Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • conqueror

    —

    Dana

    This past weekend our guys won the state tournament in tennis. I’ve been a champion for less than forty-eight hours and I tell you it is not enough. There is a definite thrill in victory, but it only lasts a while. Pretty soon that accomplished goal fades and we realize why we need to be more than champions.

    Perhaps Napoleon or Alexander the Great felt the same after their military exploits. If you conquer the world, what do you do next?

    God knows each of us is in a war that transcends all that we see on earth. There is a war for our souls and God sent a Mighty Warrior to ensure victory. But the victory He gives goes far beyond any state championship or any military accomplishment. Jesus is more than a conqueror because He understands what it is all about. Sometimes I’m afraid we don’t have a clue. But every now and then we may get a glimpse of what is at stake. Oh for the courage to enter the battle without fear! Oh for the passion to risk all to follow the King! Oh for the willingness to look like a fool to the world, while knowing deep down that anything He requires will be worth it in the end.

    “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot, the man who made this statement, gave his life in the steamy jungles of Ecuador as he attempted to take the gospel to the Auca tribe. But Jim Elliot is more than a conqueror and so are all who put their faith in Christ and pick up their cross to follow Him.

    We are searching for a crown that will not fade. We are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. We are pursuing a Savior who will not fail us. And nothing can ever separate us from His love.

    “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39

  • Kingdom

    —

    Dana

    “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23

    Jesus loved to share the good news of His Father’s Kingdom. Often He taught in parables, sometimes He taught plainly, but always He told of the Kingdom we are to seek. Many would look for this Kingdom with human eyes, but Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the Kingdom of God is within you.” To Nicodemus, He said, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

    Our human eyes are prone to much deception as the master of lies tries to confuse the Kingdom of God with the kingdoms of this world. As Jesus walked by the magnificent temple, a structure many thought represented God’s Kingdom, He said, “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Oh how we need the “unshakable Kingdom”, the Kingdom Jesus says we must seek first.

    Andrew Murray, a man of prayer of the last century, made these observations about the last words Jesus gave His followers before He ascended:

    In the last command our Lord gave to His disciples we find the great essential characteristics of the Kingdom of God in great power.

    1. The King – the crucified Christ
    2. The disciples – His faithful followers
    3. The power of their service – the Holy Spirit
    4. Their work – testifying for Christ as His witnesses
    5. Their aim – the ends of the earth
    6. Their first duty – waiting on God in united, unceasing prayer.

    “Jesus showed himself to his disciples… speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:3-8

  • snake

    —

    Dana

    Hearing a big commotion from the house where our guys stayed, we ran from our work area to see what was going on. Ephraim, a young missionary from the northern part of Namibia, stood with a big smile on his face.”Look at this!” he said.

    “I was cleaning my room when I felt something hit my leg.” He pointed to a liquid substance running down his dark calf muscle. “I just ignored it and kept cleaning. But when I went to pick up my shoe, something touched my hand. This is what it was!” Ephraim held up a dead snake. From across the room, a spitting cobra had hit a potential victim from his dark hiding place. How happy we were that the snake chose to spit rather than strike when Ephraim picked up his shoe. A young man believed that God had rescued him… and we stood in amazement.

    The snake in the Garden struck in a way that poisoned all mankind and God cursed him. “Cursed are you above all livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)

    Do you remember the dramatic scene of Jesus stomping the snake in Mel Gibson’s movie, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST? What a victory the Second Adam won as He defeated the devil and brought life to fallen man. (see Romans 5)

    But we still see the evil one at work in this world. How cunning he remains as he seeks to poison every man and every woman. We can trust, though, that his time is short. Keep your eyes on the Savior who was lifted up and who brings us all victory!

    “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” Romans 16:20

  • Beautiful Gate

    —

    Dana

    “Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!’ Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did the man’s feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.” Acts 3:1-8

    I was at another Beautiful Gate this month. In one of the poorest areas of the city of Windhoek, Namibia, a group of faithful Christians continue the work of Peter and John. Early every morning, fifty to sixty children enter a special haven called the Beautiful Gate, where they receive nourishment for the body, mind, and soul. The workers, most of the time, can honestly say, “Silver or gold have we none,” but they give what they have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, they love.

    Most of these children have met common tragedy in their young lives; their parents have died of AIDS. Some live in small houses with as many as eighteen people. Most have been given no hope, but the Christians see a different future. This year the Community Hope School was started to give a place for the older children to receive a quality education. Archie and Sofia, both natives of Namibia, are two master teachers instructing these children in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

    Does God not give us a glimpse of His heart in the story of Peter and John? Wherever we encounter people, can we not look them in the eye with the love of our Savior? Can we not give them what we have in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth? The man at the Temple danced for joy and the people accustomed to him begging were “absolutely astounded.” We saw many children dancing for joy at the Beautiful Gate of Namibia… and we danced with them. A community known for poverty, addiction, and brevity of life rejoices that Jesus cares enough to get involved. May the mighty works of the Beautiful Gate follow God’s children all around the world.

    “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:16

  • faithfulness

    —

    Dana

    “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Jeremiah wrote these words in the middle of his Lamentations, showing that even in the midst of sorrow and distress we can remember God’s love and faithfulness and be encouraged. “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.” (Psalm 36:5-6)

    I wish you could see the African skies of Namibia. We saw rainbows, beautiful clouds, and spectacular sunsets. But the night sky was just as awesome. As I gazed at the stars that cannot be seen in our hemisphere, I recalled God’s word to me one sleepless night in the midst of battling cancer. “I am the One who ordered the universe and set every star in place. And I have created your body; every cell is in My hand.” Such a truth does not mean we will live forever on this earth, but it reminds us of Who is in control. And His love is greater than the heavens… His faithfulness reaches even beyond the African skies. This is who God is… and He cannot change.

    I got to share about God’s faithfulness with a small group of missionaries one evening on our trip. After I sat down, the leader of the mission, a native of Namibia, reaffirmed the importance of remembering the character of God. “So many times in the last nine years, I have wanted to quit and take my family back home. It is so hard sometimes to go on. But I always remember the verse the Lord gave us when He sent us here: ‘The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.’”

    God wants us to trust Him in all things, even in those areas that some people might think insignificant. My greatest fears while in a foreign country (with good reason I might add) are getting lost and having an accident while driving. I think Jesus, the Master Teacher, keeps giving me opportunities to grow in trust and to overcome fear. The challenge in Namibia was driving on the wrong side of the road. Almost everything is backwards! The driver sits on the wrong side, he shifts gears with the wrong hand, and he must remember that traffic flows the opposite direction. Thankfully, the clutch, brake, and gas pedals were in the same order (or I think I would have died!). Since I am writing this, you know we made it back safely and I thank so many of you for praying. While my confidence grew after driving about a thousand kilometers, I admit my faith is not what it should be. But Paul reminds us to look beyond our own weaknesses to the One who is perfect. “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (II Timothy 2:13)

    How do we thank such a faithful One? We can never repay Him, and God does not expect us to. But the Father is pleased as we simply present ourselves to Him, having confidence in who He is and loving the One who first loved us.

    “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:3-8

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