But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. - 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

Yesterday evening DSPC Family Ministries had one of our FX (Family Experience) nights at the church. It's an amazing concept and model of family ministry, but that's not why I'm writing about it today. The reason I had to write this post is because something remarkable happened last night, something that I haven't experienced in years. I felt the body of Christ reunited at DSPC. That's not to say that it's the first time the body of Christ has been united at DSPC since the pandemic, it's just the first time that I felt it.
Which is why I had to write; it was remarkable to feel the spirit of Christ in community. It gave me hope that I haven't felt in so long, it gave me energy even though I was exhausted, it gave me joy even though my heart has been often heavy.
It happened through the embodied and relational moments that have been suspended for so long. It happened because I saw more smiles that I could count. It  happened when we worshipped through song and service to others.
There have been a lot of awesome digital resources that have kept us connected when we needed to be apart, but those were not what we were created for. We were created for flesh and blood, hugs, and belly laughs. There is no substitute for the body of christ--embodied.
Which brings me to the heart of this post-- If you are longing for more community, more connectedness, more of what you were created for, it's out there. You need the body of Christ, and the body of Christ needs you. - Pastor Mitch

Scripture
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:-9-11

I've been cheering for the same NFL football team for the last 35 years. I actually take a lot of comfort in knowing which team is "my team." It gives me a group of fans to relate to and a sense of ownership when I'm watching the games. It's almost like I get to be a part of what's going on with the team without having to do any of the hard work. I love sitting on the couch and coaching from 1000 miles away, while eating appetizers and drinking a cold one. When my team wins, it was because of me. When they lose, it was because of them, duh.

This kind of team play is fun on Sunday afternoons, but it can be toxic if it infiltrates our faith.

Just like football, the world wants Christians to choose their teams. Do you like contemporary or traditional worship? International or local missions? Progressive or Conservative?

It's human instinct. Tribalism in the 21st century.

I'm not saying that these things aren't important or worth talking about, even disagreeing about, but as Christians they are not our team.

Philippians reminds us that we are on team Jesus, and there can be unity among team members even with diversity. Just because we disagree, does't mean we have to be disagreeable! We are all on the same team and I hope we can learn to play as one for the Kingdom of God, the sake of the Gospel, and our sake as well.

Peace,
Pastor Mitch

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New International Version) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

So That

I have been asked by people in the past "How do you read the bible and always manage to find something that I missed?"  Well, I'm going to give away one of the trade secrets here... I am slow reader. Which always hurt me when I was in school, but as a pastor, it's been extraordinarily helpful. When you read the bible slowly, you will absolutely find things that fast readings will miss.

For instance, in our scripture today, we praise the Father of compassion and comfort...wait for it... so that... we can comfort others. Our experience of God's comfort and compassion are the antidote to a suffering world.

So don't forget, although God loves and cares for you, it's not all about you. God is sending you out to people and places that need to experience the same love and comfort you have experienced in Christ.

Slow down... so that... you don't miss the message behind the words on the page.

-Pastor Mitch

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8-9

Deep Thoughts
There was an old SNL skit called deep thoughts with Jack Handey. They were completely irreverent, moderately offensive, but also good for a laugh on occasion. One that I have held onto for a while is "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes...that way you'll be a mile away from them and have their shoes." - Jack Handey

Besides giving me a good chuckle, I also liked them because they gave me a window into the mind of a comic. It's always amazing to me to see how comics put together jokes and find the punchline, because my mind doesn't work that way. I'm more analytical and logical, I struggle to see the humor in things. It's one of my blind spots. It's also a great reminder that I see things in a very limited way.

God sees the whole picture. His ways and his thoughts are so much greater, deeper, and wiser than I can even begin to wrap my head around. So when I get frustrated with how I see the world, I try to remind myself that God is in control and he knows what he's doing.

Praise be to God, the creator of everything, who tells the rivers where to run and the wind where to blow. The depth of his words will be my strength.

-Pastor Mitch

 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. - Job 23:10

He Knows

My wife's side of the family is really smart. I'm not saying my side of the family isn't smart, i'm just saying if I were competing in a trivia contest, math contest, science fair, or basically any other kind of contest...I'de probably start my recruiting there.

Some of the time the cerebral capacity of my in-laws can be overwhelming, even bordering on annoying, especially when we are competing at a family game. However, most of the time it comes in handy and is comforting to be around people that appear just to know everything. I hardly every have to google anything when they're in the room, it's awesome.

Their knowledge is nothing compared to God. God doesn't just know everything, he knows everything about you. He has an intimate knowledge of every part of you in a way that should give you comfort.

He knows the way that you take.

Because he designed you, created you, and guides you, even when you can't recognize it.

Stay close to the God who knows you, and you will come forth as gold.

-Pastor Mitch

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Important Stuff

I attended the memorial service for a good friend, Wayne Gonzalez, yesterday. It was a bittersweet occasion, as are all memorials for me. I heard stories of his love toward others, his kind and generous spirit, and the impact that he had on this world (it was significant). We also mourned his death, his difficult fight with cancer, and we shared the sadness of a friend taken before we were ready.

The most profound moment for me came when one of his small group brothers shared his last request of him.

"I want you to speak when I'm gone, but I don't want you to tell them about our great friendship or any of that kind of stuff, I want you to speak the Gospel."

That's what was important to Wayne, that people knew where he found his life, his hope, and his saviour. There was lots of important stuff shared at his memorial, but he didn't want to miss his last chance to tell people about the most important stuff.

God so loved you, sacrificed himself for you, so that you can have eternal life.

- Pastor Mitch

In loving memory of Wayne Gonzalez, a saint in Christ's church, who lived and died for the most important stuff.

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. - 1 John 4:7-10

This is Love

Every time my family gets together with my mom for a special event, she makes lasagna. She makes it for 3 reasons:

1. It feeds a lot of people.
2. She makes really awesome lasagna.
3. It's our family comfort food. When mom makes lasagna, the world is a little better place, things make a little more sense, and everyone feels a little more at home.

The title for this passage in my bible says "God's love and ours", but for me it could have said "Mom's Lasagna". It's comfort food for the soul. So next time your heart is aching from the weight of it all, have an enormous helping of this:

God left everything for you. He is the eternal king that left his throne so that you might know the depth of his care and compassion. His sacrifice means you never have to doubt your goodness, worthiness, and value.

This is love; he sacrificed everything for the sins of the world, and also just you.

If you're still hungry there is plenty for seconds.

-Pastor Mitch

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. -Jude 1:17-21

Me, Myself, and I

If I'm honest, most of the time I'm really not that interested other people's opinions (you probably aren't either, it's a human problem, not a Mitch problem). Whatever the case may be, I am always tempted to trust my instincts (some might call them emotions, feelings, your gut). Now, for minor things, by all means, go with your gut.

However, when your sorting out important life decisions and relationships, appeal to a higher and more trustworthy source.

God gave us the Holy Spirit so that we can seek wisdom and counsel for all of life's depth. Don't ignore the gift when you're going through stuff. Talk to God, read his word, ask for counsel from Christian friends, and trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in every word you pray, every verse you read, and every conversation you have.

Me, myself, and I have never served me as well as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

-Pastor Mitch

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Hard Things

My wife wrote on the mirror of the bathroom "I can do hard things." We had some goals that we were trying to accomplish as a couple and every time I walked into the bathroom I was reminded that what we were trying to do is hard. It wasn't complicated, it was just really demanding.

I have said many times that one of the things that I love about following Jesus is that the Gospel is simple. For God so loved the world that He died for you, so that your sins could be forgiven, and that we could have relationship with him for eternity, when we surrender to him as Lord. Done.

The problem is surrendering to God, an outside authority in your life, every day, in every moment, is really hard. It means denying your worst impulses, proactively seeking truth, and intentionally serving His kingdom instead of yours.

It's simple, but incredibly challenging at times.

But that's ok, because...

You can do hard things.

-Pastor Mitch

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (New International Version) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

All My Heart

This has to be one of the most quoted verses in the entire bible; and by quoted I mean misquoted. This is how you hear it most of the time:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

For some reason nobody wants to remember the next part:

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

But not you! You see how important it is and would never miss it! You see that walking with God is an all in journey where you strive with every ounce of your heart, mind, and strength to find the way of Jesus in a world that is out of sync with his Kingdom. Call on God, pray continually, and seek the Lord with all your heart, because he is good and has good plans for your life.

-Pastor Mitch

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.

17:2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous."

17:3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him,

17:4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.

17:5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.

17:6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.

17:7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

17:15 God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.

17:16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her."

Identity Theft

I have know several people that have changed their names in the course of their lives. In most cases it was a struggle at first for the people around them. This is because a name is not simply a label that we possess, but an identity with personal significance. A name is representational, it embodies who we are, not just what we are.

I must admit though, I have never known anyone who had their name changed for them like Abram and Sarai. God tells them in an instant that they have new names, names the represent new realities.

Abraham - The father of many nations.
Sarah - One who strives or struggles.

While our names mostly stay the same when we decide to follow Jesus, our identity still changes. God gives us a new reality; Pick up your cross and carry it daily. Just like Abraham and Sarah, we have to accept our new identity. God has plans for your life that are different than the plans you have for yourself, and he's isn't looking for your permission to change them. It just happens, and it's in our best interest to trust Him.

-Pastor Mitch

Romans 13:9-10
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Start Singing
One of the most profound and beautiful things about our faith is how you can find infinite depth in its detail, and yet, it can also be know by this simple command "Love your neighbor."

One time I was walking with someone who loves to observe and photograph birds. I confessed to him that I knew very little about "birding" and honestly struggled to tell one bird from another. He replied "For most birds, the easiest way to identify them is to listen to them sing."

There is so much to learn about Jesus, at times it can feel overwhelming and it's easy to get lost.
 
If you ever feel that way, remember this:
Love is the distinct song that God sings over creation and invites us into the chorus.

Wherever you encounter love, you have encountered Christ.

Start singing.

-Pastor Mitch

 

1 Peter 3:18-22
3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,

3:19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison

3:20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

3:21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you--not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Carry Me

It's kind of strange...some of my favorite memories as a child were piggy back rides. There was something so fun and comforting about hopping on my parents back and having them carry me wherever we needed to go. Total reliance on them to get us where we were going, total trust that we would get there safely. It felt so natural to let them bring me with them in that way.

Now as an adult i'm much more suspicious of relying on others. My default is mistrust, self-reliance, and cynicism. I've carried a fair bit of that into my relationship with God and others, to my detriment and the detriment of others.

The Christian way by definition is about relying on God (Christ) instead of ourselves. He is the one who "brings us to God." Think of his life, death, and resurrection as a vehicle that bridges the gap between heaven and earth and He is in total control. If you need it simpler than that, it's like a piggy back ride with your heavenly Father; We trust in His power, He knows exactly where we're going, and we are completely safe in his care.

Hold on tight, and if you ever feel like your'e slipping, he'll throw you back up on His shoulders right when you need it.

-Pastor Mitch

Psalm 25:1-10
25:1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

25:2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.

25:3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

25:4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.

25:5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.

25:6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

25:7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O LORD!

25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

25:10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Teach Me

One of my favorite quotes is "I am always willing to learn, but not always willing to be taught." I have carried it with me for years because it is often how I feel. I know that there is so much left to explore, knowledge to be gained, and wisdom to enrich my life. I never want to stop learning.

However, in every pursuit there comes a point where we cannot proceed any further on our own. We must seek out someone or something greater than ourselves to teach us which path we must go down next in order to find what we are looking for.

This is the same with our faith.

You can go a pretty good ways in the pursuit of faith and religion on your own God given intelligence and curiosity, but that will come to an end at some point; You're going to need a teacher.

So when you are ready to go deeper, pray this psalm. In humility and full acknowledgment of your imperfection, ask God to teach you. Ask him to show you the path to greater knowledge and wisdom so your life can be richer and more meaningful, and you will never stop learning about the goodness of your creator and his creation.

-Pastor Mitch

Genesis 9:8-17
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."

Hang up your bow

I confess that when things feels unfair, or when mistakes are made, I want people to pay for it. I want there to be judgement. While it's true that there is a real need for judgement sometimes, most of the time I am really bad at doling it out, and it never quite satisfies me the way forgiveness and mercy do.

God judges because it's necessary, and his judgment is perfect, but moments like this with Noah and all creation is what he longs for and is working out in his master plan. Moments of wholeness, peace, and new beginnings.

God puts a bow in the clouds as a sign of a new covenant that he will never flood the earth again. The Hebrew word used here, qesheth, is most frequently used of an archer’s bow. While it most certainly is a rainbow being referenced here, the connotation of the archer's bow would not be lost for the first listeners of this story. God's judgement and wrath was over, he's hung up his bow.

It's really hard to hang up your bow.

Judgment and wrath come out of us so naturally, but usually with terrible consequences. Let's follow God's lead on this one, hang up our bows, and make a promise to live in a new way with all of creation. A way marked with love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Peace of Christ,
Pastor Mitch

The Rich Young Ruler - Mark 10:17-22
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

I am writing this devotional as fast as I can, why? Many of us the last few days have been weathering a historic winter storm in central Texas and the electricity to our house has been shut off without notice many times. So, I am desperately trying to write, upload, and distribute while we still have power and Wifi!

But this storm has reminded me of something critical as we start this season of Lent with Ash Wednesday...

Some things are optional and other things are essential.

When it's 3 degrees outside;
Watching movies on Netflix and listening to music on Spotify...optional.
Heating your home, cooking meals, water to drink...essential.
We all have been brutally reminded of this for the last 72 hours. It has refocused us on the most critical parts of life, what is necessary for survival.

I wonder if that's what Jesus was getting at with the rich young ruler?

He had so much going for him in his life, but he was missing what was essential. So Jesus stripped it all away with a simple request and refocused his whole life.

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Give it all up and follow me!

He had everything except what was essential, the thing that was necessary for true life, "follow me."

We need a reminder too.

It has been the tradition of Christians to "give up" certain things for the season of Lent. It reminds of what Jesus gave up for us through his life, ministry, and sacrifice on the cross.

It's a stripping away of what's optional and focusing on what's essential.

The challenge for all of us is the same challenge as for the rich young ruler;

Do you trust Jesus enough with your life to give up what's optional so you can receive what is essential?
I'm working on it, will you join me?

I look forward to this Lenten journey with you all at DSPC, and now I'm giving up on this devotional before the power gives up on me.

Blessings,
Pastor Mitch 

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world” (Matthew 5:8, MSG).

I am currently in the phase of life where it's hard to say how much of my time with my kids is a blessing and how much of it makes me long for the second coming of Jesus...now...like right now, please.

In fact, I am writing this devotional in my office which I am considering turning into a bunker, where no human being under the age of 12 is permitted.

I sound really grouchy, huh? It's because I am.

We all get this way. Whether you have kids, you are empty nesters, or live alone, sometimes our insides get out of sorts. Until they get put right, it's hard to find any peace or celebrate anyone or anything.

How do they get put right? Well, my 6 year old who has never stopped singing from the moment she entered this world has a song for that. "What are you thankful for, what are you thankful for, what are you thankful for?" Set to the most obnoxious tune you can imagine.  

Five words repeated over and over again...and over and over again. Repeated so often it's hard to know if they are a message from heaven or a taste of hell.

They are truth. Find something to be grateful for and it'll put your insides right. Do it often and you'll have more peace, more wholeness, and more hope because it will draw you closer to Jesus.

I'm going to give my kids a hug and kiss, and tell them how thankful I am for them.

So I'll pass the question on to you this thanksgiving: What are you thankful for?

-Pastor Mitch

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. -John 15:5-8

Devotional
I'm a start and stop kind of guy. I have a few dozen ideas and projects bouncing around in my head at any given time. Where there are some people that would pick one idea and run with it to completion, I like to work on all of them simultaneously, which means I have I often have to stop and start multiple times on any given project. Some people enjoy this kind of chaotic creativity, some people can't stand it (like my wife). She just doesn't understand why I wouldn't finish what I'm working on before moving on to another project or sitting down to take a break.

Bottom line; it's hard for me to remain in anything for too long.

This scripture challenges me because I wish it said "Hang out with me from time to time!" or "Fit me in between dinner and bed time." but no, it says "Remain in me."

A stop/start relationship with Jesus is an option, but it won't bear much fruit.

In all things, in every moment, remain in Jesus and you will bear good fruit.

When life is good, remain in him.
When life sucks, remain in him.
When you're smiling, remain in him.
When you're pissed off, remain in him.
When you're grieving, remain in him.
When you're celebrating, remain in him.
When your plans work out, remain in him.
When it all falls apart, remain in him.
When you're alone, remain in him.
When you're all together, remain in him.
When you're anxious, remain in him.
When you're at peace, remain in him.

Remain in him.
Remain in him.
Remain in him.
Remain in him.
Remain in him.

- Pastor Mitch

Prayer
Holy Spirit, help me stay connected. I am nothing with out you. I need you every hour, every second of my life. Help me remain in you. Amen.

Scripture
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matt 6:19-21

It's Election Day in America. In a few hours from now there will be millions of people distraught over the outcome, no matter who wins. I wish there was some way that I could take all of that away, that there was some middle path that extended grace to both sides. I wish that there was a balm that I could offer that would bind up the wounds of our divided communities. I want so badly to see unity. I long for neighbors on every street to love each other well, to see the holy creature before them, each one made uniquely in the image of God. People who look different, think different, act different, and yet are no less valuable to the one who formed them. I want everyone to have the everlasting hope of Jesus, the good king who reigns now and forever, over every other king, president, government, and power of this world.

It's tempting to place our hopes and dreams in lesser things. Temporal things. Broken things. Hollow figures. Idols.

There is better treasure out there.

May we all ask, seek, and know the riches of God's love so that tomorrow may come as today; A new day to proclaim good news.

God is on the throne. Go tell somebody. Follow Jesus Closer.

-Pastor Mitch

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. - Matt 7:7-8

Devotion
Fall in the Texas hill country is so refreshing. One event that I look forward to every year is the first night that it cools off enough that we can open the windows in our house and let the fresh, cool fall air come into our home. Having that relief from what always feels like our never ending summers is just so sweet.
What amazes me is how even the smallest crack in one of our windows can completely change the atmosphere and aroma of our house. It goes from stuffy and stale to fresh and earthy.
Jesus wants us to leave the windows and doors open in our lives, even if they are just barely cracked; He can work with that. Jesus can change the atmosphere of your life if you give him an opening. Fresh, new, transformation is waiting for each one us if we are willing to be open.
Say a short prayer. Crack your bible. Serve your neighbor. Do something to leave the windows and doors of your life open to Jesus, it will change everything.

Discussion
1. When was the last time that you left your life open for God to come in? What can you do today to give God a chance to renew you?

Prayer
God, I invite you into my life, my day, this very moment. You have every permission to shape who I am and what I will do. Amen.

Tick Tock

Scripture
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
- 1 Kings 19:9-13
Devotion
When Taylor and I moved into our house it was one of the most exciting times in our lives. We had been dreaming of finally being able to live where we wanted to minister, Dripping Springs, and it took 8 years for God to finally make that a reality. I still remember moving in and it not feeling real.
The next few months were filled with making our house feel more like a home. We had a friend from the church come over and help us decorate (which didn’t take too long because we didn’t have any furniture) and one of the first things we did was the area around the fireplace. We bought a rug, found lots of little personal items to put on our mantel, and hung a great big clock above it.
I hardly recall the first 90 days. Between setting up each room, installing fixtures, and the general chaos of having 3 young children in the house, it wasn’t until one night as I lay on the living room couch in complete silence that I heard something. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock… The clock that we had installed above the fireplace months earlier was making a sound! In fact, it always made a sound, but I was too busy and distracted to hear it.
God whispers to Elijah in this story. In the quiet, Elijah hears the voice of God. After all the commotion and grand displays, God is revealed in a way that could be missed if Elijah wasn’t paying attention.
Our Lord shows up in ways that can be missed. When we crowd our days with activity, overbook our schedules, and bombard our souls with a constant stream of distractions, it’s possible to never hear the tick tock, tick tock of God’s spirit. Maybe it’s time to create some blank space in your days and pray to God that he will fill it? Perhaps you’ve been looking for God in the noise, but he’s been waiting for you in the quiet.

-Pastor Mitch

Discussion Question

1. What is one block of time that you have during your day that you could commit to seeking Jesus in the quiet unknown instead of how you're using it now?

Prayer
Jesus, slow me down and shut me up. I want to hear your voice, even if it's the faintest whisper in this world. Help me hear you. Amen.

Out of Order

Scripture
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 
- Luke 18:18-23

Devotion
A few weeks ago our family received a Rubik’s cube. For those of you who are unfamiliar, a Rubik’s cube is a six sided cube with each side comprised of nine individual colored pieces. The goal is to solve all six faces of the cube so the colors align. The problem is that all the pieces are connected to one another and when you move one piece on the cube, it also moves all the pieces that are connected to it.
It’s a puzzle that always drove me crazy as kid, because as soon as you felt like you made any progress in solving it, it would require you to seemingly dismantle your progress in order to reach the next step. If you’re anything like me, you know how frustrating it can be to feel like you’ve worked on something just to see it undone moments later.
I imagine that’s much of what this rich young ruler was feeling when he had this conversation with Jesus. He had organized the pieces of his life in a way that from many sides it looked almost complete. Then Jesus said “You still lack one thing”, and then he told him to take all the pieces, all the progress, and mix it all up so that he could have what he was really looking for, eternal life.
If you have been following Jesus you know how God can jumble up the sides of our lives. What’s important to remember is that when God moves around the pieces of our lives in a way that feels completely out of order, contrary to what we have built, he’s doing it so he can reorder us into a more complete picture. 
If you want to solve a Rubik’s cube, you have to break up some of your progress, put some pieces out of order for a time, so that you can move on to completion. The same is true of our journey with Christ, let him disorder your life because you trust he knows exactly how to put you back together again; More complete, more alive, more like him.

-Pastor Mitch 

Discussion Question

1. What is one side of your life that you need to surrender to Jesus to reorder so that you can be a more complete disciple?

Prayer
Jesus, I give my whole life to you. Everything that I have accomplished, I give you permission to tear it down if it will make me a better disciple. Amen.

Let’s Go Fishing

Scripture
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Devotion
When I was a young boy my dad used take all of us kids fishing. Admittedly, my father is no expert angler, so there were many times where my siblings and I spent long periods of time in the boat, killing time instead of catching fish. We didn’t care much though, it was always an adventure when you put 4 kids in a boat regardless of whether you actually brought in any fish.
However, when I was about 12 years something big happened. We were on a new lake and we were fishing at just the right time of year, and we caught fish…a lot of fish…big fish…more fish than we could net in one boat. I fell in love with fishing after that trip, and every time I’ve had a chance to get a line wet since then I’ve done my best to make the time.
Recently, my son was invited to go fishing with his grandfather and I needed to get his pole and fishing tackle ready for him. As I was locating everything in the garage and packing it up for him I saw how much dust was on it. It had been a very long time since anybody in our family had gone fishing, myself included. 
When we turn our lives over to Jesus he makes us fishers of people, but when was the last time you went fishing? When was the last time that you went on an adventure for Jesus? When was that last time you threw a line out to see if anyone was interested? I hate to admit that as dusty and rusty as my poles had gotten from years of idle storage in my garage, my faith in action can be just as neglected.

So let’s go fishing, throw a line out into the world, baited with grace, mercy, and justice, and let’s see who bites.

-Pastor Mitch 

Discussion Questions

1. Can you remember the moment that God captured your heart? What was the name of the fisherman that pursued you for the Lord?
2. When was the last time that you purposely shared the good news of Jesus with someone, you actually pursued someone for Christ?

Prayer
Lord, make me a fisher of people. Help me dust off my faith and live my life sharing your Good News today. Amen.

It’s All Garbage

Scripture
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Devotion
There are so many things that I thought would complete my life or some how fulfill me. When I was 12 it was a pair of Airwalk skate shoes. When I was 16 It was my first car. When I was in college, it was the right girl (it was Taylor).  Since those days there has always been another thing. I just needed the best job, right spouse, perfect house, and other peoples adoration; that would make me feel whole. At very least I needed the Packers to win the Super Bowl in my lifetime (which they have…twice.)
It turns out that none of that is true. I know because I got all of it, and none of it has ever fulfilled me the way trusting each and everyday to Jesus has. Paul is a little more straight forward, “I consider it all garbage…” It’s easy to forget that everything that we could ever accomplish or obtain in this life pales in comparison to having an eternal relationship with Jesus and a purpose in His Kingdom.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t enjoy this life, and neither is Paul, but I don’t want to forget how precious it is to find mercy, how remarkable it is to know true forgiveness, or how supremely privileged I am to know my creator as a friend.

I don’t want to ever choose garbage instead of grace.

What a friend we have in Jesus.

-Pastor Mitch 


Discussion Questions

1. What is something that you thought would fulfill you that ultimately fell short of satisfying you?
2. When was the last time you took time to tell somebody about how grateful you are to be a follower of Jesus? If it’s been a while, consider telling someone today.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you. I am so grateful to know you and be known by you. Help me choose you above all else, for your glory and for my good. Amen.

Give up

For each of us the Baptist’s (John) words are true: “He must increase and I decrease.” He will be infinitely merciful to our repeated failures; I know no promise that He will accept a deliberate compromise. For He has, in the last resort, nothing to give us but Himself; and He can give that only in so far as our self-affirming will retires and makes room for Him in our souls. - C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory)

Scripture

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

Devotion

I am suspicious of free gifts. It seems to me that there is always some motive working behind the scenes. It’s one of the reasons that I am terrible at receiving gifts. Instead of enjoying the thoughtfulness and love of those around me through a gift, I analyze it. I have the unique ability of taking a perfectly kind gesture and ruining it by trying to understand it. I also know that I am not the only one with this compulsion.
It makes sense to me that if eternal life is the free gift of God, that so many of us struggle with it from time to time. Maybe God has some hidden motives behind this gift? Perhaps it’s a trap that will lock me into an eternity of something that really isn’t that good? What will I owe God if I accept this gift?

You owe God nothing.
He really is that good.
His only motive is to love you for the rest of eternity.

If you’re anything like me, you just need to surrender more, stop trying to understand it all, and start receiving the gift of grace that God has waiting for you in every moment, every day of your life, and into eternity. Just give up and give it to God.

P.S. This is one gift where regifting is highly encouraged.

-Pastor Mitch

Discussion Questions

1. What was the best gift that you ever received? What was it like to receive it?

2.   How can you receive the free gift of God better today, so that you can enjoy the life of faith instead of question it?

Prayer

Lord, help me surrender my life to you. I accept your free gift of grace for me today and pray that you will be at work in my life. Amen.