Advent “gift exchange”

Started the first day of December & first Sunday of Advent exchanging despair for hope with Gene, Mom, Amy, Mike & much of Becky’s family at Whaley UMC. Then Gene & I went for a boat ride, giving the bass a day off! Next up was to join the mass of humanity going on I-35 north from Gainesville. We were doing fine until we had to stop for gas in Pauls Valley. A detour around backed up traffic took us through Maysville, a route we’ve taken before. Shortly after we got back on I-35 in Purcell, Waze sent us on another little detour — that unexpectedly included gravel roads! Nothing the Tundra couldn’t handle; we’re not as sure about some of the others in that line of cars. I’m grateful to be safely home in Norman after a full Thanksgiving weekend! I continually praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!

Help & help!

 I’m overwhelmed, even as I pray to be grateful for each step of faith & progress. And there’s a skunk under the farm house that seems to spray every day w/out provocation. I’m so tired of this odor! Today had many very enjoyable moments. Tonight, I’m tired & somewhat frustrated. I’m feeling effects of trying to do too much & not prioritizing self-care & recovery tools I need to use daily. It’s the last day of November. Dec. 1 is first day of Advent. I’m not ready & there’s nothing I can do about it right now. Let go & trust God, as I am also trying to do re sports team disappointment; eating more than ideal; prayers for Wes; whether to fish tomorrow afternoon. It’s almost midnight so I really must turn off phone. Let go whatever I didn’t do. Ask for forgiveness & help to do better. And keep praising God in all things. 

Breakfast: I’m grateful for each step of faith & progress. Got up & went to help w/ decorating at Whaley. Came home, walked, then washed hair. Will go to Muenster parade in a bit & then to Mom’s to watch Aggies game w/her & Amy & Gene. Sure would like Ags to win. Not sure I expect it. I pray to increase my focus on & faith in God as I am very distracted today. God please help me not get distracted by what to wear & who wins games. Help me to be an instrument of Your love & peace & grace & joy & help to those in need, to Your glory. I called Donna & she didn’t answer. I continue to pray for his healing, including for him to revive from the coma. Praising & trusting God. I also pray for God’s help w/my food. Help me be willing to make choices or seek support to not get lost in food instead of focus on people & acts of love & care. To God’s glory. 

Sleep (7ish): In bed about midnight. TP, small poo 4:30ish. Awake 7:11. Start writing 8:03. Want to go help at Whaley. I think Gene is pulling me to stay here. Sigh. I pray to know what God would have me do. I don’t want to be ruled by FOMO. Praying also still for Wes, fully believing God will restore him in a beautiful way on this earth. Lord’s Prayer. Serenity. Scripture. 

“In your relationships w/one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality w/God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If you had access to all the luxuries you could dream of, would you voluntarily give them up? If you had riches beyond your wildest imagination, would you lay them all down for someone you love? That’s what Jesus did.

“He gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave & was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God & died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT

Jesus gave up His divine privileges, temporarily, so that He could be w/His people: so He could pay their debt & redeem them back to Himself. Because of that, God “elevated him to the place of highest honor & gave him the name above all other names.” (Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ NLT‬‬)

If I consider myself a follower of Jesus, I am naturally called to follow Him; to reflect His love; to, daily, die to myself.

Tho the call to die to oneself can be literal in some cases, more often, it's symbolic. It means giving up what we want in favor of something that can have an eternal impact.

Maybe, instead of bingeing a TV show or scrolling social media, you visit someone in the hospital, take a meal to someone who’s hurting, or help a single parent.

Maybe, instead of rushing to get everything on your busy schedule finished, you take the time to read the Bible w/a child, befriend someone who’s lonely, or be present w/the people around you.

Maybe, instead of waiting for God to send opportunities my way, I seek out those who are desperate for Him—& help them see why He occupies the place of highest honor in my life.

The great news is, I’ve been empowered to do what Jesus did.

Thanksgiving Day 2024

I’m very grateful for steps of faith & progress. Awareness of my friends waiting in ICU for their son to wake from coma has deepened my focus on God & prayer & praise & thanks this Thanksgiving Day. I continue to pray & believe for a miracle. Please, God! I know God is working for good in this & all things. Meanwhile, I am very grateful that Gene & I could join family members at my Becky’s house since we weren’t able to go to Mar’s. The food was great & I had a wonderful day. I thank God for His mercy, love, grace & blessings. I pray to know & do His will; to act in faith; to trust Him w/ results; & to give Him all glory, honor, thanks & praise; today & always.

Earlier:  I’m grateful for each step of faith & progress. Thru prayer & faith, I was able to pack & be in truck by 9:30 w/out a panic attack or crying! Yay! Thank You, God! We are headed to farm then Becky’s. I’ve texted w/ Donna, to encourage her after she got news from doctors that was less hopeful than desired. Continue to pray for Wes. Trusting God w/ timing today & weekend, including when to go to McKinney. Let go & trust God this Thanksgiving Day & always!



On awakening: In bed 11:40ish? Alarmed by alarm 6:30; pray & intentional focus on praise until TP, start writing 6:35. Strange night. Didn’t seem like I slept, yet startled by alarm, maybe because it seemed like part of a dream. Less leg pain. Groggy; mild headache; itchy eyes. Is any of this from new supplement? I really need to get up. Help me Lord, I pray. I pray to know & do Your will; to keep my focus on & faith in You; to act in faith; to trust You w/results; & to give You all glory, honor, thanks & praise. Getting up 6:47. 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For years, nothing in King David’s life looked “good.” His family underestimated him, giants despised him, & his father in law spent years trying to kill him. But the whole time, David clung to a promise that God would establish him & make him king of Israel. 

David never gave up or gave in—he stayed close to God & waited for Him to act. And when God acts, this is how David responds: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV Despite the pain David endured, he knew that even when life didn’t look good, he served his good God. 

This same God actively fights for us. Thru His Son, Jesus, He has given us continual access to Himself. We can never lose His unfailing love toward us—a love that endures forever, no matter what goes on around us.  

David recognized & proclaimed this. And every day, I have the opportunity to do the same thing. 

Here are 2 practical ways I can respond to God’s goodness & love: 

- Thank Him in Prayer. 

- Share My Story. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to honor God by “proclaiming our allegiance to his name” (Hebrews 13:15-16). What has God done for me? Where have I seen Him provide, protect, show up or show off thru my life? Look for natural opportunities to share what God is doing in me w/someone else. 

Right now, I reflect on my life & thank God for His eternal goodness. Nothing I have faced or will face is too much for the God who loves me & died for me. I bring Him my concerns, surrender my expectations & allow Him to reveal the evidence of His goodness in my life.

God, thank You for being unstoppable, unchangeable, all-powerful & incomparable. You alone are worthy of all my praise, honor & glory! Your love endures forever, & I am forever grateful for who You are. Thank You for making a way for me to know You personally. Nothing compares to You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

So much for which to be thankful

Fortunately, many of my blessings are documented on Facebook, including the great #davisdonfamilythanks2024 gathering last weekend at Mike’s. And it’s not yet Thanksgiving Day! I’m grateful to be grateful every day9

Prayer for this Election Day

On this Election Day, I praise God for being in control. I pray to trust God with all my heart & to not rely on my own thinking & understanding. I pray to rejoice in all things; to lift up my concerns in prayer, in faith & with thanksgiving; to act in faith; to trust God with results; & to give God all glory, honor, thanks & praise. 

I don’t have to understand why friends support the candidate or party they support. And I don’t have to understand why God seems to be calling me to vote a different way. I choose to trust that God is in control & God is good & God is working for good. He wants me to act in faith & trust Him. I pray to be willing & able to do so. 

And I pray for this nation. I want to believe God is in control & working for good. I pray for the leaders & candidates & voters & election workers. I pray for unity & justice & peace & goodness & love to prevail. I know all good things are possible for & through God. I praise God for His faithfulness. I lift my prayers & praise in the name of His Son, my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

For all the saints …

I remember & am grateful for the saints who have shared the love of God with me. I’m grateful for livestreams that allowed me to worship & remember even though I woke up feeling sick. I’m grateful to feel better now. 

Reuniting & reminiscing

The key to a high school reunion is to just enjoy being there. Period.