Year: 2018

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The Journey Begins: Give

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Received Much! Give Much!

When I think about my pain and problems they seem to grow.  So instead I choose to reflect upon God’s goodness to me.  My journey to worship began with parents who had family worship every evening and read the Morning Watch before we had breakfast.  My dad, Victor Griffiths set an example of service and excellence that will always leave me reaching for more.  As a pastor and educator he served in his local community and eventually overseeing adventist education all over the globe.  My mother Barbara continues to amaze me with her hospitality and grace under pressure.  She sacrificially serves to take care of others as much now at 87 as she did when I was growing up.  God blessed me with wonderful parents who worshipped him in their daily lives as much by their actions as by their reading of the bible and prayer.

Giving What I’ve Received

David at the piano at Uncle Charlie's funeral (1 of 1)

Not everyone can afford piano lessons or a piano for that matter.  Not everyone has a gift in that area to take advantage of the opportunity for study.  I am so very grateful to my Creator for the mental and musical gifts He’s given me as well as to my parents for providing the support necessary for them to thrive.  So I want to give that back to others!

A few years ago I recorded a CD with and then went on tour with the great Rwandan artist Jean Paul Samputu, to East Africa.  We visited Rwanda and Uganda but spent most of our time in Kenya.  We were blessed to be hosted by Maximum Miracle Center.  We were impressed by their ministry and service to their community.  Hearing of their needs we were able to sow into their ministry.  In particular I was excited to be able to gift some equipment for a recording studio they hoped to build.

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Maximum Melodies-a musical ministry of Maximum Miracle Center

 

Help Us Keep Giving

Today, I’m getting ready to go host a concert to raise funds for another studio to benefit young musicians in the rural community of Denton, Maryland.  I want to give generously as I have received generously.  Today’s concert will feature a 30 voice mass choir, several guest musicians-Kishore Carey, Alan Ace Cooper, Jahari Griffiths; and some amazing soloists-Carter Anderson, Terrence Nichols, Desmirra Quinnonez, Rachael Jackson, and TreVaughn Watson.  I’d love for you to come and support this worthy cause.  If you can make it click here for more info.

If you’d like to contribute a donation please click the link below.




 

I hope 20 years from now someone will be giving to someone else because of what we started today!

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What’s In Your Hand

No one likes to make mistakes.  If you’re like me you probably want to learn enough about a subject to make a good decision or perform a task well.  But there is a danger that we never feel that we know quite enough to share.  As believers we tend to think a pastor needs to lead others to Christ because they know the bible really well.  But then we think that means we get to watch on the sidelines cheering but doing no work.

In today’s message we explore God’s call for us to use what’s in our hands.

Please subscribe for future inspiring messages and thank you so much for those who give to make this ministry possible!

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Loose Weight With Water

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Could something as simple as water be the solution to your weight loss? While I have tried many approaches to getting in better shape I’ve found that walking and water seem to be an important component for me each time I’m successful. Here are some ideas that I’ve found helpful.

1. Drink water with lemon juice to start the day.

The combination causes you to eliminate and feel fresh and clean 🙂 .  A few years ago I participated in a documentary that explored the effects of The Corrective Diet.  I lost 32lbs in one month.  One of the important parts of that program was keeping hydrated and making sure to start the day out with some lemon water.

2.  Drink enough water to reveal the difference between hunger and thirst.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:

  • About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men
  • About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women

While traditionally we’ve been told to have eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily some suggest having more.  I’ve found that at times I’ve thought I was hungry but when I drink water regularly, usually at least once a half hour that I don’t get hungry like I usually would.  So making sure you are hydrated before you eat will reduce how much you feel you need to eat because you may be confusing thirst and hunger.

3. Drink till your urine is clear.

One simple way to check that you are having enough water is to check the color of your pee.  If it’s clear or very light yellow then you are probably doing very well with your water intake.

While drinking enough water does many other things like give you energy and increase your metabolism I wanted to end with this thought.  Your body takes toxins that would harm you and it stores them as fat.  So when you want to loose weight you will have to safely get rid of all those toxins.  Drinking lots of water allows you to remove those toxins safely.

So please remember water and weight loss go together.  And I hope you combine them with walking!

I wish you success on your journey to health, happiness and wholeness.  Please feel free to share what’s working for you on your journey to wellness in the comments.  Also, please subscribe to this blog for more tips on better living.  And a special thank you for those who support this ministry.  Are you thirsty?  Try a glass of water!

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Keep Moving Forward

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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!

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Tough Day

maia peachy1 (1 of 1)I know that life has it’s challenges…in fact I know that there are so many people who go through so much pain and things I feel are sooooo much more difficult than I will ever have to face.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t make my challenges any less real or draining.

So at the end of tough days when I have the energy I like to take a walk, take pictures and then reflect as I edit them.  When you wonder why you are seeing so many pictures of Maia it’s not just because I’m a father who can’t get enough of his wonderful little girl.  Her brother won’t let me take but so many pics and he has homework 🙂

maia peachy10 (1 of 1)You have to pay models so that’s not always an option and I happen to like most taking pictures of people.  I’m too consumed with life as a teacher to do a lot of photo shoots in the traditional sense right now but photo walks seem to work for me.  So I hope you like these pics that I’m sharing…and thanks for all the comments you’ve given.  I like to know when they made you smile or brightened your day.

maia peachy2 (1 of 1)Today part of what was tough was being reminded again ho fragile life is.  Ordering a walker from Amazon so that my stepfather can get around better reminds me how fragile life is.   Having to take MSM and other remedies to keep my right knee functional reminds me of the obstacles that come with growing older.  But today I was caught off guard when I heard of a close friend who is in a coma.  In my mind high school was just a few days a go.  In my mind 30 year reunion was yesterday.  So how can those I walked through the halls with  “so recently” suffer the tragedies of our decaying world?  It just doesn’t seem real.

maia peachy6 (1 of 1)So today I told my chamber chorus I was having a difficult time and they understood and seemed a little more gracious than usual.  I paused from answering all those student and parent emails and focused in on nature and family.  And when I put my little sweetie to bed tonight I told her a bed time story about my friend who is in a coma.  I explained that there are few people in this world as awesome as she.  I told her that I learned so much in life from her and that we need to pray for her and ask our Heavenly Father if He wouldn’t mind waking her up again so she can spend some more time with her loved ones.  And I told Maia that it’s important that we always pray for our friends and family.

Today was a tough day but I’m trusting and leaning on the everlasting arms….

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Start Of A New Journey

Starting The JourneyIt’s sometimes difficult to figure out the best way to live life.  I choose to live my life to give God glory by making the world better with my gifts.  I want to spread the Gospel or Good News that God cares for us and wants a relationship with us.  To this end I write songs, blog, speak, but most importantly seek to imitate God’s Son in the way he lived when I interact with others.  But it’s hard to know where best to share or serve.

After having completed recently an online 50 day journey of public sharing and private reflection and hearing from so many people about how they were blessed by it and wondered when I would share again I have agreed to start a different kind of journey.  But it’s one I’ve been on for a few years now.

Journey To Wellness

I have a burden for those who struggle with health challenges.  One of the most life changing discoveries I’ve made on my journey to wellness is that I’m not merely obese because I have no willpower.  The true equation to obtain fitness wasn’t fully explained when I was growing up.  Today many have come up with greater insight that is helping people to not only loose weight and keep it off but to reverse chronic conditions we had previously been told were irreversible.  This summer my son and I are going on a wellness journey.  We will be sharing from our research and our experience.  I especially have a burden for our young people who are struggling with being overweight.  In our journey together we will keep them in mind.  As my son and I work together we hope to inspire multigenerational change.  So be on the look out for our upcoming posts.

Journey To Worship

I’ve changed the way I think about worship.  I personally can’t afford to be involved in lifeless worship anymore.  So I want to talk with you about my journey to worship–meaningful worship.  Please subscribe to this blog so you can get the updates on both journeys:  Journey to Wellness and Journey To Worship.

I love you and pray that God will use us to bless each other’s lives

Sincerely,

David

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Dare to Dream

And afterward,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28

Dare To Dream

In order for something to happen it needs to be an idea in someone’s mind first. Somebody has to see something that doesn’t exist and imagine that it does. Then using effort,a plan, resources, and whatever else is necessary the dream comes to life. Are you afraid to dream?

If you’re like Joseph those around you might not be too excited about your dream. When you dream something big people around you start feeling like you think too highly of yourself. This often makes them feel the need to squish you down to size. But having big dreams that serve in a big way and make a very big God proud doesn’t suggest that we think too highly of ourselves. It is often because we are driven to serve in a great way those around us that we dream big dreams. Don’t be afraid to see something in your imagination that doesn’t exist and believe and it’s existence. Don’t be afraid to pray for that big dream. Don’t be afraid even if others don’t believe and ridicule you or criticize you. Cherish it. Share it with only those who really have your best interest at heart, and celebrate each minor victory along the way until the day your dream comes true.

Today despite my past disappointments I will dare to dream again!

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“I Don’t Feel Safe”

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He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand;
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,a]”>[a]
    the Most High your habitation,
10 no evil shall befall you,
    no scourge come near your tent.

11 For he will give his angels charge of you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder,
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
    and show him my salvation.

Psalm 91 RSV

“I Don’t Feel Safe!”

That’s what she said.  My student didn’t feel safe anymore.  She’s heard so many stories that she no longer feels safe going to school.  Can you blame her?

So many today have reason not to feel safe.  At home, at school, at church, at work; it all seems to be unprotected an unpredictable.  Mommy and daddy aren’t staying together and now I don’t feel like I’m part of a family.  My home is broken.  People are pressured and suddenly lash out and leave devastation in their path.  Their is so much hate speech and division everywhere you turn.  The school is a war zone.  If gun violence doesn’t get them the unkind words of their so called friends already have stabbed them repeatedly until they have become the walking wounded.

Won’t you please pause and spend some time weeping before the Lord and interceding for our children?  Life is so much harder when you don’t feel safe.

This evening I got a taste of not feeling safe.  My mom told me there was a murder not far from where I live.  When the weather is warm I love to go walking.  I’m looking forward in a few weeks from now to when it will be a comfortable temperature for walking down to the park….but not far from where I walk someone was found murdered!  Walking through the park doesn’t feel safe anymore.  A place I call home suddenly doesn’t give me the comfort of home.

In Psalm 91 we hear an important message.  If you choose to hang out with our Heavenly Father, if you stay in His presence, you have the benefit of being under His shadow.  You receive protection.  But please don’t be blindsided when hard times come and think that God has left you. Adam and Eve endured the pain of having one son murder another.  David suffered the shame and pain of running from a son who wanted to kill him and take over.  Daniel was punished for his worship and went into a lion’s den not knowing what he might suffer or if he would come out alive.  But Daniel had peace because he trusted in God.  Daniel 6:23 records that after the king spent a sleepless night having been tricked into a policy that required him to throw his faithful employee and trusted advisor into the lion’s den, he was pleased that in the morning Daniel responded that God’s angel had protected him:

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

The person who abides in the shelter of the Most High receives peace because he trusts in God.  Yes, God sends his angels to protect them.  Yes, God blessed them with favor.  Of course, they have the comfort knowing that “All things work together” for their good.  But even when they get sick, even when they loose their job, even when a loved one dies, and even when circumstances are such that they don’t feel safe, because they trust in the Most High God they receive a peace that passes all understanding.

And because of the nature of the Most High we have the confidence to know that His character is one of compassion and patience.  I John 4:8 tells us that God is love.  John 3:16 let’s us know that the love of God is so great that He sacrificed His son to save us.  So our peace comes from knowing that the most powerful being in the universe love us and wants to protect us.  Not only that but we are able to abide in his shelter because he offers this access to Himself as a free gift.  We don’t earn it because we are so smart.  We don’t get access because we have finally become holy enough.  Ephesians 2:8 tells us:

for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

We are not only saved as a gracious gift but protected out of the compassion of the one who made us and created a way for us to get back in right relationship with Him.

So when you feel afraid remind yourself whose shadow you are under.

Growing up I had an older brother…I had peace knowing that my brother loved me and wouldn’t let anybody threaten me.  I felt secure.  But now he lives far far away.  My father was a very wise and accomplished protector and provider.  But he has passed on.  But I don’t have to feel afraid or unsafe because I’m in the shadow!!!!!