If you want, you will suffer; if you love, you will grieve.

I had a lot of time to wait, sit and think over the Christmas holidays. Truly, life is all about the waiting. I found myself in places I didn't choose. Situations out of my control. Freeing? Yes. The nursing home, the hospital, in the car etc... Often, I was helping sign papers for my aunt who has chosen a life of depression and lost the will-to-live. I became friends with the nurses and had an enjoyable experience. Still, it was sad that a person can choose a life of isolation by consistently shutting people out over time, to the point of a hospital bed. In life, we choose our course depending on how we view Christ's love for us and how we define true freedom. She is now choosing a life of bondage and entitlement, not a life of gratitude.

I am tired of seeing people not become fully themselves. As humans we are constantly surrounded by people suffering and in grief. I am bombarded with people around me who are checking into hospitals, blaming others and surrounding themselves with people who are completely self-centered. People not taking 100% responsibility for their own decisions, and feeling entitled to everything. When we are let down, we want to blame someone else. Playing the victim, again. What happens? Confusion. The exact thing God is asking us to FLEE from, and the only thing the devil wants to feed! We are always giving less than our best because of the confusion we feed. Often played out in the physical form of laundry lists, grocery lists, video games, drugs, stress, music and more. It's our "just give me something to do," mentality. "Give me anything to take away these voices." Then, it occurred to me, THE LONGER MY LIST, THE LESS MY TRUST IN GOD." It's hard to just sit and be isn't it? It's hard to just be loved sometimes? To believe that when we grieve, Jesus did too...

"God sent Jesus to join the human experience, which means to make a lot of mistakes. Jesus didn't arrive here knowing how to walk. He had fingers and toes, confusion, sexual feelings, crazy human internal processes. He had the same prejudices as the rest of his tribe: he had to learn that the Canaanite woman was a person. He had to suffer the hardships and tedium and setbacks of being a regular person. If he hadn't the incarnation would mean nothing."

Do you believe that Jesus came to join with us? Do you believe he came and experienced grief, sitting, waiting, thinking, reading, writing, feeling, eating, throw-up, cried, sneezed, stumbled, told jokes and laughed? Do you also believe He came to give life, true freedom and genuine love? Do you believe He suffered with us in our weakness? So much so, that we don't have to blame others? Do you believe He wants so badly your heart that he suffered? Do you believe he loves so deeply, He grieves still? The more we believe in this power... the more we are free, and grateful to be truly ourselves in Him.

"You were loved because God loves, period. God loved you, and everyone, not because you believed in certain things, but because you were a mess, and lonely, and His or Her child. God loved you no matter how crazy you felt on the inside, no matter what a fake you were; always, even in your current condition, even before coffee. God loves you crazily, like I love you...like a slightly overweight auntie, who sees only your marvelousness and need."

I don't ever want to find myself in a place where I'm in a nursing home at a young age, blaming others. The secret to freedom and truly living in Christ is a heart of gratefulness. Out of a heart of gratitude flows the joy of life.

To steal from Anne Lamott, "Gratitude, not understanding, it's the secret to joy and equanimity".

What kind of Jesus do you believe in today? A Jesus who hears and suffers still with us, that nothing else matters? Do you believe in a Jesus of grace, grace, grace? Or, do you believe in a Jesus who demands rules, regulations and bondage? Who demands a checklist and a certain way to do things? Where do you want to be in 20 years? What choices are leading you to live a full life of love for others and complete joy in today? What choices are you making towards community, life and freedom? When your life is over, can you honestly say you were free? Be IN-COURAGED!!

The Love Project

A Year Of Love

"Whoever loves money never has money enough.- To gain the whole world, yet lose his very self." - Jesus

As I watch the state of our economy plummet, I realize more daily that we are leaving this world quickly. "You never know when you're gonna go," seems to be my motto these days. Morbid you may say? No. Truly, it's a response to the extreme desire to live a full and good life. The economy is increasingly giving us warnings. However, there is still an overwhelming social compulsion - an insanity of consensus, if you will to get rich from life rather than to live richly, to "do well" in the world instead of living well. And in spite of the fact that America is famous for its unhappy rich people, most of us remain convinced that just a little more money will set life right. All we need to do, is just buy one more lottery ticket.

Due to the realities of living richly in the age of an overarching depression lurking with every swipe of the card... I have decided to travel. I am excited for the journeys this next year will bring. I will be journeying To Africa, Europe and beyond. Spreading the hope and joy of God to all who are willing to listen. I will be interviewing hundreds on our favorite topic. "Love" -- The only thing that is the greatest. I will be conducting interviews, recording many, keeping a journal and writing my book.

May you be blessed as you read and continue your journey. Happy Travels!

Feel free to follow me on this blog, facebook or meet up in Europe!


Thoughts to Consider on Your Journey:

1) To be a light in the darkness. To open windows into musty houses. To pray with the dying. To sit, talk, stand and laugh with anyone. To eat at the tables of those who are in despair. To live my life as Jesus did.
2) Encouraging others to live an integrated and creative lifestyle.

Good Quotes I love:


From this hour I ordain myself loss'd of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master total and absolute, Listening to others, considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving and contemplating, Gently, but with undeniable will divesting myself of the holds that would hold me. - Walt Whitman, "Song of the Open Road"

The greatest happiness of life it the conviction that we are loved – loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. -Victor Marie Hugo

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us – Helen Keller

"In and Out," But Not, "Of."

New seasons bring new perspectives to every aspect. Not monthly, not weekly, not daily, but mostly...hourly.


This season/moment made me understand God's beauty more vividly.


View from my place.

This Season brought clarity to my imperfections.

Daisy in season.

This season assured me I'm connected to much more than others.














And this season however, reminded me of what I was made for.























I was reminded of our ultimate paradox of choice today, Micah 6:8.

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Walking with God, is the most crucial to His glorifying feature. My I always do this Lord in every season and moment.

Please continue to pray for the children all over the world who do not have a home to sleep in, a pillow, but most of all LOVE. Please pray for mercy, justice and God's love to transform lives daily. His will to be done here on earth the same as His will is in heaven. Thank you for all your support.



Loving the Season,
Davy Desmond

Name. Dream. Destiny.

Everyone has a big dream, not many choose to follow this dream. What is your Big Dream? Most choose not to follow it from discouragement and still comfortable living in the land of familiar. Many choose not to follow it because of circumstances which appear to be giants or mountains. . In our age, "Time and Money."

These are not giants. They are only little bumps in the road.
Suffering
I have a Big Dream. I have a dream to help many children in Africa come to know their Name, Dream, and Destiny. The road is long and hard to accomplishing this well. I am choosing this journey. Will you join me?

What is your Big Dream? Are you choosing to jump into the river of unfamiliar? Are you ready to pay off college loans the next then years to accomplish it? Are you ready to occasionally forgo your 'food budget' to get there? Are you ready to say good-bye to dear friends and family to get there? Probably not!! However, it's worth it to see the Big Dream come true!

So jump. Lets do it together. The waterfall is big!

I'm Moving to Seattle, then Africa... to get one step further to this goal!
What are you doing to get to yours? Everything in your power?

Africa awaits me. Thousands of children await God. Here we come. Together.
- What are your dreams?
- Davy Desmond

To Say I Am Above, that.

Loving Humanity

I have made mistakes this year. Often on a daily basis, and sometimes hurting others or myself unexpectedly. Is this ok? Surely not. However, it does demonstrate my humanity and reiterate the point of Christ’s death. The more I embrace my humanity, the more I graciously forgive others and learn to love God with a pure heart. How fantastic, the feeling of accepting who we are through our imperfections: a sinner, a saint, and a little lower than the angels! Our humanity is a precious gift.

Learning Lessons for Good

I have learned from these mistakes. I am not above the decision, but I am carefully above making the same mistake twice. ‘I learned my lesson,’ so to speak. I learned Christ’s heart for us to walk consistently in the light and truth. In Genesis God uses a good example of Cain and Abel. When Cain was depressed, the devil had a perfect opportunity to temp him. “When you are tempted, … “do not put yourself in this position and give room to sin,”

Lessons from Cain

Cain and Abel show a very intriguing dilemma and practical applications for our lives today. Abel came before God with everything. Cain still had pieces of his heart hidden away not willing to donate. Because of his double life, God tells Abel He is pleased and tells Cain to hit the road! God graciously gives Cain a second chance, yet instead, Cain abuses the chances and murders his brother. In Genesis, God says to Cain, “When you are doing well, will not your countenance be lifted up? But when you do not do well, sin is crouching at your door; and it’s desire is for you, but you must be the master over it.” This is an amazing revelation. When we are unhappy, sin is ready to enter in!! It lurks, just waiting for someone around us to say hurtful words, a loved one to die, a friend to let us down, and our dad to forget to pick us up from work. When we are lonely, abused, forgotten, hungry, poor, worried, anxious, sin is just waiting to pounce! In these certain situations, the devil’s lies are ready to pounce and give us a little taste of poison. Will you give in and murder like Cain? Or, will you decide today to be ready to recognize the devil when you’re depressed, and walk away? Will you give in to sexual sin? Or, will you choose beforehand not to be in the room alone in that situation presupposing that it could happen? Will you cheat on your wife, because another woman seems intriguing? Or, will you decide now NOT to go on that walk again? What boundaries are we placing in our lives so we humbly say “I am above that, because I have chosen a better path already.” This is not pride. To say I will not sin because of a prior “boundary - decision” is, a human merely relying on God!

Above The Sin Because of Friends

I am “above,” has the appearance of pride. My heart is the defining factor in proclaiming being “above,” something. I am not “above” the sin, but I am “above” the temptation. I now surround myself with patterns, habits, people, communities, lifestyles, books and major influences that enable me to say with dignity, “I will never go there.” “I will never become an alcoholic.” “I will not have sex before marriage.” “I will not eat that.” “I will not drink too much.” These presupposed decisions are the things that keep us in check and help to keep these boundaries for our humanity.
Without them, we most always follow the crowd and patterns that used to control us. For example, when I was going to counseling, the assessment questions that are asked of were, “Who do you hang out with?” “How much do your friends drink?” “How much do you friends party?” “How many different partners do you sleep with on a weekly basis?” “Do you take depression tablets or sleeping pills?” As much as I would like to admit I am fine to hang with people who have “worldly” tendencies, I honestly know and believe their patterns always lead down dark roads. Pride tells us we are perfect, humility embraces our imperfection and allows God to work.

To say I am above.

Today, I choose to accept love and truth. To follow a rulebook which helps me love more. I choose to embrace my humanity and not put myself in situations with people who could bring me down. I’m not saying I will never hang out with people who drink, smoke, cuss etc… I’m only saying I choose to not do it excessively. My support group will not be those who bring me down. I am only human, and could be tempted if I’m down. So, today I choose to not think of myself too much which equals depression. I choose to live simply as to not have any idols whatsoever. I choose to be careful with my words to not slip up saying God's name in vain. I choose to set time apart for God, to rest. I choose to respect my parents no matter how they may have hurt me before. I choose to control my anger as to not murder. I choose not to hang out with married men although they may be my close friends. I choose to bring money to the store so I won’t steal. I choose to not lie. I choose to pray against jealousy so I do not covet... I choose to I choose to dream big, and remember God! I choose to love others and serve them more than myself. One of my good friends always says, “A life unto ourselves in no life at all.” She is right, as we choose to live in truth, the reality of this statement becomes true! What boundaries are you setting for yourself today? What human boundaries are we all participating in to help us focus fully and only on God?

A Poem I Wrote

Battling Spirits

The Wind is coming.
Breaking all who stand.
Thoroughly she comes
Swiftly she moves.
Stealthily she masks her goal.

She whispers

‘Steal, kill destroy.’

“Open, let me break you.” she cries.

The light is here.
Breaking mighty winds; He enters.
Quickly, in an instant.
Radiantly he shines.

HE SCREAMES!

‘Look, listen, grasp.’

“Rise! I will save you!”

The Wind cautiously sneaks.
Softly she moves s behind.
Carefully she sneaks through doors yet closed.
Maliciously raising her aroma.

Murmuring lies in a distance.
Mumbling deceits are near.

“Eat. Sleep. Die.”
“Eat. Sleep. Die.” She begs.

“CHOOSE.” Light says.

The light has come.
Shattering deception’s ringing screech.
Singing of love’s deep drumming voice.
Brilliant is the light of truth.

WORTHY IS THE LIGHT OF my LOVE.

“Pray. Live. Love…laugh! ”
He hopes… lightly.
Open the light of love.

Love, Davy

Peace Is Not Necessarily What We Thought.

What is peace? Have you seen a puddle in a road? I'm sure. Its peaceful. There is not the slightest stirring in it. The water is smooth and unruffled. The colors of nature are reflected in it. Thats not peace, but stagnant death!
Have you ever seen a child spinning a top? When the top is going its fastest, its at perfect rest. The peace of God is perfection of energy; it is a healthy vigor of the soul. - OC