Daily Life of Chris Davis

Ignored by Jesus

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:36:23 CDT

In Mark 5, Jairus, a local synagogue leader came to Jesus and pleaded with him to heal his little daughter. Apparently she was on her death bed.

Think about this guy's faith. He, a leader, came in public and requested Jesus' help. He didn't care the cost because he wanted his little girl to live.

Jesus agreed to come but as they were walking, a lady with a blood hemorrhage touched His clothes and healing power went out from Him. Jesus felt this transaction take place and He stopped and asked who touched Him. He discovered who it was and boldly pronounced "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed."

Unfortunately while this conversation was happening someone arrived to announce to Jairus that his daughter had died and that he shouldn't trouble Jesus any longer.

Check out what Jesus then said and did (in verse 36):

"But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, 'Don't be afraid. Just trust me.'"

Jesus ignored those that were speaking things contrary to His will for the situation. EVEN THOUGH they simply spoke the truth as they knew it, it was still contrary to faith and to the will of Jesus.

How often do we look at a situation... and maybe even speak the truth as we know it about it... yet that truth may be in direct contradiction to the will of God. That's why everything must be approached from the angle of faith.

The woman with an issue of blood could have looked at her situation and after 12 years of trying to get help... the truth from human perspective would have been "it's just not possible" or "there's nothing else that can be done" or "your situation is hopeless" or even "death is imminent". She didn't let what she knew and saw from her human point of view stop her from stepping out in faith. In a way she did what Jesus did: IGNORED the disbelief.

All this makes the passage "it is impossible to please God without faith" (Hebrews 11:6) a little more weighty and real. And two, this is why we must "walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Time for a Facelift

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:24:31 CDT

Since Hannah's blog conversion to WordPress (and along with it a redesign of her own hand) it got me itching to redesign some stuff as well.

FirstGrandchild: Our kid's site

We've been keeping a Tumblr site as well as a regular website with photos of our kids. Now I've combined them together into the Tumblr interface... with a redesign. :)

Check it out here: http://firstgrandchild.com

ChrisDavis.cc - My personal "splash page"

I've had this page for several months now. It's basically just a page listing my various locations on the internets... and a little bit about who I am.

Check it out here: http://chrisdavis.cc

Ultimately this will probably result in me redesigning my blog as well... we'll see to that later. ;)

The Value of Your Life

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:19:28 CDT

"But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the LORD Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love." - Acts 20:24

Paul was making it completely clear that even though he knew it
wouldn't be an easy road ahead (see vs. 23), the only thing he could do
was fulfill the calling upon his life. Paul was repeatedly told: "DON'T GO BACK TO JERUSALEM".

But Paul still knew what he had to do, otherwise he believed his life would be wasted.

This Scripture was one of those markers in my life that changed everything. Ever have those moments? I can remember as a teenager wrestling with the call of God on my life to go into full-time ministry. I can remember a couple of days where this passage just resounded in my mind and heart and I couldn't shake it. I couldn't get away from it.

I had to do it. I had to follow the call. I had to answer the knock at my heart's door. I had to step into the destiny that Jesus had placed upon my life... otherwise my life would have been worth nothing.

So what's your life worth?

The Heart of a Daddy

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:55:22 CDT

Here I am, at 28, married for 7 amazing years... and the father of 2 amazing children.

My son, Isaiah, is 5 and he seems to be growing every day. I miss him when I'm not around him. His smile refreshes my heart. He really does bring me joy.

Sure there are moments when I get so upset with him, but those moments ARE NOTHING like the moments when: we laugh and talk; when he asks me questions about Jesus; when he asks about when he'll grow up and have a family; or when will he get hairs on his chest...?

Those are the moments that I cherish and will cherish forever.

Being a dad is so, so wonderful. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

How much more does Abba Father enjoy being our Dad?

I'm sure there are times when He thinks "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" But because of His abounding love He is SLOW to anger (Psalm 86:15).

Rest in the heart of Father God. His heart is FOR you, not AGAINST you.

The Determining Factor

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:09:43 CDT

One of the most miraculous stories in the Old Testament is the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites. As the story goes, the Israelites had just escaped Egypt and was on their way to worship the LORD.

On this journey they came to the Red Sea and as they did the Egyptians had decided to renig on their deal and Pharaoh wanted the Israelites back. So he sends out his army after them.

God's people find themselves in a tough spot: a sea in front of them, mountains on the sides, and their enemy closing in behind them.

What to do?

God did what He does best: He made a way where there seemed to be no way.

"You road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters--a pathway no one knew was there!" - Psalm 77:19

Isn't God incredible?

He loves to make a way where there seems to be no way.

Another psalm keys us in on what the determining factor was for parting the Red Sea. Check this out:

"The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way... What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way... Tremble, O earth, at the Presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob." - Psalm 114:3-7

The determining factor was the Presence of the LORD.

Because the LORD was with them, road blocks became opportunities for the miraculous and for the LORD to demonstrate His power and love for His people.

No wonder Moses didn't want to go anywhere without the Presence of God (See Exodus 33:15)!

Without His presence in our lives all we will have are Red Seas and road blocks. But, with His presence, we have opportunities for the miraculous and chances to demonstrate the power and love of God.

Integrity

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:02:39 CDT

Integrity is so very, very important.

Integrity is not only doing the right thing in the "big things" but also in the "small details". I believe the LORD's grace will cover us but that is not an excuse to dismiss walking in integrity.

There are two things mentioned in Proverbs 2 that come as benefit to those that walk in integrity.

The LORD is their shield

Proverbs 2:7 - "He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity."

I've often challenged our students concerning integrity and I've taught it from the approach that integrity is a guard for our lives. Here in Proverbs we find that it's not integrity that is our guard but it is the LORD himself.

Integrity provides the opportunity for the LORD Himself to be our shield. We make ourselves available because we are stating to the LORD we want to walk in His ways and do as He pleases.
They will remain

Proverbs 2:21 - "For only the upright will live in the land, and those who have integrity will remain in it."

Integrity is one of those attributes that when established in our lives will produce lasting fruit. By walking in integrity it will provide a foundation to remain.

The Church and this world needs men and women who are solid and who remain, who do what they say they will do when they say they will do it. It will produce solidarity and thus will establish trust.

And because of that solidarity whenever the storms come, or the enemy tempts, we will remain because of this foundation.

In all of this, as I mentioned earlier, there is grace. But as Paul has challenged us (Romans 6:1), grace is not an excuse to sin, but empowerment to NOT sin. So to say "oh, I'll never attain to that standard" is not living by grace, but living by our own strength and ability.

Our prayer should be "God, empower me by your Spirit and grace to live a life of integrity." In doing so, He will be your shield and you will remain... being solid for His Kingdom and for those around you.

Acts 12: The Night Before

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:07:50 CDT

Consider: Acts 12

Here we find Peter being imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa. Herod had just executed James (the brother of John) and was going for more.

In the mean time, we find the church earnestly praying for the release of Peter (vs. 5).

They hadn't given up even though they just lost James. Talk about faith and trust in the LORD who doesn't always work the way we think He should.

Check out what happens in verse 6-7:

"The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the LORD stood before Peter..."

We don't know how long Peter was in prison, but we do know that the LORD was right on time... as if He could be late. The LORD is *never* late... because He is God. From our perspective He often seems to "come through" right at the last minute, but for Him He moves right when He wants to.

To us it seems like "the night before" or "suddenly" but He's had these moments planned and has it all under control.

We should rest in the fact that He is on the throne and has our lives in His hands and when He chooses to will release the suddenlies we need to make it through.

Anniversaries!

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:19:28 CDT

October is an important month for me. I celebrate two very important anniversaries.

The first, and most important... my wedding anniversary. Hannah and I were married on October 19, 2002. Being married to Hannah is amazing and wonderful. She is a great woman of God and a great mom. She is my best friend. And she is all mine! :D

The second anniversary that occurs in my life in October is the anniversary of my intense weight loss. 5 years ago this month I reached a mark of losing 70 lbs. As you can see from the photos below it was a huge change for me (literally lost 1/3 of myself).

How Can I?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:10:19 CDT

The book of Hosea records a very interesting look into the heart of God.

We find God (creator of the Universe, the Almighty, Yahweh) reaching out to Israel as they had prostituted themselves out to others gods and had even divorced themselves from Him (see Hosea 5:3). God really, really wanted to be in relationship with them, yet there needed to be justice for their sin and turning away from Him.

If you've ever heard someone say God wants to be in relationship with you and it's ever made you question or wonder, check out what the LORD says in Hosea 11:8...

"Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is town within Me, and My compassion overflows."

In context this was absolutely a word for Israel, but in context of the One who was speaking this totally points to His character and His heart.

His cry is "How can I let you go...?" HOW CAN I?

His heart is for you.
Believe it. Get it. Understand it. Live it.

Faith

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:31:25 CDT

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for; it is the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1

Just a good, solid reminder.