Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • instigate

    —

    Dana

    The Instigator spoke the Word, darkness understood and light appeared. With sin, another darkness came into the world… an evil darkness that leads to death.

    So God spoke again. The Word entered the darkness, but this time, the darkness did not understand. He was despised and rejected by man. Though full of life, He was put to death and sealed in a tomb. But the Instigator of light will not be defeated by darkness or death. The risen Word now invites us to receive life and walk in the light as He is in the light. “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

    Those that walk with Him continually instigate light in a dark world. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:1-5

  • unshakable

    —

    Dana

    A business suffers when a virus causes its computer system to crash, a major city comes to a standstill because of a glitch somewhere in the energy grid, a premier quarterback in the NFL is sidelined with a broken leg… We live in a shakable world.

    The immediate question when the lights go out is: “When will this be over?” The deeper question is: “If my secure job suddenly ends, if my good health turns bad, if my best friend betrays me… if the whole world falls apart around me, will I stand?”

    Our hope for standing is not in a better power grid or a new drug or a stronger economy. Our hope is in an unshakable King who is giving us an unshakable Kingdom. When man’s criticism and the devil’s attacks came against Him, Jesus remembered who He was and stood in the Word of His Father. “I am in the Father and the Father is in me. The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”

    If I am going to stand in a shaky world, I too, must remember who I am… realizing it is far more important to believe what the Holy Spirit says than to believe what I sometimes feel. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

    George Keith wrote true words in a timeless hymn: How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He has said, You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled? “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed; I, I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My gracious omnipotent hand.” “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to His foes; That soul tho’ all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

    “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

  • priceless

    —

    Dana

    This week I celebrate two years of good health. The other night Susan and I reminisced about the journey. In the midst of the storm it is so easy to think, “It’s not worth it!” But once we get to the other side, our feelings change. These two years have been priceless to me… and yet I know there is something even greater. How priceless is God’s unending love for us!

    Was it worth it for the Father to offer up His precious Son? Was it worth it for Jesus to suffer as He did? In exchange for a year of difficulty, I have received two years with my family and friends… to work and to play… to laugh and to cry. In exchange for Himself, Jesus gained the wounded, the hopeless, and the lost. In exchange for His Son, the Father gained sons and daughters He is bringing to glory.

    In the difficult parts of the journey, we may think, “It’s too hard to follow Jesus! Is this life of faith worth it?” Oh if we could hear the heart of the One who endured more than we can fathom: “Don’t give up! I understand the temptation to quit… it came against Me too… but your soul is priceless! Don’t compromise. Don’t shrink back. Don’t wither in the heat. I tell you, no one who follows Me will be sorry in the end. Your eye has not seen and your mind cannot even imagine the things My Father has prepared for you!”

    May God grant us our Savior’s resolve as we run the race marked out for us.

    “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:25

    “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourself flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” Hebrews 12:2-3 (The Message)

  • the Answer

    —

    Dana

    I guess this will be my last writing for a while as we are coming to the close of another school year. Some have noticed the Yahoo advertising on recent writings: “Get a free psychic reading… your online answer to life’s important questions.” When Jesus approached the spirits at work in this world, they would often shout the truth that was hidden from most men: “I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Interestingly, Jesus would sternly tell the evil spirits to be quiet.(see Mark 1:21-28) He did not want the good news proclaimed by demons.

    He wants the good news proclaimed by us! “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

    Those who know Jesus can tell people where the answers really are. Of course, Jesus does not just give answers… He is the Answer. When we come to that place where we see Him as our Everything, life takes on new meaning. This sounds too simple for some, but it is true. When the things of this world cloud this truth, or when my own faithlessness or laziness prevents me from participating in the fellowship Jesus offers, I always weaken.

    A dear missionary friend wrote us a note this week. Anna’s words proclaim the Answer, our hope: “It is all about Christ… who He is, as He gives Himself to us and helps us become more like Him. He is constantly calling us to “alignment” with Himself and His will. Often we miss this as are trying to do His will because we can be so caught up in the task ahead instead of the Person ahead – Him.”

    Be caught up in Jesus this summer.

    “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” Habakuk 3:19

    “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

  • victory

    —

    Dana

    Thousands of people assembled at the Gwinnett Fairgrounds last weekend for the annual Relay For Life to benefit cancer research. I did not get to participate, but our dear friend, Suzette, who battled breast cancer last year (and is now cancer-free), told me about it. The first lap is reserved to honor cancer survivors and their caretakers. Suzette had a hard time describing the emotions she felt as the huge crowd applauded and cheered during this “victory march”. Perhaps this was a small picture of the verse: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

    There’s an interesting passage in Ephesians that gives a glimpse of another “victory march”. In the days of old when a king conquered another city, he would lead a procession of prisoners back to his kingdom. As the captured enemy and the spoils of war were displayed, a powerful message was sent to all: “I am victorious! This was my enemy, but now he is my subject! Behold!” As Paul shares that “every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”, he portrays Jesus as the true champion who, after defeating death, ascended on high, and marched in triumph as a mighty conqueror. “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” (Eph 4:7-8)

    While the angels celebrated as Jesus took His place in Heaven, we take great hope that His “victory” is still in process. “For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (I Cor 15:25-26) How amazing it is that He invites us to participate with Him!

    “Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.”

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