January 31, 2012
"The gospel, applied to our hearts every day, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. The assurance of His total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don't have to play defensive games anymore. We don't have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can say we told a lie instead of saying we exaggerated a bit. We can admit an unforgiving spirit instead of continuing to blame our parents for our emotional distress. We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross. With the assurance of total forgiveness through Christ, we have no reason to hide from our sins anymore."...
January 6, 2012
I'm at a season of life where it seems like it's time to slow down. Nothing is working quite right anymore. I need glasses for aging eyes and anti-inflammtories for aging joints. I forget names and what commonly used household gadgets are called. Solitude invites me to steal away (which I enjoy doing at times!) while a growing family and new church lovingly require me to get even busier than ever. The commercials say Benny and I should be anticipating retirement after all the years of being in the throes of parenting and pastoring. Sometimes I envy those who can....
February 27, 2012 | 2 Comments | Category: Musings of a Pastor's Wife
Life's mundane tasks are rarely celebrated and are called "duties." What is it about that word that conjures up fatigue at best or disdain at worst? Does even thinking of the word duty produce anticipation or blah?...
Keep ReadingFebruary 26, 2012 | 3 Comments | Category: Musings of a Pastor's Wife
I've been thinking a lot recently about how boring every-day-life can be. When there is something fun or exciting to look forward to, I'm quicker to get out of bed…and with a better attitude. There's a lilt to my step and my cheery attitude makes the day more inviting. Like last Thursday. Benny planned a day off - his first in awhile - and we were both looking forwar...
Keep ReadingFebruary 21, 2012 | 1 Comments | Category: Musings of a Pastor's Wife | Tags: Lake Nona Church, ministry, testimony, vision, church life, Redeemer Church
I don't remember the first time we met him, but it was close to 10 years ago. Alex was just out of high school and wanted to be a professional musician. He was giving his life to this goal - and it resulted in him leaning away from the church in which his family had been involved for years. ...
Keep ReadingFebruary 15, 2012 | 8 Comments | Category: Musings of a Pastor's Wife | Tags: About Us, Lake Nona Church, church life, girls, ladies, miracle, Liz
Today I got to spend the afternoon with an old friend. We laughed; joked; shared Starbucks and a scone; playfully mocked others she was interacting with; and, at one point, fought back tears. She was gushing with gratitude at a recent box she received in the mail from faraway friends who surprised her and her husband with Valentine gifts. And then there was the generous ch...
Keep ReadingFebruary 8, 2012 | 3 Comments by Taraleigh Davis | Category: Member Testimony | Tags: About Us, church life, evangelism, Fellowship, gospel, forigiveness, Lake Nona Church, New Beginnings, Redeemer Church
At one of our pre-launch Sunday night meetings in December we were singing a familiar song and floods of memories came over me remembering nights when I had sung that same song flat on my face in a puddle of tears and sorrow. ...
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