Just Before Dawn

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

The dark still lingers. 

Coffee perked. 

The morning sounds beginning. 

My farmer and girls; still milking. 

The pause before the day begins. 

One of my favorite times of day. 

It is the time I feel most in tune with my Savior. 

The time when my heart is full. 

When I feel strong. 

It is after my feet have touched the floor. 

The moments where my soul has been refreshed in the Ancient Word. 

Each day holding on to a truth. 

A verse to cling to. 

Holding a steaming cup of coffee. 

I breathe deep. 

I let go of the thoughts that seek to discourage. 

I hold fast the truth. 

I step into the newness of the day. 

This is work each day. 

I am ready for what God will send my way. 

There is nothing He and I can not handle together. 

I want to see where He leads. 

I long for lives to be changed. 

Hope.

I long to be used by Him for His work. 

Won't you step into that path today? 

Lay down those burdens. 

Seek a better way.

With God, all things are possible. 

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said,

 "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Blessings in Best Buy Day # 25 of Thankfulness

Each person has a story to tell. 
The fabric of their life woven together. 
Some of the stories we know. 
Others lie buried deep within. 
Sometimes our lives intersect. 
A chance meeting. 
Social Media. 
Strangers become friends. 
Blessings given. 
Aching hearts touched. 
An artist. 
Reached out. 
She touched two mama's hearts. 
Cousins; gone way too soon. 
She gave.
Part of her story. 
Helping to bring warmth to our story. 

In Best Buy we meet.
While I wait for phone's to be switched over. 
While my heart breaks because my texts from Elijah are gone.
I receive a gift. 

A Portrait. 
A work of two years. 
A heart that gives. 
And now when death knocked on my farmer's sisters door. 
This artist painted all her love into a gift. 

I do not know what God has in store for my life. 

I do know that I am humbled and in awe of his amazing grace. 

I sometimes feel the burden of all He has asked me to carry is

 too much, too soon. 

Too much grief all at once. 

Yet who am i? 

Psalm 8:4

what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

 human beings that you care for them?

I will focus on walking a path of gratitude. 

A path since the police drove away from our home with the news that my first born son had journeyed to the arms of Jesus. 

My steps began with thank you for this home, and kept on as I praised God for the water for the shower and the towels. 

I put one foot in front of the other with my heart held by the 

One who created me. 

And so on this Thanksgiving Eve, I will continue to give Praise to God and thanks for his indescribable goodness.  

30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:

new friends

the grace shown through another's amazing talent

meetings in Best Buy

a sister in law that teaches me so much

an afternoon spent with my kids

a treat with the kids on a refilled Starbucks card

baking and cooking for Thanksgiving

Rachel and Ella helping my farmer

Rachel and Ana helping me clean this big old dusty, dirty farmhouse

Loki getting stronger each day

the opportunity to serve in Haiti

supplies already coming in

the warm weather

our farm boy and all his antics, smiles and help

I am not going to lie. 

Thinking about spending another Thanksgiving without 

my boy is heart wrenching.

Knowing that my sister in law will spend her first 

without her boy deepens the grief. 

But knowing how much we are loved by our friends, this community and our Father in heaven spurs us on. 

I have said many times in this blog. 

Our job is not done yet. 

There is more for us to do. 

I eagerly await the work that needs to be done. 

Through it all I am changing. 

I pray with all my heart that I am becoming more like Christ.

We all have work to do. 

You can make a difference. 

Starting right now. 

Have you invited someone to Thanksgiving dinner? 

If dinner is too much. . . ask them over for dessert. 

Reach out beyond your comfort zone. 

Share the preparation for the meal. 

Work in community.

Do not wait for someone to reach out to you. 

Be the first to reach out. 

Blessings on this Thanksgiving Eve. 

Hebrews 13:12

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

At First There Were Two Day #17 of Thankfulness

At first there were two. 

Two went with hearts bursting. 

To a country in need. 

My farmer and now college girl. 

When death and cancer had been our companions. 

A spark was rekindled. 

A yearning to go. 

And they did. 

They went.

They were changed. 

The heart of the people forever ingrained in their souls. 

And now they are going back;

with nine. 

To bring much needed items. 

To be the hands and feet of Jesus. 

A response to the call. 

Go!

Luke 10:37
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." 
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

There is much work and preparation to go. 

Farm chores- covered. 

Finances met. 

Supplies to gather. 

~ 30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:
opportunities to serve

hope
looking forward
times of waiting
having needs far beyond our capabilities
knowing that God is able to meet all those needs; if it is His will
folks encouraging my farmer to go
donations of supplies already coming in
the hearts of my farmer and children to go 

Would you consider partnering with us? 

We are filling suitcases with much needed supplies. 

Needs that we are aware of so far are:

feminine products, deodorant, bra's and underwear. 

As we learn of more needs we will share them. 

There is also a financial need to be met. 

For my farmer, farm boy and college girl to go 

the cost will be around-$4400, 

plus the extra farm expenses to cover chores. 

We are trusting in this financial obligation being met. 

Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

There are a few ways you can donate financially. 

You can donate directly to GoServ Global formally known as 
Global Compassion Network. 
Be sure to check the memo box and write in the designation for the 

Davis Trip.

Click here to donate to the Davis Trip to Haiti

The Davis Family Fund is still open at the Merchants Bank in Jericho. 

Donations can me made there as well. 
Merchants Bank
205-VT Rt 15
Jericho, Vermont 05465

Thank you for partnering with us. 

Thank you for the encouragement to my farmer . . . to go. 

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

 With Every Act of Love

Jason Gray

We bring the Kingdom come

 With every act of love...

Great is Thy Faithfulness Day #9 of Thankfulness

A few months ago I lost something that was dear to me.

 It was just a material possession so, I let it go. 

I've lost so much more. 

Then tonight as I put on a jacket and reached in the pocket.

My lost item had been found. 

A sweet sensation spilled over my being. 

An unexpected surprise. 

In gratitude I shared my find. 

Sometimes we are lost. 

Looking and searching for that which we can not find. 

This year has been full of continuing changes. 

My dad getting new digs in a nursing home, Clarissa graduating and leaving for college, our church in transition as we seek a new pastor, a new niece, our farm family suddenly returning to CA, our nephew unexpectedly meeting Jesus. 

So much change. 

Some good, some heart wrenching. 

Always seeking. 

As I reached into my pocket and grasped that lost, dear item;

my heart leaped. 

This is how we are in Christ. 

He reaches down to those deep places. 

He holds on with a firm grip. 

Tightly. 

As the storms rage. 

He never loses his grip. 

We may flail. 

We may try to loosen the grip. 

He remains steadfast. 

~30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:

The vote to call David Coons as our pastor

a message reminding us about the truth of what God believes about us

dinner with friends

an afternoon surprise coffee visit

the hard parts of parenting (ok not really but I'm trying)

being a in body of Christ committed to prayer, committed to making a difference in this world

the hope found in Christ

wrestling through the hard times- I may not like them, at all- but God is doing a new thing

texts from the oldest 2 daughters 

the technology to face time

the up coming trip to Haiti

prayer

friends who take the littlest-who is not feeling well- home from church so I can stay and listen to the message

a friend who write an hysterical monologue on facebook about granny panties- and I laugh until I cry

Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Waking From A Dream

I woke from the dream. 

Wracking sobs as I fell to my knees in the kitchen. 

Sobs that came during the first days as we learned of Elijah's homegoing. 

The same gut wrenching realization. 

Piercing. 

Ache. 

Reality. 

Harsh. 

My pysche must only be able to handle this in my dreams. 

For when I woke. 

Truth confronted me. 

Jeremiah 31:3

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: 

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; 

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

The power of knowing that we are His child. 

That through this, He is Lord. 

The ground is solid. 

We walk with hope and purpose. 

While my heart stilled and the fog cleared I rested in who God says He is. 

I stepped into the routine of the day. 

May your day be firmly set on truth. 
May your soul Magnify the One who gave all. 

Psalm 121:1
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, 
from whence cometh my help.