Dana's Christian Journey

One morning a couple of weeks ago, I sat by myself in a Chick-fil-A restaurant and witnessed a disturbing exchange. Just a few tables from me a father raised his voice toward his teenage daughter, “You don’t believe there’s a drink called a ‘Shirley Temple’? Do you think I’m lying to you? How dare you question your father!” With her back to me, the blond haired girl quietly pleaded, “Dad, you’re embarrassing me.” With a louder voice he yelled, “Yes I’m embarrassing you and you deserve it!” And with that he stormed out of the restaurant, went to his car, and smoked a cigarette. My heart went out to this young teenager. Left alone, she turned around to see who was watching. Our eyes met and all I could think to say was, “It’ll be OK.”

It is the faces of the children in Haiti that impact us most as we watch the news. We want to tell them, “It’ll be OK,” but deep down we wonder. We see volunteers from many nations holding children in their arms and we wish we could do the same. We see parents holding the hands of their own children and we long to help. Of course Haiti is not the only country with multitudes of hurting children.

So what do we do? Treasure the children in your own home. Be kind to the children in your own neighborhood and in your own city. Give to the hurting in foreign lands. Care for the orphans. Offer a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. Ask to understand God’s heart for children and listen carefully to Jesus’ words. Love, love, love… and remember ‘love’ is an action word.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! … See that you do not look down on 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

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

Hernato works hard in his dad’s seafood business in Natal, Brazil. He knows the city well, but Christmas night Hernato was focusing on a part of the streets he confessed he always ignored – the homeless. A group of thirty or so Brazilians and sixteen Americans sang songs, shared food and clothes, and befriended a group of men and women (and one baby) who, for one reason or another, found their home on the streets.

Hernato and another young man, Michael, came up to me and said, “Come with us! We want to find the friend you met last year.” All the homeless in that location knew Perecles. They said he slept a few streets over. They said he was probably ‘high’ from sniffing glue. Perecles taught the Americans about generosity last year, giving back a pair of shoes someone had given him. I shared the story with the group that gathered. “He still has no shoes!” someone laughed. An American had brought a pair of shoes especially for him, but Perecles was not there.

So a little after midnight, I found myself in the car with two young men driving up and down dark streets in a rough part of town. The searchers were not just going through the motions. They drove everywhere. They called strangers to the car window to ask questions. They shouted into the alleys. They got out of the car to search. I thought of Jesus’ parable of the shepherd looking for his lost sheep. Michael is a pastor’s son and such adventures are not uncommon for him. But this was new for Hernato and he seemed crushed that we could not find Perecles.

Hernato saw us off at the airport when we flew home the next week. “I’m going to keep looking for Perecles,” he told me. I’ll bet he finds him. This New Year I want to search for the lost with this passion I witnessed in Natal. It is not just a homeless drug addict with no shoes we’re looking for – we’re searching for a soul, a man with a name, created in the image of God. It is not just a teenager from an affluent family I am instructing – I am teaching a soul, a kid with a name, created in the image of God. It is not just a child I’m taking on a summer field trip – I am caring for a soul, a six-year-old with a name, created in the image of God.

“Remind me every breath I take, Lord, of your love for people. Fill me with that same love and bring the lost into your fold. Amen.”

“‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I have invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” Matthew 22:8-10

It is always exciting to go to new places, but, in my opinion, it is even more exciting to make return trips. Last year, you may recall, we took a December mission trip to Natal, Brazil. (Natal is the Portuguese word for ‘Christmas’.) Many good things happened as we worked with precious brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord willing, next week we will fly again to Natal to celebrate Christmas… and something else.

On December 27, Renata from Brazil will marry Pete from the United States. Parents spend a lot of time praying for God to bring just the right mate to their son or daughter. Who can predict how God will answer such prayers? We are excited to witness Him bring these two young people together for His glory. Jesus loves weddings!

Though the prophets had foretold, few anticipated the way the Savior would come into the world. A King born in a stable? A peasant virgin giving birth to God in the flesh? A heavenly host bringing glad tidings to shepherds in a field? Wise men from the East following a new star to worship a Jewish child? God must take great delight in bringing about His will through creative and mysterious ways. And don’t you marvel at His tendency to allow normal people to participate in His story? Elizabeth, Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, Anna, Simeon, shepherds, star-gazers…

So since His story is ongoing, we should not be surprised to see God continue to bring about His will through creative and mysterious ways. By His grace, He still allows normal people, from all over the world, to participate with Him. May Christmas be a time we remember Mary’s child-like trust and present ourselves to the King for His glory.

“Lord, you are all I need! I praise you for life and love. I am your servant. May it be unto me as you desire.”

Merry Christmas!!!

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:33-36