August 18 - the day your life's adventure on earth began. The day your family celebrated every year. But not this year. Not a day of celebrating, but a day of remembering. Remembering all the things we love about you, all the good times we had together. And missing you. Not a day goes by that we don't miss you being here with us, and yet at the same time we can rejoice with you for NOT being here with us - but for being THERE with your Jesus and your family who made it before us: your son, your dad, your grandparents, your mother-in-law and father-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins and others. How happy you must be! Off on new adventures every day forever!
So much has happened in the almost seven months since you've been gone. We are trying, sometimes with difficulty, but trying, to live our lives like you taught us - as an adventure. Your son married the girl he fell in love with and that we both came to love. Your baby girl struggled through, but made it to high school graduation. It was hard without you, but we made it! You were so excited with all of us over the news of your oldest daughter expecting twins. Well, they are here and they are two precious little boys! Four wonderful grandkids, can you believe it? And guess what, number five is on its way! We will find out next month if it's a boy or a girl. The two oldest grandkids love to hear stories about their PaPa, and we love telling them things about you and how much you love them - something I intend to do with all the grandkids because love really does live on forever.
Even though I miss you being here, today I remember how much I will always love you and in return, how much you will always love each of us.
Happy Birthday, my love! Happy Adventures!!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
I'LL CLING TO JESUS
Very early Monday morning (like 3 am) I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep (which is a common occurrence these days). I began talking to God about the uncertainties I and my family are facing. Not having a consistent source of income right now, I was telling the Lord that I didn't know what I should do or which way to go and asking for His wisdom and direction in my life. I dozed off a few hours later and woke up with a song on my heart and in my mind: a song that Ken and I used to sing together about 28 years ago - a song I had not thought of in a long time, but a song that we both loved. Here are the words to "I'll Cling to Jesus", lyrics by Robert Metzgar and sung by The Deweys:
We all come...to a time...in our lives...
When we ask...what does the future hold...
Which road should I take...or what plans should I make...
Please help me...to know which way to go...
I'LL CLING TO JESUS...AND HE'LL DIRECT MY PATH...
FOR HE'S KNOWN ME BY NAME...SINCE THE DAY THAT I WAS BORN...
I'LL CLING TO JESUS...AND HE WILL GUIDE ME...
NO...I'LL NEVER WALK ALONE...I'LL CLING TO HIM...
When the storm clouds seem to hide the light of day...
Causing trouble to come across my way...
Then my friend I'll have no fear...for my Lord is standing near...
When I touch Him...He'll take the clouds away...
I'LL CLING TO JESUS...AND HE'LL DIRECT MY PATH...
FOR HE'S KNOWN ME BY NAME...SINCE THE DAY THAT I WAS BORN...
I'LL CLING TO JESUS...AND HE WILL GUIDE ME...
NO...I'LL NEVER WALK ALONE...I'LL CLING TO HIM...
NO, I'LL NEVER WALK ALONG...I'LL CLING TO HIM!
Thank you, God, for reminding me Who to go to in my time of need, and where my help, guidance and strength come from! I KNOW I WILL never walk alone as I cling to Him!!
We all come...to a time...in our lives...
When we ask...what does the future hold...
Which road should I take...or what plans should I make...
Please help me...to know which way to go...
I'LL CLING TO JESUS...AND HE'LL DIRECT MY PATH...
FOR HE'S KNOWN ME BY NAME...SINCE THE DAY THAT I WAS BORN...
I'LL CLING TO JESUS...AND HE WILL GUIDE ME...
NO...I'LL NEVER WALK ALONE...I'LL CLING TO HIM...
When the storm clouds seem to hide the light of day...
Causing trouble to come across my way...
Then my friend I'll have no fear...for my Lord is standing near...
When I touch Him...He'll take the clouds away...
I'LL CLING TO JESUS...AND HE'LL DIRECT MY PATH...
FOR HE'S KNOWN ME BY NAME...SINCE THE DAY THAT I WAS BORN...
I'LL CLING TO JESUS...AND HE WILL GUIDE ME...
NO...I'LL NEVER WALK ALONE...I'LL CLING TO HIM...
NO, I'LL NEVER WALK ALONG...I'LL CLING TO HIM!
Thank you, God, for reminding me Who to go to in my time of need, and where my help, guidance and strength come from! I KNOW I WILL never walk alone as I cling to Him!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFE TIME
Kenneth Eugene Davis began his life’s adventure on August 18, 1952, in Seminole, Texas, when he was born to parents Gene and Doris Davis. He shared many exciting adventures growing up with his parents, grandparents Carver and Fannie Earl, and JT and Louise Bingham, as well as his little sister, Karla, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and relatives. He attended school in Seminole graduating from Seminole High School in 1970. After high school he attended Southwestern Assemblies of God College to prepare for ministry. He met the love of his life, Linda Gibbs, when a pastor friend of theirs introduced them and did a little match-making to help them along. Seven months later, after much prayer and seeking God’s will for their lives, he asked her to share in his adventure of life, and she readily agreed. They were joined in marriage on February 19, 1977, and moved to Seminole to begin their great adventure together.
They had been married about 6 months when during a revival at their home church, First Assembly of God, they both felt the call of God to be in ministry. Ken began the steps to becoming a credentialed minister, and together they began a bus ministry at the church, which grew from one bus picking up children on Sundays to three busses and two vans. Many children were reached and lives touched. He also was asked to be the Associate Pastor there at First Assembly, assisting the pastor while working with the teenagers as well as the children. When the pastor resigned to go to another place of ministry, the church asked Ken if he would fill the role of Interim Pastor and he agreed. He then completed the first step of ministry and became a Certified Minister.
In 1980, while still in Seminole Ken and Linda had their first child, a daughter, whom they named Rebekah Jean. They both fell in love with her at first sight. It was during this time that Ken also completed his second step of ministry credentialing and became a Licensed Minister. Two years later they went to pastor their first church in the small town of Imperial, Texas. The tiny church grew, and they were able to minister to many people both inside the church and in the community. A few years later they experienced a very dark time in their lives as they were expecting a baby whom God decided should be with Him and Linda suffered a miscarriage. God revealed to them both that this child was a boy, even revealing to them his name, Joshua Eric Davis. They pastored Imperial Assembly of God for three years. During that time Ken completed the third and final step of ministry and was Ordained as an Assembly of God Minister. Their second child, Stephen Kenneth, was born in 1985. They were thrilled to have a son, and his big sister adored him.
After leaving Imperial, their family adventure led them to Stecker, Oklahoma, to pastor a small country church for the next three years. God showed himself very real to them during this time and provided for their needs in miraculous ways. Three years later they received a call from Ken’s great uncle, Rev. Louie Earl, asking them if they would come help him in ministry as he transitioned into retirement. The family packed up for a new adventure and moved to Plain Dealing, Louisiana, to work as Associate Pastor at Plain Dealing Assembly of God. This was a very special time for the family as they were able to spend time and get close to Uncle Louie and Aunt Eileen and help them in ministry. After a year Pastor Earl did retire and it was time for the Davis family to begin their next adventure.
This adventure began as they accepted the call to pastor First Assembly of God in Harlingen, Texas. The family enjoyed spending time at the beach as South Padre Island was just 30 minutes away and the kids were able to attend a Christian school. This was a very busy time of ministry for the family as Ken and Linda worked side by side to minister to the needs of their growing congregation. While there, in 1992, God blessed them with the birth of their third child, another daughter that they named Bethany Lynnette. What a joy she has been in all their lives! Big sister and brother began loving her and spoiling her from day one.
After pastoring in Harlingen for five years, Ken and Linda felt God calling them to a new adventure and place of ministry, and they began seeking God as to where He would have them go. They felt God wanted them in El Paso, Texas, and began exploring just what it was that God would have them to do. During that time they met Pastor Eddie Lee who had begun a new church on the west side of El Paso. After visiting with him several times and sharing their vision of ministry, he asked them if they would like to work with him building Harvest Christian Center. Only one catch: the church was small at that time and could not afford to pay another minister. But they knew God had called them to the city and knew if that was where He wanted them, He would provide, which He did in many wonderful and sometimes miraculous ways. Ken worked several secular jobs until the church was large enough and Pastor Lee asked him to join his staff. This began a wonderful adventure of ten years of ministry working with a man that Ken respected very highly. One of the most fulfilling things Ken was able to do while working as Associate Pastor at Harvest was to develop and write a discipleship curriculum that would teach believers how to live for God and grow in their walk with him.
When they first moved to El Paso a young man caught Rebekah’s eye which eventually led to a special relationship. Peter Jordan asked her to share in his adventure of life, and they were married on February 3, 2001. Ken and Linda both loved their new son-in-law and were thrilled that God had led both Rebekah and Peter to find each other and had placed a call to ministry on their lives as well.
One of the privileges of ministry at Harvest was to lead a yearly missions trip to Navajo country in White Horse, New Mexico. Every year the hearts of the Navajo people were touched and the hearts of those on the missions teams were touched as well. Ken and Linda began to pray that God would send someone to live among the people they had ministered to, to disciple them and help them grow in their relationship with God. God answered that prayer by calling them to be the ones to go to the Navajo people.
It was time for a new adventure in their lives as they moved to Gallup, New Mexico, to pastor a small Native American church as district-appointed missionaries. They were able to do many unique and exciting outreaches to the Native American people. At one time there were seven different tribes represented in their congregation, and they enjoyed being able to have them all worship in one place. While in Gallup, in 2007, their first grandchild was born as Rebekah and Peter had a little girl that they named Genesis Naylanah Jordan. What a joy she was to their lives! Not long afterwards Ken and Linda felt God was releasing them from their time of ministry in Gallup and allowing them to return to El Paso to be close to their family and enjoy their new grandbaby. Linda felt that God was speaking to her that she had faithfully given herself to other people’s children, but now it was time to minister to her own. So they left Gallup and returned to El Paso where their children lived.
Being with their kids and grandkids has been one of the greatest adventures of their lives for the past nearly four years. In 2008, their second grandchild, Azariah Kamayu, was born to Rebekah and Peter, and Ken and Linda’s joy increased even more. God provided a place of ministry for Ken as he became the Chaplain of Del Sol Medical Center and has been able to touch countless lives.
Just a year ago Stephen embarked on his own new adventure as he began a special relationship with a wonderful girl that both Ken and Linda adore, Amanda Alarcon. He has asked her to marry him, and they will begin their adventure together sometime this year.
Ken and Linda’s adventure of a lifetime together came to an end on Thursday, January 27, as Ken went to be with his best friend, Jesus. Linda knows that it is not the end of their adventures together. Ken is just scouting out the land and making plans for her, his kids, grandkids, family and friends, those who have made their decision to live for Jesus, to join him on his next greatest adventure - his Ultimate Eternal Adventure, which will begin as he hears these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
They had been married about 6 months when during a revival at their home church, First Assembly of God, they both felt the call of God to be in ministry. Ken began the steps to becoming a credentialed minister, and together they began a bus ministry at the church, which grew from one bus picking up children on Sundays to three busses and two vans. Many children were reached and lives touched. He also was asked to be the Associate Pastor there at First Assembly, assisting the pastor while working with the teenagers as well as the children. When the pastor resigned to go to another place of ministry, the church asked Ken if he would fill the role of Interim Pastor and he agreed. He then completed the first step of ministry and became a Certified Minister.
In 1980, while still in Seminole Ken and Linda had their first child, a daughter, whom they named Rebekah Jean. They both fell in love with her at first sight. It was during this time that Ken also completed his second step of ministry credentialing and became a Licensed Minister. Two years later they went to pastor their first church in the small town of Imperial, Texas. The tiny church grew, and they were able to minister to many people both inside the church and in the community. A few years later they experienced a very dark time in their lives as they were expecting a baby whom God decided should be with Him and Linda suffered a miscarriage. God revealed to them both that this child was a boy, even revealing to them his name, Joshua Eric Davis. They pastored Imperial Assembly of God for three years. During that time Ken completed the third and final step of ministry and was Ordained as an Assembly of God Minister. Their second child, Stephen Kenneth, was born in 1985. They were thrilled to have a son, and his big sister adored him.
After leaving Imperial, their family adventure led them to Stecker, Oklahoma, to pastor a small country church for the next three years. God showed himself very real to them during this time and provided for their needs in miraculous ways. Three years later they received a call from Ken’s great uncle, Rev. Louie Earl, asking them if they would come help him in ministry as he transitioned into retirement. The family packed up for a new adventure and moved to Plain Dealing, Louisiana, to work as Associate Pastor at Plain Dealing Assembly of God. This was a very special time for the family as they were able to spend time and get close to Uncle Louie and Aunt Eileen and help them in ministry. After a year Pastor Earl did retire and it was time for the Davis family to begin their next adventure.
This adventure began as they accepted the call to pastor First Assembly of God in Harlingen, Texas. The family enjoyed spending time at the beach as South Padre Island was just 30 minutes away and the kids were able to attend a Christian school. This was a very busy time of ministry for the family as Ken and Linda worked side by side to minister to the needs of their growing congregation. While there, in 1992, God blessed them with the birth of their third child, another daughter that they named Bethany Lynnette. What a joy she has been in all their lives! Big sister and brother began loving her and spoiling her from day one.
After pastoring in Harlingen for five years, Ken and Linda felt God calling them to a new adventure and place of ministry, and they began seeking God as to where He would have them go. They felt God wanted them in El Paso, Texas, and began exploring just what it was that God would have them to do. During that time they met Pastor Eddie Lee who had begun a new church on the west side of El Paso. After visiting with him several times and sharing their vision of ministry, he asked them if they would like to work with him building Harvest Christian Center. Only one catch: the church was small at that time and could not afford to pay another minister. But they knew God had called them to the city and knew if that was where He wanted them, He would provide, which He did in many wonderful and sometimes miraculous ways. Ken worked several secular jobs until the church was large enough and Pastor Lee asked him to join his staff. This began a wonderful adventure of ten years of ministry working with a man that Ken respected very highly. One of the most fulfilling things Ken was able to do while working as Associate Pastor at Harvest was to develop and write a discipleship curriculum that would teach believers how to live for God and grow in their walk with him.
When they first moved to El Paso a young man caught Rebekah’s eye which eventually led to a special relationship. Peter Jordan asked her to share in his adventure of life, and they were married on February 3, 2001. Ken and Linda both loved their new son-in-law and were thrilled that God had led both Rebekah and Peter to find each other and had placed a call to ministry on their lives as well.
One of the privileges of ministry at Harvest was to lead a yearly missions trip to Navajo country in White Horse, New Mexico. Every year the hearts of the Navajo people were touched and the hearts of those on the missions teams were touched as well. Ken and Linda began to pray that God would send someone to live among the people they had ministered to, to disciple them and help them grow in their relationship with God. God answered that prayer by calling them to be the ones to go to the Navajo people.
It was time for a new adventure in their lives as they moved to Gallup, New Mexico, to pastor a small Native American church as district-appointed missionaries. They were able to do many unique and exciting outreaches to the Native American people. At one time there were seven different tribes represented in their congregation, and they enjoyed being able to have them all worship in one place. While in Gallup, in 2007, their first grandchild was born as Rebekah and Peter had a little girl that they named Genesis Naylanah Jordan. What a joy she was to their lives! Not long afterwards Ken and Linda felt God was releasing them from their time of ministry in Gallup and allowing them to return to El Paso to be close to their family and enjoy their new grandbaby. Linda felt that God was speaking to her that she had faithfully given herself to other people’s children, but now it was time to minister to her own. So they left Gallup and returned to El Paso where their children lived.
Being with their kids and grandkids has been one of the greatest adventures of their lives for the past nearly four years. In 2008, their second grandchild, Azariah Kamayu, was born to Rebekah and Peter, and Ken and Linda’s joy increased even more. God provided a place of ministry for Ken as he became the Chaplain of Del Sol Medical Center and has been able to touch countless lives.
Just a year ago Stephen embarked on his own new adventure as he began a special relationship with a wonderful girl that both Ken and Linda adore, Amanda Alarcon. He has asked her to marry him, and they will begin their adventure together sometime this year.
Ken and Linda’s adventure of a lifetime together came to an end on Thursday, January 27, as Ken went to be with his best friend, Jesus. Linda knows that it is not the end of their adventures together. Ken is just scouting out the land and making plans for her, his kids, grandkids, family and friends, those who have made their decision to live for Jesus, to join him on his next greatest adventure - his Ultimate Eternal Adventure, which will begin as he hears these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
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