NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper – Rest Stop

C.A. Phillips on March 18, 2026

²⁸Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take 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

C.A. Phillips on March 17, 2026

⁸And 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. ⁹Keep 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.

Digging Deeper – Who ‘He’ Is

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?

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Walk

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

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.

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

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.

Digging Deeper – Surrendering My Years

David Griffith on March 10, 2026

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away. 11 Who understands the power of Thine anger, and Thy fury, according to the fear that is due Thee? 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:10-12

SURRENDERING MY YEARS

Is time with Jesus a priority on my schedule each day?

In this Psalm, I am reminded of just how brief our life truly is. My father died two months shy of his 80th birthday. That was almost nine years ago, and it still seems like yesterday. What he left behind was not much to show for 63 years of labor, toil, and life.

And I am concerned that I have not yet fully learned that lesson of numbering my days so that I may grow in wisdom every day.

My ultimate goal each day is to love God and love people, but my calendar does not always support that goal. If I were put on trial for spending too much time with Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict me?

Do I have a holy fear of God? Do I understand His wrath and fury, not toward me, whom He has saved, but toward the things of this world that separate me from Him? Do you?

Is my heart changing toward Him because of time in His Word?

Is my soul on fire with praise when I engage my Savior in prayerful dialogue?

Is my strength growing as I give to those in need and fast in holiness?

Is my mind being renewed daily through all of the above?

Or am I just drifting through life, content to simply be “one of the kids”?

If I truly love Jesus, I will ask myself these questions regularly, with a humble heart and a contrite spirit.

Lord, teach me to number my days so that I may present to You a heart of wisdom. Amen.

Digging Deeper – Surrendering Our Priorities

David Griffith on March 9, 2026

And it came about that while He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And He stretched out His hand, and touched him saying, “I am willing, be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and great multitudes were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Luke 5:12-16

SURRENDERING OUR PRIORITIES

Is Jesus on my schedule every day for a little personal time?

During this week, we will study together how to prioritize time with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and how doing so will free us to love people and live sent.

In the passage above, Jesus shows us, as His children, how to use our time wisely in the midst of unimaginable pressure and demands, caring for the one and the many, while still making time for His Father. We will also consider how to lead lives that are pleasing to the Father, with a prescription for success that comes straight from an interaction with Jesus.

When asked what the secret was to eternal life, Jesus responded to the lawyer asking the question, “What does the Law of Moses say?”

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

In reality, this verse, along with the companion verses in Gospel of Matthew 22:37-39 and Gospel of Mark 12:30-31, may be among the most important verses in all of Scripture. Jesus is being asked, partly out of curiosity and partly as a test, “How then shall I live?” Jesus takes the Ten Commandments and summarizes them into two parts: the first four commands, which concern how we relate to God, and the last six commands, which concern how we relate to people. He states them plainly in two simple principles: Love God. Love People.

When I make decisions based on these two principles, I make very few bad decisions.

Will doing this cause my love for God to grow? Yes? Then do it.

Will doing this hurt those I love? Yes? Then do not do it.

It seems easy enough, but is it? Actually, why is it not?

I believe, from personal experience, that the reason I do not always make righteous decisions is because I am not spending enough time with my Father in His Word. I am not renewing my mind (Romans 12:2). This affects my heart relationship with Him.

I believe I am not spending enough time in solitude, prayer, and praise (Luke 5:16). This affects my soul.

I am not spending my time looking for those I can serve in the name of Jesus. This affects my spiritual strength.

Altogether, I am not spending my day renewing my mind. What I put into my mind is what I will eventually pour out into the world God has placed me in.

Father, help me truly see and believe that my time with You every day is the most profitable investment I can make. It will make all my other interactions and decisions more fruitful. Amen.

Digging Deeper: Surrender to Your Purpose

Kelly Skelton on March 6, 2026

SURRENDER TO YOUR PURPOSE

As soon as they saw what God could do, they left everything, EVERYTHING, and followed Jesus.

Think about all the moments in your life where God has shown up, where He has shown out on your behalf. Think about answered prayers, the loud ones and the soft ones. In all of the times God has brought you through, have you ever once thought about walking away from everything you know, everything you own, and relentlessly pursuing Him?

That is what Simon does here. He was frustrated and disappointed in his current situation. Jesus shows up in the flesh. He tells him to try again, but this time to go further out, to push himself. Simon hesitates and reminds Him that this has not worked in the past, but then follows through with what he is asked to do. And because of his faith and his trust, he is blessed abundantly. His partners witness his blessing. Because of his faith, others follow Jesus. Because God showed up and showed out, Simon drops everything he is doing and goes to fish for men. He goes to spread the gospel to everyone who would listen.

Heart:
Where are you in this? As we recap this story, can you relate to Simon? When you think about your blessings, your prayers, your bold God moments, have you ever shared those with anyone? Have you ever shared pieces of your story, your testimony, with someone else? Imagine what a movement there would be if we were all open and willing to share what God has done in our lives with others.

Soul:
Do you fear the unknown, the uncharted territory you feel like God may be calling you to? Are you fearful of the uncertainty of change, of surrendering what you thought your plan was and chasing after what your purpose truly is?

You are not alone. Surrender is intense, but it is also freeing. The most vivid picture I have in my mind is Abraham in Genesis 22. In this story, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Abraham does as he is told. In his final act of surrender, he ties him with a rope and lays him on the altar. An angel of the Lord appears and tells him not to lay a hand on Isaac, and a ram appears in the bushes to take Isaac’s place on the altar.

What does your surrender look like today? What is God pressing on your heart to do, to fully surrender to all that He has for you?

Strength:
I think we have all had those moments, the ones where God has done something amazing, something bold in our lives, and it makes us feel on fire. It makes us want to shout from the rooftops how amazing He is. I think that is how Simon felt that day.

What has changed in us that our daily surrender looks different? That our shouts can become a whisper. That our faithful steps can become a tiptoe. Did we forget where we were and what He brought us out of?

Simon Peter left EVERYTHING and followed Him when he saw what God had done. He completely surrendered. Where is your heart today? When you look back at all that God has brought you through, where did your passion go? Where is your surrender now? What are the full nets God has walked with you through and blessed you with? How can you share that part of your story, your testimony?

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea. She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders. She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan. She stays active in the Dallas area as a photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.