It is interesting how parenting changes over the years.  A new son or daughter is born and you are there for every little need.  The become young children and begin to try some things on their own like eating and getting dressed but still un her your watchful eye.  Then they become teenagers and they long for independence (and you may as well).  They go off to college and you miss them desperately.  Next thing you know they are grown-ups with grown up jobs making their own decisions often living in other places and you wish you could be there to help them just like when they were a child.  The thing is, it is a little bit different with our heavenly Father.  Let’s look together today at Joshua 1. 

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

While we may feel like we are on our own an independent, God is always with us.  Like our relationship with our children He longs for us to remember what we have been taught and use that to guide our lives.  While it may be tough sometimes when our children are grown and away from us we can rest in the truth that God our Father is their Father as well.  He never leaves us and always keeps His watchful eye on us.  He tells us that if we remember His teaching we will prosper in what we do.  I hope that can make all of us strong and courageous. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Last night I had an interesting thing happen. I predicted the future. I was getting ready for bed and I had a carryon suitcase that I used last weekend and had not put away yet. I saw where it was and thought, I’ll probably trip on that in the middle of the night if I don’t put it away. I was tired so I just decided to put it away in the morning. I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and sure enough I stumbled over it and almost fell to the ground. I went back to bed and struggled to sleep and woke up tired and sore realizing that the entire thing was my fault. I actually woke up and thought of this passage from Isaiah 40. Let’s look at it together today. 

Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

    and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall; 

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.

We all stumble and fall at times in life when we rely upon our own strength. Yet God provides strength to the weary. He renews the strength of those who inevitably stumble when we place our hope in Him. He even says we will soar on wings like eagles. That’s the thing, when we fly we God we never stumble, but when we walk on our own strength we will stumble often. Often it is because of things we put in our own path. Today and every day fly with God, it’s a lot better than stumbling on your own.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

I’m not much of a worrier.  I know many people who are but I don’t find myself dealing with that regularly.  I do however have a doctors appointment in a few minutes and I find that I get anxious before I go to the doctor.  I tend to avoid going because of that.  As I approach a half century on the planet I realize that going is important.  I actually went to my physician for a check up a few years ago because I figured it was about time.  They told me I was not a patient there.  I said this is the only doctor I have ever gone to and they asked when I was there last.  Apparently they drop you as a patient if you haven’t been in 20 years.  We all have things that we tend to worry about in life but Jesus reminds us that we are safe in His hands.  Let’s look together at the following passage from Luke.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

When we focus on the truth that Jesus is in control it helps us to worry a little less and pray a little more.  As Jesus reminds us worrying doesn’t help us one little bit.  Jesus, on the other hand can and does help us every day.  The next time you feel yourself getting caught up in worry remind yourself of this scripture.  Take a deep breath, and pray.  I know that helped me today!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

This past weekend we mourned the loss of a spiritual giant who left an amazing legacy at Advent and beyond.  We also celebrate his going into glory.  Saturday night I spent with several men who had known Ron for over 30 years each.  It was wonderful to sit around and share stories of his life and impact and I was particular struck by some of the wise sayings he left with myself and others.  It reminded me of several of the passages like that in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.  Let’s look at one such example today.

A good name is better than fine perfume,
    and the day of death better than the day of birth.

It is better to go to a house of mourning
    than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
    the living should take this to heart.

Frustration is better than laughter,
    because a sad face is good for the heart.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person
    than to listen to the song of fools.

Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
    so is the laughter of fools.
    This too is meaningless.

Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
    and a bribe corrupts the heart.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
    and patience is better than pride.

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
    for anger resides in the lap of fools.

During times of loss there will always be mourning.  I encourage you during times of mourning that you face in life to share with others memories and encouragements from your loved ones life.  It is a way to honor and celebrate them, but it also is a good way to work through your grief with others.  We shared stories of Advent, Haiti, motorhomes, men’s trips, the keys, and of course Jesus.  Congratulations Ron Dingle on a life well lived!  Enjoy the arms of your Savior and friend, Jesus.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

How do you respond when you are not at your best?  Some people approach life with a fake it until you make it strategy others just try to push through whatever challenges they may be facing.  Paul had a different approach.  Let’s look at his words in 2 Corinthians 12 together today.

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There are always times in life when we are not at our best. What do we do during those times?  Paul gives us the advice to lean on God’s strength when we are there.  We can try and push through or fake it but always will eventually fall short.  When we rely on God’s strength we always will live up to our challenge.  Today and every day rely on the strength of God to take you through. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

This morning I began a trip up to South Carolina.  We left around 5:30 and jumped on I95 north.  I asked about our route and found that there are many different ways to get to our destination that are all about the same travel time.  I asked about how we would decide which route to take which led to a discussion about the different paths.  I started thinking about how often we have different paths to what we are doing or where we are going.  It made me think about the following scripture from Proverbs.  Let’s look at it together today. 

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

God reminds us that He will direct our paths if we seek Him.  He will show us the way to go and how to live in our life.  While we are driving and talking about which route to take on this trip.  God offers clear guidance about the “paths” we should take in life.  When we follow Gods path for our life we avoid some of the wrong turns we tend to take when we go our own way.  I’ll let you know how this journey to SC goes but I know that we will always be on the right path when we follow God’s direction for our lives. 

In His Grip
Pastor Dave

Some observations as I slowly approach my 50th birthday.  When you are younger you get aches and pains from cool things like sports, or I fell while climbing this mountain, or I wiped out on my jet ski.  Now I wake up with aches and pains from exciting things like, I must have sat on the coach funny, or my pillow gave me a crick in my neck, or I sneezed, or just because I have aches.  As a child you hated when your parents made you take a nap.  Now I would literally pay for a nap.  There are however some advantages that come with age and perhaps the biggest one is wisdom.  Let’s look at the words of Job about wisdom together today. 

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?

In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.

Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?

Is not wisdom found among the aged?
    Does not long life bring understanding?

“To God belong wisdom and power;
    counsel and understanding are his.

What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;
    those he imprisons cannot be released.

If he holds back the waters, there is drought;
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

To him belong strength and insight;
    both deceived and deceiver are his.

Job reminds us that God is the source of wisdom but that as we age we tend to acquire more and more of it.  Often we acquire wisdom from mistakes we have made along the journey of life.  We also gain wisdom the more time we spend with the source of wisdom, God.  We all could use more wisdom so while we cannot control how fast we grow old we can control how much time we spend with God.  May we all seek wisdom from the source of wisdom today and each day!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Have you ever come across someone who was so set in their ideas that basic logic could not persuade them? Jesus seemed to face this with the Pharisees time and again. He wanted to show them a better way a way into a relationship with God instead of simply blindly following rules. They were unwilling to embrace this even when it seemed the obvious way. I great example of this can be found in Mark 3. Let’s look at it together today. 

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Jesus is not trying to sneak around and break the rules in fact he asks the man to stand up in front of everyone. There were strict rules on what you could or could not do on the Sabbath. These rules seemed to miss the point of a day of rest and worship. Jesus asks them if they should do good or evil on the Sabbath. The Pharisees are unwilling to even answer the question they are so caught up in wanting to condemn Jesus. Jesus has a better way for them but they are unwilling to see it. Perhaps there are areas in our lives as well where we are “stubborn” and unwilling to see what Jesus has for us. I pray that we might all have eyes to see and ears to hear the truth that Jesus has for us!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you have competing values vying for your time?  Perhaps there are several things that are important that you want to do that are all at the same time.  How do you respond in such a situation?  How do you prioritize things that are important to you?  The key with competing values is to keep first things first.  When it comes to the things in our life that are of first importance we should not compromise for other competing values.  Paul reminds us of this in I Corinthians 15.  Let’s look at it together today

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Paul reminds us that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is the most important truth for us to hold on to.  This was particularly important to the early church as they faced extreme persecution for their beliefs.  For us it is a good reminder about what is of first importance.  There are times in all of our lives when we have wrongly prioritized things.  Take some time today and examine your priorities.  Be reminded of Paul’s words and keep things of first importance first.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

I spent some time last night reflecting on just how big our God is.  I thought about this week as we had a service Sunday morning focused on God as He reveals Himself, I’m that I am.  Then we had a blessing for all of our wonderful teachers and prayed for a great year for them all.  Sunday night we had a great service with baptisms for 7 students and a wonderful time of teaching and praise.  We kicked off our school year ministering to almost 500 students and their families.  The Pastor who built most of all of this place moved into Advent Square a place that he once dreamed of.  The last night we had a prayer service for a dear member and her family going through a time of struggle. What a week! I don’t know about you but I have been thinking about just how amazing it is that our God is intimately involved in each and every one of those situations and the lives represented from this past week.  It reminded me of Psalm 139.  Let’s look at it together today.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;  you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down;  you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue  you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.   My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;  all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them,  they would outnumber the grains of sand—  when I awake, I am still with you.

Aren’t you glad that our God is as big as He is.  Not only that but that He loves the way He loves as well.  That is what is so amazing about God.  No problem, no joy, no situation is too big that He is not involved in it.  From first day jitters, to huge life moments God is there with us each step of the way! We are forever and always –  In His Grip

Pastor Dave