Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • 10,000

    —

    Dana

    The day after we arrived home in Atlanta from Africa, I smiled at the end of an outdoor Easter worship service when Matt Redman led his song entitled ‘10,000 Reasons’:

    Bless the Lord O my soul, O my soul
    Worship His Holy Name
    Sing like never before, O my soul
    I’ll worship Your Holy Name
    The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
    It’s time to sing Your song again
    Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
    Let me be singing when the evening comes
    You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger
    Your Name is great and Your heart is kind
    For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
    Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find…

    We know we have 10,000 reasons to praise God each day, but sometimes 10,000 worries consume our thinking and we neglect giving thanks. With all the miracles God performed to get our mission team to Namibia and back, one part of the story is still unresolved.

    We had to make a quick decision in Atlanta to change airlines to try to catch the flight from Washington DC to Johannesburg. The cost was a little over $400 per person to fly to Dulles airport. Tragically, when the first leg of a multi-leg journey is missed, the airline’s reservation system drops a traveler from all the other legs of the journey. To reinstate, another charge of $250 per person was required to ensure we could get home. Adding the two charges and multiplying by fifteen gave a tidy debt of $10,000… 10,000 reasons to worry.

    But God told us every day of our trip to rejoice in Him and to not be anxious about anything… He was near. Is this only true for the actual mission trip? Does God want us to live this way every day of our lives? Are there not serious matters we have to contend with each day? I don’t think I should casually say to my business director: “Relax. Quit worrying. Rejoice! Its only $10,000…”

    I told our director of missions that I felt like I was going to a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill as we walked to a Tuesday meeting with our travel agency. Our business director wisely suggested that we all sit down and discuss our situation. Before the trip, I did not notice a time change on our e-tickets (which does not surprise people who know me, as I sometimes don’t notice if my socks match). The travel agency did not inform us of this huge change in our itinerary. We were all frustrated by the circumstances that created a ‘perfect storm’ in the travel world. All of us had something at stake.

    But when we sat down together and realized we were all human with the potential of making mistakes, we had an excellent meeting. The $10,000 bill is not yet paid, but a fair solution looks a lot more hopeful. God was in the middle of our meeting… and we know He is not worried.

    And on that day when my strength is failing
    The end draws near and my time has come
    Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
    Ten thousand years and then forever more.

    “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:16-24

  • trip

    —

    Dana

    “Sir, that flight left thirty minutes ago…” So began our trip to Namibia on March 28, 2012. Susan and I sprinted to another ticket counter on the opposite side of the Atlanta airport to search for an alternative way to get to Washington, DC. We were told, “Go get your group; there are seats open on the 12:15 flight.” So we ran back across the airport, beckoned our team, and sprinted one last time with thirteen other travelers and a small group of parents. It must have been quite a sight… each team member dragging 100 pounds of luggage through a crowded airport. Because we had thirty suitcases to check, we didn’t catch the 12:15 flight to Dulles. It was a rough morning…

    Five of our team caught a full 2:10 flight and the rest of us boarded the 3:29 plane to DC. The South African Airlines flight to Johannesburg was scheduled to leave at 5:40. The group of five arrived first and boarded the Africa-bound plane a little after 5:15; the rest of the group landed at gate 76 in concourse B at 5:21. Our destination was gate 37. Megan and Andrew were the first two off the plane and they sprinted like track stars. The rest of us followed closely behind as our ‘amazing race’ resumed. (Susan and I are going to have to get personal trainers before we go on another mission trip.) As we ran, I could see the vague image of a man waving his arm, encouraging us to hurry. “We’re going to make it,” I thought. But when Susan and I arrived, most of our group had collapsed on the floor in tears. The door was shut and could not be reopened. No amount of begging or crying or arguing changed anything. Fifteen minutes after arriving at gate 37, we watched our plane back away from the terminal and begin its long journey across the ocean.

    “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

    This was the Scripture God gave us in our predicament and I would have been fine with it except for five words: ‘always,’ ‘all,’ ‘anything,’ ‘everything,’ and ‘thanksgiving.’ But God wanted us to embrace his entire Word, including the challenging terms… and when we did, He gave each of us a ‘peace which transcends all understanding.’  Even when we were told that flights to South Africa were sold out until April, God still wanted us to rejoice, to be thankful, and to trust him.

    Friends of a member of our team came and picked us up at the airport and took us to their home in Virginia. This family of four housed us, fed us, and encouraged us in the Lord. The Body of Christ is so beautiful! The next day they took us back to Dulles where we were greeted by the staff we had begged the night before. This time they had smiles on their faces: “You are on the flight! All of you have confirmed tickets to Namibia!” It was easier to ‘rejoice’ this day. Only twenty-four hours later than our original plan, ten hours after the group of five arrived (they had different adventures), we made it to Windhoek. Only eight of our thirty suitcases arrived with us, but we did not complain. God had rescued us.

    We had an incredible trip, full of opportunities to serve people and love children. We felt God’s presence at every turn and we are so thankful. Peace relates directly to what is going on in our hearts and minds. This is why we need God to guard us in Christ Jesus. In the two verses following the ones above, Paul tells us how to think and what to do. We’re learning…

    “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

  • 1998

    —

    Dana

    I won’t be writing for the next two weeks as we are leaving soon to visit Community Hope School in Windhoek, Namibia. My first trip to Africa was in 1998 with our son, Taylor. We left on his twelfth birthday and visited my youngest brother Brian and his wife in Benin, West Africa. God taught us so many things that I asked Him to allow my whole family to one day experience his provision and protection in foreign lands. He has answered that prayer in amazing ways since ’98 and I am so grateful. The Body of Christ is the most beautiful organism on earth. To meet brothers and sisters of different languages and nationalities gives a tiny glimpse of Heaven to come.

    This will be my tenth trip to Africa, and interestingly all but the first have taken place after I was diagnosed with cancer in 2000. I remember receiving a phone call on one of the darkest days of sickness with an encouraging word I could not bring myself to believe. “Dana,” a dear brother in Christ said, “I have this picture in my mind of you traveling around the world in the Name of Jesus.” I don’t remember my exact reply, but I thought, “Yeah right… you’ve got a flawed mind.” (Oh me of little faith.) During Christmas 2001 our entire family visited Brian and Sondra and their two boys who then lived in Cape Town, South Africa. When we arrived, smiling African brothers and sisters surrounded me praising God that they could see a concrete answer to a year of praying for Brian’s brother.

    Brian has lived in Zambia the past five years. After fifteen years in Africa, he, Sondra, Noah, and Bryson will be moving to the States this spring to further their sons’ education. Brian is one of my heroes and I think this move will be difficult for him, but he realizes God has plans for different seasons of life. Isn’t it fun to watch his plans unfold?

    The missionaries, teachers, and students at Community Hope School in Namibia are very dear to us. We have seen the older children grow up from preschool age to become beautiful teenagers who want to make a difference in their nation. Our high school students will be able to work with them in their studies, play with them, and serve all with the love of Christ. Please pray for us that the Light of Jesus might shine brightly.

    “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.” Matthew 5:14-16

  • 1993

    —

    Dana

    When you have one child, it is hard to imagine the capacity to love another, but God richly supplies. When you have two children, it is hard to imagine the capacity to love still another, but God richly supplies. His love is infinite, so we need not worry. In 1993 our third child was born. Susan and I joke that you find out what kind of parent you really are when you’re outnumbered. Karlyn is now a senior in high school and we love her so much. Over the past two years she has matured into a God-seeker. We pray as parents: “Lord, let our children know you and follow you and be filled with your Spirit,” but is this a safe prayer?

    What if God says: “This child is mine; I have chosen your son/daughter for a great purpose…”? Would this bring joy to our hearts… or fear? When we consider some of the chosen in Scripture (Abraham, or Moses, or Joseph, or David, or Esther, or Mary, or John the Baptist, or Peter, or Paul) and then think of our own child being chosen by God, would we be tempted to say: “That’s OK Lord, you can choose someone else if you don’t mind…”?

    The question may truly be: “Can we trust God with our children?” We believe deep down the answer is “yes”, but we also know that those listed above and many, many others endured difficult times. Jesus told Ananias regarding Paul: “This is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:15-16)  Paul told us throughout his life: “It is worth any price to know Christ! Yes, you can trust God! Of course there will be difficulty as the kingdom of light shines against the kingdom of darkness, but suffering leads to perseverance, and perseverance leads to character, and character leads to hope!”

    We as parents must trust the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding. Hannah promised God that if he would just give her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. God answered her prayer. He spoke to Samuel when he was a little boy and Samuel became the prophet who anointed kings of Israel and boldly delivered God’s word to his people. Hannah knew for a fact that her son was a gift from God and she trusted the Giver with the gift. Surely we can do the same.

    “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” I Samuel 1:27-28

  • 1989

    —

    Dana

    I danced with my oldest daughter a couple of weekends ago. She flew in for the wedding of a close friend and it was so good to see her. The last time I danced with Kinsey was at her own wedding this past July. Father and daughter danced to “Butterfly Kisses” and there were many tears of joy. Sitting on my bedroom floor early in 1989 with a tiny dark haired baby girl asleep in my arms, I did not imagine the day I would walk her down the aisle. “Precious memories… how they linger… how they ever flood my soul…”

    Throughout history, as God has watched people-group fight against people-group and tribe war against tribe, I wonder if He’s thought: “It might have been better if we would have created just one race of humans.” But aren’t we thankful for differences? Parents with more than one child have probably considered: “Things would be a lot more peaceful and less stressful if we just had one.” But aren’t the struggles worth the rewards?

    Taylor and Kinsey argued constantly growing up. From the time Kinsey could walk and talk, her big brother taught her to compete. Playing baseball in the front yard, Kinsey took off her shirt just like all the boys in the neighborhood (this is when she was little, of course). Whatever brother did, little sister wanted to do. Taylor was bigger and stronger, but I’m afraid Kinsey was a little smarter, so the conflicts were often intense. A memorable ‘discipline’ memory occurred one summer day after I told the kids we were going to a Braves’ baseball game.  This was a total spur-of-the-moment treat so when I came to the car and saw Taylor and Kinsey fighting and arguing about sitting in the front seat, I said: “OK, that’s it. Because you guys can’t get along we’re not going to the game.” There was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, but nothing would change the father’s mind. “Angry words… O let them never… from the tongue unbridled slip…”

    So what’s the reward? No greater joy comes to a mother or father as when their children love one another. It may have taken hours of lectures and years of consequences, but I think I can say with all honesty that all our children really do love one another. A good friend gave Kinsey two buddy passes to take a trip after her high school graduation. I was confident my beautiful graduate would take her father on a little vacation, but who did she invite? Her older brother! As Taylor and Kinsey traipsed through Italy and France as best friends, Susan and I trusted our son and daughter to protect one another and we thanked God for children.

    “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

    “It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” II John 4-6

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