it does give the enemy an advantage.

If you find that you are unable to move past the hurt you have caused others and unable to accept Jesus’ forgiveness, please tell someone. You can certainly speak with any of our staff at NorthStar Church, and we will help you discover the freedom found in Christ.

Pray: Lord, I have a tendency to be hard on myself when I mess up. Help me turn to You, confess my sin, abide in You, and find the freedom only You can offer. Amen.

 

C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

Digging Deeper – Put Up a Fight

Avatar photo C.A. Phillips on March 19, 2026

 

So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Luke 5:19 (NLT)

 

PUT UP A FIGHT

 

Consider the lobster: a red, strange-looking crustacean with pinchers and antennae. It is an expensive menu option, but sure is yummy with some drawn butter. Okay, my stomach might be growling as I write this.

Here is an interesting fact about lobsters: if placed in a cage with the lid removed, one lobster can escape. But if two or more lobsters are in the cage, escape becomes nearly impossible. Instinctively, lobsters will often grab and pull down the one trying to climb upward.

Spiritually lost humans can be a lot like lobsters. They do not want someone else to escape the darkness and find the light. As the saying goes, misery loves company. This is just one of many reasons you may feel resistance when you are trying to climb your way out of sin. The enemy, and sometimes even your “close friends,” may want to keep you right where you are.

With this in mind, the story unfolding in Luke becomes even more remarkable. We find a group of men determined to get their friend, who is paralyzed, in front of Jesus. They first try the front door, but the crowd is so massive they cannot get inside. Undeterred, they climb to the roof, remove the tiles, and lower their friend down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus (Luke 5:19).

While the paralyzed man is a major part of the scene, he is really a supporting character. The friends are the heroes. In fact, Jesus tells the man, before he is ever healed, that his sins are forgiven because of his friends’ faith. Wow.

My good friend Steve Roach once talked about the importance of living in Christian community, having people who love you enough to keep you close to Jesus. Steve said, “To know whether or not you are in community with believers, ask yourself, ‘Who would I have to fight through to walk away from the Lord?’”

We all need those people in our lives, people like the paralytic’s friends who will bring us to Jesus and who will fight to help keep us there.

If you are fighting to get in front of Jesus, perhaps you are surrounded by lobsters. Do not let them pull you back into the cage. Instead, look for someone you can trust, someone who will help you find an audience with the King.

Pray: Jesus, help me become the kind of person who points others to You and, when necessary, fights to help them get in front of You. Amen.

 

C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

Paid in Full

Kevin Burrell on March 18, 2026

 

For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.

John 3:16-17

 

PAID IN FULL

Long ago, there lived a just and loving king. One day, it was discovered that someone had been stealing his gold. As a result, he issued a decree that the punishment for stealing his gold would be forty lashes, a sentence certain to bring death. Weeks went by, and the gold continued to be stolen. Eventually, it was discovered that the thief was the king’s very own daughter.

Because he was a just king, he had to follow through with his decree that the punishment for stealing his gold would be forty lashes. If he did not, he would no longer be just.

On the day the sentence was to be carried out, the king’s daughter was brought before the crowd and laid face down on the executioner’s table. Her garment was torn open to expose the flesh on her back so that the full force of each strike of the whip could be felt… and heard. It grieved the king to see his daughter suffer the brutal consequences of her crime.

The time came for the executioner to carry out the punishment. He raised the whip above his head, preparing to deliver the first of the forty deadly blows. Just as the first violent strike was about to descend upon her bare back, the king stepped forward and thundered, “Stop!”

The crowd fell silent as the king advanced toward where his daughter lay. Standing face to face with her executioner, he tore open his own shirt and, because he was also a loving king, laid himself across her, wrapping his arms completely around her so that no part of her would be exposed to the strike.

With his own back exposed, vulnerable to the cruelty of the whip and the death it would inflict, he looked back at the executioner and said, “Now hit her.”

Listen closely: the just and loving king took the punishment for his daughter’s sin, the very sin she committed against him.

You see, the king paid a debt he did not owe because his daughter owed a debt she could not pay.

This is a small illustration of what Jesus did for all of humanity. The King of kings came into this world saying, “I have come to save you, to pay the ransom for your sins, to endure the punishment of death in your place. I will die so that you may live.”

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Your sin debt has been paid in full.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Be Worth Being.

Kevin

 

Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 45 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper – Rest Stop

Avatar photo C.A. Phillips on March 18, 2026

 

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29-29 (NLT)

 

REST STOP

 

I just returned from a great getaway with my wife. We went on a cruise, which was fantastic, but we had to drive a long distance to and from the cruise port. If you’re like me, you want to get to your destination as quickly as possible. That means eliminating unnecessary pit stops and consolidating the important ones to minimize time off the interstate.

One of the greatest things about interstate travel is the rest area. You do not have to exit and drive to a sketchy convenience store. You simply ease off the ramp, take care of business, and get back on the road. Glorious! But who are we kidding? For most of us, these are not really “rest” areas. They are quick and convenient bathroom stops and grassy patches where the dog can go potty.

The truth is, we are in desperate need of rest.

One of the best things about my vacation was that I was truly forced to rest, and I had no idea how much my mind and body needed it. When I am home, I do not make much time for rest. I have far too much to do and even more to think about getting done. No doubt you are the same.

In today’s passage in Matthew, Jesus is exasperated. He has denounced the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, saying they have not repented of their sins despite seeing many of His miracles. He then prays aloud, thanking the Father for “hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever.”

It is after this admonishment that Jesus extends an invitation for the ages: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Could it be that the façade these people had built created an unbearable weight? Is it possible that those who thought so highly of themselves were actually overwhelmed on the inside and exhausted from pretending?

Jesus offers you that same invitation right now. But to experience His rest, you must stop pretending you have it all together.

Get real with Him, and let Him begin filling the empty places in your life with goodness, peace, and joy.

Pray: Lord, I am tired, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Help me stop pretending I have it all together, and teach me to lay my anxiety, stress, and burdens at Your feet. Amen.

 

C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

Digging Deeper – Voices in My Head

Avatar photo C.A. Phillips on March 17, 2026

 

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

 

VOICES IN MY HEAD

 

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” As a parent, I worked tirelessly to put guardrails around my kids and the influences they were exposed to. Of course, I couldn’t control all the people they spent time with; however, my wife and I made sure to ask plenty of questions. Over time, both of our boys learned that fewer questions were asked about the friends and families who aligned with our beliefs and way of living. As a result, they generally chose to spend more time with those groups.

As adults, the exact same thing is true. The influences we allow into our lives, minds, and hearts will have a profound effect on the way we live and, perhaps more importantly, the way we think. Here are just a few examples of “voices” that can creep in and begin shaping us from the outside-in:

• Who we spend time with: friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances in everyday settings
• What and who we listen to: radio stations, podcasts, YouTube videos, and reels
• Social media: who we follow, the rabbit holes we go down, and the debates we engage in, passively or actively
• TV channels, programs, and series
• What we read: books, blogs, Scripture, and devotionals

As we approach the subject of “How to Surrender My Past,” it is critical to evaluate the voices you are giving an audience to. When you survey the list above, take inventory of which influences are drawing you closer to Jesus and which are pulling you away. Be honest.

• If you find yourself thinking negatively after doom scrolling, take a step to clear your mind and fast from social media for a day, or maybe longer.
• If you notice that your language does not honor the Lord when you spend time with a certain group of people, it may be time to boldly create some distance between yourself and those influences.
• If you find your heart beginning to chase unhealthy things after binge watching several series, pray about other ways you can spend your evenings.

It won’t be easy. And the enemy will hand you every excuse to rationalize your way out of making positive changes. Remember, Satan, along with friends or acquaintances who do not have God at the center of their lives, does not want you to live a spiritually healthy life. He would rather neutralize you and lull you into complacency.

Don’t fall for it. Instead, get in the Word to heal your heart, seek the Lord in prayer as food for your soul, and find ways to look beyond yourself to help and serve others as a way to strengthen your faith.

Then take one more giant leap: invite a trusted friend to help you with accountability. Your future self will be so glad you did.

Pray: Jesus, I want You to be the greatest influence in my life. Help me tune out the harmful voices I allow into my mind and tune in to the voices that lead to true joy. Amen.

 

C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

Digging Deeper – Who ‘He’ Is

Avatar photo C.A. Phillips on March 16, 2026

 

17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Luke 5:17-26 (NLT)

 

WHO ‘HE’ IS

 

We’ll spend some time this week examining Luke 5:17-26 and exploring how we can surrender our past to Jesus. But before we go there, I’d like to put first things first. In order to surrender our “stuff,” we need to understand to whom we are surrendering it.

Luke writes in verse 21 that the religious leaders asked themselves, “Who does he think he is?”

And that is the question you and I must answer before we ever reach a point of surrender. From a purely biblical perspective, Jesus is God’s one and only Son. See Bible. He came in the form of a baby (Christmas, right?), grew up with parents Joseph and Mary, and was a skilled carpenter. As an adult, He was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, and recruited 12 men to serve as His disciples. His earthly ministry lasted approximately three years, during which He performed miracles, loved the unlovely, thinned out the ranks of His own followers, and thoroughly frustrated, even angered, the Pharisees.

These religious leaders simply refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They had formed their own image and ideal of what the Savior would look like and how He would act. Instead, they plotted to kill Jesus in order to preserve their foothold on religious power and to stop His movement, which ultimately backfired on them.

While the Pharisees were blinded to Jesus’ divinity, you and I have been given the opportunity to seek and see Jesus for who He really is. When we acknowledge that we have fallen short because of our sin and recognize our need for a loving Redeemer and Savior, Jesus becomes everything to us.

HEART: Read Isaiah 61:1-7 and Gospel of Luke 4:14-21, reading them one after the other. What encouragement do these scriptures offer you?

SOUL: Pray: Jesus, I acknowledge You as God’s one and only Son. Thank You for dying for my sins and for being my Lord and Savior. Help me to live daily with confidence in Your plan for my life, to obey when it is difficult, and to love unconditionally as You love me.

STRENGTH: How can I give and serve today in a way that reflects Christ to others?

 

C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Walk

Avatar photo David Griffith on March 13, 2026

 

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

 

SURRENDERING MY WALK

 

When I look at what is going on around the world today, I am amazed that anyone would think the days are not evil or that it does not matter how we live our lives. Paul the Apostle refers to the way we live as our walk.

I am called to walk as a wise man, and this wisdom walk takes time, energy, and priority. So I was forced to evaluate my walk on a daily basis and identify those elements, outside of necessary labor, that were consuming my time. It was not pretty.

My walk starts at 6:00 a.m. with a pre-workout drink, followed by 60 to 90 minutes in my home gym exercising. Of course, I am watching a Christian podcast or sermon, something from Mike, or Matt, or John, to make the time somewhat profitable. I come upstairs, take my supplements, and eat some protein. I have to keep the temple operating at peak level. A shower follows, often much too long, and then a big breakfast of foods that are good for me. Again, the temple must be protected.

Only then have I been getting into God’s Word to prepare for the spiritual battle ahead, if I have time.

You see, lately, as I confessed to my small group recently, my time with the Father has been relegated to “if I have time” territory on the calendar. I am convicted and ashamed as I write this. But confession is good for the soul, or so I have heard.

This does not mean that I do not spend time with my Lord, because I do. I have time on most days, but He has not been first and the weights second. How pathetic for a man who intimately knows the sacrifice of the Godhead for my very soul.

As a result of this introspection:

• I will make my heart’s desire for Him a priority each morning.
• I will nourish my soul with His Word and with praise on my lips daily.
• I will strengthen myself with the armor of God that He provides for the battle against the evil one.
• I will renew my mind so that no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

I will make the most of my time so that my walk is wise and not foolish. How about you, my friends?

Lord, come alongside our family at NorthStar Church as we walk out Your purpose of loving You, loving people, and living sent. May we surrender our priorities and embrace Yours. Amen.

 

 

Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Anxious Thoughts

Avatar photo David Griffith on March 12, 2026

 

25 For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25; 33-34

 

SURRENDERING MY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS

 

Is time with Jesus being crowded out by the worries of this world, primarily economic worries?

This passage about anxiety hits particularly close to home for me personally. I am dealing with a business situation that I have no control over. It seems that those in authority over me are blind to my pleas for reason, at least in my opinion, and I am at their mercy. I am self-employed, but we all have masters.

I am not handling it as well as I would have hoped, and I am anxious. I am writing this DD just two days before having to appear in court over this matter, and my Father is asking me, “Dave, why are you so worried? Do you not trust Me?”

Yes, Lord. In my head, I know You are in control and not them. It is my heart that is having trouble. I am like the father who said to Jesus, “Yes, I believe. Help me in my unbelief” (Gospel of Mark 9:24).

The problem with my unbelief is that I have been seeking the world’s solutions instead of seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness, and then secondly going to work on a personal solution.

My heart has not been seeking wisdom from His Word.

My soul has been panting from worry rather than pursuing Him in praise.

My strength has been failing because I have chosen not to rest in Him alone.

My mind has wandered to the finite instead of focusing on the infinite.

Because I truly love Jesus, I will believe God’s Word where He says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” Psalm 27:1, and the rest of the Psalm.

Please come to my aid, and to the aid of Your children who are in need today. Amen.

 

 

Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!

God’s Not Done with You

Kevin Burrell on March 11, 2026

 

When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are old, and much land remains to be conquered.”

Joshua 13:1

 

GOD’S NOT DONE WITH YOU

Harland Sanders was born in 1890 near Henryville, Indiana. He grew up facing hardships, taking on adult responsibilities early after his father died. Throughout his life, he worked an array of jobs: farmhand, soldier, streetcar conductor, railroad worker, salesman, and lawyer, rarely finding long term stability. Yet he never stopped searching for an opportunity that fit.

That opportunity finally arrived in his 40s when he began cooking for travelers at a gas station in Corbin, Kentucky. His homemade meals became so popular that he opened a small restaurant and developed the pressure fried chicken and secret spice blend that would later become known as “Kentucky Fried Chicken.”

It was not until Sanders’ late 60s that KFC made a worldwide impact. Sanders did not build his empire in his youth. He built it in his senior years. His story stands as a powerful reminder that age is never an excuse to stop pursuing a dream that God has placed in your heart.

In a similar way, age has a way of whispering lies to us…

• “Your best days are behind you.”

• “You have done enough. Someone younger can take it from here.”

• “Just settle down. God surely is not expecting much from you now.”

However, Scripture cuts straight through those lies with a beam of truth. Joshua was likely between 80 and 90 years old when God spoke these words to him in Book of Joshua 13:1.

By any earthly measure, Joshua’s résumé was full: battles won, faith proven, leadership demonstrated. Yet when God looked at Joshua, He did not see a man who was finished. He saw a man He could still use.

God said, “There is still much land to be conquered.”

In other words, “Yes, Joshua, you are an old man, but get up, pal. I am not done with you!”

The world retires people. God reassigns them. The world sees limits. God sees availability. The world measures age. God measures obedience.

Joshua’s story teaches us that God does not shelve His children because of their age. He empowers them in every season for His purpose. If anything, age often sharpens what youth cannot: wisdom, perspective, steadiness, patience, and an ear tuned to God’s voice.

Listen closely: the same is true for you. Whether you are entering your later years or simply feel past your prime, hear this truth:

“If you are still breathing, God is still building.”

There is land yet to conquer. There are prayers yet to pray. There are people yet to disciple. Lives to encourage. Wisdom to pass on. Kingdom work to engage in. Battles still needing a seasoned warrior.

Do not let your age become an excuse to retreat to the sidelines, or to your sofa. Do not quit. Do not give up. Do not put life on cruise control. Do not assume God has moved on to someone younger. God does not look at your ability. He is looking for your availability. Finish well.

Submit. Surrender. Obey. Stay faithful. Keep saying yes to the One who never stops working through surrendered hearts.

God is not finished with you. Not today. Not at your age. Not ever, until He calls you home.

Just ask Joshua when you see him.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Be Worth Being.

Kevin

 

Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 45 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Sin

Avatar photo David Griffith on March 11, 2026

 

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they (unbelievers) are saying, “Peace and Safety!” Then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

 

SURRENDERING MY SIN

 

Is time with Jesus each day taking a back seat to worldly priorities?

Here, Paul the Apostle is reminding the church at Thessalonica that there is a difference between His children and the world. We are to be sober minded about the time that remains to serve Him and to know Him. The two go hand in hand, do they not? The better I know Him, the more I want to serve Him.

Why? Because the better I know Him, the more I love Him. And who does not want to serve someone they truly love?

Jesus invites me to spend my time with Him in His light. Think about that for a moment. There are so many dark places where my mind can go and where my time can be spent. If I choose to spend my time there, then I am choosing to be caught off guard at His coming.

But I am not of the darkness, and neither are you. We, brothers and sisters, are of the light because He has drawn us into His light.

Is my heart thrilled by the light of His Word each day?

Is my soul stirred and warmed by the fire of praise?

Is my inner strength sufficient for what He has called me to do?

Is my mind’s eye fixed on the light of His glory?

If I truly love Jesus, why do I sometimes still yearn for the darkness?

Holy Spirit, pursue me with the light of Your glory so that I may shun the darkness. Amen.

 

 

Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!