Engulfed

WOW... it's been 6 months since we arrived Hope House Children's Home and I've only written two posts here.  That should tell y'all how engulfed we've been in this ministry.  

Engulfed and overwhelmed most often, yet able to grab hold of those little nuggets of golden moments and opportunities that God allows us amidst the seemingly seamless inner turmoil that these kids live with day-in and day-out.  

They are stretched like rubber bands through love-based disciplines and structure; and just like rubber bands, they bounce back when spiritually and emotionally "wrestled" with by nameless, invisible enemies (only I believe there are names for them).  Many know how to survive, they've had to, and these are some of the toughest "skin" to break thru.  Hard shells covering the most tender hearts; if only to be allowed a glimpse.  


Sweet smiles, heart-breaking tears, bubbling laughter, shocking outbursts; all consuming to the one being engulfed by the contagiousness of it all.

This ministry is easy; it's difficult; it's humbling; it's infectious; it's exhausting; it's rewarding; it's personal, but most aspects of it cannot be taken personally; it's life-changing; it's heart-breaking; it's heart-softening; did I mention engulfing?


This is a ministry that one is called to be engulfed in others; yet it is so easy to get engulfed in self.  


On that note ... please pray that my heart will produce a protective barrier from the engulfment of self, and be all about others.  


EnGULFED in my Kup...
                                          Cindy
 

Survival VS. Life

I suppose it's about time that I write something here because it's been a while.  I've been a bit busy working full-time with 21+ girls under the age of 19 and then come home and, with what energy I have left, do my best in being wife and mom to my own family.  I originally started this ministry with Steve to be part-time so that I was able to be who I need to be at home; however, due to the recent staff "holes" I felt that I needed to volunteer to be there full-time until more help came.  I'm pretty tired to say the least, and right now, at this moment, I probably should be taking a nap before my family arrives home to allow my body and brain to re-energize; but some still small voice interjected with that thought of this update and so I'm complying ;0)  

*deep sigh*

As I listen to the different species of birds chirping outside my opened window, God is reminding me that as much as He cares for the little details of a sparrows life and surroundings to be able to survive, that He even more so pays special attention to my life, my family's life, and our specific surroundings that we live in right now.  

Today I feel like mentally diving into survival mode; but with that would follow the emotions and then the physical and then the relational aspect of my life.  That would not be healthy.  

Sparrows instinctively know how to survive...because God gave them this instinct.  

I know how to survive...because my parents have taught me the basics of survival, not to mention the circumstances of life...lessons learned.

But do I only want to survive or do I really want to live!

God reminds me that He gives life and gives it abundantly.    

So how do I feel it abundantly?  

What does this look like?

I have an idea, but what do you think?

This is open for comments and discussion.  What has been your experience?  What are your thoughts on the abundant life?

Enjoyin' My Kup.....

                                   Cindy

And Yet...

"Joy comes with the morning".  

My eye caught this statement written on the desk that my computer is sitting on, and it dawned on me that this describes the beginning of 2012 coming out of this challenging past year of 2011 for me personally... 

A year of failed relationships, which resulted in a broken heart...mine, physical pain, and two huge moves which put my family living in 3 states in one year...the 3rd of which we landed on the last day of the  year, and of which we now reside.   

On the other hand, the triumphs and joys that did occur filled the holes where the failures and pain did not...praise God!  In Him there is refuge ;0)


Joy does come with the morning...and so do new mercies.

We are now in Marsing, Idaho ministering at a children's home called Hope House.  If you're interested you can find the story behind the ministry at www.ahome2come2.com.  

God is so good and faithful to have led us here on December 31st, 2011.  Packing during Christmas season is not a recommended task to follow, but I have to say that the family event that took place at our home on Christmas evening was a fabulous one to remember.  

Thank You, Lord for that "stone of remembrance"! 

Two days after that event we packed the kitchen and the Christmas deco (because everything else was already in boxes) and into the Uhaul Budget Truck it went...and on the road again we were off on another adventure!

I will not be sharing much about what we are doing here or updating in detail on this blog (or maybe I will, who knows); however, if you'd like to be on our mailing list for receiving an update/support/prayer letter on a quarterly basis please email me your mailing address at cindysmusicpassion@gmail.com and I'd be happy to add you on the list. 

Steve and I and the girls are extremely happy and at peace here at Hope House.  It sums up all the experiences we've had from the time we were kids through our ministry journey ... the opportunities the Lord gave us to learn and be used by Him...


And His JOY comes with the morning.  A new day has dawned, a new year has arisen, a new season is coming to bloom in the life of the Davis Family.


EnJOYing My Kup...
                             Cindy

Beyond the Tinsel

The pine tree, in all its' varieties, would most likely be voted (if there was a vote) the most popular symbol for Christmas in this modern era.  It's the one item that is most common in tradition and begs the attention of people gathered all around.  From cities' central park to the living rooms across America, from hospitals' waiting rooms to corporate office buildings; they're everywhere.

While some people randomly spend money to adorn this prickly "mascot" with sentimental ornaments and twinkling lights, others are meticulously drawing up "plans" to display the best themed tree of the year.  For most house-holds it's the gotta-have-it  item of the season or "it's just not Christmas!" ... even if it's a bit of a Charlie-Brown Christmas Tree.

With that said, I am observing a mite difference in this year's Christmas season.  Quite possibly it could be because we (my own family) will not be purchasing, or (as our tradition has been the past few years) hiking up into the snowy forest and cutting down one of its fresh beauties, that I'm noticing more than a few folks will be following suite for different reasons.

Yet, still my itty-bitty childhood tree found its place on the fireplace hearth. 

The Christmas Tree Lots have fewer trees even.

Causes one to pause and think.

Beyond the tree are the many lights and competitions of how bright one can light up a single home.  This year the neighborhoods are darkened.

Beyond the lights are the many presents occupying the base of the tree...or maybe just a few this time ... with hearts filled with thanksgiving and gratitude for only the few.

Beyond the presents ... is ... the foooood!!!  And we all know this activity takes the most time to plan and execute.  Included in that is who is doing what:  from turkey to ham, from mashed to scalloped potatoes, pies to sugar cookies, and on the list goes.  The kitchen becomes the Center for yumminess and the center of stress.  This year, however, in my household, the menu will be 3 scrumptious soups, a variety of breads, and homemade pies = shared talents from multiple family members and no stress!!!

Beyond the food is the Nativity ... in which I've discovered we've inherited collected four of them unintentionally, and only one of them encompasses the baby Jesus...or a clay model of Him anyway ;0) 

And here at the end of this post lies what ought to be the most important reason of all for worshiping ... ahem ... displaying the pine tree, shining the lights, presenting the gifts, and preparing the food... JESUS.

WHY?

Because He is the One who makes all those things or events possible...or not.  He can give and He can take away, and He is to be blessed either way.  This Babe that was born to save us ... is the same Babe that arose from the grave.

I wonder if this modern era is beginning to realize that its forest smelling mascot and all that follows it is not what its all cracked up to be, or that there's more beyond the tinsel and the twinkles and the toys.


I wonder.


Enjoying My Kup...
                          Cindy

Have you ever felt a bit shaken?

It's been a while, I know, but the way life has been going here in my family blogging has not been on the top of my priority list.  I've given it thought quite a few times but haven't had the umption or drive to write about all of it.  These are the thoughts that are at the forefront of my mind: 

We feel uprooted, winded, and just plain and simple...in a rut.

We feel displaced, unnerved, and unsettled.

And all of this just when we thought we were feeling rooted and refreshed and starting a new beginning set in a place of safety and freedom and opportunity.

"The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

And that is how it's going.

I know most of you are in the dark about what exactly I'm talking about... and some things need to be left unsaid at this point...because it's not the details that matter.  What matters is how we're responding to the "movement"... if that's what it is.  The shaking and the uneven ground under our feet...or so it seems.  That reminds me of a scripture I highlighted in my Bible not too long ago.  It's describing the voice of the Lord.  It says, 
 
"The voice of the Lord shakes the desert." Psalm 29:8

Not only does the Lord's voice come in gentle whispers, but it's profound and evident.  Read the rest of Psalm 29...there's more to His Almighty voice.
 
In the physical sense here in California the shaking and movement of the earth's floor is normal and expected, just like tornadoes are expected in the midwest, like Kansas.  So it's a little ironic geographically where we are experiencing the same in the emotional, mental and spiritual.  But God has a sense of humor at times too, wouldn't you agree?  And often times, I suppose as Christians being transformed, we ought to expect this "shaking"... as normal...shouldn't we?
 
Not sure where I'm going with this; however, I am sure of one thing:  God is not through with us yet, nor has He left us or forsaken us.  He's shakin' something out of us in order for His purpose to be accomplished...ouch, it hurts, but it's a Romans 8:28 kind of purposeful thing...ya know?
 
Thoughtfully with My Kup...
                                       Cindy

Stone Soup - BLESSING #3

HOPE

Ephesians 1:12, "...we, who...hope in Christ."

Definition: n. a desire combined with expectation.

                     v. to desire, with belief of obtaining.

Hey Friends!  For the past 7 weeks we have gained understanding of two wonderful blessings that we can claim for ourselves:  grace and forgiveness.  In doing so, we know the basis of our salvation in Jesus Christ.  

Have you claimed this?  

I pray that you have, because the weeks ahead will be those blessings that we obtain when we grab hold of this sure and solid foundation in Jesus.  He is the means to living in eternity with God.  

He is our Hope.  

Eternity in Heaven is what we can look forward to, this is where our Hope resides; where He will wipe all our tears away for good and there will be no more pain or sorrow to deny within us (Revelation 21:4).  It is this that gives us motivation to believe, to have faith and trust in God (Colossians 1:5), and let Him be our Lord, our Leader, our King in all of our life; in everything that we do or say (Colossians 1:18, 3:17).  

Have you ever read a story with full expectation of a good ending, and when you race through the content of it and at last read the very end of the story you say, "Is this it?  Is this all there is?"  Were you expecting so much more?  I have and if it was a really good book with a really good plot I really wanted to keep reading page after page of more of the colorful story. 

But, oh my friends, what a joy it is for me to say that the ending of our story will be one totally unimaginable...well I suppose you might try and imagine it...if we are in Christ.  One of the great mysteries of God is that the story of our eternal lives will never end.  Oh sure, our earthly bodies will pass away and return to dust in which we came, but our souls will go on into eternity with Jesus (Colossains 3:4).

Who's up for a new bod?  Yeah me too!  We're getting one...so can't wait for that.

We all love fairy tales...yes, you too guys ;o)  You dream to be the Prince, or the King, that sweeps us Queens and Princesses off our sweet-smelling, newly pedicured feet...(I can dream)...right?  But why do we love them?  

Have you ever once thought that the life of a fairytale prince or princess is what real life is supposed to be like?  Fairy tales are what dreams are made up of, aren't they? 

Look at Adam and Eve before their "bad choice".  They lived in "fairytale" land (or paradise) only they did not know of evil...yet.  Their life was a dream, our dream, but to them a reality.  It was intended to be reality to us as well.  

I believe God is preparing heaven for us in this way only so much more...without the villian; for fairy tales are written by man with a truly limited mind and imagination.  Yes, Heaven can be to us unimaginable, unbelievable, and unreality, but the mystery and sweetness to that is it.is.real., it is believable by faith, and it is still beyond our imagination.  God allows us to see parts of Heaven through His word, and the beauty of His creation.  Pay special attention to a flower this week.  Notice God's perfection and detail.  Pretty cool, huh?  It is through God's creation that He reveals a part of His character (Psalm 24).

In John 14:1-4, Jesus is comforting His disciples before His death in saying this, "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going."  Jesus is preparing a place for us, friends!  

Let's contemplate on this for the week and dream up what we would like life to be for us...with Jesus!  What would your surroundings be?  What are you doing?  Where are you that you can just say, "Now this is what life is all about; right here, right now."  If time could only stand still for just a few moments, days, years, well a lifetime...eternity!  

For example:  I had always dreamed of living in a log cabin overlooking a beautiful mountainous lake with the smell of pine trees and the sound of birds chirping their "hallelujahs" to their Maker.  I had dreampt  of enjoying the beauty and sharing it with wildlife, like deer.  To top it all off, I had dreampt of having a horse to ride through the forest of the mountain (my back yard) and ride to where very few could get to.  Beautiful waterfalls always enhance the view...but you get the idea.  

However...

Since the initial writing of these words (10 years ago) I have lived a bit of this dream, and to tell ya the truth...it was a thrill and I loved it y'all, being up in the mountains with all of it...but I would trade it entirely for simply being in the presence of God ... period!  I suppose it took me living in the physical dream of mine to experience and realize the reality of His magnificant glory!  And sometimes that is His point.

But why did I dream all those things before?  What about it was so appealing to me?  (Ask yourself these questions as well)  I believe the reason that I dreampt what I dreampt because I desired peacefulness (the sense of sound), joy of beauty (the sense of sight), and the freedom to live life as it was meant to be (all the senses combined).  

Here's what I know now:  Jesus is my Peace (Ephesians 2:14), He is the Maker of beauty, and I can be free to see it all when I enter Heaven.  

There is a need in all our dreams and Jesus is the Provider of those needs.  Let's desire Jesus and our dreams will be fulfilled in far greater ways than our imagination can stretch.  This is our hope!

Allow me to pray for you this week:  Oh Jesus, You are our Provider, and may we be ever so mindful of the hope that we have in You.  I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen these people with power through the Holy Spirit so that You may dwell in their hearts through faith.  I pray that Your power would help them to grasp how wide and long and high and deep Your love is, Jesus, and to know this love surpasses knowledge; that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  May You, Jesus, get all the praise and glory and honor for what You have done, are doing, and will do!  I pray this in Jesus Name, Amen!  (Ephesians 3:16,19)

Go in peace, in joy, and in hope!!!

Reflect on Psalm 39:7

Enjoying My Kup...

                          Cindy

Stone Soup - Forgiveness (conclusion)

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

Jesus cried out... "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:44,46)

"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5) 

Christ has come and He is our Hope in this hopeless world!  Amen?  Oh yes, we do have a Hope to look forward to and I can hardly wait for next week's devotional, for that is the subject matter - hope; BUT let me not jump too quickly over the "crux" of this Light.  For it is the Light, Jesus, whom had to suffer first before the light could burst the seams of darkness right open, exposing for all to see.  

Let us walk with Jesus, this morning, in the last days of His life as an onlooker of his suffering.  This will be a difficult journey, yes, but it is a necessary one.  For it is through his sufferings that He is able to identify with ours.  It is through his sufferings that He has taken our burden of sin and placed it on His own shoulders to bear.  Yes, Jesus was perfect in every way.  He faced trials; but not only did He face them, He lived them.  

The most shocking trial of all was that of the cross.  Blameless as He was, an unblemished Lamb, He was taken to the "slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7)...if you don' t recall what this "lamb being slaughtered" is all about go back to the post Forgiveness part 2. 

If you've decided to be a critic of Jesus (and by the way, I'm amazed you're still here!  Thank-you for sticking with this ;o) allow me, then, to get a bit more graphic in detail describing what Jesus went through physically before being brutally nailed to the cross.

Twice He was placed in the middle of a group of soldiers only to be stripped of His clothing and mocked at, insulted, spit on, and laughed at.   They intertwined a branch of thorns and pushed jammed it down into His head, in His scalp.  

Imagine the piercing pain, the trickling of warm blood running down His forehead, burning His eyes and tasting bitter on His lips, leaving a bloody trail of remembrance in the dusty trail that led to His death.

The soldiers took a staff, or long stick, and hit His face and head again and again.  They beat Him mercilessly, with, not only a staff, but a whip that was adorned with jagged metal (I imagine that it was probably rust infested as well) at the end of it (Luke 22:63-65; Matthew 27:27-31; John 19:1-3).  

It doesn't take much imagination on one's part to think that a person be dead, if not unconscious by now...

However, Jesus.stood.and persevered.  

Imagining the pain is beyond my limited mind.  "How can our world be so full of hatred as to do such a thing as this?" might be the question running through your mind...critic or not.  It was a tumultuous time in Jesus' day, even around the time of His birth.  Herod, the king, had his grip on society and anyone that claimed to be king...or "somebody" that intimidated him for that matter...he, apparently, eradicated from the face of the earth.  (Read Matthew 2, you'll get a glimpse of what I'm talking about.)

Let's move on.  Isaiah, an ancient prophet, foretold what Jesus' appearance would be like after such brutality.  Read this next sentence with an open heart:  

"His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness." (Isaiah 52:14)

(Let me add, if you've watched the movie"The Passion Of Christ" produced by Mel Gibson...and I do recommend it if you have not (albeit it is rated R for graphic violence)...you should have noticed that the actor, playing Jesus, was still recognizable after the above said abuse...grotesque, but he still looked human.   Now, mind you, it was a movie; but my point here is that not even Mr. Gibson could portray the reality of the "unidentifiable-human-likeness-Jesus" that Isaiah speaks of at this point of the story.  It's hard to imagine without having been an eyewitness to this event.)

Do you imagine yourself looking at Jesus for just a moment?  I do not think that we could stomach even looking His way at this point.  He did not even look human.  You might ask, "Why, if He is God, did He not save Himself?"  Do you realize that was the very question the mockers, back then, were asking?  So let me ask you a question:

Are you ready to hear that Jesus suffered this excruciating pain on our...your behalf?
Are you ready to accept that we are the one's...the sinners...who deserve this punishment of the cross?

Friends, the past few weeks questions were asked that have not been very encouraging or uplifting...on the contrary, they've been of the probing type, to set us up for examination of our hearts.  I realize this; it had been difficult for me as well during the initial season of these writings.  Nevertheless, they are crucial at this point...and in time will lead to much encouragement.  
You see, 

Jesus suffered for the anxieties that we go through, so that we might have peace.  
Jesus suffered for the hopelessness that we experience, so that He may be our Hope.  
Jesus suffered for the troubled and sorrowful souls within us, so that we may experience joy in abundance.  I'm not talking about circumstantial happiness that comes to us temporarily; I'm speaking of a joy that comes from the depth of our soul as a result of the peace that we experience when we go through trials of any kind; and these things come when we put our trust in God fully to be in complete control of our lives.  

If you are not a believer, but are feeling a tug on your heart and sense that something is missing in your life, that "tug" is likely to be the Holy Spirit calling you, urging you, gently knocking on your heart to open to His.  Following Jesus is really a simple thing, but it will cost you laying down your life (your material things, all of you) and humbling yourself before your Creator, admitting that you are a sinner and asking God for forgiveness.  You must believe that Jesus died for you and has forgiven you of those sins, and then believe that He arose from the grave the third day and is now preparing a place for you in Heaven.  This laying-down-your-life is committing yourself to be a follower of Jesus Christ and putting your faith and trust in Him as your Lord and Savior...and nothing or nobody else.  A "bending of the knees" is an act of humility...having a "talk" with God starts a life-changing relationship...and that's what this Christianity is all about...a relationship, not religion.  He will come into your life if you ask Him.  Will you let Him in? (Revelation 3:20)

Think about it...and if you are reading this as a believer already do you know someone that needs Jesus in their life?  I encourage you to share with them these truths or refer them to this site to read for themselves.

Reflect on John 12:44,46...however, if you are a new believer or searching for the Truth start at the beginning of John.  If you don't have a Bible go to www.biblestudytools.com and type in John in the search with a New International Version (that's what I use anyway, it's one of the easiest to understand.)  

Enjoying My Kup...
                      Cindy