Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • love

    —

    Dana

    Child of God: In this season in which we celebrate the Gift you gave us, we have decided we want to give you a present. So, what do you want for Christmas?

    Father God: How kind of you. Do you think there is something I need?

    Child: Well… I guess not. You have everything and all power is yours. We admit that all we have is from you, but surely there is something that would make your heart glad… glad like a child on Christmas morning.

    Father: Hmmm… It is true that everything good comes from above… so what would I like to receive back from my children? Is this what you’re asking?

    Child: Yes, Lord. What can we give you for Christmas?

    Father: OK. Here’s my answer: ‘Love.’

    Child: Love? We love you, Lord. We worship you, Lord. We praise you for saving us and for giving your Son to die for us. We know that you first loved us, so ‘yes, we will love you… with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength!’ But how can this be more than us simply telling you? We want to give you a gift that makes you smile.

    Father: I always smile when I see my children pass my love to others. ‘Look how my children love one another’… this makes me smile. ‘Look how that husband loves his wife; look how that wife loves her husband; look how those parents love their children; look how those children love their parents’… these are the things that make me smile.

    Child: Well, we surely can do that. I admit though, I sometimes have a hard time loving.

    Father: Get rid of self, my child, and let me fill your heart. You, my children, are the ones I’m trusting to show who I am. And you know that ‘I am love.’ What can you do for the orphan and the widow? How do you love the homeless and the poor? How do you help the lost soul struggling with addiction and shame? How do you love your brothers and sisters facing persecution in other lands? When my children kneel down to lift up one whom I created in my image, I rejoice. This is the gift that keeps on giving. And when you pass my love to others, they will share it too.

    Child: I don’t think we’ll be able to do this without your help. You’re talking about the way we live.

    Father: You’re right! Christ in you… your hope of glory… and your secret for loving.

    “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else…” I Thess 3:11

    “Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And, in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.” I Thess 4:9-10

    Merry Christmas!

  • hope

    —

    Dana

    In class last week, my students read articles and gave reports on persecution occuring in many countries around the world. At the end of each presentation, the student was asked to share what we can learn from our brothers and sisters who are living for Jesus in difficult places. These young Americans were astounded at the stories of courage and perseverance despite physical beatings, imprisonment, and murder of friends and family members. Many contrasted Christians full of faith, hope, and love with what is witnessed in their own culture: shallow faith, lack of passion, and little mention of hope. The most common ‘lesson’ mentioned, however, seemed to conflict with these sentiments of admiration. “We should be thankful we live in a place where we can practice our religion without fear of persecution.” Of course I agree we are to give thanks for all blessings, but the more I heard teenagers honestly reflect on present day persecution, the more I questioned which Christians are truly blessed.

    I have a good friend who is one of the most successful basketball coaches in the state of Georgia. Every season he seeks out the toughest schedule for his team to play. This year his team has been on the losing end of several close games and presently has a mediocre record. But the coach knows what he is doing. By playing the toughest competition he is preparing his team to win a state championship. (His teams have won the last two years.) If a coach with an easier schedule boasted about being undefeated while demolishing every opponent, my friend would just smile and think, “Yeah, but your team is not prepared to win a championship because when you face the tough team at the end of the season you won’t be able to withstand the pressure.”

    Hope should be an important word for every Christian. Hope is more than a wish; it rests in our faith which involves confident anticipation. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Heb 11:1) Paul explains that hope can actually flow from suffering: “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Rom 5:2-4) The wise coach is willing for his team to suffer loss now in order to learn to persevere and get stronger. It is interesting that often the locations where more people are entering the Kingdom are in places of persecution. With their own lives on the line, many are boldly sharing the gospel with those that are lost. “Christ gave himself for you; now give yourself to Christ! Yes, it will cost you all you have, but He is worth it!”

    The comment that probably bothered me most last week went something like this: “We don’t really have to depend on God in our country, but these Christians have to depend on God every day.” So who has the advantage? What should we do? Should we all board a plane for North Korea and endure a little persecution? These are the questions high school students ask. I pray their teacher gives some good answers: “Our hope is in the One who has saved us… and He is far wiser than any basketball coach. Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith and we are to totally trust him and obey what He tells us to do. God has assigned the time and the place we were born. He has a purpose for each of us and that purpose is realized the more we seek first his Kingdom. The Christians in hostile areas do not struggle against flesh and blood, but against powers and spiritual forces of this dark world. The devil hates the sold-out Christian in our country just as much as anyone. Ask God to help you grow in faith. Ask him to show you how to depend on him more and more. Ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you daily with God’s love. Beware of the constant distractions that pull us away from him. Draw close to God and get to know him. Opposition will eventually rise up as you seek him first. Perhaps not the exact type you’ve read about in foreign lands, but, believe me, you will face trials. And when you do, don’t shrink back, but praise God. Ask him to help you persevere through every difficulty. You will find that God is faithful and He will allow you to help others along the way.”

    “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” II Thess 1:3-5

  • peace

    —

    Dana

    The angel said to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” Then suddenly a great company of angels appeared praising God saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2:10-14)

    Not too long after this declaration of joy to the world, an evil king sent his soldiers into the little town of Bethlehem and murdered all the male babies two years old and younger. What kind of peace is this? Just as the ‘joy of the Lord’ goes far deeper than the happiness our world promotes, the peace of God surpasses any human definition. The prophets warned that the world will say, “Peace, peace” when there actually is no peace. But God knows that even when chaos and injustice seem to cover the earth, He still gives peace.

    “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33) Jesus gives peace in the midst of trouble. The peace is in him. Paul goes as far to say that Jesus “himself is our peace” (Eph 2:14). “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn 14:27) This peace passes all understanding; it is supernatural. And with the gift comes a call to courage.

    This is the type of peace David must have had as he walked into the valley to fight the giant, Goliath. Surely his heart was pounding, but the peace of God and the courage that accompanies faith allowed him to defeat the enemy and give glory to God. This is the type of peace that allowed Joseph to awaken from a dream to take his wife and child to Egypt to escape the sword of Herod. This is the type of peace that allowed Paul to sit in a Philippian jail and write that those who believe in Jesus can always rejoice. This is the type of peace that allows a family to face unemployment or disease or disappointment or even death with confidence in a God who knows all things. This world is full of trouble, but God is near. And He says to his children, “Reach out and help carry the burden of a brother or sister or neighbor or stranger. Be an instrument of peace and let my love be known.” Shalom!

    “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 minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7       

  • joy

    —

    Dana

    We all need the ‘joy of the Lord’ to be our strength, but why was Jesus called ‘a man of sorrows’? The joy Jesus wants us to have has nothing to do with the things the world promotes: “Eat this; buy that; experience this; look like that…” Jesus’ joy came from his Father and He wants us to possess it fully. “As the Father loves me so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed 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.” (John 15:9-11)

    The world promotes the shallow, the external, the temporal… God cares about who we really are, what is truly important, and what will last forever. Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered and his life on earth was full of deep joy because He obeyed God and remained firmly in his Father’s love. And what did God know would make his Son’s joy complete? The Cross! Jesus would not tell us the road to Jerusalem was care-free. He would not sugar-coat his agony in Gethsemane. The sadistic cruelty of the Roman scourging and crucifixion can never be associated with anything pleasant, yet joy was a part of Christ’s passion. For the ‘joy set before him’ Jesus endured the Cross, scorned its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.

    For a couple of hours this past Saturday, I raked and bagged leaves with seven-year-old John and his four-year-old sister Leesa. John wanted to know if they were going to get some money for their hard work in the yard. I said, “Yes, John, I’ll give you guys a little reward if we do a good job and finish.” For the rest of the time a little boy called out to his sister and co-worker, “Keep your eyes on the prize, Leesa, keep your eyes on the prize!” Raking leaves is hardly suffering, but Jesus says anyone who really wants to follow him must carry his cross. When the road is hard and the pain is overwhelming, we are not to lose hope. There is joy set before us, so “keep your eyes on the prize!”

    “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

  • Thanksgiving

    —

    Dana

    I spent all morning at Emory today going through various tests. I’ve spent a lot of time at the cancer center over the past eleven years. It is always busy and usually I run into someone I know. Today I saw a friend with multiple myeloma who has really had a hard time lately. But she and her husband both smiled warmly and wished me a happy Thanksgiving. They are not letting the disease destroy a joyful attitude.

    I believe it is true that some of the greatest thanksgiving takes place in the most difficult circumstances. When a person does not know how many days he has left on this earth, he often appreciates things a little more. Susan reminded me this week that we have so much to be thankful for and I know she is right.

    There’s a place at the end of Romans 7 where Paul saw how helpless he was against the sin that works against us. God’s perfect law makes it even more apparent that we cannot be righteous by our own efforts. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v 24-25)

    What can come against us that God cannot handle? We may be sick, but we are not separated from his love. We may be struggling financially, but we are not separated from the love of Christ. The devil may be attacking us from every side with every weapon, but we are not separated from God’s love.

    One of Satan’s most-used strategies is to make us think we ARE separated from the love of God, but he is a liar and a thief. Jesus says, “Fear not, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” I want to be a sheep who even faces death with a smile on his face and thanksgiving on his lips and the truth in his heart that God wins.

    “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long: we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39

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