boldness

Posted on May 23, 2002 by Dana

After Peter and John were released from prison, the believers came together and prayed that they would speak God’s Word “with great boldness.” (Acts 4) Paul, who had been imprisoned several times, asked the disciples to pray that he have boldness. “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Ephesians 6:19-20)

Why did Paul write such things? It was for telling the truth that Paul found himself beaten and imprisoned. Such sufferings have a way of chipping away our courage. Paul humbly depended on God’s grace to supply the boldness he needed to finish the race. “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body; whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20)

I imagine Jeremiah prayed for boldness. Over and over God gave this prophet hard truths to tell the people. As Jeremiah simply obeyed his God, he was despised and rejected by men. “I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.” (Jeremiah 20:7-8) But God would not let his spokesman be quiet.

I write these thoughts knowing I need boldness. I need boldness to live what I know to be true. I need boldness to share that God has never changed. He is patient, wanting all to come to repentance, but His judgment is coming. I need boldness to remind Christians that Jesus hates lukewarmness. If we are seeking anything ahead of Him we must turn. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

It takes boldness to accept such an invitation.

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Hands

Posted on May 16, 2002 by Dana

First, I’ll share that we got a great report from the hospital regarding the tests that were done last week. There is still no sign of cancer in my blood or bone marrow and I thank God!

As I share such good news about myself, my heart breaks for close friends that are fighting cancer or facing other trials. We probably all have friends that are suffering. We wish we could help some way. We wish we could do something. We know we can pray and we believe God hears us, but there is often a helplessness we feel as we see friends struggle.

The thing we know we can do is love. The Lord instructs us to love fervently from the heart. Let us be creative in our love for one another. Ask yourself what would bless you if you were in the shoes of your friend… then bless your friend that way. As I lay sick last year, I knew there was nothing any person could really do outside of prayer. But how my spirits were lifted when someone showed love to me or my family! The thing I most needed was God… and I saw God through the love of His children.

The other thing we can do is trust the Lord. He has blessed my family through the whole time of difficulty. He has brought about good things that never would have happened apart from the trial. Our close friends, Joe and Sybil, have communicated supernatural peace and joy as they are in the midst of the fire. How can this be? No one wants to suffer, but we can trust that God is greater than any hardship. Though we may feel the enemy is destroying us, God can reverse the tables and turn our trials to gold.

Now our dear friends, Perry and Suzette Price, are entering a similar battle. Suzette has recently discovered she has breast cancer and will have surgery next week. As I have just gotten a good report and Suzette has received such difficult news, guess who is encouraging who? She sent me a note this week that reminds us all of our hope. Let us praise the Hands that carry us through!

May the HANDS that formed the earth touch your body and heal it… May the BREATH that moved over the waters fill your soul with life… May the HEART that sacrificed to save you surround your heart with comfort… May knowing that you are in the Hands of an all powerful, all loving God bring you peace.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29

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prayer

Posted on May 9, 2002 by Dana

“Is any one of you in trouble?  He should pray.  Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise.  Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  James 5:13-16

I was in trouble, so I prayed.  There were times I was happy, so I sang.  I was sick, so I asked the older and wiser to come pray for me and anoint me with oil in Jesus’ name.  I have sinned, but I know God has forgiven.  I don’t mind confessing sin, for I know we all have that in common.  When we are honest with one another, we can easily pray for one another and healing takes place.  This past year, I’ve had the opportunity to stand in many places and thank fellow believers for remembering me in prayer.  This past Sunday, I stood in the church where I grew up and thanked several of my older brothers and sisters.  I think some cried as I told them God had answered their many prayers.

Yesterday, I endured a long day of tests (I won’t get results for a week).  This is the one year anniversary of my stem cell transplant and few at the hospital recognized me with hair on my head.  When I talk to my doctors and nurses, I often tell them how many people are praying for me.  It is God that raises up, but He invites us to participate through prayer.  He can hear the cry of one child and give an instant answer or He can permit many to pray and answer gradually.  If He chooses to answer ‘no’, we can still trust that He is in control and that He loves us.  God is in charge of how and when He answers; He just calls us to pray in faith… and never give up.

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up…”  Luke 18:1-8

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motivation

Posted on May 2, 2002 by Dana

There was a time when these were my sources of motivation: a win, an award, a paycheck, someone’s approval… but now I see things quite differently. When you are told, ‘Time is short’, a unique focus appears.

But it should not take a fiery trial to bring such focus. Through His spokesmen, God has given us the message He wants us to accept. While such revelation may produce urgency within our minds, the Lord councils us to be patient, steadfast, and constant in prayer. “Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”(James 5:8) “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (I Peter 4:7) “Dear children, this is the last hour…” (I John 2:18)

After several months of experience, I can tell you that even the revelation that ‘time is short’ is not enough motivation to live the life God calls us to live. A hectic pace, life’s worries, riches, and pleasures can dull any renewed focus. So what does have the power to motivate us? Paul wrote: “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (II Corinthians 5:14-15)

If we embrace God’s radical love we will end up loving Him with all of our hearts… and that will lead to radical obedience. Jesus knows what His disciples need to live the life God desires. And the Father gives us what we need! Listen to Jesus’ words and take great hope!

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth… If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him… All this I have spoken while with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you…” (John 14:15-27)

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fruit

Posted on April 25, 2002 by Dana

As Paul sat in his prison cell, I wonder if he had regrets. “Have I done any good? Have I wasted all my talents? Will there be any lasting fruit?” As Peter prepared to hang on a cross, I wonder if he evaluated his life as a success or a failure.

God does not view things the way we do. We look at a work of art and say, “That man used his talent in a wonderful way! He created something that will last!” But God says lasting fruit can only come one way – through His Son. These are Jesus’ words: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

The world looked at the well-educated Paul in prison and said, “What wasted talent!” But God saw one who used his talent in the wisest of ways. The world did not call Peter a success. But the Lord was proud of the fisherman who abandoned all to become a disciple of the Master. The secret of bearing lasting fruit will never be found in the world’s wisdom, but only in God’s. And Jesus is the wisdom of God.

As Jesus sees men strive to achieve and build on earth, He offers an invitation that holds the secret for true success: “Come to Me.” If we humbly come and honestly pray, “Lord, take all I am and all I have and bring forth fruit that will please the Father”… He will do it.

“Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him…” Philippians 3:7-9

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