Category: stories

Starting with Taylor in the early 1990’s, I’ve pitched tennis balls to our kids in the driveway as batting practice. (We have the best neighbors in the world.) For months, ten-year-old John has tried to reach a goal that I was beginning to think impossible. If he could hit a ball as far as a house across the street (the one on the left in the picture), I would take him to get a treat. The first challenge is the distance but the greater challenge is the narrow gap he has to hit in order to avoid bushes, trees, and other obstacles. After literally thousands of attempts, John never reached the goal… until last week.

After thirty or forty swings, out of the blue, John said, “Dana, I think we need to pray.” I laughed to myself and agreed with him. “Great… go ahead and pray.” John said, “No, you do it.” So I prayed out loud on our driveway that a little boy could hit a ball to a certain place in our neighbor’s yard. Within ten pitches the goal was accomplished. We ran to the spot, confirmed the measurement, and celebrated with great enthusiasm. John yelled, “Thank you God!” After going in the house to tell Susan, we headed to Smoothie King.

Right in the middle of Jesus’ instruction to love one another, He talks about asking for things of the Father in His Name. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.” (John 15:16)

I imagine God knows that as we mature, we’ll care about far more important matters than children’s games, but John took the preliminary step we often omit… he remembered to ask.

On the road to Jericho, a beggar cried out at the top of his voice when he heard Jesus was near: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Without reading the story we would probably guess that Jesus healed the man. He did… but first He asked a question: “What do you want Me to do for you?” The man replied, “Lord, I want to see.” (see Luke 18:35-43)

Jesus invites us to ask. Even though we know God sees our situation and knows all things, we are to ask. Ask like a child of God, ask like a persistent widow, ask like a friend of Jesus… ask like a ten-year-old boy.

“Then Jesus told the disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 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 11:9-13

Dave and Janna and their three young children moved to Uganda less than a year before Kinsey and Jordan arrived at Restoration Gateway. They were worship leaders at a church in Canada when God called them to serve in Africa. Dave is a hockey-playing, Jesus-loving father and husband while Janna is a God-centered mother and wife. Their journey to a distant land became even more of a faith walk when they learned Janna was pregnant shortly before the move. In prayer, the word the Lord gave them is a word He really gives all His children: surrender.

As much as Kinsey and Jordan were encouraged by stories of miracles and healings that some of the missionaries had experienced, they were most inspired by Dave’s and Janna’s life story. Though the pregnancy went well and their ‘home delivery’ was smooth, after a few days Janna felt something was just not right with their baby girl. Doctors at the base advised them to go for tests at the modern hospital in Kampala, the capitol of Uganda.

The condition worsened in Kampala and it was determined that there was a problem with the baby’s heart. Quickly, arrangements were made to fly back to Canada where a world renowned pediatric heart surgeon would operate, but before the scheduled flight, the little girl died.

Kinsey spent a lot of time with Janna during their month in Uganda. It had only been about three months since their loss and the young family was looking to God for help. Janna’s goal was to be grateful for the thirty-four days she got to be with her baby. Dave’s focus was on the Scripture copied below from I Peter. “We will see our child again; this is God’s promise.”

God has the power to heal and restore… no doubt. But God also has the power to help us endure difficult and painful times. We have a ‘living hope.’

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” I Peter 1:3-6

Peter, Andrew, James, John, Mary Magdalene, Stephen, Philip, Paul, Barnabas, John Mark, Aquilla, Priscilla, Lydia, Mary the mother of Jesus, James the brother of Jesus… these are a few of the disciples we read about in the New Testament. These (and all others) were sinners who found forgiveness and grace in the Good News of Jesus Christ. They all made mistakes after being saved, but they believed their righteousness was fully dependent on the Messiah. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24)

Disciples are those who, after receiving such a great gift, dedicate themselves to follow the Master. Disciples take seriously the life they live on earth, desiring to bring lasting fruit to the Father. This fruit only comes as one abides in Christ and receives Living Water from the One who gave his life.

When our oldest daughter Kinsey came back from Zambia five years ago, she told us about a young missionary who had moved there after graduating from college. During Kinsey’s three months in Africa, Megan was a living example of a disciple of Christ. Knowing she still lived there, Kinsey told her little sister to get to know Megan as she studied abroad in Zambia.

Because of schedules and work loads, Karlyn did not get to be around Megan much the first several weeks of the semester, but eventually they got to work together. Megan is now thirty years old and has had an impact on hundreds of children in Zambia. After children leave the base orphanage, Megan continues relationship with many of them in the outlying villages.

Karlyn accompanied her to one village where a blind couple lives. Their five children were cared for at the base until they were old enough to move back with their parents. Megan counsels, encourages, and loves this family through some difficult circumstances. Disciples of Jesus remember the most important command of the Master is to love others the way He loves us.

During one of the team’s long excursions on the rough African roads, Megan got to encourage the Americans. She instigated a conversation with one of Karlyn’s friends that clearly impacted a young life. The discussion centered on using our gifts for the glory of God. The Father gives gifts to build up the Body. If we bury our gifts, we rob others of the blessings God intends to give. As Karlyn shared this story and the subsequent effect it had on her whole team, I thanked God for a young disciple willing to humbly yet boldly pass on important truths. Disciples constantly point to the Father, Son, and Spirit using God’s Word as light and life.

I imagine Megan shies away from being held up as an example, but disciples walk in such a way that others can look to them. Jesus is the only One worthy to be exalted, but a disciple can honestly live with an open heart and open home. “Come see the way I live. Come be my guest in my home. Everything good I have comes from the Father above and I will be happy to share. Jesus has changed me; He is my Hero and my best Friend. He is also my Lord so I will follow wherever He leads. I love Him, but the truth is: He loved me first. And He loves you too! Don’t you want to be his disciple?”

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” I Corinthians 11:1

Not long ago I shared the plan to enter another multiple myeloma drug trial as my latest chemotherapy lost effectiveness. We’ve learned quite a bit about blood chemistry the past several years and we remain in continual awe of God’s handiwork in the human body.

In order to be accepted in this new trial my blood counts needed to be at a certain level, so I requested specific prayers in this regard. My platelet count has been the weakest since my stem cell transplant of 2009 and several friends told me they were going to pray for a turnaround. Thursday’s blood test revealed my platelet count to be higher (by quite a bit) than it has been in years. A few nurses chuckled as I told them people were praying, but one nurse looked at me seriously and said, “God answered those prayers.” There is really no other good explanation. My cancer counts have been rising and that usually results in depressed ‘good’ cells, so thank you for praying.

I survived the first round of this new treatment last week, arriving at the hospital at 7:00 am and departing at 9:00 pm. I hope this week’s session will not take as long.

Thirty minutes after I was seated Thursday, an attractive young lady of Indian descent sat in the chair across from me. I said ‘hello’ and she smiled and returned the greeting. I kept thinking there was something familiar about the girl, but I refrained from asking questions as my family often accuses me of being too nosy.

Susan arrived to sit with me a little while later and soon the young lady spoke. “Are you the Davises?” she asked. “Katie!” Susan exclaimed and we renewed an old friendship. Katie was adopted as a baby with her new family being fully aware that she had a rare blood condition that could not easily be treated in India. We met her through church fellowship when she was about six years old, but we had not seen these friends in many years. Katie is now twenty-four years old and must receive red blood cells every three weeks. She is otherwise healthy and beautiful inside and out. She shared news about all her family and reflected the Spirit of Christ as we spent the morning together.

We have a Father in Heaven who cannot only adjust blood cells in our bodies, but can place members of his Son’s body in the same room for mutual encouragement. And perhaps He wants us to realize that just as each member of the human body is of vital importance, so each member of the body of Christ is precious and valuable. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” I Corinthians 12:27

“For we are his workmanship…” Ephesians 2:10

There was another brother in the story of the son who left home and squandered his inheritance. This older brother was also ‘lost’ but did not know it. His rebellion surfaced when his father extended outlandish mercy on his rebellious little brother. Jesus was familiar with the disdain so many have toward God because He experienced similar reactions.

“He’s talking to a Samaritan woman.” “He’s healing on the Sabbath.” “He’s eating with sinners.” “He’s calling tax collectors to follow him.” “He’s praising the faith of Gentiles.” He’s telling parables about us!”

These observations led to brutal judgments: “He’s a false teacher.” “He’s out of his mind.” “He’s possessed by the devil.”

Though we marvel at how wrong such critics were, it is very easy to fall into similar traps. It is tempting to show disdain for the ‘self righteous’ brother in Jesus’ parable, but the father did not quit loving his older son. Instead, he left the party to reason with him and to ask him to join the celebration.

If we ever belittle mercy and compassion, we probably don’t grasp the love of the Father. The Father is always searching for the lost… whether they are far away or close at hand. He wants fellowship with every person. He wants none to perish, but all to have eternal life.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a chair receiving the chemotherapy I’ve been going through the past several months. A thin curtain separated me from an older man being treated for the same disease. I was not eavesdropping, but the man was very loud and I could not help but overhear his complaint to the nurse. “I went to my doctor back home and do you know what he wanted to talk to me about? He wanted to tell me about Jesus! I told him I didn’t want to hear about Jesus; I just wanted him to get rid of my cancer!”

This man was not pleased with his doctor back home, but I was not pleased with him. I wanted to yell a sarcastic comment from behind my curtain, but then thought better of it. Oh, to love like God loves…

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” Romans 2:1-4