Category: family

As we close out another school year, this will be my last writing for a while. Our oldest child, Taylor, graduates from high school this week. Susan and I are so proud of our son. When he was born, there were complications that made doctors afraid Taylor would not make it. I remember sitting on the hospital bed praying with Susan after one of those bad reports. Thirteen days later we got to bring our baby home and we have never been the same.

This past weekend I watched one of my brother’s sons, Jason, graduate from Boyd-Buchanan School in Chattanooga. The student speeches all centered on Paul’s words from I Corinthians 16:13-14. I would like to direct these words to Taylor, trusting we can all benefit from such encouragement.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”

Son, wherever you go, whatever you do, be on your guard. There is an enemy who prowls like a roaring lion, seeking victims to devour. This enemy hates all who love God and he hates you. Keep your eyes open and be alert. Do not give the devil a foothold. Guard your heart, control your tongue, keep your mind on good things. Such warnings may sound over zealous in today’s culture, but remember the Holy Spirit says that the closer we get to Jesus’ return, the more dangerous this world will be. The wise know we are closer to that Day than anyone has ever been. Be on your guard.

Taylor, though we have an enemy, we need not fear… for we belong to the Good Shepherd. Stand firm in the faith. Our faith is in Jesus. The better we know Him, the more firm we are able to stand. So spend time with Jesus. He makes Himself known to those that seek Him. Talk to Him before you go to sleep. Talk to Him when you wake up. Talk to Him while you’re fishing. Talk to Him more than you talk to anyone, but even more importantly… listen to Him. Read His Word and ask Him to teach you. Grow to understand that your life is Christ. As you stand firm in the faith, you’ll realize that He has a firm hold on you.

Though Jesus is our Shield and Protector, He calls us to be bold. We are to be like Joshua. The Lord promised Joshua victory. God gave him the land, but Joshua had to fight for it. Over and over, the Lord told this man of faith, “Be strong and courageous!” There will be times you will not think you can make it… keep going. There will be times the obstacles will seem too great… don’t give up. Be a man of courage, my son, and be strong. God sees you this way… and so do I.

Finally, though we are called to be warriors, our greatest responsibility is to love. If you have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, you are nothing. Jesus is the mightiest Warrior, but He is also Love. Your mother and I cannot describe the love we have for you, but even this love pales in comparison to God’s. He wants everything we do to reflect His love. How is this possible? “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” This is how we can do everything in love. Love lives in you, Taylor; don’t be ashamed.

We are proud of you.

John Eldridge has written a little book entitled EPIC, in which he reminds us of the story of the greatest Hero of all time. When paradise was ruined after Adam and Eve’s sin, man lost innocence, authority, and unbroken fellowship with God. Who would take back what was stolen? The Son who, from the beginning was with God and who was God, said, “Here am I, send Me!” So Jesus came as a man, the second Adam, and resisted every temptation the devil threw at Him. He lived a full life, spotless and free. And He laid down that life at Calvary, according to the will of the Father. At the Cross, the price was paid… and on the third day the Resurrection sealed the Victory that gives us all hope. “I have come to bring Life!” is the Savior’s claim.

Those who have received Him know that His valiant rescues are ongoing. “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.” The ‘found sheep’ then becomes a part of His Story and the great purposes of the Father are discovered.

Granted, we don’t always realize the ‘great purposes’ God has in mind for us, but every now and then we get a glimpse. This past Monday, John’s mom celebrated one year of freedom from alcohol and drugs. Family members, church friends, and several of our neighbors accepted the invitation of Terri’s Christ-centered  support group to honor and encourage this young mother who is running the race set before her. There were few dry eyes in the room as her dad stood before the group and shared how proud he was of his little girl. And a Father in Heaven smiled as Terri humbly shared that without God and without all the friends present, she would never have been able to make it.

Of course her journey is far from over, but more and more Terri realizes the impact her life has on others. And a little boy, who will have his first birthday next month, is the one most blessed.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know my Father – and I lay my life down for my sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” Jn 10:14-16

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Jn 15:12

Since I won’t be able to send anything for a while, I thought I would let everyone know we got a good report from the doctor today. We praise God and thank you for all your prayers.

Love,
Dana

We appreciate so many that have prayed for baby John and his mom, Terri. On Monday Terri is coming to live with us a while. We are all excited that a mother and son are going to be together. We want Terri to see how her little baby has blessed so many people. Our church family, our neighbors, our school, and so many friends have lavished God’s love on this little boy. Oh if everyone could see that this extravagant love is what God is all about!

“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

This time of year, I always remember the love that was lavished on our family in a time of need. On Thursday I go back to Emory to have the yearly barrage of tests. I have been in remission for three years, and though quite often I am reminded of the terminal nature of my type of cancer, I feel like the most blessed man on earth to have had this season of health. I feel I can encourage people without reservation to enjoy every day the Father gives us. He lavishes His love on us… so let us pass it on.

Thanks for your prayers.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  Ephesians 3:14-21

My little friend, Roy, made it back to Paris after a good visit in the United States. His dad called me last week and thanked me again for being kind to his young son on our flight from Europe to Atlanta. His call reminded me of the incredible power within the relationship of a father and son. Roy’s dad would roll out the red carpet for me and my entire family if we ever visited his Florida home.

Not long ago, my son, Taylor, brought a friend to my office to ask a favor. I never give away our camp staff shirts to non-workers, but Taylor’s friend was wise. “Dad, Doug wants one of our camp shirts. Don’t you have a leftover from past summers?” I reached in a drawer, pulled out a shirt, and tossed it to him. “Thanks, Dad,” Taylor said. “Thanks, Coach Davis,” Doug remarked as he walked out of my office with his gift. I’ll tell you the truth, Doug would have never received that shirt had Taylor not interceded.

“Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) Do you think the Father hears the requests of His Son? If we imperfect fathers treat kindly those who love our imperfect sons, what about the perfect Father and His perfect Son? The one who loves the Son loves the Father… and the one who loves the Son is loved by the Father. (see John 14:13-31) And if we dare approach God’s heart and learn to think the way He does, we’ll realize His Son is all around us.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matt 25: 34-40