Do you ever experience worry?  I don’t consider myself a big worrier but like everyone I struggle with worry sometimes.  As school starts I am sure that students, teachers, and parents are probably all experiencing a little bit of worry.  Paul gives us a brief passage about how to deal with worry and gives us three steps to combat it in an unusual way.  Let’s look together at Philippians 4 today

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

First of all Paul starts by telling us to rejoice.  That’s probably not anyone’s first thought when it comes to worry but maybe it should be.  We rejoice in what God has done and continues to do in our lives.  When we rejoice we remember His faithfulness and it puts our minds in a different space.  It resets us and reminds us of God’s goodness to us.  Once we are in that head space we are told to place our anxiety on God through prayer.  I find that most often we worry about things that we have no control over anyways.  Why not give those worries over to the one who has control over everything, Jesus.  We are promised that when we really give those things over to God in prayer we will be given a peace that passes understanding.  The problem is that often while we pray we also hold on to those worries instead of truly releasing them to God.  Most of us are closet control freaks and even though we can’t do anything about it by holding on to worry we retain a sense of control.  We need to learn to release the situation fully to God and trust that He will work for our good.  Then the last step Paul gives us is to shift our thoughts to whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable anything that is excellent or praiseworthy.  I find the best way to do this is to recall some of the promises of God from the Bible.  Today I leave you with an assignment look up some of the many promises of God from the Bible and write your favorites down.  Hold on to them and next time you need them remind yourselves of just how great our God is.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

It is already that time of year again.  Teachers are back at Advent getting ready for the start of the school year.  Today we have our first chapel with teachers as they prepare for the start of another great year here at Advent.  This morning I was reflecting on different teachers that I have had throughout my years.  One thing that struck me is that the greatest lasting impact I had from them that I can specifically recall is not any knowledge I have gained.  I know that I was taught much over my years as a student.  The thing that stands out to me today is how much I learned from watching how my teachers lived.  The way they modeled faith and life has stuck with me.  Paul offers this advice to Titus in his letter to him.  

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

It is one thing to be taught how to treat others and how to follow God.  It is something entirely else to see it in action.  When we see faith modeled it is something real and tangible and powerful in our lives.  We all have the opportunity to be teachers in this capacity and we all remain students as we go through the journey of life.  I pray that we would all “teach” others what it looks like to share the love of Christ with our lives.  I also pray that we would all continue to be students and watch and learn from the way others live out their faith.  Please join me in prayer for a great year for our students and teachers here at Advent. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

What refreshes you?  When you are feeling spent what do you do to recharge?  Maybe exercise helps you.  Perhaps you enjoy a nice walk along the beach.  Maybe you need prayer or solitude.  We all have different ways to recharge our batteries.  I find that I get recharged often by spending time with friends and spending time with God.  I am coming back refreshed from spending a few days away with some good friends on vacation.  I recently read an article about the need for “mini vacations” or two hour blocks of time to de-stress and refill.  The author suggested that each week you should figure out how to do this mid-week sometime.  For him it was a Wednesday night ritual of his hot tub, a glass of wine, and some prayer time with God.  Let’s look at a familiar passage of scripture that talks about being refreshed.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 

    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 

    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

4 

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

Green pastures and quiet waters sound refreshing but the key for me in this passage is that it is God who refreshes our soul.  Whatever your method to experience refreshing in your life, make sure that you are incorporating some time with God.  He is the only one who can and does refresh us spiritually.  When we are refreshed spiritually the rest of our life tends to stay more refreshed as well.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

I have this crazy thing where whenever I go out of town something goes wrong with my house.  I am not the most handy guy but some things I like to think I can fix and certainly figure out how to get it fixed.  Well once again as I am out of town my AC went down.  It makes you feel worthless when there is nothing you can do to help from afar.  It got me to thinking about how God never goes “out of town”.  When we have problems he is always available for us.  Let’s look at His words in Deuteronomy 31 together today.

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” 7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Whenever we are facing tough times or challenges God promises that we do not have to be afraid or worried because He will always be with us.  I don’t know about you but that truly gives me confidence as I go through life knowing that inevitably things will happen but that no matter what I may face God will be by my side.  Hold on to that promise today and the broken Ac’s of life won’t seem so daunting. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you been around someone who was singularly focused? I am currently in downtown Louisville and it feels like the area I am in is singularly focused on bourbon. Every restarting, bar, and even hotel has a bourbon focus. When you walk the street there are signs everywhere that say Louisville the birthplace of bourbonism. I’m sure much of this is playing into the tourism that is associated with people going on the bourbon trail. It got me thinking however about this passage of scripture from. Colossians 3. Let’s look at it together today. 

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

What might it look like if we all had a more singular focus on things above. If we avoided some of the sidetracks that life can send us down and devoted more time and attention to God. I suspect it might be like my experience here. Everything in our lives would point people to God just like Louisville seems to be pointing everyone to bourbon. Imagine how impactful that would be in our communities, families, and even our church. I pray that we might all be a people who set our minds on things above and see how God uses that in and through our lives. 

In His Grip, 

Pastor Dave

This morning I got up early to head out on a trip with some good friends.  I recently did the TSA pre check process because I hate lines.  I do not like to wait at all.  I went through the TSA pre check line and was smiling as I watched my friend, Kevin go through the regular line.  I got up to the front only to be told that they had not put my TSA pre check status on my boarding pass.  That meant I now had to go all the way back through the regular line.  One advantage of arriving at the airport at 5:30 AM is that the lines are not too bad so it wasn’t a huge deal but it made me think about how sometimes we need to wait.  Sometimes we even need to wait on God.  It reminded me of this passage from Isaiah 40.

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.

29 

He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.

30 

Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;

31 

but those who wait on 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.

When we wait on God good things happen in our lives.  He gives us the strength that we need to accomplish the things that He has for us to get done.  He gives us strength when we feel like we have reached the end of our rope.  I know that I am going to make sure my TSA pre check status is entered before I fly back this weekend but I was also reminded that sometimes waiting isn’t a bad thing.  Especially when it comes to waiting on God.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Have you ever had one of those rough night’s sleep?  I leave my phone on at night because every once in a while I will get a late night call from someone who needs to talk to a Pastor.  Those calls never bother me and after I hung up around 12:30 I prayed for the person and I think fell quickly to sleep.  After that however I got three more robo calls last night that woke me up between 1:00am-3:30am.  After that it was tossing and turning and not much rest.  I finally gave up around 5:30 and decided to head to the beach for the sunrise and some time with God.  It was a good decision.  I was reminded of this passage from Lamentations 3.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.

23 

They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

24 

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;

26 

it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

27 

It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

God’s compassion and love never falls short in our lives.  When we seek Him we always find Him.  This morning the sunrise, the ocean, and some time with God was exactly what I needed to reset.  I was grumpy and irritable after the night I had and left the beach totally refreshed and happy.  God has a way of meeting us where we are and giving us a fresh dose of His love. Whether you had a night like mine or a great, restful night’s sleep seek to be filled with a fresh dose of God’s amazing love today. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

This morning I witnessed an interaction in the parking lot that encouraged me.  At first, I thought I was going to have to break up a fight.  Two people were vying for the same parking spot and one person whipped in while the other person, who was there first was waiting.  He jumped out quickly and the other person parked a few spots away.  While they were both headed to the store the first man, who stole the spot began yelling something at the second man.  I couldn’t quite understand what he was saying but as I got closer I realized he was taunting the man.  It was like he was trying to pick a fight.  The second man simply listened.  He was a good bit larger and appeared to be significantly more fit than the angry man who was yelling but he simply listened.  I was getting upset on his behalf and asked if everything was ok as I walked over.  He said to me that his God says to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.  I introduced myself and thanked him for being such a good example and living out his faith.  I think his actions are enough of a devotional for us all but here is the text from James 1 that he was referring to. 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Talking to him further he said, that he used to be a very angry person and God has been working on that in his life and seems to give him lots of opportunities such as this morning to work on this.  We are constantly faced with opportunities each day to encourage others and share the love of Christ simply by how we live.  I pray that our lives might all minister to others like this man ministered to me today. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

Do you have a morning routine?  Something that you always begin your day with to get started.  For some it is the gym or exercise.  Others lay in bed and hit snooze 3-4 times.  Some have to start with their morning coffee.  Others maybe it’s sitting down and thinking about the day ahead.  One thing that I am grateful for is that since I started writing this daily devo in March 2020.  This has been my mourning routine.  Even if there is something I must do immediately, I am thinking about this first thing when I wake up.  I find that it has greatly helped me to start the day well.  Let’s look at what David says about the refreshing impact of starting the day in the Word.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb. 

By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

This exact passage of scripture is repeated three separate times in the Psalms.  This indicates to me that not only was it important to David but that also he needed a reminder about it.  Many people over the years have asked me if I write these ahead of time or “borrow” other material but the reality is that this helps me to do this every morning probably more than it helps anyone else.  It is a chance to reflect on what God is doing and has done in my life.  It is a chance to encourage others which in turn does build me up as well.  I’m not trying to pursue anyone to read God’s word for the selfish benefits it provides, but I am giving us all a reminder of the power of God’s word in our lives when we start our day right.  I pray that you all have a great day.  I know that I am off to a good start.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

I think we can learn a lot from dogs.  Especially when it comes to how to treat others.  Dogs are ridiculously loyal.  They get so excited to see you or to see other dogs.  When they go into “new” situations they immediately go low and humble themselves in submission.  As humans we often exhibit the opposite of these behaviors.  Instead of unwavering loyalty we look out for ourselves.  Instead of humbling ourselves we boast and seek to impress others.  We certainly don’t show as much excitement to greet others.  Paul’s instructions in Romans 12 suggest that we could learn a lot from dogs.  Let’s look at it together today.  

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

I don’t know about you but I think that often dogs do a better job with this list than we do.  Why is that?  Perhaps we are caught in the trap of looking out for our own interests and needs instead of the needs of others.  Maybe it’s because we have been treated poorly and are trying to “protect” ourselves.  Whatever the reason we need to strive to live a dogs life a little bit better.  Yesterday I was trying to relax and one of my dogs, Willow, wanted attention.  She kept nuzzling up next to me and wagging her tail and wanting to simply be next to me.  I gave her a few pets and told her to go away.  She was unfazed and kept coming back.  Eventually she won the “power struggle” and was content to just lay her head next to me while I watched tv.  I got to thinking about this topic and how often times we treat others like I did Willow.  We give them the minimum and tell them to go away with our words or body language.  Today look for someone you can love well simply by your presence.  Sometime sitting next to someone else is all that they need.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave