Category: hope

Once again I was invited to lead a discussion at the Georgia Independent School Association annual meeting. What made this year’s session more fun was that I did not go alone. Taylor Davis, the athletic director at Hebron Christian Academy, joined me as co-presenter.

I’ve already gotten used to being ‘lesser known’ as I’ve joined Taylor in other school settings. Though I can’t help turning around when someone shouts, “Coach Davis!,” the cries are not for me. As we walked around King’s Ridge Christian School, it was fun to see some of the acquaintances Taylor has made in education circles over the years.

We chose as our topic: ‘Jesus and Schools in Today’s World.’ With a full classroom, I asked educators to propose what Jesus might say to us today. For an hour, men and women of different job descriptions and various levels of experience shared suggestions. Below is the incomplete list of statements we thought Jesus might offer:

• ‘Look to Me in times of hopelessness’
• ‘Do not grow weary in well doing’
• ‘Extend grace’
• ‘Help all find their identity in Me’
• ‘Community is vital’
• ‘Hold students accountable’
• ‘Hold to your faith’
• ‘Submit to My words and My ways’
• ‘Be slow to speak, swift to listen, and slow to anger’
• ‘Be honest’
• ‘Pray… remembering that with God, all things are possible’
• ‘Keep first things first’
• ‘Be still and know that I am God’
• ‘Let the little children come to Me… for such is the kingdom of heaven’
• ‘Love others the way I have loved you’

No matter what the occupation, our Master’s wisdom, power, and love is needed. Jesus longs to heal our world and bring hope to all just as He did when He came to earth many years ago. May we find our life in Him.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61:1-3

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. And He said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!… See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.’” (Matthew 18:1-10)

I don’t completely understand… but I love it: Six-year-old Wilkes, five-year-old Owen, four-year-old Macy, three-year-old Keightley, and one-month-old Corrie Mae have angels in heaven. I’m not sure whether each is assigned one specific angel, or whether several are given responsibility… but these angels constantly see the face of God.

‘So you want to be great? Change; humble yourself; be like this child. Blessed are those who welcome the children… and woe to those who cause them to stumble. When you come to Me and trust Me like this child, you, too, become My little one.’

Jesus defines the ‘little ones’ as ‘those who believe in Me,’ so it is not just children who are assigned angels. God is constantly watching over His ‘little ones.’ With one word or nod or raising of an eyebrow, the Creator can dispatch His powerful servants to assist His children. The angels are at His beck and call… and they know how much the Father loves us.

Here are a few takeaways:

• Don’t despise God’s ‘little ones.’
• Welcome the children in Jesus’ name.
• Never, ever, ever cause a ‘little one’ to stumble.
• Humble yourself, believe in Jesus, and be a ‘little one.’
• Thank God for angels.

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Matthew 13:33)

In the end, all the bad yeast that corrupts will not overcome the good yeast God is working throughout His creation. This yeast may not even be noticed, but Jesus assures us of its presence. “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21)

Jesus is the Source of fruit that pleases the Father. He is our Dwelling Place. “If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing… I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.” (see John 15)

So, don’t grow weary of doing good. Keep serving; keep praying; keep loving; and keep walking in the Light. God will eventually defeat evil and His Church will be victorious (see closing Scripture below).

We’ve come to the end of another school year, so this will be the last writing for a while. Susan and I look forward to celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks. “A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more that rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value…” (Proverbs 31:10-11)

On the health front, I’m getting some bad numbers from cancer tests. We don’t know the exact strategy of battle as my platelets have still not rebounded. My doctor, an expert in the field of multiple myeloma, says he loves challenges… so after a few more tests we’ll figure out a plan.

Susan and I have peace and we trust our Heavenly Father. We are thankful for so many who pray for us. If I have news to relay during the summer, I may send out a note, but at this point we’ll simply rest in the familiar place of the unknown… knowing that God is with us.

With love,
Dana

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members of one Body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus… His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord… Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can 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 3:6, 10, 11, 20, 21

May God give us more and more understanding about what took place on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday around 2,000 years ago. His plan to save us was fulfilled at great cost, and the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection stands as the most important event of all time.

Now we can live resurrected lives by the power of the Holy Spirit until Jesus returns in glory. May we never lose sight that this is God’s ongoing plan. May the children of God live boldly as the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and the ambassadors of Christ in a confused and dangerous world. Jesus says there is a cost to follow Him… but it is totally worth it.

I won’t write next week during our Spring Break as I’ll spend several days in the hospital. We’ve tried three strategies to help my blood counts rebound, but nothing has worked. I’ve received blood or platelet infusions nearly every week for two years and the doctors believe this is unsustainable. So here’s the plan:

I’ll be admitted to the hospital Tuesday for a surgery to remove my spleen on Wednesday. It is likely that my spleen has been gobbling up my blood cells… at least that’s the way I understand it. Susan and I have a peace about it all and we would appreciate you praying for God’s will to be accomplished.

I hope to be home by the end of the week… without an organ I don’t know too much about. We thank God for his faithfulness and for the Body of Christ.

Happy Easter!

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:9-11

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subject to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” Romans 8:18-24

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms…” Ephesians 1:18-20

I’ve finally figured out what I want be when I grow up… I want to be an AMATEUR! Not the definition meaning: ‘someone who is incompetent or inept’— I want the meaning that comes from the root word: ‘amore’ — to love. This amateur does something, not because he has to, but because he loves to.

I am an amateur husband because I love Susan now more than ever. I am an amateur dad because I love my children and am so proud of them. I am an amateur grandpa because I love Wilkes, Macy, Owen, and Keightley. What a joy to watch them grow up!

I am an amateur Bible teacher because I love sharing what I’ve learned with middle school students. I love to see their eyes light up when they sense: ‘Oh, this stuff about Jesus is true! He knows me and really cares about me!’

It is important to do our jobs well. We need to carry out our work responsibilities in a professional way and be excellent in everything. But the ‘professional’ is often viewed as one who does his job because it is his job. Have you ever noticed, though, a person shining joy from his duties? Life springs forth from such people.

Jesus did not see Himself as ‘the professional Rabbi’… He was the perfect AMATEUR. And His love was all rooted in His Father. ‘I love My Father… and My Father loves Me. I do exactly what He tells Me to do and live in joy. My food is to do His will!” (see John 14:31; 15:10-11; 4:54)

God is now calling the whole world to look up and realize He is the only One who offers hope. ‘Look! I am here! Call on the Name of My Son! Out of love, He paid your debt with His Blood. He is your hope! He will be your Source of joy! Seek Him… call on His Name and be saved!’

In the dark hour, I’m not always encouraged by the ‘professional.’ But let me hear from someone who’s ‘been there’ and who is still pushing through and who still speaks hope, and I’ll be blessed.

I sat next to Cecil last week, a thirty-two year old athlete who is three weeks out from a bone marrow transplant for leukemia. “My taste is just coming back,” he said. I replied, “Yeah… it will just get better from here on. Did you lose much weight?”  “I went from 205 to 150.” We talked about common experiences and I shared the type of encouragement I needed when I was in the same place. Then we talked about the Lord, our Good Shepherd, who walks with us through the valleys – the One who loves to be with the hurting.

Amateurs share hope… out of faith and love. “Faith, hope, and love… but the greatest of these is: love.”

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” I Peter 3:15

“Salvation is found in no One else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12