Consistency

Variety may be the spice of life, but I think it’s safe to say that one can’t survive on a diet of only spice.

We could say that consistency is the “meat” of life.  Doing what needs to be done even though it isn’t exciting … doing the “do’s”.  Highly effective people have learned this.  Motivational speakers teach this.  But how many of us actually put this into practice?  How many times have you or I said, “I just don’t feel like doing that today.”  Friends, we don’t walk by feelings.  We walk by faith.

Look at Daniel – yes the Daniel of “Daniel in the Lion’s Den.”  He did the “do’s”.  He prayed to God three times a day, even when it wasn’t convenient.  He maintained his diet (ouch!).  He led a disciplined lifestyle in a time of lawlessness.  And when the time was right, Daniel was promoted to a place of honor.

People of God, if even there were a time of lawlessness, we are in it.  “Do what feels good” is the mantra of the undisciplined.  I challenge you instead to do what is good and appropriate for a child of God.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:15-18 NASB).

Peace,

Davina

Crack Rolls

Back in 2008, our youngest son, Dustin, went to intern at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy campus just outside of Lindale, Texas.  This was a good hour’s drive for us – too far to just stop by and visit, but close enough for weekend visits.  And visit we did!

A normal Sunday would consist of getting up super early, setting out yeast rolls (AKA “crack rolls” because they’re as addictive as crack) for lunch, getting dressed, driving to Garden Valley, picking up Dustin and as many of his friends as we could legally fit in our Buick “land yacht,” driving directly to our church, rehearsing for praise and worship, having church, going to the house for lunch and chilling … then loading them all back in the land yacht, and re-delivering them to the campus.

We did this routine for most of the 2008-2009 school year.  It was fun, it was challenging, it was rewarding, and it was a time of God’s teaching me a very important truth.

These beautiful, hungry (in every way!), diverse, young people knew that when they visited us, they could have a retreat from the busy campus life – they could jam in the music room, fish from the stock tank, wrestle in the yard, sit around and watch a movie – no good thing was withheld from them while they were guests at our house.  They were such a blessing to us … we developed some very close relationships with these young men and women, and still keep in touch with many of them.

All because Dustin, our son, issued an invitation.

All that the Father has is yours.  He withholds no good thing from you.  Joy and peace, fellowship with other believers, times of refreshing, His Living Word, power, blessings, and best of all a relationship with the Father himself.

All because Jesus, His son, issues an invitation.

 “No one comes to the father but through me” (Jn. 14:6 NASB).

 

Peace.

 

Davina

 

My Journey

Some of you know that I’m studying to be a counselor.  I’ve even had a few off-hand comments thrown my way about this.  Some say that I’ve changed – I hope I have!  Those who always stay the same are not growing.  My studies, I’m sure, have some to do with the changes in me, but so do some other things.  I’d like to share those with you.

The past two years of my life have been an amazing journey.  They have been both joyful and painful.  At the beginning of 2011, I hated my marriage, my life – I hated myself.  I knew Jesus, or at least knew OF Him.  I believed, but like the father in Mark 9:24, my cry was, “Yes, I believe, but help my unbelief!”

That April, I attended Gateway Church’s Pink Impact women’s conference.  At the conference, I received healing from some very deep scars that I had carried since childhood.  I remember walking away from my simple 15-minute session literally feeling lighter than ever before – a weight was gone; I was free!

The summer of that same year, Mark and I entered into covenant with Dr. Ray Vinson of Dominion International, so we could get moving in our “ministry” plans.  But God had more in mind that WHAT WE WERE TO DO; He had in mind WHO WE WERE TO BE.  Dr. Ray and his wife Mary have provided Godly counsel, support, training, teaching, mentoring, and at times just plain hard-hitting rebuke.  God has used them to not only help me remain free, but to walk in progressively new levels of freedom.

I’m not fixed.  I’m still a broken person in desperate need of a Savior.  But I am a good listener, and I know the One who heals completely.  So if we meet in a hallway or on the phone, and you begin to wonder if I’m practicing on you … no, I’m not.  I simply want to share my light with you.

 

Peace,

Davina

Taking Care of the Temple

^“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19,20 NASB).

How do we “glorify God” in our bodies?  If God is a spirit, and we worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24), what does this verse mean?  How can we glorify God in a body?

The answer must be in scripture.  So what does God tell us about our bodies?  He encourages rest (Ex. 20:8-11; Mark 6:31) and warns against excesses (Prov. 23:20-21; Phil. 3:19; Tit. 2:6).  The scriptures are even full of commands and tips about proper body care.  Prov. 3:7-8 tells us that to fear the Lord and depart from evil brings abdominal and bone health, while Prov. 14:30 admonishes us against envy, because it rots the bones.  We must realize that the scriptures are alive, active, and very practical.

To neglect our bodies, to be worn out and used up does not bring much glory to God.  If you, like I, have spent much of your life neglecting or even abusing your own body, please don’t “beat yourself up” over it (pun intended)!  Instead, start fresh today.  Take care of the body that He’s given you.  Love it.  Cherish it.  Make it fit for His service.

Peace.

Davina

Gas & Shoes

Sometimes God blesses in totally unexpected ways, I think, just to show us that He will not be in a box.

Take the Israelites’ clothes and shoes, for example.  Moses records in Deuteronomy 8 that their clothes didn’t wear out, and their feet didn’t swell.  They wore the same outfits for 40 years, going around that mountain again, and again, and again.  Have you ever wondered about the children?  Did the shoes and clothes literally grow with them?  Apparently they did.

Fast forward.  Jesus is teaching His famous “Sermon on the Mount.”  He says, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat,’ or ‘What will we drink,’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’”  He says that our Heavenly Father knows we need all these things, and to “seek first” His kingdom & His righteousness, and He will provide all these things (Matthew 6:31-33).

Fast forward again.  Mark & I travel to a conference in Abilene.  The timing, it seems, is not the best, as we’re neck-deep in projects around our house, and we’ve just signed a note on some farm equipment.  We’re pondering whether to stop tithing for a time, in order to put the money into our projects, which actually have a long-range kingdom-of-God purpose.  Seems legitimate.  Over the course of the weekend, though, we renew our commitment to tithe, plus we give into a special offering to support orphans.  On the way home, we check fuel mileage in our 1998 Buick LeSabre, aka the “Land Yacht.”  31.44 mpg!  I double-check and triple-check.  Yes, it’s 31.44!  This is a totally unexpected source of blessing.  I imagine God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit sitting around drinking their heavenly coffee, discussing us.  Maybe it’s Jesus who says, “Here’s an idea – wouldn’t this be wild – let’s put a little supernatural charge into their gas tank!  Let’s blow their minds!”  I don’t know how it all played out, but the result is awesome!

So, don’t worry about the details.  Do the right thing, and let God put the blessing on your fuel, or on your shoes, or on whatever He chooses.  Be at peace and enjoy the journey.

Peace,

Davina