Davids Daily Dose

Unexpected Diversions

There it was, hanging slightly askew on the cabinet door–a single piece of masking tape its only anchor. As soon as I saw it I knew: this sign was a sign from God.

Lately, I’ve caught myself taking unplanned trips down memory lane, and these are no pleasure cruises. Uncomfortable recollections run like a negative highlight reel in my head, sending me on a downward spiral. Talk about an indirect way to get where I want to go!

Why does this happen?

Here’s one explanation: most people’s thoughts trend negative. According to a March 2020 TEDx talk by Fredrick Imbo, of the 50,000 daily thoughts a typical person processes, only 10,000 are positive. That’s just 20 percent!

⏸️ I’m pausing this post to go eat a quart of expensive ice cream straight out of the bucket.😩

But the Lord says, “Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It’s happening already–you can see it now!”

Isaiah 43:18-19a (GNT)

Kind reader, the Lord is always up to something good, and we struggle to see by looking down.

Chin up, Child of God!

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.

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56 responses to “Unexpected Diversions”

  1. The Week Before Christmas-Trying to Catch Up – Jesusluvsall's Blog

    […] forgot to follow the advice of David of davidsdailydose.org for cooking my gluten free pizzas. I put on in the oven and did not pay attention to the time while […]

    Liked by 1 person

  2. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    It is interesting. I suppose it varies, depending on the person? For instance, I’m a fairly positive guy, and I’m guessing I have more than 20% positive thoughts on a daily basis. It’s probably not 50/50 though. 🙃

    Thanks for stopping by, brother!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. The Devotional Guy™ Avatar
    The Devotional Guy™

    It’s interesting that we have this many thoughts and only about 20 percent are positive. Love this post, David.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Yes! Both could be beneficial. Thank you, Simply B!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Thanks, Simply B! I’m looking up that scripture tonight—from Corinthians. It is SO what I need to do right now! I appreciate your stopping by and sharing your thoughts. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. SimplyB Avatar
    SimplyB

    And I meant waking hours not walking. Walking might help. 🤗

    Liked by 1 person

  7. SimplyB Avatar
    SimplyB

    Wow I relate to this so much more than I want to. It can be paralyzing sometimes especially when it’s during my walking hours. The scripture you mention is exactly the one I cling to during the “paralysis”. As well as asking God to help me take captive every thought like Paul instructs in Corinthians. I’ll pray for you…. You pray for me. I believe these unpleasant memory episodes are Satan’s most effective tool. Scram, Satan. 🙏🏻

    Liked by 1 person

  8. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I’ve heard before, “Don’t look back, unless you intend to go that way.”
    I appreciate your contribution, Chris—especially the excellent scriptures!

    🙏Blessings to you and yours.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Chris G Thelen Avatar
    Chris G Thelen

    Another great post, David. That Isaiah passage is one of my favorites. I love the imagery of “I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” I can envision God making a highway for us to make our way out of the wilderness; many waters rising up to nourish us when we’re in a desert. Looking back only keeps us in the wilderness and the desert. It makes me think of Mark 2:22: “No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.” God is making us new! God wants us to put on the new self (Ephesians 4:21-24). Thanks again for the reminder to not look back.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    You’re welcome, Peggy! I am blessed by your reading and commenting so often on my posts.

    I try to stay open to little messages from God during the day—a sign pointing up, a sign pointing down. I don’t honor these like scripture, but God does speak to me through circumstances.

    🙏Blessings.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. peggywritesblog Avatar
    peggywritesblog

    Thanks for an inspiring post in a mostly negative world, David!
    Sound advice to keep looking up. And I always love your sense of humor. Blessings!

    Liked by 2 people

  12. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I like your bathroom mirror idea, Manette Kay. I’ve been memorizing shorter verses by putting them on little cards and adding hand motions to them. I base the motions on American Sign Language, but not totally.

    An example is Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
    Thank you for your encouragement! God Bless, sister. 🙏

    Liked by 1 person

  13. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Ha ha! 😂 Eating straight out of the bucket does save on dishwashing.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Crystal Byers Avatar
    Crystal Byers

    Is there another way to eat ice cream? 🙏🏻

    Liked by 1 person

  15. musingsofmanettekay Avatar
    musingsofmanettekay

    In the corner of my bathroom mirror, I write a verse with a dry-erase marker. I choose a scripture or quotation containing truth I need to focus on. I leave it as long as it takes me to either memorize or internalize. Its time for me to change and the passage you shared from Isaiah is going up today.

    Thanks, David, for being a conduit of wisdom and truth.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    You’re welcome, Bridget! I hope you’re having a wonderful first Sunday of Advent.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Bridget A. Thomas Avatar
    Bridget A. Thomas

    Thank you for this much needed reminder to keep looking up! 🙌

    Liked by 1 person

  18. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    You’re welcome, Chris. Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!

    Like

  19. Chris Miller Avatar
    Chris Miller

    This is so true. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Unexpected Diversions – MobsterTiger Avatar
    Unexpected Diversions – MobsterTiger

    […] Unexpected Diversions […]

    Liked by 1 person

  21. pastorpete51 Avatar
    pastorpete51

    Watching my Florida State Seminoles playing gave me a little inspiration.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    You are right about that, Pete. Faith and feelings don’t always agree. Yours is probably the most helpful and insightful comment yet. At least for me, it is. Thank you for sharing! God Bless.

    Like

  23. pastorpete51 Avatar
    pastorpete51

    Got to lean hard on the word in those seasons and not allow feelings to tackle us for a loss.

    Liked by 2 people

  24. Gary Fultz Avatar
    Gary Fultz

    I did have one eyebrow raised on the amount

    Liked by 1 person

  25. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I looked at a few translations, and the Good News fit best with the way my unplanned trips down memory lane feel. The word “cling” also stuck out with me. Technically, the Good News Bible folks don’t claim their version is a true word-for-word translation; it’s more like a “This is what it says in modern english”–similar to the Phillips translation of the New Testament.
    Anyway, enough rambling by me.😑 Thank you for reading and commenting, Beth. Blessings to you and yours–including my two favorite girls, Adi and Summer.🐾🐾🐾🐾

    Like

  26. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I think so, Gary. Ice cream is cure all for many a malady. In full disclosure, I was speaking metaphorically–though I have eaten a quart of ice cream before in one sitting. 😇

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Gary Fultz Avatar
    Gary Fultz

    Ah, so true. Looking down gets one nowhere. Sometimes my memory is down, as in shut down…That’s where the ice cream comes in?

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Don't Lose Hope Avatar
    Don’t Lose Hope

    I appreciate you and your thoughtful comments too. Blessings!!

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Beth Alisan Avatar
    Beth Alisan

    David, you selected the perfect verse to redirect that wayward sign back in the right direction. I appreciate how you used a lesser known translation like the Good News as it slowed me down and made me take a fresh look at a familiar verse. The word “cling” really grabbed my attention.

    Liked by 5 people

  30. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I don’t think so.

    Like

  31. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Me too, sister!

    Liked by 2 people

  32. God Still Speaks Avatar
    God Still Speaks

    Do they make ice cream?

    Like

  33. God Still Speaks Avatar
    God Still Speaks

    Sonshine gets me through every day!

    Liked by 1 person

  34. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Just about any flavor is best by the pint. A quart is enough to give you a belly ache. 😣 It’s also a lot of calories.

    Like

  35. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Thanks, Petrina. I am glad you stopped by my little blog today. 🙏God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. jesusluvsall Avatar
    jesusluvsall

    Mint chocolate chip is awesome too

    Liked by 1 person

  37. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I’m lactose intolerant—especially at night, so I drink Fairlife milk, that is lactose free.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    That sounds cold, for sure. 🥶. I’m glad you have sunshine and Sonshine!✝️

    Liked by 1 person

  39. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Hello, Matt. My favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip. I also like pistachio almond.
    Rehashing the past can create self-fulfilling prophecies. Like someone wise once said, “Don’t look back unless you intend to go that way.”
    Thanks for stopping by. God Bless!

    Liked by 2 people

  40. Petrina Avatar
    Petrina

    So true! A beautiful reminder not to dwell on the negativity of the past but look forward to what the Lord is already doing and will do in our lives. Thank you!

    Liked by 2 people

  41. jesusluvsall Avatar
    jesusluvsall

    Great verse for a reminder to not dwell on the past.
    Ice cream always helps. What flavor is your favorite? I love chocolate and this time of year chocolate mixed with peppermint

    Liked by 2 people

  42. God Still Speaks Avatar
    God Still Speaks

    Even with it being 21 degrees where I live, ice cream always brightens a day!

    Liked by 1 person

  43. God Still Speaks Avatar
    God Still Speaks

    That was my next question, what flavor ice cream! Dairy and I do not agree so I get the oat milk or coconut milk alternative ice cream, Fudge brownie!

    Liked by 1 person

  44. God Still Speaks Avatar
    God Still Speaks

    Ugh, here in the Colorado Rockies we have 35 mile an hour winds, snowing and we are now up to 21 degrees! Supposed to get down to 10 tonight! But the sun is shining!

    Liked by 1 person

  45. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Blue Belle ice cream is a local favorite. I like their mint chocolate chip the best.
    I hear you on the melancholy part, too, Barb. Learning our lessons is a good way to put it. God can be trusted in any and all situations. His richest blessings to you and yours! Thank you for stopping by. God bless.

    Liked by 2 people

  46. My Life in Our Father's World Avatar
    My Life in Our Father’s World

    How was the ice cream? Do you feel better?

    I too have been on a bit of a melancholy journey as of late but with Jesus we will both learn our lesson and be able to better serve our Creator.

    Blessings to you, my friend.

    Liked by 2 people

  47. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    It’s 40 and damp here—not typical Oklahoma weather. The sun will shine soon enough.🤗

    Liked by 1 person

  48. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    “We’re never too old to dream, and to work to build a richer life.”
    Amen! A “can do” attitude fits any age and 98% of circumstances.
    I am grateful for your readership and frequent input. I enjoy reading and commenting in your site, as well. Here’s to a great weekend! Blessings.

    Liked by 1 person

  49. Betty Avatar
    Betty

    Thank you, David, for your very kind words. I appreciate your uplifting posts. We are working today. It’s our Swamp Heritage Festival day. That’s outside, but we are holding down the fort here. The weather here is high of 85 and sunny. Should be down in the 70s in a few days. Hope you have a great Saturday, too!

    Liked by 1 person

  50. Don't Lose Hope Avatar
    Don’t Lose Hope

    I’ve read that statistic before, and it is scary. It highlights how we need to consciously keep on “forgetting the past” and focusing on the present, and what could lie ahead. We’re never too old to dream, and to work to build a richer life. It’s always an inspiration and blessing to read your posts, David 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  51. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Thank you, Priscilla! I like hopeful thoughts, even if negative ones sometimes intrude. 🙏 God’s richest blessings to you!

    Liked by 1 person

  52. Priscilla Bettis Avatar
    Priscilla Bettis

    “Chin up, child of God!” Love it!

    Liked by 2 people

  53. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Ah yes, I’ve heard the story of Eric Liddell, a Scot runner who was also a devout Christian. He ran for the glory of God, and would not compete on Sundays. I believe there’s a movie about he and a Jewish teammate who competed in the 1924 Olympics?
    Thank you for adding your thoughts, brother!
    Blessings to you, and prayers for 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    Liked by 1 person

  54. Alan Kearns Avatar
    Alan Kearns

    Good post and excellent verse from Isaiah David. Looking up reminded me of Eric Liddell who ran with his head lifted high looking Heavenward…what an example to us indeed. God bless you today brother 🙏

    Liked by 2 people

  55. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Betty, your contributions always make things better and clearer. Out should I say “Betty-er”😄

    The sign hangs in the head custodian’s office at my school. I need to ask him why it’s there, and why it’s pointing down. Solving this mystery could be the beginnings of another post.

    A gratitude journal is such a great idea. I love how you use it: weekly, or as often as needed. It seems like one barrier to journaling is thinking one needs to write a 500 word masterpiece every day. The point is to have a positive conversation with yourself.
    Again, I am grateful for you and your positivity and your “can do” attitude, and your wonderful sense of humor!
    I hope you and Dan enjoy your Saturday.
    What’s the weather today in South Florida?

    Liked by 1 person

  56. Betty Avatar
    Betty

    The “Memory Detour” sign seems odd. Its purpose? I do keep a Gratitude journal, and I write in it at least once a week. More often if I have time. I’ve been doing this for years. I believe it has trained my mind to look for the good. I also make time for it when I feel myself getting into a “slump.” Lastly, when I am writing it, I remember things or maybe even notice things for which I am grateful, but at the time, just continued quickly on my day. Your chosen verse is most comforting, isn’t it?

    Liked by 4 people

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