He Knows our Name Day #27 of Thankfulness

Looking back is a practice I need. 
I journal to remind myself. 
I read God's word for the reminders of hope and promises. 
Looking back is a gift. 
Sometimes hard and painful 
Often uplifting. 
Reminding us of the faithfulness set before us. 

2 Peter 1:12
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.

Many things are still true this day. 
We are grateful for so much. 
We will get our tree. 
We will step into the Advent season with great expectation. 
The words penned last year. . . .
16 months after our boy journeyed home are still true to this day. 
(well maybe not the snow part. . . )
The day after. . . 

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November 28, 2014

It's the day after. 

The day after 22 people for dinner.
The day after we bowed low in Thanksgiving for the deep gift we have been given. 
After the Turkey and pies and steaming cups of coffee. 

After giggles and playing in snow. 

Now, it is the wee hours of quiet; the day after. 

One daughter off to work. 

Retail and Black Friday. 
My farmer; milking, overseeing all that needs to be done. 

It is also 16 months since our red head walked this earth. 

2 Thanksgivings he has rejoiced with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

2 Thanksgivings that have challenged me to my core;
 of choosing to step into gratitude. 

My quest to reach for Jesus in every moment. 

Seeking Him more. 

He knows my name. 

How can I fully know His more? 

Philippians 3:10

I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection 

and participation in his sufferings, 

becoming like him in his death,

This is the day we also head to gather our Christmas Tree. 

A tradition begun long ago. 

Years of Currier and Ives moments when my dad would pull the truck up to the side doors and the farm house double doors would be flung open. 

Babies all snuggled here at the house while mom and I decorate 

and pink hot chocolate simmered on the stove. 

The fighting being over tired and not wanting to decorate the tree. 

How the little kids kept putting all the ornaments on the bottom 
of the tree and how funny it looked. 

Someone invariably storming off because they were mad. 

Such happy ,delightful memories. 

So, today we will head to the woods -ok the family will head to the woods, I will stay in the house where it is warm and I can appreciate the snow from the inside- and gather the smells of Christmas and bring it home. 

We will pack up Fall and usher in Winter. 

The Season of Advent upon us. 
A time to reflect and seek to be fully known. 
To know fully the One who came to give all. 

Because, don't we all want to be known?
Don't we all long to be understood and be heard. 
There is One who hears. 
Who longs for His people to return to Him. 

This day, as the Tree is placed and the lights are hung, may this preparation prepare my heart to enter in. 
Into Thanksgiving, into knowing God more fully. 
He knows our name. 
No matter how much I struggle with resting in a God who knows my name; yet also allowed my heart to shatter into a million pieces, he does know my name. 
And He will one day make all things right. 
I pray that your heart is surrendered to the King of Kings and that your soul rejoices in the free gift He has given to All. 

30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:

Clarissa's friends here for a visit

a home full of teenagers and children

a kitchen that needs much cleaning

a day ahead of decorating for Christmas

the Season of Advent

a warm home and hot coffee

(which I ruined the first cup by thinking somehow

 I would grow to like eggnog in my coffee)

leftovers

meals you can create with leftovers

snow softly falling

17 Thanksgivings with my red head

a God who know my name

growth in spite of the pain

the gift of grace

friends who continually help us journey on

a family from California who shared the meal at our farmhouse table

the quiet moments where God reaches down and soothes my aching heart

the hope of today and strength He gives

Francesca Battistelli

He Knows My Name 

He calls me chosen,  free, forgiven, 

wanted, Child of the King

His forever, held and treasured, 

I am loved

Intentional Praise Day # 26 of Thankfulness

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below

Praise Him above ye Heavenly hosts

Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost

We sing it every Sunday. 

For years. 

In response to giving. 

To giving of His tithe and our offering. 

The words and melody simple and familiar. 

Everyone Praise Him 

It doesn't say where, or when. 

Just to praise. 

In obedience. 

All creatures. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Stepping into gratitude when you want
 to step right back to bed takes practice. 

Each day tiny steps. 

Remember to encourage each other with life giving words. 

Find a way. 

Seek the blessed. 

Find the good. 

Reach for hope. 
While the missing is deep today, the choice to order my steps
 toward hope was intentional. 
We'll gather around this farm house table to celebrate our gratitude. 

Two families deep in grief. 
Two families standing on the promises of hope. 
I can not do this alone. 
My flesh is weak. 
But He is strong and in Him is my trust. 

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.
the Lord is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. 

30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:
a week of surprises and love
blessings in Best Buy
a puppy who is getting stronger each day
the college girl being home
the oldest farm girl and the traditions she is making with the farmette
the farm boy and two little girls-who aren't so little anymore
forgiveness
the pink hues of the sunrise
50 degrees on Thanksgiving Day
a day set aside for giving thanks
quiet mornings and hot coffee by the fire
the Ancient Word that brings life to my weary soul
opportunities to serve in other countries
people who want to help serve the people of Haiti and drop of items to the farm
not always knowing the outcome; learning how to trust
my farmer and our life together;
 it is not always easy and we have much to learn;
prayer
all I am learning in this journey with God 


May your day be rich in the goodness and love meant for all. 
Laying down my life at the foot of the cross was 
the best decision I have ever made. 
May you know that complete peace that is offered freely. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all. 

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.

Will You Help, So They Can Go? Day #24 of Thankfulness

Missions.

What do you think when you hear the word?

 Overseas?

Foreign country?

 For the first 15 years of my life I attended a Methodist Church. 

Missional in its purpose. 

I remember filling barrels with clothing to send over seas. 

I remember the barrels. 

We prayed continually for other countries and the missionaries. 

Vacation Bible School was a challenge to raise funds to purchase chickens and milk for families in need. 
I remember holding tightly to the quarter in my hot sweaty hand.

I remember the poster board chart. 
 The chicken and milk column's growing with each day. 

The desire to help deeply rooted. 

When I was 15 we switched to an Evangelical Covenant Church. 

Missionaries, there, had faces. 

They came and there were potluck dinners. 

They shared about their work; what God was doing. 

At home my father often became incensed
 when talking about serving in other countries. 

His philosophy; why can't we take care of our own? 

There are so many people in need. 

Right here in our own backyard. 

Until we end poverty in our own backyard we have no business going other places. . . he would say. 

These practices throughout my childhood led me to apply to be a missionary teacher in a mountainous community in Virginia when I graduated college. 

I was not accepted. 

(Good thing)

 I had no experience. 

I was an incredibly naive, city girl. 

But these experiences and the desire never left. 

Somehow I wanted to help.

My farmer had the opportunity to go with Josh McDowell's ministry
 to Romania about 15 years ago. 

The Lord closed the door tightly. 

The loss of his parents. 

Then two more children were added to the scene. 

And so many other life happenings. 
The opportunity never presented itself again. 

Until death and cancer knocked on the door. 

The urgency to go became so real for my farmer. 

He wanted his kids to experience another culture. 

I wanted to help get them there. 

And so an article in a pamphlet and a response from our community sent my farmer and his daughter to the country of Haiti. 

The experience changing them forever. 

This year their desire to go is even more fervent. 

They want to take a team. 

2 becomes 9. 

And God is slowly opening those doors. 

We would love to have you enter in this journey with us. 

First and foremost we need people to pray. 

There are so many logistics for this trip. 

Second we need folks to partner with us financially. 

We are not in a place to handle this on our own. 

We recognize that. 

We also recognize if the funds are not there. 

Then the trip for all of them is not meant to be. 

So if you are inclined to pray please come along side us. 

Send us a note, or just keep us in mind. 

If you are able to donate financially here is the link. 

Donate to Haiti Trip

There is also a Davis Family account at the Jericho Merchants Bank. 

Thank you to those who have already so graciously given. 

Please be sure to click on the Haiti Project tab and enter in the memo box 

Davis Trip to Haiti. 

Thirdly we are collecting supplies to fill suitcases to bring to the people. 
Through your generous donations, last year,  we were able to send 2 full suitcases of supplies. This year we are hoping to fill 9 suitcases!

Items that we are aware of are; feminine products, deodorant, bra's and underwear for teen girls. 

There is also an exciting opportunity for you to meet the team leader of this Haitian Trip and ways to serve right here in the United States!

While Global Compassion Network serves over seas, they also function in the United States as an Emergency First Response to disasters. 

They have equipped trailers with Emergency supplies to meet a Communities needs when Natural disasters occur. 

Dennis will talk to us about the many ways you can be involved in this ministry. 

Please join us, Friday, December 4, 2015, at 6:30 pm. in the

 Jericho Congregational Church Fellowship Hall. 

A light supper of beans and rice will be served. 

There will also be an opportunity to hear from a couple who are interested in bringing 2 Nicaraguan Orphans here to the states to help educate and equip them to go back to live in Nicaragua. 

30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:
an opportunity to serve
children who want to serve others
realizing our needs are met each day
prayer
intimacy with Christ
a home bursting with giggles and friends and kids home
a quiet night with my farmer
lessons I am learning while giving thanks
running water and heat
The crisp air, reminding us that winter is on the way
a freezer full of summer
a puppy that is mending well
a farm boy that is so grateful
a God that knows my needs before I even speak them


I pray your Thankfulness journey is going well. 
Something changes us when we give thanks. 

Remember to mark your calendars for Dec. 4, at 6:30.
Come partner with us in these exciting opportunities. 

Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, 
and he will reward them for what they have done.

Finding the Rock in the Swirling, Chaos Day #23 of Thankfulness

 My life flows on in endless song;
above earth’s lamentation,
I catch the sweet, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

It is Thanksgiving Sunday. 

The choir sings a long loved Hymn. 

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

The words piercing. 

Encouraging. 

What though my joys and comforts die?
I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth. 

A melody I have  hummed repeatedly over the years. 

No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?

The words play through my mind. 

Strength and power held in their prose. 

This latest challenge has shaken me. 

And I have almost stopped the singing. 

My inmost calm a raging tempest. 

While the choir sings I closed my eyes. 

"No storm can shake my inmost calm, 

While to that rock I'm clinging."

Though the waters rage around me. 

I have found the calm. 

Not from within. 

But from above. 

I am a churning, whirling mess. 

A cyclone of emotions. 

Through it all the melody plays. . .

The words a resounding message. 

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While the heaviness threatens to pull me under. 

I choose to sing today. 

I choose to cling. 

30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:
the hard times that teach me to cling
a son that is digging deep these days
a time to break bread with our church family 
and gather to sing the Ancient Hymns
grace and new mercies each day
friends who listen and love
a family that grieves and works together
wind chimes - that though I am not near the ocean - they remind me
sleep- I still love to go to bed
the warmth of the fire and hot coffee in the quiet
Emergency Vet clinics and the miracle they performed
the hope we have- even though we do not know the future, God does

Psalm 59:16

But I will sing of your strength, 

in the morning I will sing of your love; 

for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

As this world swirls and chaos finds you. 

May you cling to that Rock. 

And may there be a lovely song. 

The "Folgers in your cup" Moment, Gone Terribly Wrong Day #22 of Thankfulness

I envisioned a "Folgers in your cup",  kind of welcome home. 

The college girl is home. 

The kind of nice, clean house, bread baking; welcome home. 

A Saturday full of fun activities. 

I tried. 

I planned. 

Yet what we got was not what we had planned. 

Is it ever? 

Do we really have things go the way we wanted? 

I watched as my son wailed as he brought his injured puppy home. 

Something inside me snapped. 

When you see your children experience

 raw grief it does something to you. 

I have watched as they watched their 

Nana painfully slip into God's hands.

Then I watched them as our

3 year old ball of fluff died in my arms. 

Two weeks later I watched as I had to share that their beloved brother now resided with the King of Kings. 

And 2 months later that their dad was entering a fight for his life with the demon of cancer. 

 I watch as I share how our finances are a wee bit tight right now with the Organic switch over. 

And then I watch in horror as my farm boy's beloved 9 month old puppy companion, best friend is injured. 

I find myself not making rational decisions. 

I agree to something far beyond my ability or station in life. 

And the "Folgers in your cup" moment is gone. 

The real hard hitting, leave your gut aching part of reality is here. 

The littlest farm girl and I head to our knees. 

My farmer, college girl and farm boy

 have all headed to the Emergency Vet. 

The heart wrenching sobs of the littlest send me to the brink of grief. 

I watch her wracking body. 

I have only one thing to offer to this family. 

Hope. 

Hope in the One who allowed, even this,

 to pass through his fingers before it came to us. 

Trust in the God who is good; whether Loki lives or Loki dies. 

You see, the "Folgers in your cup", moments can happen. 

And when they do they are precious. 

We need to be ready for them. 

They will come. 

They just may not be when you expect them. 

They come as your spirit aches and you ask the littlest to pray. 

And her words and prayer make you realize she's not so little anymore. 

And all the teaching you have done through heartache and tragedy have been woven into the fabric of her being. 

That when the college girl is faced with an emergency

 her voice becomes soft and calm. 

And she is able to help that farm boy do what he needs to do. 

You realize the hope and trust you have spent a life time teaching has been ingrained in the hearts of your wee ones. 

We don't know how God will continue this story. 

The outcome; unknown to us. 

We do know that He will be with us through it all. 

No matter what. 

That He and He alone is that, "Folgers in your cup," moment. 

Isaiah 42:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.