Choices, Choices, Choices!

A major reality of our existence is the fact that we have choices to make. These decisions can range from the simplest things such as what to have for breakfast to heart-rending ones like selling the cherished house you have lived in for many years or ending what was once a close relationship.  One thing we should learn along the way is that our choices matter. It seems odd to me that some people don’t get that. Do you ever consider how you got to where you are today?  Some […]

God Loves You and Has a Plan for Your Life

God loves you has a plan for your life. This is life-changing truth # 1! Why is it # 1, the most important fact of your life? Think about the impact that believing that truth can have on your life. If you believe there is a God who is the Creator and ultimate authority of this world, then it matters what you believe He thinks about you. This can make all the difference in your life!  We were created by God to live in relationships with Him and others. For […]

A Living Faith?

A living faith. What is a living faith? Why is a living faith important and how do you know if you have it? Come with me on a little journey as we explore what faith is and how a living faith changes your life for time and eternity. “Are you a person of faith?” There have been occasions when I have asked this question of someone with whom I’ve been having a deep discussion. Do you know the kind of answer I generally get? People typically answer by telling me […]

Why is Faith Important?

Why is faith essential to living? Think about that. We may think that faith pertains only to the “spiritual” realm; i.e. God, heaven, Jesus, Christian living, etc. But, is that true? I strongly believe that we become children of God through an act of faith. As the Bible says, we are “saved by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). I also believe that the need for faith or trust is woven into the fabric of everything we do as humans. Faith is necessary to operate in the “seen” world in which […]

God’s Way or My Way?

Life’s most consequential decision is about the way we will live, and the path we will travel during our brief time on earth. The Bible often refers to this as the choice of a “way.” Early Christians talked of following Jesus as the “Way”. Jesus actually used the term to describe himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “The life I now live.” Perhaps you recognize these words as part of the Apostle Paul’s explanation of how he had come to live after he surrendered his life […]

Risk vs. Reward

About twenty years ago Cecelia and I were blessed with Anna Katherine (A.K.), the first of our four grandchildren. Wanting to do something for her and others who might follow to enjoy, I built a sturdy structure for a swing close to the creek that runs through our property. What a great idea and what a wonderful return on the time and money I spent to construct the swing!  That swing has witnessed lots of laughs and screams as A.K. and the three grandsons have enjoyed it through the years. […]

Where Does Successful Parenting Begin?

Where Does Successful Parenting Begin? In the event you have missed the first blog in this series “Want to be a Successful Parent?” or want to review it, here is the place to start https://www.cosdavis.com/want-to-be-a-successful-parent/ Where does successful parenting start? Does it begin at the birth of a child? Having a child makes you a parent but does it make you a successful one? Does it begin with reading books on child development or parenting strategies or techniques? While this is commendable and can prove helpful, good parenting does not begin […]

Never Let A Crisis Go To Waste

“Never let a crisis go to waste.” You often hear that phrase used in relation to the current administration in our nation’s capitol. But, according to my resident scholar Alexa, that phrase was used many years ago by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. His exact words were “Never let a ‘good’ crisis go to waste.” Some folks believe that politicians create a problem or crisis in order to distract the public from another pressing issue. This would be similar to a person setting a building on fire while they go to […]

What Matters Most

What Matters Most What matters most to you? What matters most to you does matter. It matters because your choices about priorities affect you and those you love. It matters because your priorities determine the way you invest your time, money, and energies. It matters because the way you invest your time, money, and energies will determine your character, the person you will become. It matters because your character is the most important thing you have going for you. How do you know what matters most to you? As mentioned […]

Faithful Change

  Faithful Change Do you sometimes feel dizzy or a bit depressed by the magnitude and pace of change? Does it seem to you that you are continuously dealing with some form of change? The weather, your body, mood, finances, job-related transitions,  sickness, death, or marriage of a family member require some form of action. Additionally, we must learn how to respond to the deteriorating societal values and the increasing intrusions of government and powerful corporations in our everyday lives. In his book, Faithful Change, Dr. James Fowler states that […]