Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • go

    —

    Dana

    “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

    Why did Jesus leave this message with His disciples before ascending to the right hand of His Father? Even after Jesus gave His life and was raised from the dead, He knew there was a further mission. Sin was defeated at the cross, but salvation only comes to those who hear and believe Jesus is Savior and Lord.

    Jesus gives a great commission to His followers so the lost will not remain lost. In these words, Jesus demonstrates the same love that moved His Father to send His only begotten Son to this world.

    “Go, Son. There are so many misconceptions about Me. Go show the world who I really am. Show the world how much I love. Bring the lost home.” Are we not given the same charge?

    “You know Me and love Me; go tell others. There are many misconceptions about Me. Go show the world who I really am. Show everyone how much I love. Bring the lost to Me.”

    Chemo makes the mind quite cloudy, so I didn’t write too much a couple of years ago. But occasionally I had a clear thought. Below is a writing from one of those rare times. I’ll be away next week. May we all be ambassadors for Christ wherever we go!

    WALKING ACROSS EGYPT

    Daddy, why am I an only Son?

    We’ve just not created the rest of the family, Jesus. Do you want brothers and sisters?

    Yes, Father. That would be awesome! Do You want more children?

    I do, Jesus, but I want to tell you there will be a great cost to have them.

    I’ll help, Daddy! I want Heaven to be full of your children – my brothers and sisters!

    Daddy, are You still resting?

    Yes, Son. It’s the 7th day. What are you thinking about?

    Daddy, I want You to know that these last six days have been the most incredible I’ve ever seen.

    We had fun, didn’t we?

    Do you remember us talking one time about a bigger family? Are Adam and Eve a part of that family?

    That’s the start, Jesus. I want to remind You again, though, that this desire for many children has much pain and struggle involved.

    But You still want many children, don’t You?

    Yes.

    And I still want brothers and sisters. So I’m excited!

    Son, what would You be willing to do to bring this family into existence?

    Do You remember that hot, sun-baked spot we created on Earth? The country with much sun, much desert, and miles of wilderness?

    Do You mean Egypt?

    Yes, Egypt. Daddy, I would walk across Egypt to bring You more sons and daughters.

    Son, You are really something!

    Oh, Daddy!!! They have messed up. How could they have been so stupid? Oh no! They can’t live with us now. What about our family?

    You’re right, Son. Adam and Eve have messed up. But there is still a way for the family to come about. I’m afraid the cost is almost unthinkable, though.

    Oh but Daddy, I told you I would walk across Egypt to bring you a family. Tell me what I must do!

    You must go there.

    Where?

    To Egypt. To the Earth. You must live as a man. This is the only way to bring Me sons and daughters.

    How will they become your children – given their present state?

    I will make it quite simple, really. They must admit they need us. They must love us. And they must believe with all their heart that You are my Son.

    That doesn’t sound too hard. Surely they will admit they are in need – just look at them now! And how can they not just love You with all their heart – especially when I remind them who You really are and how much You love them. And surely they’ll just know I am Your Son.

    Jesus, I am sending You, my only begotten Son at great risk. I am sending You to make the people we have created a part of our family. I am Your Father and I love You with an everlasting love.

    Daddy, I’m here! It sure is hot down here in Egypt – but we’re going to have a family soon!

    Daddy, these people have a hard time admitting they are in need! What’s the deal?

    It is sin, Jesus. That’s the deal.

    We need to get rid of this sin, then.

    Keep walking, Son. I am proud of you.

    Daddy, a bunch of people down here say they know and love You, but they don’t know You at all. And they sure don’t love You. What’s worse, they are keeping others from seeing who You really are!

    It’s sin, Jesus.

    We’ve got to get rid of this sin, Father.

    Keep walking across Egypt, Son. You’re doing great.

    Daddy, how am I going to get people to believe I am your Son? You’ve let me break about every natural law we set in place and they still don’t believe. I don’t understand.

    Signs and wonders won’t do it, Son. Jesus, there’s only one way people will really know You are my Son. The cost is great.

    I’m ready to finish the walk, Dad. You’ve prepared Me. Please let Me finish. I know Your Love is the only power great enough to overcome these obstacles. Let Your Love flow through Me, Father. Bring sons and daughters into Our Kingdom!

    Son, My tears will flow like rivers these next days. I love you with an everlasting love. Finish Your walk.

    Daddy? Daddy? I don’t know if I can do it! Daddy, where are You? Is there another way, Father? Oh God! Oh God! Help Me, Daddy!

    I can’t carry it any further! It’s too heavy! I’m falling!

    Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’” For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?

    I’m thirsty!!!

    My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?

    IT IS FINISHED!!!

  • rebuke

    —

    Dana

    Though I wanted to be a good son, if I’m honest, I have to admit I didn’t always do what my father wanted. A father who cares about his children disciplines them, and rebukes are often a part of the discipline. “You didn’t do what I asked.” “You disappointed me.” “I trusted you, and you have broken this trust.” Perhaps we can remember the stern look from a parent. Perhaps we can still feel the sting of correction. Age and wisdom makes us thankful for these rebukes, for such words were signs of love.

    Though we want to be pleasing children of God, if we’re honest, we have to admit we don’t always live as we should. The caring Father in Heaven also disciplines His children, and rebukes are a part of that discipline. As God walked the earth in the Person of Jesus Christ, He often rebuked those He loved. “Quit arguing about who is greatest. If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” “Unless you people see miracles you will never believe.” “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” “Peter, put away your sword.” The wise are thankful for rebukes, for such words are signs of love.

    I used to tell players, “If a coach gets onto you hard; if he singles you out and yells and carries on… be thankful. He cares! A coach isn’t going to expend such energy on someone he doesn’t think can be better.” Such speeches didn’t make players enjoy being scolded, but I think I told the truth.

    If we listen to Jesus today, I imagine we will hear the most common rebuke He gave his disciples. It is the same one He gave the bold disciple who walked on the water. Peter must have had the greatest faith that day, for he got out of the boat and answered the call to do the impossible. But we don’t hear Jesus praise him. Instead, we hear a perfect Coach challenge His player, “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?” Jesus often gave such rebukes. “Believe!” “O unbelieving generation! How long shall I be with you?” “How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me?”

    So as the bombs fall and the nations rage, what do the children of God do? If we take our eyes off of Jesus, we’ll sink just like Peter did. Some may sink in fear, as uncertainty rules the day. Others may sink in pride, thinking their nation is all-powerful. But Jesus says, “Keep your eyes on Me… and believe!”

    “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:8-14

  • the eyes of a child

    —

    Dana

    As much as I enjoy being a father, I remember I am also still a child. My dad turns seventy today. As I wish him happy birthday, I think of how often I have had my eyes on him. More than he knows, I still keep my eyes on him. Perhaps that’s the way it should be. I think that’s what gives God pleasure as a Father… seeing our eyes on Him. We obey Him because we love Him… and we love Him because He first loved us.

    I found something I wrote a little over two years ago. I was quite weak then, but I was still a father. May God help us keep our eyes where they need to be.

    Karlyn, our seven-year-old first grader, performed this morning for the younger children at her school. In my car, from a distance, I watched my little girl as she stood in the midst of fifty other first graders with jump ropes in hand. Karlyn spotted me and waved before her routine began. As the music started, Karlyn eagerly waited for her time to run out with five other classmates and jump rope for the audience. How I smiled as she did things with a jump rope that I can’t do these days. But it was more than performance that brought such emotion to my heart. When she finished, I was the one she turned to find. She didn’t seem to care what her friends thought or even what her teacher thought. She just wanted to know what her dad thought. I was too far away for her to see the tears streaming down my face, but I made sure she saw me clapping my hands above my head. Little Karlyn smiled, waved, and happily ran off to join her classmates. Though I knew her day was just beginning, there was a part of me that couldn’t wait for her to get home that afternoon so I could tell her how proud I was that she was my little girl.

    I don’t know that it is to be any more complex for the children of God. We’ve all been given something to do. Whether it is a giant task or something simple, let’s just do the best we can. Make it a habit to look to the Father in Heaven. Smile and wave and watch the Father clap His hands for His children. And if we look very carefully we just might see the glisten of a tear in His eyes, for there is a part of Him that can’t wait to embrace the children that He loves.

    Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Colossians 3:23-24

  • a father’s heart

    —

    Dana

    Is it possible to care for a person with a father’s heart? Just out of college, many of my students looked older than I did, but I was their leader. Even though I was a teacher, a coach, and an administrator, in my early years, I don’t think I understood a father’s heart. Perhaps I was too young.

    Now that I am a little older, I think I see with different eyes. As a coach, it is often tempting to view a young person as simply an athlete. Good coaches often help players improve in a game, but a father’s heart has higher concerns. Skill doesn’t matter quite as much… character does. Wins may not be quite as important… maturity is.

    Of course, it sure helps being a father. For over sixteen years I’ve been a dad, and I think I’ve made about every mistake. How I need wisdom from above! But despite my weaknesses, I know my heart toward my children. I love them dearly, and I want what is best for them.

    So if I am evil, and I still have such a heart toward my children, what about God? He has the ultimate Father’s heart, for He is the perfect Father. We present many requests to this invisible One, but do you know what He most wants to give? Himself! Oh to fathom the love He has for His children!

    “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” I John 3:1

    “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13

  • fellowship

    —

    Dana

    I’ve written before of the support group Susan and I attend.  Each month, thirty to forty people gather to encourage one another and talk about the common struggle with our disease.  There is definitely fellowship in suffering, but there is also a celebration of life.  Each person may be at a different place in his own battle, but we all have a special appreciation for each day we live.

    Though there are differences, something about this group reminds me of church.  God intends there to be fellowship among His children.  He wants our eyes open to realities that the rest of the world often ignores.  How do the mature view their days on earth?  “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  Do we live with such truth in mind?

    Difficulty has a way of bringing focus.  Fellowship in suffering can make the focus even sharper.  Some of the most passionate songs about Jesus and Heaven were composed and sung by slaves many years ago.  Sufferers who know Christ have hope in their hearts and have so much to share.

    I am thankful for healthy days and sunny skies, but fellowship is not just about my present circumstance.  Do I have a friend in difficulty?  Perhaps I can carry a bit of his load.  I can always enter the place of prayer on behalf of others.

    Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Christian who spent 14 years in prison for his faith.  He often boldly challenged Christians to remember those who suffer for Christ.  May such fellowship bring us joy in the Lord.  From Richard’s book In the Face of Surrender:

    Our brothers and sisters in jail volunteered to take beatings for others.  When it was cold, prisoners gave away sweaters so that others might feel warm.  I have witnessed such scenes myself.  Concern for others drowns out your own troubles.  Focus on God as the saints in prison do, and you will know that heavenly peace comes from patient cross-bearing.  To get out of the neurosis of lawlessness, begin to practice the law of love, at least in the little things.  Deny yourself for a period the food you love most, or some luxury of clothing, and think of those who eat unbearable food and are in rags.  Interrupt your sleep for prayer on behalf of those interrogated during the night.  Give up some item of cosmetics for those who cannot wash.  Renounce an hour of television for those who for years have been in solitary confinement in underground cells and see nothing.  Sacrifice your complaining and grumbling for one day.  Take time from other preoccupations to pray for the persecuted.

    “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort of his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:1-4

Random Post

Categories

Archives