Have you ever felt like an outsider?  Maybe you were at a place or around a group of people where you didn’t speak the language or understand the culture.  Yesterday I felt like an outsider as I was at the doctor’s office.  I had a procedure done and after I was stitched up the nurse was bandaging me when another nurse walked in she looked at the bandage and had a shocked expression and then they began speaking animatedly to each other in creole.  The combination of the facial expression and the tone of their conversation made me feel like an outsider particularly since they were arguing about something on my body.  Eventually I asked what are you two talking about?  They explained that the one nurse had never seen a “pressure bandage” done the way the other nurse was doing on me.  I was happy to be an experiment and went on my way feeling at least more included.  Paul talks about us being included in the people of God because of the work of Jesus.  Let’s look at that together today.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

We were outsiders because of our sin.  Jesus has brought us together with God because of His work on the cross.  We are not foreigners or strangers or outsiders.  Jesus has made us sons and daughters of the King.  We have gone from being an outsider to having the very spirit of God dwell within us.  Thanks be to Jesus for this incredible truth.  The next time you are feeling like an outsider, remember that you are an insider with Jesus and rejoice in that truth.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Last night I got to watch my niece play high school volleyball for the first time.  It made me feel old but it also brought back a flood of memories.  Years of coaching high school and college volleyball and even playing a little bit have many memories that come with that.  I began thinking about how important it is to remember.  Particularly when it comes to our faith life it is important to remember the goodness of God in our lives.  Let’s look at some of David’s words found in the Psalms as he remembers God’s faithfulness.  

You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

In the good times and the bad it is important to remember.  Remember God’s work in your life.  Remember how He has walked with you every single step of your journey.  Remember the times He has held you up and the times He has celebrated with you.  As David remembers his response is that he clings to God.  The more we remember God’s faithfulness the more we long to be with Him.  Today take some time to remember and thank God for his faithfulness in your life!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

We are currently in the heart of hurricane season.  People respond very differently to hurricanes I have noticed.  Some particularly, long time Floridians tend to not worry too much until the hurricane gets pretty close.  Others start buying up water and canned goods when one forms off the coast of Africa.  The reality is that hurricanes are strong and powerful and certainly can cause a lot of damage.  The storms that pop up in life can be the very same way.  The good news is that we serve a God who can calm the storms that life throws at us.  Let’s look together today at Mark 4. 

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

While in this instance Jesus is calming an actual weather related storm, He regularly calms storms in our life as well.  Just like he was with the disciples He is always with us as well.  We can call out to Him when life’s waves and winds feel like too much.  Sometimes He calms them down and other times He is simply with us to comfort us as we ride out the storm.  No matter what you are facing today Jesus is with you.  Hold on to that truth and you can ride out whatever storm you are facing.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

My morning routine involves arriving at the office and sitting down to immediately write this devotional.  I usually have a plan for what I will be writing but sometimes I need to sit and read some Scripture and pray before I can get going.  This morning I came in with a plan and turned on some worship music and a song I had never heard came on.  I recognized the words from Psalm 103 and began singing along the best I could.  The words really hit me so I thought I’d share this passage instead.  Let’s look at it together today. 

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.

We were created to praise God.  We were made to be worshipers of Him.  When I think of praising the Lord with my soul, I picture pouring out everything I have for God.  I think sometimes we are all guilty of only giving God some and not all.  I sang a song I didn’t know and it hit me that I was holding back because of a lack of familiarity with the tune.  Thinking of the words of praising the Lord with my soul I realized that God doesn’t care if I get a word wrong or if my voice is out of tune or even how loud I sing.  God simply wants ALL of my praise.  Today, in the car, in your shower, in your living room, or wherever you are give God ALL of your praise.  He alone is worthy of it.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

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