Psalm 100:1.Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Mom would've been 72 today. Always enjoyed the smile she expressed when we got her something for her b-day and on Christmas too. A card, sugar free candy, crossword puzzle books, a bottle of Jovan perfume, a watch, a duster (a robe w buttons, not something to actually dust furniture with...:) )etc.
It really didn't take a lot to please her and make her smile. It was just enough to know someone remembered and cared enough to acknowledge her special day. I know this sort of thing meant a lot to her because when going through her things, there were literally hundreds if not thousands of b-day cards, Christmas cards, sympathy cards, wedding invitations, thank you cards, b-day invitations, post cards, etc. I think she kept every card any one had ever sent to her. Letters too. I saw letters from her youngest sister when she lived in Ohio (over 40+ years ago), letters from me when I was in college (in the early to mid 80's), letters from my brother when he was in the Navy (1976-79) more recent letters (she didn't care for computers and didn't ever use EMAIL, at all) from old friends and relatives. She kept "everything".

During her life, she felt called to the ministry of cards and letter contact. Her burden was missionaries and their families. Mom sent b-day cards, anniversary cards, and "praying for you" cards to missionaries & their children all over the world. Many of them I come across or hear about still ask about her and comment on how much it meant to them, a half a world away, to receive cards from someone in the U.S. who was thinking about and praying for them.

I know her and our family that have gone on before us are celebrating her b-day today. What a wonderful life she shared w me & the rest of us who remain here.
Happy Birthday Mom!
We miss you, but are so happy that you can eat all the cake and ice cream you want and not worry about your weight or your sugar. Say "hello" to all I know there and give my girl a great big hug & kiss from me.

Thoughts & prayers, DLC

He Lives!

At service they sang a song that I remembered my brother sang when he led singing and sang specials at a church we attended many years ago.
"He Lives"...
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today,
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
and just the time I need Him, He's always near.

Chorus:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me and talks with me
Along the narrow way
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives, he lives within my heart.

Going through more of mom's things this weekend I came across a picture. It was a picture of my mother and my daughter Hannah sitting on mom's bed. In the background of the picture, on the wall behind them, were pictures of my brother. At first I was a little creeped out. All 3 subjects in this picture were no longer with me.
But then this scripture came to my mind. Jesus talking to the Pharisees...
.....
Matthew 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
.....

Then today at this service, "He Lives" was sang and this scripture was posted on the big overhead screen.
.....
I Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
.....
Then its like the Lord reminded me that even though mom, Hannah, & Dewayne are no longer "with us" in the earth, this separation is only temporary. Really, that is all DEATH is, separation. But thanks be to God for giving us victory over DEATH, HELL, & the GRAVE. HE is the God of the living. Sometimes in our grief we act as the
Pharisees did when speaking of Abraham and their forefathers, in the past tense.
But they ARE ALIVE just as Jesus is ALIVE.
.....
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
.....
What a blessed hope!
Thoughts & Prayers, DLC

...These Colors Don't Run

We just moved to Arlington back in June. I have been taking time to sit in garage and go through moms "stuff" she kept over the years. Its amazing all the things we accumulate over time and what we deem important enough to hold on to. This weekend I came across her box of things that were my brothers keep sakes, memories, etc. My brother passed away in 1996 on Sept. 10th, at the ripe old age of 39. He had cancer. As I begin to pick up things to look at, pictures, articles of clothing, I begin to weep. There was a little jacket my uncle, who was in the airforce, had bought for him while he served in Korea. I was especially moved when I picked up the U.S. flag my mother was given by the Navy after his death, I remembered a phrase I had read on a T-shirt of a friend. Speaking of the American flag, the T-shirt said "these colors don't run". I still believe that. Since he passed away, there has been 911, Katrina, Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, and now the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. America isn't perfect by no stretch of the imagination. But one thing we can say is that when duty calls, when tragedy strikes, when challenges arise, when some leaders would push us towards socialism, "these colors don't run".

I remembered his memorial service. I still had the notes he wrote down for me & our pastor at the time. When he found out he had cancer and only had months if not but a few weeks to live. He made preparations. He made a VCR tape to say good bye. He also wrote letters to my mother & myself, telling us how much he loved us and how much we meant to him.

My oldest son is about to set off for college. He has aspirations to study law, maybe practice, and possibly to become a politician. I'm going to give him my brother's flag and remind him that no matter where his political pursuits take him,
always honor that flag, especially those who sacrifice their lives to protect it and what it represents. Many a loyal soldier, sailor, airman, marine, has let their own blood run so we can say about the flag & freedom they protected. These "colors don't run."
Thoughts & prayers, DLC

Remembering My Girl...

Yesterday was 6 month anniversary of Hannah's passing. I went to visit a Messianic Jewish church in Duncanville yesterday as well and it was an awsome experience. One of the things that stood out to me was members of the congreation partcipated in a structured dance during songs & worship. It was the neatest thing I had ever seen.
I couldn't help but think my little girl was in heaven probably doing this same dance around the throne of Jesus. She always called Him "my Jesus". I miss her terribly, but I try to take comfort in the fact that she is in the best possible place imaginable. In heaven, there is no sickness, no epilepsy, no autism, no sadness.

Today I went to ALC in Plano, TX. They sang the 'revelation song' and it was one of Hannah's favorites. I wept as we sang thinking of how happy she must be.
I wonder some days if this hurt will ever go away, but the messages I've heard from God the last 2 days gives me hope. Msg #1, Israel was told by God that they should've conquered Canaan years before they actually did. Near 40 to be exact. 10 Israeli spies blamed their doubt on giants, but the thing is that Ammon, Moab, & Edom all conquered their respective lands by defeating giants. If pagan peoples that offer their own children as sacrifices to false gods can defeat the giants in their lives, why can't a people who are blessed by God, and are God's chosen people?
Msg #2, Jesus healed a blind man and asked him what he saw. He replied " I see men as trees walking...". Jesus then instructed him to LOOK UP, and the man saw clearly.
Many times God touches us, blesses us, heals us, and we require a 2nd touch to see what HE has for us clearly. The 2nd moral to this story is that we need to stop looking at "man". Humans, since the garden, have not been clear, made sense, etc...
Only time we can SEE CLEARLY is if we do LOOK UP toward Heaven and see Jesus.
HE is the only constant, He is the only one that matters and will make perfect sense.
The reason we don't get God many times is because HIS ways are above our ways.
Peter got the picture @ Cesarea Phillipi when asked "who is Jesus...".
Thou ART THE CHRIST. Nothing will make sense to you until YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS...
Thoughts & prayers, DLC

They Shall Be Mine...

Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

I love this passage of scripture and also love the song by Andre Crouch it inspired, "They Shall Be Mine".

David's Thoughts...

This is something I've wanted to do for awhile now. I post scriptures on FB but they give you little for an entire passage and if I have comments to add, they have to go into the comments field below. Again space is limited.

This blog gives me a chance to express my "artistic" side and share w family & friends.
Most posts will be personal and reflective. Some will be a favorite Bible scripture or a favorite quote and my thoughts on it.

Purpose of this blog is to share thoughts and feelings and hopefully incite creative thinking & possibly inspiration to all readers. Truthfully, any of my thoughts or opinions will not be meant to offend or attack anyone.

Hope you enjoy it! Thoughts & Prayers, DLC