C.A. Phillips – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper – Just Accept It

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

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.

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.

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 – Keep Your Eye on the Prize

C.A. Phillips on October 31, 2025

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own…

Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT)

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

We’ve covered a lot of ground this week. We began by discussing what it looks like to sit with ourselves and evaluate our lives from a spiritual perspective. We then unpacked how to eliminate the things that prevent us from living the life God desires for us—and how to replace them with better things. Yesterday, we looked at Paul’s life and ministry as an example of what it means to persevere through trials.

So, as we close out the week, I want you to ponder an important question. It’s the one that brings everything together: Why?

Why do I need to reflect on what’s happening in my mind and heart?
Why do I need to say “no” to some things and eliminate those that hold me back?
Why do I need to listen to new voices and tune out others?
Why do I need to press on when life is so difficult?

The most concise answer I can offer is this: As a child of God, He is refining you into His likeness so that you can represent Him to a lost world.

In short, you and I might be the first—and perhaps only—glimpse anyone ever gets of who Jesus Christ is. Therefore, it’s imperative that we do all we can to allow our lives to be transformed through the process of sanctification. That’s a theological word that simply means this: as believers, we are set apart for God’s purposes, and the Holy Spirit continually transforms us into the likeness of Christ.

This process takes a lifetime. Remember, we’re all a work in progress—from the moment we invite Jesus to take up residence in our hearts and become our personal Lord and Savior, until the day we take our final breath and meet Him face to face.

In the meantime, keep your eyes locked on Jesus. He is your ultimate why—and He wants to use you to help a hurting world come to know Him.

Digging Deeper – Press On

C.A. Phillips on October 30, 2025

12 … But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me… 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:12, 14 (NLT)

PRESS ON

Paul was as tough as nails. But his resolve wasn’t developed in an instant. Throughout his ministry, he faced what seemed like unyielding adversity. He summarizes some of the physical suffering he endured in his second letter to the church at Corinth:

“I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned.
Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers.
I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles.
I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas.
And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights.
I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food.
I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:23–27 (NLT)

Additionally, Paul faced other difficulties. He was persecuted, arrested, and imprisoned multiple times for preaching the Gospel. He was given a “thorn in the flesh,” which he describes in 2 Corinthians 12:7–10. He dealt with false teachers, opposition from idolaters, and the loneliness which resulted from the betrayal of former companions.

If you focused solely on the brutal circumstances Paul endured—particularly in his final years—you might assume he developed a bitter, callous heart. Quite the opposite.

Paul’s letters to the early churches are filled with words of encouragement, perseverance, and the call to embrace the freedom found in Christ. Though a literal prisoner for much of his ministry, he urged believers not to become prisoners of legalism (the law), but instead to live “through faith expressing itself in love” (Galatians 5:6).

If there’s a phrase Paul left for you, for me, and for all believers since his time on earth, it would be this: press on.
It’s a call to perseverance—steadfast determination to endure, no matter the circumstances—and to keep our eyes on the ultimate finish line, the “heavenly prize” he references in Philippians 3:14.

When your world seems to relentlessly oppose you, to kick you while you’re down, and to heap discouragement on you again and again—remember Paul.
Read these words and take heart from a man who had every reason to fold his tent and give up, but never did:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)

Digging Deeper – Swapping Out, Not Cramming In

C.A. Phillips on October 29, 2025

But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:12b-13 (NLT)

SWAPPING OUT, NOT CRAMMING IN

We all have plenty to do. In fact, I’d wager you have more than your fair share of places to be, tasks to complete, calls to return, and appointments to make. When you begin to think about adding things to your schedule, discouragement can easily set in.

Yesterday, we talked about tuning out certain voices in our lives in order to become the men and women God has called us to be. That’s no easy task—but adding things in is often even more challenging than eliminating what’s already there.

So, let’s take a different approach. Instead of thinking about how you can cram more into your schedule—even really good things like reading your Bible or joining a small group—approach it with the mindset that you’re replacing something of lesser value with something of far greater value.

I remember when I was thirty years old and a young dad, realizing that something had to give. I had started a new job at NorthStar and had two young boys—one four years old and one still an infant. For many years I had coordinated and played on a men’s softball team. I had friends, former co-workers, and family members who played with me, and we enjoyed it immensely for several seasons. But my older son was about to turn five and start playing baseball. I had to make a tough decision: would I continue to play and lead the softball team while also trying to coach my son’s baseball team?

As much as my wife and I both loved our time at the softball field, I knew the better choice was to devote that time to my son rather than try to pack in too much. I’ve never regretted that decision. Was there a sacrifice? Yes—but it was for something better.

For you, it might be a club, a hobby, or maybe spending your free time with friends. All good things, most likely. But what are you forfeiting by giving your time, energy, and money to them? Is there something God has waiting for you that you just can’t seem to make time for?

Once again, as we close, I’m asking you to devote ten minutes of your time today to pray and ask the Lord to speak to you about this. You might already have a desire to serve your community, go on a mission trip, connect in a small group, or start reading a devotional each day. It could even be something as simple as spending more quality time with your family. But perhaps you’ve met resistance—or you simply can’t figure out how to take the next step.

What’s one way you can begin to lock eyes with Jesus on a more consistent basis? He’s ready to make it happen. Are you?

Digging Deeper – Cut it Out

C.A. Phillips on October 28, 2025

Philippians 3:12b-13 (NLT)

CUT IT OUT

I absolutely love a good (and clean) stand-up comic. A few of my favorites are Brian Regan, Nate Bargatze, and Leanne Morgan. But there’s another, lesser-known, yet equally hilarious comedian I’ve had the privilege of seeing numerous times: Tim Hawkins.

Tim performed at NorthStar Church for three consecutive years back in the late 2000s. I had the opportunity to see him up close and even had a conversation or two with him before and after his shows. As zany as Tim is on stage, he is rather introverted and tends to keep to himself when he isn’t making people bowl over in laughter. He often listens to his previous performances and takes notes to ensure he doesn’t repeat a bit for the same audience or venue.

I remember talking to his brother Todd (who is also Tim’s manager) about bringing Tim back a fourth time. By this point, Tim was in high demand and had begun to trim his schedule significantly. During our conversation, Todd said something I’ve never forgotten. I’m paraphrasing, but he said, “In the beginning, Tim said ‘yes’ to everything so that one day he could say ‘yes’ only to the things he wanted to say ‘yes’ to.”

I got it. He had reached a point where he could be selective and intentional with how and where he spent his time. Instead of doing 340 shows each year, he was now doing about half that many — and he could pick and choose where he traveled. He had earned that privilege.

Similarly, we work from our early twenties into our forties or early fifties to build a career — often squeezing out the most important voices in favor of the ones we believe will get us further along and closer to our goals. But what about the goal of becoming like Christ? If that is the goal (and it should be), what are we eliminating in order to develop a character like His?

Brian Bloye, Senior Pastor at Westridge Church in Dallas, Georgia, once shared that, like a radio dial, we need to “tune in” to the right voices and “tune out” the wrong ones. The places we go, the people we spend time with, and the things we devote our attention to will shape us – for better or for worse.

As we close, I’d ask you to set aside some time today — just ten minutes — to pray and seek God’s wisdom in this area. Then, jot down at least two “voices” you can begin to tune out to help you become the spiritual leader, spouse, parent, co-worker, or neighbor you desire to be.

Tomorrow, we’ll address the voices we need to tune in to.

Digging Deeper – Sitting with Myself

C.A. Phillips on October 27, 2025

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us…16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Philippians 3:12-14, 16 (NLT)

SITTING WITH MYSELF

I turn on the radio in the car. I search for the latest podcast episode. I flip on the TV as soon as I walk into the living room or bedroom. I scroll on my phone intermittently throughout the day between tasks—or perhaps I complete tasks intermittently between scrolls. Sound familiar?

Life is noisy. It has become increasingly difficult to find spaces and places where we can step away from distractions and into an oasis of solitude. But – at least for me – this is primarily because I’ve chosen this path.

I don’t often choose silence, even when a fleeting moment is available to me. Because of this proclivity to opt for noise and distraction, I have no doubt that the Lord has introduced seasons of difficulty to lead me to carve out more time with Him. After all, He desires nothing more.

Another reason I might not choose to cancel the noise is that I’m afraid I might not like what the Holy Spirit has to say to me. It isn’t because I’m living in sin; it may simply be that I don’t want to disrupt the status quo. What if He asks me to make a life change—or to do something out of the norm—that means I no longer “have control”?

There are also times in life when I’ve experienced failure and pain—sometimes self-imposed, sometimes the consequences of others’ poor choices. In either case, the Lord’s aim is to be close to me, to comfort me, and to mold me into His likeness. Does this happen naturally? Not a chance.

You may have heard the phrase, “Failure is life’s greatest teacher.” This is, quite simply, incorrect. A more accurate statement would be, “Focused reflection on failure is one of life’s greatest teachers.” If I don’t sit with myself, I don’t grow. I don’t learn. Instead, I’m bound to repeat history—no matter how messy or painful my life may become as a result.

Focused reflection is another term for evaluation. It requires time, discipline, and a desire to truly become all that God has created you to be.

The next time you have a moment—in the car, in the bathroom, in your office, or in the coffee shop, consider leaving your phone in your pocket and tuning out the noise. Open your mind and heart to what your Lord and Savior might have in store!