Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • Dear John

    —

    Dana

    Hey John, What goes through your little mind? We big people can only imagine. When your face wrinkles up, are you worried? When you smile, are you having a happy thought? When you sleep, do you dream? John, I want you to know you are loved. Your mother loves you in ways you’ll never understand, and you have a brother and sister that love you, too. The family you’re living with loves you, though we know you’ll only be with us a little while. And though I’m not your daddy, I love you, too. But I want to tell you who loves you most. Our Father in Heaven loves you perfectly. He has a special place in His heart for little fellas like you. He’s the one who made you and He has a great plan for your life. He put you all together while you were still inside your mommy, and I think He did a beautiful job. I’ll tell you, John, life on this earth is going to get a little more difficult than it is right now. I wish I could say things will always be pleasant, but you’ve entered a world that’s a little messed up. The truth is – our Father has an enemy who hates everything good. He roams around looking to make trouble and he’s made trouble for us all. But I don’t want you to worry because our Father has a Son who beat this bad guy and He promises to help us while we’re here. This Good Friend wants us to know this world is not our true home. You’re going to like it here in many ways. You’ll do a lot of fun things and you’ll see some beautiful places, but always remember… there’s something much better to come. Good night, John. Sweet dreams…

    “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:2-6

  • crave

    —

    Dana

    “Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” I Peter 2:2

    Our family has a guest in the house. John’s mom loves him with a mother’s heart, but she cannot care for him until she completes a prison sentence. Sunday, with many tears, she asked us to care for her child until she is free. Our guest is a newborn baby.

    We never need to tell John to crave milk. He craves well! I’ve forgotten the grunts, squirms, and cries of a hungry baby. “I need milk! I don’t know much else, but I’m hungry! I don’t care what else you are doing, feed me!” Of course, John makes these requests in the most polite way, but his natural longing reminds me of what I need.

    If you have tasted that the Lord is good, crave Him! In Him we are saved, and with Him we grow. We can never get enough! If Susan tried to put John in front of the television the next time he was hungry, he would not be satisfied. Nothing will replace the nourishment he needs. So it is with us. No pleasure, no entertainment, no activity, no food, no friend… no ‘anything’ will replace the nourishment we need.

    After John drinks heartily, he rests. What a beautiful sight… and sound! As we drink of our life-giving Lord, we, too, learn to rest… in Him. “Thank you, Lord, for paying the price. Thank you, Lord, for giving Your righteousness to us. Thank you, Lord, for showing us the Father. Thank you, Lord, for speaking to our hearts. Thank you, Lord, for giving us peace. Thank you, Lord, for being our Good Shepherd. Help us, Lord, to grow in You with the hope of bearing much fruit in Your Kingdom. Amen.”

    “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

  • pick up

    —

    Dana

    So why did He pick up the cross and carry it? Why didn’t He simply refuse? They had already beaten Him half to death… what else could they have done? He knew He was going to be crucified… why carry the instrument that killed Him?

    Do not forget that Jesus had the choice. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”(John 10:11,18) He could have said “no” to the whole ordeal, but He didn’t. He could have said “no” to any part, but He chose to drink the whole cup.

    And He says to us, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”(Luke 9:23) As He carried His cross through Jerusalem to Golgotha, Jesus was speaking to us: “This is the way. A time will come that looks impossible, but you can make it. Watch me. I didn’t have to carry my cross; I chose to. You don’t have to follow Me; you choose to. I scorned the shame because I knew of the joy ahead. I looked past the pain, for I knew where I would end up. I spent every ounce of energy because this was the cup My Father gave Me to drink. I honored my Father in what I did… and I set you an example. Believe me when I tell you that the joy you will receive far surpasses anything you can imagine. It was worth it for me to suffer as I did! It is worth it for you to follow Me!”

    “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3

  • stand

    —

    Dana

    “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

    Oswald Chambers wrote, “These verses are not a picture of how to fight, but of how not to fight. If you have not put on the armour, you will have to fight; but ‘having put on the whole armour of God, then stand’, says Paul. There are times when God’s servants are sent out to attack, to storm the citadel, but the counsel given here is as to how we are to hold the position which has been gained.”

    The greatest thing we have gained, is Christ… and that is where me must stand. “Build your house on the Rock.” “Be rooted in Christ.” “Remain in Me.” God knows our safe Position… and so does Satan.

    The strategy of the enemy is to get us to take our eyes off of what is most important. I’ve confessed how quickly ‘the important things’ have seemed less important as health comes back and the storm lessens. But are the important things really less important? And if the most important thing is that we abide in Christ and know Him as Lord and Friend, then will the enemy not try to deceive? “How ridiculous to think simply standing in Christ is most important! Don’t believe such foolishness!” And if he can’t diminish our Saviour with the voices of a fallen world, then he will attack with the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And if he can’t cause us to sin, then he will try to knock us off the Rock by circumstances or heartache or difficulty. But in God’s armor, clothed with His power, we can stand.

    “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:14-18

  • Warrior

    —

    Dana

    So how do I fight the “good fight” if I’ve never been trained to be a soldier? What if I’ve never seen myself as a ‘Braveheart’? What if I’m not even clear about the war?

    Thank God we have a Mighty Warrior who sees perfectly. Thank God a Heart braver than William Wallace went before us. John caught a glimpse of this Holy One. “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.” Revelation 19:11-15

    In our race, we are instructed to “fix our eyes on Jesus” who fought, endured, and won the victory. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” The secret for Jesus on earth was that He knew He was not alone. “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also.” “By myself I can do nothing.” “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” No wonder He is the Mighty Warrior!

    So what about me? “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have received from God?” If I really believe that God lives in me, there should be no fear. As Jesus is my hope of salvation and every other spiritual blessing, so He is my hope of fighting the “good fight”.

    “I am with you, even to the end of the world. Quit looking at yourselves and look at Me. Because I live, you live. Realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. As I kept my eyes on my Father while I walked the earth, so you must keep your eyes on Me now. I suffered; you will suffer… but because I persevered, you can persevere. The world does not see Me, but you can… with the eyes of your heart. Believe what I tell you and follow Me.”

    “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galations 2:20

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