secret (2)

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Dana

(continued from last week)

“Because I live, you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in the Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.” (John 14: 19-20) These words of Jesus hold the secret of life. Just a few moments earlier, the Teacher had spoken a truth He thought should have been clear to His disciples.

“Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered, ‘Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father living in Me, who is doing His work. Believe Me when I say I am in the Father and the Father is in Me…’” (John 14: 8-11)

Jesus then promised the Holy Spirit: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth… He lives with you and will be in you… On that day you will realize that I am in the Father…” (John 14: 16-20)

Without the Holy Spirit we can’t ‘get it’! Jesus had walked three years with His apostles, doing the works of God and teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. But the students still didn’t fully understand the secret of His life: “I am in the Father… and the Father is in Me.”

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10: 30) Can you imagine Jesus ever saying to God: “Today, I think I’ll just go My own way. I know You want Me to do this… but I really don’t feel like it…”? Jesus knew that His Father’s ways were perfect. The Father is love and all His guidance is good. “… I love the Father and do exactly what My Father has commanded Me.” (John 14: 31) Being one with God on earth meant humbly following His Father’s directions.

The beautiful truth is that we are invited into this wonderful life with the Father, Son, and Spirit. “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15: 9-12)

Jesus prayed for us to enter the full life where we are one with God and one with each other as we humbly live in Him.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You have given Me, that they may be one as We are one – I in them and You in Me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” John 17: 20-23

(continued next week)

Posted in Jesus | Comments Off

secret

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Dana

Over the next few weeks I want to write about the believer’s ‘secret of life’. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples during His last days on earth: “Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.” (John 14:19-20)

Because Jesus lives, we live. He is Life. Jesus made this bold claim and offers His abundant life to all who put their faith in Him. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

The apostles witnessed His life on earth and received life from Him. Not comprehending the meaning, they were assured that Jesus would ask His Father to give “another Advocate” to be with them forever — “the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:10-11)

The Spirit is the Person who helps us understand what Christ has accomplished. He speaks what Jesus gives Him. The Father, Son, and Spirit act in love on our behalf.

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.” (John 16:12-15)

How does the Spirit bring glory to the Son? He reminds us that we live only because Jesus lives. He helps us understand the true life found only in Christ. And He reveals that Jesus lives in us. This was the message of the apostles as they went into all the world proclaiming the Gospel. They witnessed Life; they heard God; they received the Light of the world; and they proclaimed Jesus as the Way.

“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.” (II Peter 1:16-18)

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah joined Jesus who shone in brilliant light (see Matthew 17). Peter proposed building three structures to honor each, but God said: “Listen to My Son!” The Law and the Prophets were subject to Jesus and fulfilled in Jesus. He is King and Savior. May we keep our minds and hearts fixed on this One who lives – Jesus is our life.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

(continued next week)

Posted in Jesus | Comments Off

adventure

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Dana

“Mommy woke me up super early. It is really super dark outside. We are going to have a super day!”

sunriseWith Emma sitting between them, three-year-old Wilkes and one-year-old Macy were wide-eyed in the backseat of Taylor’s truck as we drove to the airport at 4:00 Saturday morning. They were on the way to visit Kinsey, Jordan, Owen, Keightley, and Susu in Colorado. Somehow I got left out of this trip.

redrocksAfter a great adventure to Golden, Colorado that afternoon, the kids went to bed early Saturday night, but with the two hour time difference, Wilkes and Macy were up at 4:30 Sunday morning. So they drove to Red Rocks Park, just outside of Denver, witnessed a beautiful sunrise and made it back home for church.

four_under_fourWith four kids under four, everyone is having a great adventure. I’m looking forward to hearing Wilkes talk about a “super trip to Wed Wocks Colowado!”

We have a Winter Break next week so I won’t write…

“Just think – you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God Himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure shares with us the life of His Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.”
I Corinthians 1:7-9 (The Message)

Posted in family | Comments Off

helpers

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Dana

I went to Emory one day last month to get platelets, and instead they put me in the hospital. I argued with Celia, the nurse practitioner, and convinced her I didn’t need to be in the hospital… but she said she needed to talk to Dr. Lonial. He overruled us. “Go talk to Charise,” I pleaded, “Charise always sides with me.” Charise is Dr. Lonial’s assistant and a great friend.

Since December 18, I’ve had several occasions of chills and fevers. They always last five or six hours, then my blood counts crash, then I’ll get platelets and/or blood at the clinic, then I’ll be fine for a few days. Celia appealed to Charise, but she agreed with Dr. Lonial. I was not happy. Daniel, one of my favorite nurses, called the Tower and confirmed I would be in room 903 with a spectacular view of the Atlanta skyline. No view would change my attitude.

Daniel arranged for two young nurses to escort Susan and me from the clinic to the hospital. “Mr. Davis!” one of the young ladies exclaimed, “The last time we met was another time you had to go to the hospital!” Both nurses were kind and cheerful… but I was not.

A nurse and a Physician’s Assistant welcomed us to my room with genuine care and professional courtesy. “I don’t need to be here,” I told them. “When I have the chills and fevers like I did last night, they always go away for several days… I’m fine.” “Well Mr. Davis, we understand how you feel, but we must all follow your doctor’s orders. In a little while, someone will take you downstairs to get a CT Scan then we need to run several blood tests. Your doctors want to find the root cause of these persistent flare-ups.”

Shortly after admission, a woman about my age named Beverly, a native of Jamaica, introduced herself and started giving orders. When I told her I didn’t want to wear her standard hospital socks and I didn’t want to clean my arms, legs, and torso with antiseptic wipes that make you sticky, Beverly responded forcefully with her Jamaican accent: “What do you do?” “I’m a dean of students in a middle school,” I answered. “What? I’m going to tell your students that their dean is uncooperative and disobedient!” I smiled, cracked a joke, and started obeying the lady.

I was stuck. Susan drove home to retrieve some bed clothes and my toothbrush while I submitted to the tests and scans and Beverly’s orders. Susan returned with the stuff; I told her I was fine and that she needed to go home and get some rest. The night nurse was named Stephanie. She was young, full of energy, always smiling, and difficult to give a hard time. “Is that Jesus?” she asked, pointing to a picture on my table. “Yes,” I answered. “I love it! I mean… I love Him!” She made sure I was comfortable and told me “Good night.”

God always talks to me in the hospital, but this night I simply fell asleep with dreams of returning home the next morning. At 11:30, the chills began and I called Stephanie for a warm blanket. Four or five blankets later, the chills ceased and the fevers began. I called Stephanie and she brought some meds. In the wee hours of the morning, I heard God’s comforting voice… only one sentence: “I have you here.”

The next morning, I felt like I had been run over by a truck. The day nurse was named Celeste and she reminded me of our daughter Kinsey. She took care of every need with gentleness and compassion. Dr. Kauffman visited late in the morning and shared that I needed to stay at least another night. The CT Scan revealed I had pneumonia and they wanted to determine the proper antibiotic to combat it. I did not argue. Jewel and Stacey and Maria and the wonderful meal lady and many others made my unplanned hospitalization as pleasant as it could be. Susan of course loves me most and constantly reminded me of God’s providence.

I am re-learning an important truth regarding the One who ‘holds all things together.’ Jesus could have healed me December 18 or before. But Jesus likes to invite others whom He loves to participate in His activity. Just like He allows farmers to grow the food that we thank Him for and parents to raise the future citizens of nations, He permitted all of the people at Emory that I mentioned (and scores more that I did not) to take care of one of His children who argues too much and thinks he has a clue when he really has none. Instead of giving me my way, He surrounded me with the best of helpers to make things better. “Thank you, Lord.”

“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!” Romans 11:33-36

Posted in stories | Comments Off

live

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Dana

Jesus: So you’ve concluded ‘I am everything’?

Me: Yes, Lord… I believe. Is it true?

Jesus: Ha… it is true! This was Our Father’s will before the creation of the world… and He has also included you in His plan!

Me: I am trying to follow John the Baptist’s example and become less while You become more. I don’t think I’m succeeding though.

Jesus: Well, let Me give you a strategy even better than John’s. Just ‘abide in Me’… or ‘remain in Me’… or better yet, ‘live in Me.’ Remember… ‘I am everything.’

Me: Hmmm… How exactly am I to do this? It sounds a little too simple.

Jesus: First, just believe what I tell you. Have a heart like your little grandchildren and trust completely. Here’s the truth: I am in the Father; you are in Me; and I am in you. When I died, you died. When I was raised, you were raised. When I ascended, you ascended. When the Holy Spirit was poured out, you were a recipient of the Father’s wonderful gift. The Helper lives in your heart and teaches you of Me and enables wonderful fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit.

Me: That sounds too good to be true. Now exactly how does it all work?

Jesus: The whole human race needs to grasp the goodness of the Father and the beauty of His plan. You don’t have to figure out how it all works… just trust and obey. I am the Vine; you are a branch; Our Father is the Gardener. Live in Me and I will live in you and there will be good fruit. Take joy in the life you’ve been given… it is My life.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Ephesians 1:3-4

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

“Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.” John 14:19-20

“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Posted in Jesus | Comments Off