Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • funerals

    —

    Dana

    Susan’s uncle died this week and we attended his funeral in Huntsville, Alabama. While fighting cancer three years, Curtis had a peace that can only be attributed to our Creator.

    I pay close attention at funerals these days, often wondering what mine will be like. Susan, Taylor, and I talked about this on our way home from Alabama. Taylor suggested I make a video myself telling funny stories and play it for those who gather. (He sometimes has strange ideas… 🙂 )

    The world shies away from discussions of death, but who will escape it? Apart from God, I guess there is good reason to hide from the subject, but Christians should not be afraid. Death to a Christian is the door to a promise. Besides, why should dead men fear? “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”

    I have great joy thinking of the life that is to come, and I should have an even greater joy realizing the life I already have! One perfect Man embraced a cruel death to bring eternal life. He now bids us die with Him expecting a promised resurrection. Michael W. Smith wrote a song entitled, I CAN HEAR YOUR VOICE: “I’m in the river that flows from Your throne – Water of Life. It covers me and I breathe again. Your love is breath to my soul. I can hear Your voice as You sing over me and I breathe again. It’s Your song of hope breathing life into me. I can feel Your touch as I come close to You and it heals my heart. You restore and renew.”

    I think I hear His voice sometimes. And His words make me smile.

    “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God and trust in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions and I am preparing a place for you. If I am doing this, then you know I am coming back to take you with Me so you can be where I am. Until then, I have given My Spirit to guide and comfort and teach and remind you of all the things I have said. I also give you My peace. Remember, I don’t give as the world gives. So don’t let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14

  • epic

    —

    Dana

    John Eldridge has written a little book entitled EPIC, in which he reminds us of the story of the greatest Hero of all time. When paradise was ruined after Adam and Eve’s sin, man lost innocence, authority, and unbroken fellowship with God. Who would take back what was stolen? The Son who, from the beginning was with God and who was God, said, “Here am I, send Me!” So Jesus came as a man, the second Adam, and resisted every temptation the devil threw at Him. He lived a full life, spotless and free. And He laid down that life at Calvary, according to the will of the Father. At the Cross, the price was paid… and on the third day the Resurrection sealed the Victory that gives us all hope. “I have come to bring Life!” is the Savior’s claim.

    Those who have received Him know that His valiant rescues are ongoing. “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.” The ‘found sheep’ then becomes a part of His Story and the great purposes of the Father are discovered.

    Granted, we don’t always realize the ‘great purposes’ God has in mind for us, but every now and then we get a glimpse. This past Monday, John’s mom celebrated one year of freedom from alcohol and drugs. Family members, church friends, and several of our neighbors accepted the invitation of Terri’s Christ-centered  support group to honor and encourage this young mother who is running the race set before her. There were few dry eyes in the room as her dad stood before the group and shared how proud he was of his little girl. And a Father in Heaven smiled as Terri humbly shared that without God and without all the friends present, she would never have been able to make it.

    Of course her journey is far from over, but more and more Terri realizes the impact her life has on others. And a little boy, who will have his first birthday next month, is the one most blessed.

    “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know my Father – and I lay my life down for my sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” Jn 10:14-16

    “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Jn 15:12

  • know you

    —

    Dana

    “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.” Matt 6:23 “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.” Matt 25:12 “You do not know me or my Father.” John 8:19 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without your wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matt 22:11-14

    Over and over Jesus exposed man’s presumption. People looked religious… but Jesus saw something different. People proudly read the Scripture… but they missed what was most important. People did ‘great’ things… but they were separated from God. Jesus told parables to reveal stunning truths such as this one: The greatest claim a man can make is not that He knows God, but that God knows him.

    A friend called from Switzerland this week and shared a bit of his journey. A couple of years ago, he visited the States wondering how he was going to provide for his family. He had no income and no place to live. He had been a missionary in Europe for years. He had been part of church planting, leadership training, and evangelizing. But as he came to know the Lord better, he began to conclude that God wanted to do so much more than he could even imagine. He began to pray that the works of Jesus might be displayed to a lost world. He began to see the sick healed, captives set free, and words of knowledge given to the hurting and poor. While his faith grew, difficulty also increased. But through the struggles, presumption has given way to brokenness and dogmatism has given way to childlike trust in our Father in Heaven. It is very easy for my friend to share the most important thing that ever happened to him.

    As a young man in Switzerland, he worked as a shepherd. It was during this period of his life that the Good Shepherd found him. Realizing he was a sinner, he bowed before the One who gave Himself at Calvary. At the Cross, the burden of sin was removed and rags of impurity were exchanged for a robe of righteousness. In the hills, amongst the sheep, a young man fell in love with Jesus. In all of the highs and lows of his Christian walk, my Swiss friend always remembers a sure surrender and a simple fellowship with his Savior.

    “Unless a man humbles himself and comes to Me as a child, he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven. These are the ones I know. I am the Gate; whoever enters through Me shall be saved. I am the only Way to the Father and how I love to make my Father known! Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Follow Me and do the will of my Father. One glorious day you shall hear Me say, ‘I know you!’”

    “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” Matt 25:34-36

  • know God

    —

    Dana

    Dayalan Sanders, a native of Sri Lanka, made it a habit of rising at 4:00 in the morning to go to the beach to pray. He, his wife, and two other helpers take care of 28 children, most of whom have been orphaned by the civil war on that island. Early the morning of December 26th, the sea was calm and the weather was fair, but for some reason Dayalan had difficulty praying. As he tried to think through the things he wanted to teach in church that Sunday morning, there seemed to be an oppression that he could not explain. He went back to his bedroom, laid down, and fell asleep.

    A short time later, Dayalan’s wife woke him in a panic. “Look outside! Something is wrong!” The sea was in an uproar. Husband and wife and their young daughter ran outside yelling for everyone to run to the boathouse. Incredibly all 28 orphans arrived at the boathouse within seconds. Usually the motor was stored in a different location, but on this morning the motor was on the boat ready to go. Thirty-three people hopped aboard the little craft built for ten or twelve adults. As they rode out into the lagoon, a huge wave was coming toward them. Faith welled up in Dayalan Sanders and he raised his hands and shouted, “Based on the Scripture that says, ‘When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him’, in the Name of Jesus, I command you to stop!” The wave subsided. The boat stayed afloat. All 33 people lived through the storm that destroyed their compound and ripped their village to shreds.

    The CNN reporter didn’t know what to do with this man who claimed he commanded the waves by the same power that allowed Jesus to calm the waves when He was in a storm. Dayalan Sanders does not claim to be special. He has been a voice of comfort to the many Hindus in his village whose lives have been overturned. He has cried tears of sorrow as he has lost friends and neighbors. But he has a message to share… as do 28 orphans.

    Listening to this man tell his story (find the Jan 10 and 11 broadcasts at www.focusonthefamily.org), one cannot help but realize an obvious truth: This brother had prepared for the storm long before it came. In the heat of the moment, there is no time for preparation. This man did not sit at his desk after his wife’s warning and think, “Now what would be an appropriate Scripture for this pending doom?” The Word was within him. Though he was just a man, he knew God. Whether he lived or died, he knew God. Though the storm of the century was threatening to destroy everything in its path, he knew God. The oil was burning… a wise virgin had heeded the Master’s instruction… a simple servant trusted an all-powerful God. He can’t answer all the questions that have been asked. He does not think he is better than anyone else. But He knows God.

    “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came, ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said, ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13

  • kindness

    —

    Dana

    Each year The Voice of the Martyrs puts out a map of the world showing the places where Christians are severely persecuted. It is interesting that most of the countries in south Asia impacted by the earthquake and tsunami are nations where scores of Christians have been mistreated and killed over the past several years.

    Does the God who brought His wrath on the nations of old who harmed His people still rise up in anger? Does God still judge nations? While numerous dire prophecies were spoken to nations that mistreated Israel, we know that God’s people received the most warnings and the most discipline. A loving Father disciplines those He loves. In sharing about the wrath that would come against all godlessness and wickedness, Paul quickly makes Roman Christians examine themselves: “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So, when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (see Romans 1 and 2)

    How easily the attitude of Jonah can creep in! “When God saw what they (the people of Nineveh) did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’”

    World Vision, Compassion International, Gospel for Asia, Open Doors, Campus Crusade for Christ, Samaritan’s Purse, and Youth With a Mission are just a few of the many organizations rushing to the devastated countries in the name of Jesus. A cup of clean water, clothes for the naked, food for the hungry, care for the sick, comfort for the grieving, and love for the lost… this is the kindness of God.

    The last time our friend from India, Pastor Nag, visited Atlanta, he asked that we join him and his fellow workers in praying that two million people in his state would come to know Jesus in 2005. He called this week, mourning the fact that 15 of his brothers and sisters are still missing from the storm, but excited that people who have never known the love of Christ may have a chance to see Him. He believes two million souls can be saved.

    I confess I don’t always get as excited as I should about such prayers. Surely it is because I think too much about the temporal rather than the eternal. “Lord, help me to look beyond the external and see souls. Lord, help me to think like You do. Lord, let your kindness and love lead the lost to repentance. Empower your servants to take care of the hurting and let Jesus be known. And don’t let me have the wrong attitude of Jonah.”

    “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God…” Romans 11:22

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