I’m vocalizing and doing some scales to stir up my gifts.
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Tim 1:6-7
Day 67: Stir It Up!
When I was a young lad my son’s age (15) I would spend the majority of my free time sitting at my piano creating songs. I would practice small pieces of the song over and over again and then assemble it all together. I would close my eyes and visualize myself performing. I would share my songs as a performance to my Heavenly Father.
I believe that this time determined much of the success that I’ve had so far in this life. Dreams are important. But not much happens without effort. I saw a quote this morning from one of my Facebook friends about faith. In essence it said “Faith makes things possible, not easy.” There is work to do! Many of us who have embarked upon a relationship with The Creator know the importance of prayer. We know that we daily need to read God’s word and talk with Him. But even with a close relationship it doesn’t mean life will be easy.
Joseph was an amazing icon in the bible. But he spent years before seeing his dreams realized. He had faith but there was time to wait and work to do during that time. One might even conclude that who he became while he was waiting was part of God’s plan in his circumstances and God’s timing.
What are you doing while you wait for God’s answer to your prayer? Stir up your gifts! Get busy using what you have to give God glory and watch your life transform!
Today I will spend time developing what God has given me.
5 when I call to remembrance the [b]genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:5-7
I get excited when I see someone using their gifts. There is nothing like watching a preacher who rightly divides the Word, or hearing a skillful singer sing a song. I love watching those who can paint fill up a blank canvas with strokes that lead to a masterpiece. I admire those who understand how to take money and make it grow. I enjoy watching in the kitchen when delicious food is being made by those who make it best.
And when I am watching someone do something that I have a passion for it pokes me. It taps me and asks the question, “David, what are you doing with your gifts?” I remember going to Georgetown University many years ago to a concert. The opening artist was someone I had never heard of. It was just him and his guitar…but he captured the attention of the room. He made us laugh and tear up. He was amazing. He didn’t have the best voice I’ve ever heard, but the songs he wrote, played and sang and the way he shared them drew us into his orbit, making us all become his fans.
While I was sitting there I felt persuaded that I had to use my gifts that were similar. I had a similar experience last weekend. I want you to have the same experience as well. So promise me you will not only read God’s word and pray, but that you will use the gifts He has given you. Stir them up. When you use them as God intended when He gave them to you you will make the world a better place and bring glory to your Creator.
Today, I will watch, read, and listen to that which inspires me to use my gifts!
Self portrait to remind myself I can still smile and have so much to be grateful for
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.2Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–3who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,4who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,5who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.6The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:8The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.9He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;10he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;12as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;14for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:1-14
Day 63: Counting Blessings
When I look at my problems I become overwhelmed. When I look at ways that I am fortunate then gratitude starts to well up inside. I may have had some hard problems to deal with but I am here to deal with them. God has kept me. I may struggle to make ends meet but I have a job, a roof over my head, and a way to get to and from work and the store. I may not be my ideal weight but I am able to walk and do push ups. I am able to go to different locations and take pictures. I may have had things stolen from me but I have been able to give so much more than others tried to take away.
Counting my blessings helps me to heal. It lets me know I have so much to give.
Today I am counting what I have and feeling more and more blessed by the minute!
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Sculpture located in front of Living Well Store in Colesville, Maryland
Day 59: Best
4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:4-17 NIV
Jesus gave us an example of what being the best is all about. As I took the picture of the sculpture I didn’t at first realize it was Jesus. Because we know Jesus as the Son of God and King of Kings we often forget how he demonstrated His greatness while living here on earth. He served best.
His service included teaching about our Father in heaven. It included teaching us how we can show love best one to another. And he demonstrated His love by healing many. He lived His life serving well.
Today we see personified a very selfish vision of success. If the God of the universe were following the popular pattern of success we see glamorized today there would be no you or me. God bent over backwards to save sinful mankind. He didn’t have to do it. It was a perfect revelation of His supernatural nature. He loves to love.
Today, I will focus on how I can serve better.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38
Have you ever watched success videos that teach you the secrets to becoming part of the 1 %? There are people who are able to make lots of money and even create wealth that generates more wealth. They are a small part of the population. When looking for motivation one factor may be the idea of making lots of money.
I’d like to talk to the 99%. If there is a king there is only one king and the rest of the people need to find a way to live that makes them happy and healthy without being the ultimate person in charge of the kingdom.
I really love the example of the Son of God. He humbled Himself to better serve and love others. We all can do that. (And He actually is the King of Kings!). We all can make choices to make ourselves more helpful to our family and community. In so doing we will find happiness, health, and purpose. While we must make sure to live a balanced life we can rest assured that when we allow ourselves to be a blessing to others we ourselves are blessed.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
Day 24: New Heart
There comes a time when if we want a different outcome we need a different approach. I heard this morning that my hometown football team fired their head coach. He is probably a very accomplished person. But because the results aren’t what they need to be the management decided to look for a new vision.
Has what you’ve been doing gotten you the results you desire? If not a new approach could be the answer. I have started forming new habits that are improving my life. But before the new habit came a new idea. But with the new idea came a new mindset.
God has promised to give his people a new heart. Ask him for it! Ask Him for a vision of the habits to give you a new healthy life physically and spiritually. He’s willing and able.
Today I will be open to new ways with my new heart!
Is it really worth it to live a life seeking God’s favor?
Yes! But it may not feel that way at first. Let me explain.
Have you noticed how far removed the principals of our parents and grand parents are from today’s reality? While I’m sure there are many reasons for this a few come to mind. The merchants of today have taught us that we constantly need to get more stuff to be happy. What they really should say is that we constantly need to get more stuff so that they can be happy–or at least wealthy if not happy.
Your parents may have told you that you should pick something that you think is worthwhile and work to achieve it or acquire it. This often required self-discipline and hard work. You delayed gratification from things that you considered less important than your dream. The process created character.
But today you are encouraged to buy on credit what you cannot afford. This creates stress because the joy of whatever trinket it was you were after is displaced by your worry of how you are going to pay for the bill that you cannot afford. But the problem is exponential because many merchants are not only convincing you that you need to buy their product now but in a few weeks they will be telling you why you need something else or worse yet why you have to upgrade to a more expensive version of what you are already making payments on.
Jesus tells us to focus on the value of His home for us.
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. 6:19-21NIV
As I was driving the other day it dawned on me how beautiful life can be when we focus on building massive treasure in heaven.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal. 5:22-23 NIV
When I put my resources-my time, talents, and treasure, into creating more love, joy, peace and so on I am cultivating Holy Spirit Fruit. I am pleasing God by bearing fruit.
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 15:7-8
Today I’m feel impressed to share this for someone who like me has become disillusioned by the way this world works. Do it God’s way! It’s WORTH THE WAIT! Don’t make money by manipulating people to purchase what they don’t need over and over again. Provide services and products…even ministries that fill a need! Seek to be a blessing. Look to bear fruit of a heavenly kind. Store up for yourself treasure in heaven.
I promise you that in my life every time I focus on doing what I know God wants done He miraculously supplies all of my needs.
I have begun a journey to worship that involves non-traditional ways of blessing others. It’s a sacrifice. But when I prayed a few nights ago on Periscope and a young lady shared that she was moved to tears I thought that I must be on to something. When I received prayer requests and was able to encourage others who like me are going through painful and difficult situations I thought that I must be doing a work that is worth while. So I invite you to partner with me and seek to spread the principals of heaven wherever you may be.
And if you find that your life is so busy getting things that you don’t have time to help people or to pray, than perhaps it’s time to sit down and re-evaluate what’s important. Living for heaven is WORTH THE WAIT!
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Sometimes the blows of life can knock the wind out of us! I believe that my purpose in life is to use all I am and all I have been given to give my Heavenly Father glory. So whether I’m taking pictures at church or teaching at Hammond Middle School or preaching a sermon or accompanying a gifted singer or washing the dishes, I’m giving God glory with what I’ve been given.
Yesterday someone smashed a window on my van and stole some of my photography equipment. The effects trickle down into many aspects of my summer plans. But one of the saddest things was how my 4 and 1/2 year old daughter didn’t feel safe going to sleep last night and tonight because she thought the people who stole daddy’s stuff might come break into the house and get her.
I don’t know how God will provide for me but I know that HE ALWAYS DOES! So I will thank Him now in advance before I have the gear I need for upcoming events. I will praise Him because my family is safe. I will honor Him because I am still able to love and serve and be a blessing.
I took the picture above tonight because I’m not letting bad things keep me from moving forward. This summer I am committed to launching some ministry endeavors as well as going on a fitness odyssey with my son(Week one is going well!). I learned a lesson from buying the suit I’m wearing in the photo.
I went to one store because of a sale they had going on. That store told me I was a larger size than I had been and didn’t have anything in my size. Then they tried to get me to buy suits that were 2 sizes bigger than what I usually wear. I decided to wait and try another one of their locations a few days later.
When I went to the second location they also didn’t have my size. They recommended a third location. I went. At this location I found two suits in my usual size and very helpful workers who assisted me in finding accessories that added just the right look.
What would have happened if I had listened to the worker at the first store? I would have had suits that didn’t fit right. If I didn’t persist I wouldn’t have reached the final destination that had everything I needed in the right size. So the lesson I learned is to keep moving forward.
Maybe you too have had loss recently. Keep moving forward. Remember these bible promises:
For I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138:8
When I was in college someone broke into my dorm room and stole my camera. I prayed and God revealed who had done it. I later lead this person to Christ and they admitted that they had stolen it. He is currently faithfully serving in his local church. What Satan meant for evil God turned into good. So, I pray for those who stole my gear this time like I prayed for the person who stole my first camera. And I will keep moving forward. God will get the glory out of even the trials and tragedies in my life. And I thank Him now for what he has already worked out that I haven’t seen yet. Keep the faith and Keep moving forward!
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
John 17:11-19
Tonight I’m reminded of receiving a pair of shoes from a friend who knew I needed them. I see a high school english teacher who believed there was leadership in me who groomed me to do ministry…he taught me about books like The Friendship Factor by Alan Loy McGinnis and Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am by John Powell. His instruction would mold my concept of fellowship, ministry and church. I pause now to say thank you, Charles Gordon and Bruce Freeman.
I remember feeling rejected because my gifts didn’t seem to be valued by my church. I remember talking with one of the greatest preachers I have ever known who said “David, I believe in you. I think you can do it. Preach the gospel!” I pause to thank C. D. Brooks.
I have always loved learning. My dad, Victor Griffiths was an educator par excellence! My Uncle Arthur Clarke always encouraged me to get a job in the school system but I shied away from it. My friend Patrick McCoy encouraged me to explore teaching as well but I felt overwhelmed by the prospect of the process of getting a teaching job. God opened the door for me to experience full-time teaching and I’m grateful for both those who encouraged me to teach and those who gave me the opportunity to do it in Howard County. I pause to thank LaShonda Dreher, Uncle Charlie, Patrick McCoy and Terry Eberhardt.
I remember having a passion to do ministry using technology and wanting to share both music and the word with others through social media. I wanted to start blogging and vlogging. I wanted to have content that was professional in appearance. I also wanted to share these skills with young people in my church and community. But I didn’t have the money to buy a professional camera. I pause to thank Rankin Yeo for his support.
My mom and I always talked about the idea of finding a benefactor who would allow me the resources to pursue music ministry. Mom said that with the right resources I’d be able to share the musical artistry and spiritual insight that was overflowing from my heart. Today I showed my students a clip from a live recording and songbook release concert. We talked about it for so many years it seems like it’s still a dream when God already sent me the reality. I pause to thank Gerald Young and Bamm Washington.
It’s so easy to get caught up and forget to say thank you. When I read the story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17 I think surely I’d never be like “The other 9.” But I do it everyday. Sometimes it’s because I’m tired. Sometimes it’s because I’m still stressed about other stuff that hasn’t worked itself out yet. Other times it’s simply because I take for granted the very blessing of God in my life. Have you ever been there?
Wouldn’t it be great if we made a commitment to thank someone who has been a blessing to us every week? Let’s try it! Where I start is by thanking God every morning for life. I believe in this so strongly! I have had the most amazing experiences in these seasons of gratitude. I’ve had original songs come to me as easily as if they already existed. I’ve had amazing ideas to solve problems that I’ve been pondering. God has blessed me in the moment of my gratitude to a point where I believe it’s true: You can’t beat God’s giving! And I’m reminded of all those God has used to bless me and I want to let them know how grateful I am
Maybe you are busy. Maybe you are stressed. Maybe you just don’t realize how good God has been. Whatever the reason, please don’t be like “The Other 9.” Who could you write a note to right now to say thank you for being a blessing in your life?
Please subscribe to this blog and support me as I begin my quest to inspire change! Thank You. David
My journey to worship has taken me to the classroom. I found out as never before how children can bring you a good dose of humility. Being a teacher is often hard work though rewarding. But being a substitute teacher is even harder in many ways. Your students don’t respect you for many reasons. They figure if you were a good teacher you would have a full time job somewhere. And they know that they won’t have you for very long so why should they listen to you.
I spent 3 months as a long term substitute teacher at a public high school in Maryland. While it was fun and exciting because I was doing music and working with children it was anything but easy. There are so so many emails to answer every day. There are all these abbreviations and acronyms – UBD, GT, etc. There is software for taking attendance and software for recording grades. But you have to transfer the grades from the one software and place them in the other. UGH!!! There is creating a sectional schedule and making sure the students and staff have it. Then you have to remind the students to come and when they don’t remind them to do make up sectionals. There’s scheduling outside time to rehearse students for All State chorus auditions and GT (Gifted and Talented) choir. There’s so much more but I’m just getting tired thinking about it!
Of course there’s teaching class. And then there’s performing. Extra rehearsals, hiring an accompanist and scheduling rehearsal with them. (I’m getting tired and stressed again)
But you may ask, “David, what does this have to do with worship?”
In the book of Hebrews I’ve found a quote to live by especially while being a substitute teacher.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Heb. 10:24
The “Real” teacher may receive more respect than the sub, but it’s really a team effort. The permanent music teacher wants their choirs, bands, or orchestras to sound great when they return and so they want the students to cooperate with the sub to learn their music. So I focused on one thing: Loving them more.
There were days when the disrespect I encountered hurt me. And I prayed. And a voice whispered, “You don’t love them enough.” It didn’t matter that I was in public school and couldn’t “Share my faith.” All that was needed was for me to habitually love them more and more. To keep trying to prepare and present my best. To engage even with those who hurt me and to notice and share that I noticed the little things about each student under my care. If a student was missing to check on them. If invited to a student’s event to really try to go. And I prayed for them.
The amazing thing was all the love that came back. Students made cards and caramel apple slices and gave me other gifts as well. One class even took a picture and had one of the students draw it as the cover to the card they gave me-that’s the photo on this blog post. And they told me how much they appreciated my teaching. So today I want to challenge you as the verse says to acts of love and good works. Your job, your marriage, your situation may seem hopeless, but I bet you can love more. You can love more. You really can. I dare you to try and out love JESUS!
If this post has been a blessing for you please subscribe to this blog. And if you feel that this message would be a blessing to someone else please share it! And I’d like to give a special thanks to those who support this ministry by your gifts. I can never say thank you enough.
Day 64: Stir Them Up
Sometimes the blows of life can knock the wind out of us! I believe that my purpose in life is to use all I am and all I have been given to give my Heavenly Father glory. So whether I’m taking pictures at church or teaching at Hammond Middle School or preaching a sermon or accompanying a gifted singer or washing the dishes, I’m giving God glory with what I’ve been given.
