Questions to start the New Year . . .

As we start a new year we often start with reflection of where we have been, where we are and where we are going.  Instead of looking at our lives this year, lets go to the very heart of the query - Who am I, Why am I here and Where am I going?  Wow, what profound thoughts.  I'm not sure that we can start the year any deeper than this and yet and believers, should we not be able to answer these questions easily.  But if it was that easy,  would it be worth deep contemplation?

Who am I?  Can it be more simple.  I am Hugh Allen Davis Jr.  But I am so much more than my name.  I am the son of Hugh and Elizabeth Davis.  I am the brother of Don Davis.  I am the husband of Irene.  I am employee of Devita and Associates.  I have been a student, a minister, a structural designer, a grandson, a nephew . . . an the list goes on and on.  Each one of us can come up with a similar list and yet . . . is this who I am?

Who am I?  I am created child of God.  I am part of a family so much bigger than my earthly family.  I am part of a group so much bigger than my work, my friends, my community.

As this week progresses; we'll dig a bit deeper.  But for now, I've given you something to think about.  These have been jsut a few thoughts from a cluttered mind.  My God bless you.

Shouting time . . .

I am a bit distracted this morning.  Maybe because it is Friday or it's the amount of things that I need to get done today.  Maybe it's what I was dreaming about this morning when I woke up (but that is the topic for next week's blogs.)  Anyway, let's step off and think through this week a little bit.  I have shared  a few thoughts that I have had about joy this week.  Let me take a minute to share something with you; my blog this week has not even scratched the surface of what God's word says about joy. This exercise was designed for me to share a few thoughts that have come to mind. Let me encourage you to open your bible and spend some more time reading and meditating on His word.

Now back to my thoughts for this morning.  One use of joy that I have been avoiding this week, and by far is the one that seems to be used the most, is shout for joy.  I'm not sure why I have avoided this one so much.  Maybe it just seems that "shout for joy" is a term from a by gone era.  Do we even shout for joy any more?  We shout for ball teams.  We can shout with rage.  We can shout instructions.  We can shout on the phone.  It seems like we shout a lot, but do we truly shout for joy anymore?

I think that it does happen but I think we have to look in a certain direction to actually see it.  I think that children still shout for joy.  Maybe that is the reason that Jesus used children to teach us so many things.  A child is innocent and has not been affected by the world so much.

Many of you know that Irene and I love to go to Disney as often as we can afford it.  I think that maybe, just for a little while, we can be children again.  It really is fun to watch a child that has never been to Disney see it for the first time.  There are shouts of joy the first time that they see Mickey or the castle.  The first time that they ride Dumbo usually brings shouts of joy or when they round a corner and see their favorite character, prince or princess for the first time.

But as I think about it, maybe we do still shout for joy.  I have a niece in Charleston who is very much in love.  The young man that she is in love with is in school out of state.  I'll bet she shouts for joy when he comes for a surprise visit.  Occasionally I have come home with a special gift for my wife, that she didn't know about, and get a small shout out of her.
Maybe we do shout for joy.  But there will come a day, maybe here on earth, but definitely when we get to heaven, that there will be shouts of joy.  When we see our savior for the first time.  Oh the shouts that will be raised.  The older I get the more I look forward to that shout.

These are just a few thoughts from a cluttered mind.  Will you shout for joy today?  Will I?  Maybe.  Time will only tell.  I look forward to next week.  I will be sharing thoughts on renewing your mind.  Some days I would like to simply swap mine out, but that is a different topic all together.  I hope that you have a blessed day.