Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • counts

    —

    Dana

    “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” Galatians 6:15

    The conflicts on junior high playgrounds don’t differ too much from when I was a kid. “No, no… it didn’t count!” “What? There’s no rule about that!!” And the commotion begins…

    Paul discussed rules in his letter to the Galatians and concluded: “Here’s what counts – you are a new creation… and this only happens because of what God has done through Jesus Christ.”

    Jesus is the best at breaking things down to what is most important. People, especially religious people, sometimes take what they think they know about God and His ways to justify actions and high opinions of themselves. Jesus is never fooled.

    Religious man: “I follow the Ten Commandments. I tithe and worship properly and live a respectable life in society.”

    Jesus: “Here’s what counts with God – your heart. Many do not commit murder, but My Father sees the anger in their hearts and knows the problem. Many never commit adultery, but My Father sees immense damage from lust of the heart. Many give offerings according to the law, but My Father sees whether a person is truly generous. He knows each heart and He knows a man’s true treasure.”

    Religious man: “But look at all the sinners! I am so much better than they. You associate with people that have no place in God’s house.”

    Jesus: “So you know the heart of another? The way you judge your fellow man counts a lot… that’s the way you will be judged. As you think you are better than someone else, My Father may see that person closer to the Kingdom than you are. Many sinners are finding the Way to eternal life.”

    Religious man: “But I know the Scripture. I know I am a part of God’s chosen people. How can you say that sinners are finding a way to life?”

    Jesus: “Let Me tell you what counts… I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. You study and search the Scriptures, but yet you miss Me. Those that find Me find the Way. And this is eternal life: to know God the Father and the Son He has sent to save the world.”

    To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray; one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

    “He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural decent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13

  • keep

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    Dana

    Recently, I ran across a journal from 2009. On the left side were verses from various Psalms; the right side was left open to record reflections. One hundred entries covering the critical days of my last stem cell transplant brought thanksgiving and praise to our Father in heaven.

    Memories of visits, calls, and meals from many friends also renewed my appreciation for the Body of Christ. Most of the entries were rather mundane: “feel terrible, but the doctor says I am progressing…” “threw up three times today…” “Susan is trying to make me walk more…” “Gil is an awesome nurse…”

    One entry did make me chuckle, though it was not very funny at the time. In a surgery before transplant, a catheter was placed in my chest to accommodate the taking of blood and the giving of stem cells. With a low platelet count, the small incision would not stop bleeding. A rather large nurse’s assistant came to my room to put pressure on the wound to try to stop the bleeding.

    After twenty minutes of her weight on my chest, I asked, “Have you ever read The Shack?” She told me she had just started Paul Young’s book (which has recently come out as a movie). “Why?” the kind lady asked. “I feel like I am in it… and you remind me of Papa.” ‘Papa’ was the large woman that Young let represent God in his story. My new friend had not reached ‘Papa’ yet in her reading, but perhaps she smiled when she did.

    Martin Smith sings a song called King or Cripple. One verse and the chorus go like this:

    I love to hold the hand of One who healed the blind
    And saw the leper run into Your arms of love
    King or cripple – they were the same to You
    You take a broken man and You treat him like a king

    Keep me; won’t You keep me? Keep me; won’t You keep me?

    The Lord does keep us! He alone has the power to reach through the pain and touch us with His love. David knew this at every stage of life and his ancient writings teach us to talk to God.

    “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 17:8

    “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.” Psalm 18:28-33

    “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5

  • conversations

    —

    Dana

    Between husband and wife:

    Husband: How do you think we can best teach our children about God?

    Wife: I am sure there are many ways, but it seems we all learn best by example. So, if our children can see God in the way we live, perhaps they will learn.

    Husband: Hmmm… Well, the most important thing to learn about God is that “He is love.” So, are you saying that if our children see us love each other they will learn about God?

    Wife: Doesn’t that make sense? That’s why I am to relate to you the way the Church is to relate to Christ… because I love you. And that’s why you are to love me the way Jesus loves the Church… enough to lay down His life.

    Husband: Hmmm… I’ve sure messed up a lot, but I think you are right. “God, give us grace to love one another with Your love. And may our kids see You and fall in love with You. Amen.”

    Between Father, Son, and Spirit:

    Father: Do you think Our children see the love We have for One Another as the secret to life?

    Spirit: How can they miss it?

    Son: That’s what I asked quite often on earth – how can they miss it? But believe Me, they can miss it. Aren’t so many today missing how much We love them?!

    Father: If Our children could understand Your relationship and dependence on Us while You were on earth, they could see the path We’ve planned for them. As You allowed the Holy Spirit to lead, You constantly explained to people that You did nothing apart from Me.

    Spirit: When I led You into the wilderness immediately after You were baptized, We allowed You to experience the temptations Our children face on earth. We knew it would be difficult, but We knew You would remember Your identity and resist the evil one with Your Father’s words. You also knew that facing hard things did not mean You were not loved.

    Son: No… Your love sustained Me. On earth, I lived in Your love. The more Our children receive Our love, the more they are sustained. I told them: “Remain in My love; remain in Me.” Won’t You constantly remind Our children to live this way?

    Father: Yes… and I want them to see that Our love for One Another is the secret to life. There is no friction or competition or strife between Us. We honor and respect and treasure One Another. As Our children realize this, perhaps they will understand a little more of the prayer You taught: “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

    “As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:9-12

    “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – He will testify about Me. And you also must testify…” John 15:26-27

  • invest

    —

    Dana

    img_1034Thirteen-year-old John and I went to visit our friends, the Bendicksons, in Iowa the first weekend of our Spring Break. What I love to witness in the Bendickson family is the way they invest in people. Their Heartshot Ministry uses archery as the means to connect with children, teenagers, and adults. Many that become involved with Heartshot take the opportunity to give to the community by serving the widows in the area.

    While in Iowa, I noticed how Troy loved John. From archery to guns to four-wheelers to simple conversations, Troy took the time to invest in a young man – doing things teenage boys like to do. I also noticed how John did the same thing with their six-year-old twin boys Ollie and Archer. Every time I turned around they were wrestling or running or playing – things that little boys like to do.

    God loves to witness such living and, of course, He teaches us by example. The Father loved us so much He gave His most precious possession so that we could be forgiven and saved. Why would He invest in those who did not deserve it? Because He loves us.

    The wonderful plan of God is to give us the supernatural life of His Son through the power of resurrection. “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly be united with Him in His resurrection.” (Romans 6:3-5)

    God gives us His Spirit as Living Water (see John 7:37-39). He continually invests Himself into His children. Praise God for His wonderful ways.

    “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10

  • falling

    —

    Dana

    img_5004Every 21st of the month, until his first March birthday, Emma sent a few pictures of baby Wilkes, showing his growth. Kinsey has followed the same path, sending monthly pictures of Owen on the 26th of each month, anticipating a big birthday in June.

    img_5028 A few days ago, between the first picture and the last, the baby took a tumble. Thankfully, Jordan’s strong hands saved the day.

    “The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 145:14)

    What would we do without the Father who rescues His children? What hope would the wandering sheep have if there were no Good Shepherd to search and save?

    Of course, God does not encourage us to wander. I remember as a boy walking off the trail on a Fall day to get a better look at a river. Before I knew it, my feet had slipped and I was sliding down a steep slope into the cold Chickamauga.

    God gives His children encouragement to walk boldly in the Spirit, but to avoid sin. “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love… So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Galatians 5:13,16)

    Let’s give thanks to the One who can keep us from falling.

    “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

    “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

    “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

    “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 17-25

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