Category: family

Susan and I are so thankful our daughter Karlyn has returned from Africa after spending a semester studying abroad. God protected and blessed her and her team. He answered so many prayers and we continue to marvel at his goodness and power.

Last Saturday, her older sister Kinsey drove Karlyn to my parents’ house in Chattanooga where we welcomed her home.  Monday, three of Karlyn’s closest friends surprised her in our driveway after we returned from Chattanooga. We are thankful for family and friends.

While at the base orphanage in Zambia, Karlyn was assigned to Steve, an eighteen-month-old child with several developmental challenges. Over three months, Karlyn saw Steve blossom. He learned to walk and he progressed in language and social skills. You can see in the picture that Steve is a big boy, dwarfing all the children his age, but Karlyn witnessed the power that loving, consistent care has in the life of a child. We are thankful she experienced why ‘the greatest of these is love.’

Karlyn not only grew close to her teammates on this trip, but she also met brothers and sisters in Christ from other nations. ‘We are all members of one body,’ and Karlyn witnessed the beauty of God’s plan. As she told us of the gifts God planted in some of her associates, I was reminded of the wisdom of God. The Spirit gives according to the will of the Father, and God knows what best builds up his church. When body members, young and old, offer themselves to the Father for his glory, the light of Jesus shines in a dark world and hope expands. We are thankful Karlyn loves the body of Christ.

At the end of their journey, the team of college students spent a few days in Rwanda, where an atrocious genocide took place in 1994. Karlyn got to visit a home in the countryside where Christians met to pray and study the Bible. “They asked how they could pray for us,” Karlyn said, “and they wanted specific names and details of our requests. We knew they intended to pray seriously with expectation of answers.” I have witnessed such prayer meetings in different African settings. Hearing brothers and sisters pray boldly before God’s throne of grace reminds us what a gift we have in prayer. We are thankful Karlyn found herself in an atmosphere of faith and action.

After taking the requests of the Americans, one Rwandan lady asked if the foreign team would pray for her. “Tomorrow I am going to meet and forgive the people who killed my family in the genocide.” We are thankful Karlyn saw the desire of God for his children: ‘Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.’ We are also thankful she witnessed the humility we all must possess if we truly intend to be disciples of Christ on this earth. We face hard things here, but since we believe Jesus has overcome the world, we can say to one another: “Pray for me.”

I pray you enjoy counting your blessings this special season. And since we are so blessed, may we determine to be a blessing to others for the glory of God. Happy Thanksgiving!

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

The volleyball team that Taylor coaches lost in the championship game Saturday to close out an incredible season. John would often serve as a ball boy during warm-ups, wearing a team t-shirt Taylor gave him.

Taylor’s team played the semi-final match of the state tournament last Wednesday in their home gym. They won the fifth set of an exciting match before a large crowd to secure a spot in the finals for the first time in school history. As fans stormed the court I walked down and congratulated our son the coach. I then walked back up the bleachers and observed the celebration. Volleyball players were crying for joy; parents were slapping each other on the back; John and a bunch of little kids were playing ball on the court; and a host of people surrounded Taylor with handshakes and embraces.

Thirty minutes later, I would estimate that eighty percent of the fans remained in the gym. No one wanted to go home as an entire school community celebrated the accomplishment. Taylor looked up and noticed me sitting alone in the stands. I watched him slip through the crowd and make his way up the bleachers to join his dad. We had a few minutes alone to laugh and share some of the highlights of the night before several people spotted ‘Coach Davis’ and headed our way. It was quite a night.

I wonder if Jesus and his Father had such moments at the end of a day. As the once sick celebrated their healing and the blind marveled at their sight and the lame jumped for joy, I wonder if Jesus slipped away to enjoy a moment with his Father. Can’t you imagine the Father saying, “Great job!” to his Son after a day’s teaching about the Kingdom? We know Jesus found perfect security in the love of his Father. And this is the love God has for us! Let’s walk as Jesus did!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” I John 3:1

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” I John 2:6

Peter highlighted the beauty of the inner self and used Abraham’s wife, Sarah, as an example of a woman who pleased God. He connected the women of his day to Sarah with two criteria: “You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.” (I Peter 3:6)

I love our beautiful daughters, Kinsey and Karlyn. I admire their inner beauty and their love for God. Of course I want them to always do what is right, but I am a bit concerned about how they interpret “not giving way to fear.”

Five years ago, Kinsey spent a semester in Zambia. This season of time sealed her desire to be nurse. She is now a labor and delivery nurse in Little Rock. On their class excursion to Livingstone, Kinsey and her roommate bungee jumped off a bridge over Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. She lived to tell about it, but in January of 2012, an Australian girl jumped at the exact place and the bungee chord broke. This brave young lady survived the fall into the crocodile-infested Zambezi River, but Kinsey and Karlyn’s university decided to forbid future jumps by their students who study abroad in Zambia.

Susan and I were pleased with the school’s wise decision as Karlyn left in August to spend a semester in Africa. Needless to say, we were quite shocked by the picture our youngest daughter sent from Livingstone this past weekend. There is a certain place at the top of the falls that can serve as an overlook when the water is not too high. This spot is called ‘the devil’s pool’ and instead of ‘fleeing from the devil,’ Karlyn fearlessly swam to the edge for a happy pose. Heaven help us.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.” I Peter 3:3-6

I danced with my oldest daughter a couple of weekends ago. She flew in for the wedding of a close friend and it was so good to see her. The last time I danced with Kinsey was at her own wedding this past July. Father and daughter danced to “Butterfly Kisses” and there were many tears of joy. Sitting on my bedroom floor early in 1989 with a tiny dark haired baby girl asleep in my arms, I did not imagine the day I would walk her down the aisle. “Precious memories… how they linger… how they ever flood my soul…”

Throughout history, as God has watched people-group fight against people-group and tribe war against tribe, I wonder if He’s thought: “It might have been better if we would have created just one race of humans.” But aren’t we thankful for differences? Parents with more than one child have probably considered: “Things would be a lot more peaceful and less stressful if we just had one.” But aren’t the struggles worth the rewards?

Taylor and Kinsey argued constantly growing up. From the time Kinsey could walk and talk, her big brother taught her to compete. Playing baseball in the front yard, Kinsey took off her shirt just like all the boys in the neighborhood (this is when she was little, of course). Whatever brother did, little sister wanted to do. Taylor was bigger and stronger, but I’m afraid Kinsey was a little smarter, so the conflicts were often intense. A memorable ‘discipline’ memory occurred one summer day after I told the kids we were going to a Braves’ baseball game.  This was a total spur-of-the-moment treat so when I came to the car and saw Taylor and Kinsey fighting and arguing about sitting in the front seat, I said: “OK, that’s it. Because you guys can’t get along we’re not going to the game.” There was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, but nothing would change the father’s mind. “Angry words… O let them never… from the tongue unbridled slip…”

So what’s the reward? No greater joy comes to a mother or father as when their children love one another. It may have taken hours of lectures and years of consequences, but I think I can say with all honesty that all our children really do love one another. A good friend gave Kinsey two buddy passes to take a trip after her high school graduation. I was confident my beautiful graduate would take her father on a little vacation, but who did she invite? Her older brother! As Taylor and Kinsey traipsed through Italy and France as best friends, Susan and I trusted our son and daughter to protect one another and we thanked God for children.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” II John 4-6