...too small a thing...

18 Hours

For the next 18 hours (or less depending when you read this) you can do something in 2011 then this year is history. The events that happen in the rest of this day are soon to be what we would say as "last year."  Time marches on doesn't it. You cannot stop it. I took my son and daughter in law to the airport late yesterday and I saw my little granddaughter for the last time in 2011. I will look forward to seeing her for the first time in in 2012, but that is probably a month or so away. Time marches on.

I have many things on the calendar for 2012. Classes to attend, speaking engagements, and open space for counseling appointments, that I am praying God sends people to us at Blue Hope Counseling. There are two scheduled events still on the 2011 agenda. First this morning I am meeting with some of the Board of Directors of Mission Team Inc. We will have a short meeting to discuss a few things. Then nothing planned until tonight, but at about 9:30 pm I will hopefully have napped some to be ready to go out and bring in the New Year with the police. I have ridden along in a squad car the last 10 years as New Year's is one of the busiest nights of the year.

Looking back I have been able to accomplish a lot in 2011. Truly I can say the Lord has blessed me.  I hope (The Lord Willing) to accomplish a great deal more in 2012. After all we get an extra day in 2012. There is a Feb 29 on the calendar. What are your plans for the "extra day."

We will elect a new president next year. We will get an ear full of this over the coming months. Quick question: Are you praying for the candidates? Just a reminder that we need to. If you start now when election time comes you can honestly make the statement, "I have been praying for him/her since last year."

There is still time to do a lot of things this year. You can give today to your church and or your favorite ministry, and it be on your 2011 tax donation records. Lots of people do this and it has traditionally been a day of surprise and delight for many ministries and charities. The gift must be postmarked or in the hands of the charity by midnight. It is not OK to date a gift today and turn in tomorrow to be legal according to IRS guidelines. 

Tomorrow we write 2012 at the end of the date. If will be a first. Today is a last. This can be kind be confusing. Jesus even sort of addressed it to his disciples. Think about this:

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last." Matthew 20:16 NIV   Are we talking about dates or people? We have to have the last day of 2011 before we can have the first day of 2012 now don't we.

What is up with this? The issue is Jesus is telling His disciples a story in response to Peter's Question In Matthew 19:26 where he basically said "Jesus we have left everything behind and are following you. What is in it for us? What can we expect?" A very presumptuous and loaded question.

Jesus told then the parable about hiring the workers to work all times of the day and at the end paying them all the same thing. Interesting? There is lots of teaching that is done off of this passage but here is something to get in your head.

When is the time to start serving God? NOW. We like to make New Years resolutions and mark time. We like to be able to say when things happen, but having or maybe I should say BEING in a relationship with Jesus starts now.You do not need to worry about the date or the time.

You do not need 18 hours more or an extra day to do something to please God. You do not have to stop or start any habits or behaviors to please God. You simply must put HIm first in your life. And the point is do it now .......time is ticking away.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

2012 - Who Will You Be Hanging With?

It is a popular thing to just "hang out." This is the term that our young people use all the time to say what they are doing. If I ask someone who is a teen what are your plans .....The response is "We are just going to hang out a while." Now the place of hanging is important as you might guess, but the people of the hanging are far more important. So I have a question for you. Who will you be "hanging" with come 2012? This is a choice you know? Well sort of, anyway.

Let me ask another question? Who do you have in your life that is driving you crazy? Who makes you angry? Who worries you? Who is ugly to you? Oh, the people you are "hanging out" with? Your kidding right? No, I am not.  Do you know how often this is true. So many people are with the people who hurt them, abuse them, belittle them, take advantage of them, and have no respect for them. But they stay with them. Sometimes they are blood kin folk. Sometimes they are a significant other or a spouse. Sometimes they are just the people they want to hang out with. But people often hang out with people they would rather not be with, but they do not have a choice it seems.

We do not have a choice about the people we work with .....Or do we? We do not have a choice about the people we live with...or do we? That is the majority of the people you "hang out" with by the way. We can change, and believe it or not th people we "hang out" with can change too. 

This is what therapy is about. CHANGE? Curative process. Releaving tensions. Making things different.

When we approach the end of the year we tend to make new year's resoloutions. We want to stop or start something in our lives. Good or bad habits we seek either stop or start. This is change. Often this may be because of someone we live with, work with or hang with. We really deep down inside want them to change,  but lack the means or method to enable or bring about change.

So where do you go for help?  Where can you find ammo in the battle of change? Number one place is deep in your heart? Right .....Negative. You will find yourself like the Tin Man on the Yellow Brick Road ..no heart. How about going to the book store for a self help book. Borders, (not anymore) Barns and Noble has plenty of books that can tell you all the secrets of how to get the job done in your life. Right? You can learn to meditiate and reflect? (OK, moving right along) How about just good old will power? Grit your teeth boys and "git-er-done" on whatever change you need to make. Right...... OK ...What?

How about something that works. How about living up to the life that God has for you. How about realizing how much God loves you and wants the best life for you. How about some help with the Bible to know it, and understand it. Three things I might suggest.

• Bible Study on a regular basis. Both privately and with a group for accountablity.
• Celebration of your life in Christ by making Worship a priority. Being in a service often to celebrate your life in Christ.
• Deal with the issues that are bringing you down You may need a friend, a pastor, or a Biblical Counsleor to line yourself up with the Word of God to make the change. 

These are choices you will make. Think about them as you make New Years Resoloutins. Who are you going to be hanging with? Life is a process and change is a process too. Too often people lack the understanding of the fact that change is a process too. People try to make things different but give up when one thing tried doesn't seem to work.

Maybe your New Year's Resouloution needs to be to spend more time "hanging with God." The place is not important the person is.

 

A Day That I Cannot Forget

Now I have had days that I would just as soon forget, and a good many days I have forgotten. And I know I have forgotten so many things that I really should remember, but for the life of me, I cannot think of what they are. Now what is today? Oh Yeah.... it is Wednesday the day they pick up the trash..... Try again......

Of couse it is my wife's birthday. Happy Birthday Kathy.

I have not forgotten but now I have another problem. Saying Happy Birthday is one thing but making it special for her is another. I am going to give it a whril to make her day very special. She is worth it you know.

Having Vera here is very special for her. I am taking her out for a nice lunch and beyond that will be her call.

Nanna Hard At Work

BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO SEE WHAT SHE IS WORKING ON.

I Know Better.

When I was a kid and I did something I was not supposed to do, my Momma would always make this statement, Scotty "you know better than that."  And what is so strange is that I know now that I have use this expression with my children. But what does this really mean? What do we know? And what is better? Is there a scale of some type that helps us to know when we have accomplished knowledge.

Now this can be very serious stuff or this could be something simple. Let me give you an example. Last night I was a my mother's for a little while before I went on to the airport to pick up the kids. I had eaten a good supper before I left home. Momma says as always "do you want a cup of coffee?" and I said of course. This was not a problem as I knew we would be up late. But then she said, "Do you want a cookie?" Ashley brought some ginger ones. My they were good, I had a good little handful. Then momma said "Those other cookies are really good too." Now here is where the "I know better" starts. I just ate a few...3 or 4. Then Momma says "How about a piece of coconut cake? NOW Here is the Big "I KNOW BETTER." But for some reason I said OK.  (In looking for that reason I could quickly name many, Brian's plane was delayed, it's Christmas, make momma feel useful, wanted some of that cake on Christmas eve, Sweet Tooth was raging, Stupidity, all of these a valid reasons.)

Now Momma comes back with a mongo sized piece of coconut cake. (What does mongo mean?, why would I use such a word,  so I looked it up and actually it is a 100th part of a Tugrit. so I guess I know better than to use a nosense word but I did it anyway.) Should I eat the whole thing? or maybe eat half and say I am full....(Wait I was full when I told her I wanted it)  Bottom line I KNOW BETTER, but I ate it anyway.

Too full, little bit of heart burn and I am afraid to get on the scales. I KNOW Better....Now today the kids are all coming for Christmas dinner. Kathy is getting up in a minute to start cooking.......FOOD IS CALLING.

Calm down, my gullet You know better. Knowing better and doing better is two different things around the holidays.

1When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
         Consider carefully what is before you,

2And put a knife to your throat
         If you are a man of great appetite.

                                Proverbs 23:1-2

 

He Was Just A Kid....

How many times do you hear this phrase "Why I remember when He was Just a Kid...." when families get together around the holidays. Today I wanted to share with you the first "Davis" Kids. My nephew Jeffery Davis has established a great ministry that many of you might want to know a little more about.  "Why I remember when that kid was born."

But Jefferey has grown up, and now the ministry organization he has established is called Truth In Nature.  Truth in Nature is an organization to make a difference in the lives of children and young teens by taking them in to the great outdoors. Too often kids of single parents do not get the opportunity to be involved in activities such as hunting and fishing. Many of these kids are too often left along at home bot becouse of the lack of love but because mom or dad is the only bread winner and they just trying to survive. Jeff and his wife Carrie have a passion for these young people to first share Christ with them and second to teach them about the beautiful world God has given us.

Jeff has put together a short year in review video for you to get to know a little more information about the ministry.

Knowing someone when they are "just a kid" means you have the opportunity to help that kid along the path. That is what Jeff is doing and I am grateful I had the opportunity to help him just a little when he started. Maybe this blog today would help him a little along the way too.

Check out his video it is pretty cool.

My kids will all be with us as a family tomorrow I cannot wait to celebrate the Lord's birth with them. The Davis family is a place where the Lord is loved and served and I am so thankful. Of Course this is the first Christmas with my grand daughter Vera...."Why I remember when she was just a kid"....That is now of course. Truth in Nature is NOW too.

A Different Christmas

This year's Christmas will certainly be one that does not just fade into the mass memory of the many Christmases of the past. Two major reasons both are note worthy enough to greatly affect the normal Christmas celebrations. One on Christmas Eve and the other yesterday before we had our Christmas dinner.

The first actually started on the night before Christmas eve when we were preparing to have our family devotion and prayer time, and Brittany came up from downstairs and said these words, " Dad the water heater is leaking." My Christmas Eve relaxed morning changed to a frantic hunt for a new water heater and the afternoon of Christmas eve to relax was instead a real test of my plumbing skill. I praise the Lord for the ability and training He has allowed me to gain over the years and so with only a little bit of trouble (a small leak) I was able to install the new water heater on Christmas Eve. We were able even to make the last Christmas Eve Service at Burnt Hickory. But it was a different way to spend Christmas Eve.

Christmas day started easy enough. I wrote the blog early 4 am and then I really wanted to do something for some of the police officers who were having to work. So with a song in my heart, flour flying and sausage and ham sizziling I went to work. About 30 minuts later  I had a bucket full of ham and sausage biscuts for the guys at zone 3 and took off down there at 5:30 am. I had a chance to wish all of them Merry Christmas and spend just a few minutes with them, not knowing I would be back later in the day.

Home ready to go and on to Kathy's mother's house for the big Chirstmas preperation. We were going early to help get things ready and since we did not have an early service I caught Dr Stanley on the TV. As we were at Mom's starting to get ready I got a text message and followed up with a call. Words that always put me on the move. Officer involved shooting. It is in the news now so need for me to report anyting extra about the event except that it changed Christmas for a lot of people. I was one of them. But the Lord is good, all of our officers were fine. The same officers I carried breakfast to were now however dealing with the aftermath of this type of a critical incident.

My Christmas was different this year for other reasons too. Two of the boys live out of town now, and we are working hard to get them all together. So we cannot actually celebrate Christmas with all of my family together until the 28th. This means it is not over yet. Christmas is always a process it seems. From the celebrations that happen early in the season until the tree and tinsel come down it is a season. A season of celebration. Christmas eve and Christmas day are of course the main two days and unexpected events changed my plans a little this year.

Even though the imperfections of water heaters and sinful actions of the world may interupt a my Christmas celeberations nothing can ever change the fact that the Christ Child came. He came for me and I am a believer. I am redeemed by the miracle of Christmas which is Immanuel - God with us.

The events of Christmas may be different and not what I planned on but Christmas, the real Christmas, the coming of God to Earth is always and forever the same. I worship the one who came.

Christmas 2011

Five years ago I began this passion to put my thoughts out in cyberspace. It started kind of slow at first a post every day or two but has mostly become now a part of my daily routine. So many of you have offered encouragement to me that I think it worth while to get up every morning and think up the words I write here. This is actually post number 1002. Two days ago we hit post number 1000. So I am praying the next 1000 post will be read and enjoyed by many as I enjoy writing to you.

The themes of my post usually are about me, my family, stories from the past and about things I love. Motorcycles, and Law Enforcement are very often the topic and of course I am always trying to encourage you in the Faith.

I want to honor my Lord in all I do. This is why I write..... This is why I live. It is a special day and so most of you do not need a long blog just a word of encourgement.

 

Merry Christmas To All

May your Christmas Day honor the one who came to earth this day because He loved you so much He was willing to die for you.

Thank you to those men and women who are on duty today in patrol cars, on fire trucks, and at 911 consoles.

Just As Usual

This is the day before Christmas. Christmas eve. A special day for almost all of the people who live in the USA and in fact most of the world takes note that this is a Holiday. People are lighthearted and there is always a lot of activity. For many there will be a celebration that starts today. In our family we have always gotten together on Christmas eve. When I was little it was at my Mam maw and Pap paw Davis house. And about 30 or so years ago it changed to my mom and dad's house. We have very normal patterns on Christmas of what we do and too often what we say.

The world was at peace. The Romans were making sure of that. Taxes were high and the Hebrew people's lives were not in bitter bondage as they had been in Egypt, but they were not free either. They were under the rule of the Emperor of Rome. So when he said go to your birthplace and be taxed you went under fear of a penalty if you did not. It did not matter if you were 9 months pregnant. You went anyway.

Now Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem even though she was pregnant and travel was rough for her they went. Between them they knew the truth about this child. They both knew their baby was special and that God had revealed this to them. Were they afraid? I am sure they were a little? Did they have great excitement? Of course they did. But not all shared this excitement and knowledge of who the Child was Mary was carrying. As a matter of fact hardly anyone else did. So life was going on all around them as usual. No one paid any attention to this couple that were ready to bring a child into the world. This child would change all of humanity. This Child was God in the Flesh.

All around the world there will be people celebrating Christmas starting today. An event that truly is festive. Decorations, gifts, food, and travel to see friends and family are all a part of our modern celebrations. But it is so sad that so may will celebrate a holiday, and not a birth. So many will be more excited about Santa than the Savior. Life it seems will go on just as usual.

See, there was no room in the Inn for the couple bringing God into the world 2000 years ago and nowdays there is no room in the Christmas celebration for God either. How about at your celebration? All week this week I have been writing devotions from the Christmas Story for you. They have all had sort of a similar theme. The idea is that if your celebration of Christmas is focused on the Christ Child. To focus on Jesus the Lord God Almighty, this will be something you must intentionally do. Are you ready to do it? Or will this year be just a usual?

I want to wish everyone a Chist filled Christmas. May your celebration focus your lives to serve Him.

Ready for the Moment

The scene is a poor old woman carrying a child into the temple. She is followed by a man who is silent. She must speak for him because he is mute. "Where is the mother?" someone says to Elizabeth. "I am the mother." "Where is the father?" bearing the disgrace again she speaks for him again, "This is Zacharias the child's father and I am Elizabeth the child's mother." She was way too old to be having a baby but there she was in the temple with her eight day old child to presnt him to the priest to be circumcised.

"Ok Lady, You and Zacharias sit down over there with baby Zacarias by the door and we will be with you in a few minutes." With a strong clear voice Elizabeth speaks out with a authoratative voice, "His name is John."

The temple priest stop and turn "What? I thought you said this man Zacharias is the father."

Elizabeth looks them in the eye. "Zacharias is the father, but the baby shall be called John."Then one of the temple attendants says "I remember this man, a few months ago he was the one chosen to go into the Holy of Holies and when he came out he could not speak." "We have not figured out why or what happened that day."

Thinking that this woman is trying to pull some sort of trickery on this poor old mute man, the priest began to motion to John. Pointing to the child and making motions as to what he is to be called. John made a motion back like he was writing. and they sent for a tablet and a pen.

Zacharias wrote carefully and boldly .... HIS NAME IS JOHN....

Then it happend His tongue was loosened and he could speak. Slowly at first then with strength and with authority. Zacharias did not explain, He did not make excuse, There was no small talk, no sarcasm and no snide comments. He began to praise God. His voice loud and clear he parised God.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
         For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
         In the house of David His servant—

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES,
         And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US;

To show mercy toward our fathers,
         And to remember His holy covenant,

The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
         Might serve Him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
         For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;

To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
         By the forgiveness of their sins,

Because of the tender mercy of our God,
         With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
         To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Remarkable things and powerful words by a man who is sure of what God is doing in his life. He was ready for the moment. A critical moment when his child was named and he could speak. He knew the work of his son. He know that God's redemption was coming. His praise for God was from his heart.

Oh the moment is coming for you. Special moments when a child is first put in your arms. When you have your family all together, or when you are with someone after an accident or at any critical moment in life. So many time we look for words to say when praise for God is what is needed.

Tomorrow is Christmas eve and so much always happens on that day. It is all about the coming of the Lord Jesus. Zacharias knew that and his son had a chance to prepare the way for Jesus coming. But so do each of us. We are all instruments of God to speak on his behalf. You have a voice. You have words you can speak. You can praise God or make a silly joke. Our tounges have been without praise for God for too long. Speak up man, and tell the World the Savior has come.