Jesus

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Dana
  • To know Jesus as my Provider, there must be a need.
  • To know Jesus as my Sustainer, there must be an extended difficulty.
  • To know Jesus as my Comforter, there must be hurt.
  • To know Jesus as my Healer, there must be infirmity.
  • To know Jesus as my Deliverer, there must be a form of bondage.
  • To know Jesus as my Peace, there must be turmoil.
  • To know Jesus as my Light, there must be darkness.
  • To know Jesus as my Resurrection, there must be death.

harryOur friend Harry from Jerusalem shared these statements one recent Sunday. The thinking can continue into every area of life… even those that help me examine my response. For example, to know Jesus as my Friend, I need to be a friend. He tells us, “You are My friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:14)

To know Jesus as the Way, I must count the cost and follow Him. To know Jesus as the Truth, I must believe what He tells me. To know Jesus as the Life, I must surrender self and receive Him.

One of the reasons the Son gives so much honor to the Holy Spirit is that unless we are convicted of our sin, we may not even realize we need a Savior. To know Jesus as my Savior, I need to realize my hopelessness. When I understand that Jesus gave His life for a lost one who did not deserve it, I cannot help but love Him and praise Him and follow Him daily.

“I tell you the truth: unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:7-8

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

Posted in Jesus | Comments Off

guests

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Dana

We had two guests at our home this past week. Kinsey and Jordan had the difficult assignment of going to Hawaii where Jordan made a presentation at a conference, so Owen stayed with Susu and Opa. The other guest was our Dutch missionary friend Harry who has lived with his wife Dagmar in the Old City of Jerusalem for almost thirty years.

Harry became good friends with ‘almost two-year-old’ Owen over the course of the week. I think he was most impressed with his friendliness. We went to a restaurant Friday evening and as the hostess seated us, Owen waved to every table and said, ‘Hey.’ No matter the age or race or size of the group, someone always waved back and spoke to the little man.

I noticed Harry with the same happy demeanor in our neighborhood. Anytime he would see a person walking or working in the yard he would approach and strike up a conversation. Of course most were probably intrigued with his European accent, but each also appreciated his warm personality.

Isn’t it interesting that at least three of the nine fruit of the Spirit reveal that such characteristics are of God? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) I witnessed a lot of kindness, goodness, and gentleness this week.

Since these attributes are from the Holy Spirit, we know that Jesus illustrated them perfectly. On earth, Jesus was kind, He was good, and He was gentle. Since Jesus is the perfect reflection of His Father, we know that God is kind, God is good, and God is gentle.

One night, we watched The Shack with Harry. If someone unfamiliar with God watched the movie, they would notice kindness, goodness, and gentleness depicted in the characters representing the Father, Son, and Spirit. Harry loved the story.

As we let our light shine, let’s live in the Spirit and reflect the beauty of our Lord.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Peter 1:3-8

Posted in Holy Spirit | Comments Off

child

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Dana

childAfter playing ‘cars’ then playing ‘dinosaurs,’ Wilkes pulled out his medical toys. He checked my heartbeat, took my blood pressure, tapped my knee, and stuck something in my ear. Next, he was the sick patient and I was the doctor. As I examined him, I thought I would bring Jesus into the game: “Jesus, will You come and heal Wilkes? Please take care of him,” I prayed.

I noticed as I started this ‘pretend’ prayer that the almost-three-year-old straightened up in his sitting position on the floor and started looking around. After five or six seconds, Wilkes looked at me and said, “He’s not coming.” But before I could figure out a sensible reply, he followed, “It’s OK; Jesus is in my heart.”

The next time I was at Taylor and Emma’s home, Wilkes talked about Jesus again. “He’s my best Friend,” he reported. Taylor tells me such conversations are common at their house and this makes me smile. I wonder sometimes if God would like Wilkes to have faith like His grandfather… or would He want Opa to have faith like Wilkes?

Some might want to discuss matters of ‘understanding’ or the ‘age of accountability’ or several other rational arguments against elevating the faith of a preschooler, but it would be good for us to try to understand why Jesus used a child to teach about His kingdom.

“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.’” (Matthew 18:2-5)

I’m sure I don’t grasp everything Jesus means, but I do know we can learn a lot from little ones. I think God would love all His children to look expectantly for Him to show up when we call His Name. And Jesus wants us to believe beyond a shadow of doubt that He lives in our hearts. And wouldn’t it be great if all disciples spoke of Jesus as a ‘Best Friend’?

“What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear;
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” – George Scriven

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master‘s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I learned from My Father I have made known to you. 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 15:15-16

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:16-17

Posted in stories | Comments Off

evangelist

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Dana

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make him twice the son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15)

Jesus plainly reveals here that not all conversion is good. A person who thinks he is doing God’s will, but does not really know Him, can do more harm than good. Saul was zealous to do God’s work but was totally off track until he met Jesus. As a changed man, Paul became a great evangelist.

God’s ultimate will is for a lost person to find Him… and Jesus is the way to the Father. After Christ set a demon-possessed man free from his tormentors, the man wanted to join the disciples. But Jesus gave him another assignment:

“‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” (Mark 5:19-20)

After Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well, she went home as a witness. The townspeople asked Jesus to stay with them… “and He stayed two days. And because of His words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man is really the Savior of the world.’” (John 3:40-42)

I need the Holy Spirit to help me be an effective witness! He is the One who convicts the world of sin, but He calls us to spread the Word. The Holy Spirit will surely first give us the proper motivation. We have experienced the love of God, so we now share that love. “We love because He first loved us.” An evangelist without love is “like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Holy Spirit, baptize us with the Father’s love.

The Holy Spirit will also show us how to share our Lord. Jesus shared His Father in different ways. Each situation was unique and He allowed the Spirit to lead Him. The Holy Spirit wants every person to know Jesus, and He knows what is needed in each case. Even though we may be hesitant or unclear, we must remember God is with us. Holy Spirit, lead us to live and share the Gospel. Please give us wisdom and discernment for each situation.

Finally, the Holy Spirit will give us courage. Paul requested this: “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.” (Ephesians 6:19) Paul knew from experience that Jesus is often rejected, but he also knew he needed to continue to share the hope of the world. Holy Spirit, as God’s children, make us fearless ambassadors for Christ.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16

Posted in Holy Spirit | Comments Off

perceive

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Dana

Jesus wants us to hear and really understand. He wants us to see and truly perceive. As a Teacher, Jesus expects a lot and challenges us when we think too ‘small.’ Here’s an example:

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8:14-21)

Jesus referred to two occasions when He fed great multitudes with just a little food. The first miracle took place near Bethsaida on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, and the crowd would have consisted mainly of Jews. The feeding of the four thousand, not counting women and children, took place a little later on the other side of the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis. This area was inhabited mostly by Greeks and other Gentiles. So what did the disciples not perceive about these miracles? And what did leftover baskets of food have to do with anything?

I think this is what the disciples eventually concluded. The twelve baskets represented the twelve tribes of Israel, which included all Jews. The seven baskets stood for the seven Gentile nations that inhabited the Promised Land before it was given to Israel. (see Deut 7:1-2 and Acts 13:19) Jesus was saying: “Do you really think I’m worried about a loaf of bread in our boat? Come on… don’t you see? I have come to feed and save the Jews who are such a big part of My Father’s plan. AND I have come to save the Gentiles, who My Father loves more than you can imagine. But beware, there are Jews like the Pharisees and Gentiles like Herod who oppose Me and My Father. Don’t let them influence you.”

Isn’t it funny that despite our ignorance and ineptitude, God uses us to be a part of His wonderful work? Before the great ‘feeding’ miracles, Jesus sent the twelve apostles in pairs to the villages of Israel with instructions to drive out demons, heal the sick, and proclaim God’s Kingdom. Surely many of the huge crowd of Jews that Jesus fed were those who witnessed amazing signs or heard about Jesus through the obedience of the apostles.

In Mark 7, Jesus healed a deaf man in the area of Decapolis who could barely talk. After healing him, He told witnesses not to tell anyone. “But the more He did so, the more they kept talking about it.” (Mark 7:36) In the same vicinity in Mark 5, Jesus cast out Legion from a tormented man and sent the demons into a herd of pigs. When this man wanted to follow Jesus, He was instructed: “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19) And that is what the man did. Perhaps many in the crowd of the four thousand were inhabitants of the Decapolis who heard about Jesus from the recipients of earlier miracles.

Today, we are Christ’s ambassadors in a desperate world. “God, give us the power to cast out evil, to heal the sick, and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. And give us the remembrance and the passion to tell of all God has done for us and of the mercy we have received. May we invite the multitudes to meet Jesus and receive true life from Him. Help us not to think ‘small,’ but to really see what You are doing. Amen.”

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Matthew 6:10

Posted in Jesus | Comments Off