birth

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Dana

img_3418We are praising God for bringing baby Macy into the world at 5:45 on May 10! She weighs 7 lbs, 4 oz and is 21 inches long. Everyone is excited!

I think our Father in Heaven is also excited when a little one is born. He is the One who “knit us together” and He knows His intentions for every child. He wants us all to know Him and learn to walk in fellowship with Him while we are on the earth.

May the One who loves us all protect and lead little Macy as she joins Taylor, Emma, Wilkes, and the family of God.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1:3-5

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matters

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Dana

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight — the only thing that matters is faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6, New English Translation)

Faith matters to God. In fact, “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) Jesus said, “You believe in God; believe also in Me.” (John 14:1) We come to God through faith in His Son and He calls us to walk this way. “For we live by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7)

The Israelites were rescued from Egypt. They walked on dry land through the Red Sea and experienced miracles of provision and protection. But they were not permitted to enter the Promised Land because they were lacking in faith. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” (Hebrews 4:2)

So if my faith is weak and my prayer is like the father’s who came to Jesus on behalf of his son: “Lord, I believe, help me overcome my unbelief,” what do I do? I go to the One who is the “Author of faith” and the “Perfector of faith.” Jesus helps us believe!

“The only thing that matters is faith working through love.” “If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:2) Love matters to God.

Faith in the Son brings life in the Son and love is the result of this life. A person that claims to follow Jesus proves it by the way he or she loves. Love should be the most visible quality of the believer.

So if my love is weak and I look more like “a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” than the Savior, what do I do? I go to the One who is love. He tells me that His “love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) Jesus helps us love!

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

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counts

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Dana

“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” Galatians 6:15

The conflicts on junior high playgrounds don’t differ too much from when I was a kid. “No, no… it didn’t count!” “What? There’s no rule about that!!” And the commotion begins…

Paul discussed rules in his letter to the Galatians and concluded: “Here’s what counts – you are a new creation… and this only happens because of what God has done through Jesus Christ.”

Jesus is the best at breaking things down to what is most important. People, especially religious people, sometimes take what they think they know about God and His ways to justify actions and high opinions of themselves. Jesus is never fooled.

Religious man: “I follow the Ten Commandments. I tithe and worship properly and live a respectable life in society.”

Jesus: “Here’s what counts with God – your heart. Many do not commit murder, but My Father sees the anger in their hearts and knows the problem. Many never commit adultery, but My Father sees immense damage from lust of the heart. Many give offerings according to the law, but My Father sees whether a person is truly generous. He knows each heart and He knows a man’s true treasure.”

Religious man: “But look at all the sinners! I am so much better than they. You associate with people that have no place in God’s house.”

Jesus: “So you know the heart of another? The way you judge your fellow man counts a lot… that’s the way you will be judged. As you think you are better than someone else, My Father may see that person closer to the Kingdom than you are. Many sinners are finding the Way to eternal life.”

Religious man: “But I know the Scripture. I know I am a part of God’s chosen people. How can you say that sinners are finding a way to life?”

Jesus: “Let Me tell you what counts… I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. You study and search the Scriptures, but yet you miss Me. Those that find Me find the Way. And this is eternal life: to know God the Father and the Son He has sent to save the world.”

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray; one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

“He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural decent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13

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keep

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Dana

Recently, I ran across a journal from 2009. On the left side were verses from various Psalms; the right side was left open to record reflections. One hundred entries covering the critical days of my last stem cell transplant brought thanksgiving and praise to our Father in heaven.

Memories of visits, calls, and meals from many friends also renewed my appreciation for the Body of Christ. Most of the entries were rather mundane: “feel terrible, but the doctor says I am progressing…” “threw up three times today…” “Susan is trying to make me walk more…” “Gil is an awesome nurse…”

One entry did make me chuckle, though it was not very funny at the time. In a surgery before transplant, a catheter was placed in my chest to accommodate the taking of blood and the giving of stem cells. With a low platelet count, the small incision would not stop bleeding. A rather large nurse’s assistant came to my room to put pressure on the wound to try to stop the bleeding.

After twenty minutes of her weight on my chest, I asked, “Have you ever read The Shack?” She told me she had just started Paul Young’s book (which has recently come out as a movie). “Why?” the kind lady asked. “I feel like I am in it… and you remind me of Papa.” ‘Papa’ was the large woman that Young let represent God in his story. My new friend had not reached ‘Papa’ yet in her reading, but perhaps she smiled when she did.

Martin Smith sings a song called King or Cripple. One verse and the chorus go like this:

I love to hold the hand of One who healed the blind
And saw the leper run into Your arms of love
King or cripple – they were the same to You
You take a broken man and You treat him like a king

Keep me; won’t You keep me? Keep me; won’t You keep me?

The Lord does keep us! He alone has the power to reach through the pain and touch us with His love. David knew this at every stage of life and his ancient writings teach us to talk to God.

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 17:8

“You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.” Psalm 18:28-33

“For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5

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conversations

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Dana

Between husband and wife:

Husband: How do you think we can best teach our children about God?

Wife: I am sure there are many ways, but it seems we all learn best by example. So, if our children can see God in the way we live, perhaps they will learn.

Husband: Hmmm… Well, the most important thing to learn about God is that “He is love.” So, are you saying that if our children see us love each other they will learn about God?

Wife: Doesn’t that make sense? That’s why I am to relate to you the way the Church is to relate to Christ… because I love you. And that’s why you are to love me the way Jesus loves the Church… enough to lay down His life.

Husband: Hmmm… I’ve sure messed up a lot, but I think you are right. “God, give us grace to love one another with Your love. And may our kids see You and fall in love with You. Amen.”

Between Father, Son, and Spirit:

Father: Do you think Our children see the love We have for One Another as the secret to life?

Spirit: How can they miss it?

Son: That’s what I asked quite often on earth – how can they miss it? But believe Me, they can miss it. Aren’t so many today missing how much We love them?!

Father: If Our children could understand Your relationship and dependence on Us while You were on earth, they could see the path We’ve planned for them. As You allowed the Holy Spirit to lead, You constantly explained to people that You did nothing apart from Me.

Spirit: When I led You into the wilderness immediately after You were baptized, We allowed You to experience the temptations Our children face on earth. We knew it would be difficult, but We knew You would remember Your identity and resist the evil one with Your Father’s words. You also knew that facing hard things did not mean You were not loved.

Son: No… Your love sustained Me. On earth, I lived in Your love. The more Our children receive Our love, the more they are sustained. I told them: “Remain in My love; remain in Me.” Won’t You constantly remind Our children to live this way?

Father: Yes… and I want them to see that Our love for One Another is the secret to life. There is no friction or competition or strife between Us. We honor and respect and treasure One Another. As Our children realize this, perhaps they will understand a little more of the prayer You taught: “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

“As the Father has loved Me, so I have 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

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – He will testify about Me. And you also must testify…” John 15:26-27

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