Dayspring Fellowship Podcasts

Principle 4: Enlarge Your Soul through Grief & Loss

Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief and LossJanuary 31, 2021
In a culture that is hyper-focused on acceptance, achievement, and success, there is precious little room for loss and grief. No one puts their failures on a resume. We put our best foot forward and slap a smile on our faces, regardless of what’s going on beneath the surface. And yet, without loss, brokenness, and struggle, all that holds meaning for us would be worthless. It is the cost that makes something…anything…worthwhile.Author J.K. Rowling was once on the verge of homelessness as an unemployed single mother.Michael Jordan missed more than 9,000 shots in his basketball career. Steven Spielberg was rejected from the college of his choice three times.The truth is that our world is broken, loss touches all of us in a myriad of ways, and struggle is a constant part of life on our planet.So why do we resist dealing honestly with our pain, when doing so would only help us grow? Why do we sweep it all under the rug and pretend like the hard things aren’t there?This week, as we continue in our study, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, we’ll be looking at the role that grief and loss play in our journey toward becoming spiritually and emotionally healthy followers of Jesus. We’ll look at a slew of coping mechanisms that as humans, we tend to employ. On the surface, they seem to help us cope, but in reality, they keep us from growing. We’ll also discover how to process the losses of life in a healthy way, that will enable us to thrive, even through brokenness.Our service is livestreamed on Sunday mornings at 11:00. As a church family, we are moving intentionally toward greater heath, both spiritually and emotionally this year. We’d love to have you join us on the journey. You’ll find our service on Facebook, YouTube, or by clicking the livestream link on our website. Join us as we worship and grow together!

Principle 3: Journey Through the Wall

Journey Through the WallJanuary 24, 2021
Will all the control freaks in the room raise their hands? Don’t worry…I can’t see you. But I know you’re out there! If the worldwide pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that control is an illusion; and though we want it, we don’t have it! Of course, there are some things you can control; but the reality is that life is unpredictable and perfection is impossible.This week, as we continue in our Emotionally Healthy Spirituality series, we’re looking at the issues of power and control and how we are impacted by our desire for them. Sooner or later, in one area or another, you will come face to face with your own limitations, your own inability, and you will be stuck. What happens then? Ever been there? Perhaps you’re there now. And if not, then just wait…your turn is coming.We believe there is nothing more important than your spiritual growth. We also believe that you can’t be spiritually healthy without being emotionally healthy. I invite you to join us as we journey together toward greater emotional and spiritual health. Our service is livestreamed on Sunday mornings at 11 am. You’ll find us on Facebook, YouTube, or by clicking the livestream link on our website. You’ll find it under the Resources tab.We’re focused on growing and getting healthier this year and we’d love for you to join us.  Don’t stay stuck! Let’s move forward together!

Principle 2: Going Back in Order to Go Forward

Going Back in Order to Go ForwardJanuary 17, 2021
A quick online search for the meaning of the word “inheritance” provides us with these definitions:  something that is or may be inherited; the act of inheriting property; the reception    of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring; and the acquisition      of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations.Looking back at my own history, one trait I inherited from the Voigt family is a strong work ethic. My dad and my grandfather both taught and modeled for me the value of being diligent, industrious, and productive. They communicated the value and importance of hard work, and they showed me what it looked like to be a hard worker.Many of us, when we think of inheritance, think in positive terms. But not all that is passed from one generation to the next is necessarily beneficial!  It requires no intentionality on our part to pass on our deficiencies, shortcomings, and defects. In fact, without intentionality, we will most certainly transmit to those who follow in our footsteps, the shackles of unhealth that go unchecked and untended in our own lives.This week, as we continue in our study, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, we’re looking at the impact that our past has on us, and on future generations. As both a father and a grandfather, I want to make sure that I am doing all that I can to leave a healthy legacy for my kids and granddaughter. I believe you want the same for your family. But doing so requires us to do some work – both emotional and spiritual work.I invite you to join us this Sunday as we look at what God’s Word has to say about breaking free from the bonds and burdens of the unhealthy junk in our past, and moving into all the good He has planned for us. We’re committed to getting healthier, in every area of our lives. Will you join us for the journey?

Principle 1: Know Yourself that You May Know God

Know Yourself that You May Know GodJanuary 10, 2021
It’s an important question, and one that everyone, sooner or later, will need to answer: Who are you?  In countries and cultures all around the world, people are searching for an identity. So where do we find it? How do we know who we are? Far too many settle for allowing feelings, community, or life experiences to provide an answer. Where can we find the truth?In Hebrews 11: 24 we find a short, but important statement about one of the heroes of the Old Testament, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” It was certainly true that Moses had grown up in the palace of Pharaoh after being rescued as an infant by Pharaoh’s daughter. And though he probably felt both love and gratitude toward his adoptive mom, as he grew in his relationship with God, he understood that temporary circumstances did not provide him with a permanent identity. Moses looked to Yahweh, the God who created him, for the answer to that question.This week, as we begin to dig into our new study, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, we’re looking at the importance of knowing who we really are. Do you know the answer to that question for yourself? Who or what have you allowed to define you?

I'm Not OK, You're Not OK

I'm Not OK, You're Not OK
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
January 3, 2021
Happy New Year! I don’t think I have ever been so glad to see one year end and another begin. I imagine many of you are feeling the same way although there’s nothing about starting a new year that will make anything magically better or different! I think most of us have made enough New Year’s resolutions – and then broken them – to know that. Making anything better or different takes commitment, intentionality, and discipline. If we want 2021 to be any different than 2020, it’s up to us to do something about it. Obviously, there are some things we can’t control. But what about the choices you can make? What will you do with the brand-spanking new year that stretches out in front of you? How will you choose to grow?We’re kicking off a new sermon series this Sunday called Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. We believe that for too long The Church (capital C) has neglected to disciple Christ-followers in the area of emotional health. You can’t be spiritually healthy if you’re not emotionally healthy. Being a Christ-follower should transform EVERY area of our lives…including the way we manage our emotions.I’m really excited about this new series. Personally, I want to be as healthy as possible in every area of my life. Being healthy gives me the ability to give the very best of myself to Christ and to others; to live and love as God has called me to, to the very best of my ability. And I want the same for you. I long to see our church family THRIVING in every way. I hope you’ll join us as we set out on this journey toward greater emotional and spiritual health together.

2020 Year in Review

2020 Year in ReviewDecember 27, 2020
It is deeply etched in my memory. And even though it no longer has any practical purpose for me, I still remember it…963.7710. It’s the first phone number I ever memorized as a kid (before area codes were necessary for reaching the intended person). Today, technology does much of our remembering for us. Instead of recalling and dialing a number, we tap a name on our phones, or ask Siri to dial for us! Which means that though I have a pretty good memory, and am better than average when it comes to numbers, I can’t recall some of the phone numbers I use regularly. They haven’t been hardwired into my brain like the ones I learned as a child. They’re stored in my phone’s memory instead.
There’s certainly much about this past year that many of us would like to forget. But, as we come to the end of this year and look forward to a new one, (as if somehow turning the page will make all the difference), perhaps, we should slow down and take a few minutes to remember. Maybe there are some good gifts buried in the muck of 2020 that we need to hold onto.
In the book of Joshua, chapter 3, we read the story of an incredible miracle God performed for His people. He made the Jordan River stop flowing so they could cross over on dry ground into the Promised Land. Then, God instructed them, through Joshua, to gather twelve stones – one for each tribe of Israel - from the dry riverbed - to set up as a memorial. They were a sign of remembrance, of what God accomplished for His people on that day; a marker that helped them to remember His promise, provision, protection, and plan for them.
Psalm 9:1 says, “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” To recount means to remember. This weekend, as we gather one final time in 2020, we’re going to do just that – we’re going to remember the journey that we’ve walked with God, as a church family, over the past 12 months. And believe it or not, there is treasure to be found in the remembering; there is much to be thankful for.

The Rest of the Story

The Rest of the StoryFaithfulDecember 24, 2020
It’s a very COVID Christmas. No matter where you are, or what your traditions might be, all of us have had to adjust our plans, and our expectations this year. I’m sure there are many who ‘ve wrestled through the angst of how/when/ or even IF to celebrate this year. Perhaps you are finding it difficult to navigate this holiday season with joy.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been taking a look at the Christmas story from the perspective of Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. From what we’ve learned about Joseph, we know he was most likely a simple, humble man. A man who worked with his hands, building things with wood. We know he was a man of deep faith and deep compassion. But even simple men have plans, hopes, and expectations. But in one miraculous moment, everything changed. And Joseph had a choice to make. Would he surrender his plan for God’s? Would he walk out his love for the Lord, regardless of the cost, with faithfulness?
This Christmas, regardless of our circumstances, we have a choice as well. Will you celebrate the birth of Jesus with us? I hope so!

The Journey to Bethlehem

The Journey to BethlehemFaithfulDecember 20, 2020
It’s the whine you hear coming from the back seat. Whether it’s over the hills and thru the woods to Grandma’s house, or just a quick trip to the store, it seems you’re barely 10 minutes down the road before it begins... “Are we there yet?” With no real understanding of timeframes or distance, and no choice about whether or not to make the trip, kids can be unhappy campers when it comes to traveling.Over the last few weeks, we’ve been taking a look at the story of Christmas from the perspective of Joseph, the man God chose to be the earthly father for His Son, Jesus. This week, we’re considering the journey that Joseph and Mary made to Bethlehem. I can’t imagine that making the long trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem with your due-any-day-now wife was what Joseph really wanted to be doing. There was a baby on the way. Being a carpenter, perhaps he had a crib to finish making. But they had no choice. Though the timing wasn’t great, not making the trip wasn’t an option. Whether he wanted to or not was irrelevant; whether it was convenient or not, they had to go.Like Joseph, sooner or later, all of us find ourselves on a journey we’d rather not take. It’s not our idea, it’s not comfortable or convenient; and yet, we have no choice.The last nine months we’ve all been on a journey that none of us would have chosen. Like kids strapped in uncomfortable car seats, with no idea how much farther we have to go, we ache for the journey to end. Are we there yet? I invite you to join us this Sunday as we worship together and learn from the story of Joseph, Mary, and their journey to Bethlehem.

Raising a Child Not Your Own

Raising a Child Not Your OwnFaithfulDecember 13, 2020
“Let every heart prepare Him room…”“O come, o come, Emmanuel…”“O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee…”The songs of Christmas are filled with phrases that welcome or invite Christ into our lives. The words remind us of the truth that there was no room available for Joseph and Mary as they sought shelter in Bethlehem. Though their need was temporary, the only option offered was one which was more suitable for livestock than people. I imagine this wasn’t exactly what Joseph had in mind when he set out with his very pregnant wife.Over the past nine months, we’ve come to expect the unexpected in terms of how life unfolds. We’ve learned to adjust on the fly. “Pivoting” has become a new life skill. I think Joseph gets an ‘A’ in pivoting! I mean, imagine a door-to-door angel showing up at your house, informing you that a baby delivery is headed your way, and you get to be his parent! Talk about an adjustment! And it wasn’t just a temporary situation! In the blink of an eye, Joseph has a new assignment, a new calling, a new responsibility.Join us this Sunday as we continue in our Christmas series, “Faithful.” We’ll consider what it might have been like for Joseph to raise Jesus, a child who wasn’t his own. There’s a lot we can learn from the way Joseph responded to God’s invitation to step up as a step-dad.Emmanuel – God With Us – has come. Wherever you are, He is there. Will you make room for Him? Let’s welcome and worship Him together.

Whose Child is This?

Whose Child Is This?FaithfulDecember 6, 2020
It’s one of the most exuberant, popular, and beloved of traditional Christmas carols. And yet, it’s not actually a carol at all. In fact, though we sing and treat it this way, it’s not even a song about Christmas; at least, not as its author intended. Isaac Watts was born in 1674, in South Hampton, England. If the father of medicine was Hippocrates and the father of the telephone was Alexander Graham Bell, then the father of English hymns was Isaac Watts. He composed a huge collection of more than 750 hymns, which are still being sung by Christians around the world. The opening line of Joy to the World is sometimes incorrectly sung as, “Joy to the world! The Lord has come.” That is not what Isaac wrote. He wrote, “The Lord is come.” He wasn’t describing a past event (the birth of Jesus) but looking forward to a future event (the return of Jesus). He based this carol on Psalm 98, which is about Christ’s triumphant second coming, not his birth in Bethlehem! And that’s precisely what the song is about. It speaks of Jesus’ final coming to earth when “the Savior reigns” and when “He rules the world with truth and grace.” Watts longed for that glorious final day when the “nations (will) prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.” The phrase in this song that stands out most to me this year is, “let every heart prepare Him room.” What does it look like to prepare room for Christ? In our homes, our schedules, our priorities? Everything about the holiday season feels wonky this year. But Christ has come, and is coming. That alone, regardless of any of the temporary mess we live in, is cause for celebration! Will you make room for Him this week? We’re looking at the Christmas story from a little different perspective this year: through the eyes of Joseph, the man God chose to be His Son’s earthly father.