tree of life

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Dana

“The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9)

IMG_5143This past week, Kinsey and Jordan invited Karlyn, Susan, and me to join their family for two days in Orlando. We spent one day at Animal Kingdom and one day a nice pool where we stayed.

It is interesting how so many books, movies, and places of entertainment echo themes and messages from the Bible. In the middle of Animal Kingdom is a giant tree that took 18 months to complete. It is 145 feet tall, has 8000 branches, 102,000 leaves, 300 carvings, and is called ‘The Tree of Life.’

The Author of Life placed two real trees in the Garden… one whose fruit was forbidden and one intended to bring blessing. When Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from the Garden, angels were put in place to guard a source of life. “The Lord God said, ‘… He must not be able to reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever.’” (Genesis 3:24)

IMG_2722During our afternoon at the pool, Susan pointed up to the clouds at the work of a small plane. Spelled out was the Source our Heavenly Father offers all who will look to Him for Life. He wants all men and women everywhere to believe and receive His most precious Gift. Jesus is all about Life.

‘I am the Bread of Life. Come to Me and receive true nourishment. My Body is real food and My Blood is real drink. I came to earth and died on the Cross in order for you to have eternal Life. I am the True Vine. Those who live in Me are My branches. Apart from Me you cannot truly live. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. I am the Resurrection and the Life. My words are Spirit and they are Life. Listen, obey, and abide in Me… and I will abide in you and you will experience abundant Life.’

“For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-19

“Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” John 6:57

“As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you: continue in My love. If you obey My commands, you will continue in My love, as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and continue in His love.” John 15:9-10

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coaching

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Dana

Though he is currently not in season, our son Taylor and I were talking about coaching the other day and he said something interesting. “If I could have the discipline to live my life the way a great coach goes through a season, I would benefit.”

I see truth in this statement IF God is first in the coach’s life… then the important things stay the important things. On a team, the players are far more important than a record… just as in life, a spouse and kids and loved ones are far more important than any professional accomplishment. A unified team that cares for one another, works hard AND honors God shines brightly in today’s world. A person who is honest, who works hard, who treats others with kindness AND who lives for Jesus ‘shines like a star in the universe.’

In a season, as in life, there are highs and lows. The highs should not make one arrogant or complacent and the lows should not destroy. A coach and team must learn to persevere, as do all followers of Jesus. At the end of a season, a coach wants to be able to honestly say: ‘We gave our all; we did our best.’ At the end of life, we just want to hear our Heavenly Father say: ‘Well done My good and faithful servant.’

“Taylor, I need to think about this. In your analogy, I guess I’m in the fourth quarter.” He replied, “Dad, you’ve been in overtime for the past ten years!” Not coaching now, dreams of constant fellowship with God bring much more joy than thoughts of competition. So here’s my prayer:

‘Heavenly Father, You knew the number of my days before I was born. Let me trust You with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. Let me acknowledge You in everything and walk Your straight path. Holy Spirit, please work powerfully in me. Remind me of Jesus and His words each day. I want the mind of Christ. Lead me into truth; let me live a disciplined life; do not let me stumble. Dear Jesus, I want to run my race the way You ran Yours… in perfect fellowship with Your Father. Despite the criticisms and opposition, You gave Your all and won the victory. Let me remember that I am in You and You are in me. Amen.’

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” I Corinthians 9:24-27

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

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access

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Dana

“But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the Blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the Cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the Blood of Christ. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:13-18)

The Father, Son, and Spirit love unity and want all human beings, Jews and Gentiles, to enjoy the same ‘Oneness’ they experience. ‘Let them be one, Father, as You and I are one.’ (see John 17)

Man is incapable of bringing about such unity… it can only exist through the love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, and the work of the Holy Spirit. As we humble ourselves at the foot of the Cross we see our desperate situation. By God’s mercy, the Blood of Jesus was shed to bring our forgiveness and the Holy Spirit was poured out to be our Helper.

Now, in Christ, we have access to the Father. Whatever trouble we are in, whatever circumstance seems overwhelming, whatever care weighs us down… we have access to the Father. The Creator of the universe beckons us into His presence. If we understand this invitation, there will be no flippancy, no disrespect, and no arrogance. If men and women of old trembled in the presence of angels, how do we approach the One who created the angels?

The writer of Hebrews says to come with confidence. No matter what the situation, a son or daughter can come before a good parent knowing there is grace, mercy, provision, and sacrificial love. In Christ, we come to the Father believing nothing is impossible for the One who is above all. As children, we have access! “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” (I John 3:1)

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

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aging

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Dana

agingWilkes and Macy celebrated their hundredth day of the school year this past week by dressing up as one hundred-year-olds. Macy seems to be aging well, but Wilkes looks a little worried to me. I should probably tell them getting old is not for the faint of heart.

Most of us have access to pictures from birth to now. Take a little time and look back a decade or two or three… and be reminded of God’s faithfulness. He is a good, good Father. Birthdays, baptisms, graduations, travels, family, friends, highs, and lows… God is present.

As He walked the earth, Jesus wanted people of all ages to know the character and love of the Father. So many misrepresented God, but Jesus revealed Him perfectly by His words and actions. ‘Don’t you know? If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father…’ (see John 14)

Surely this is one of the most important missions of the Body of Christ: to reveal the Father. We can only truly do this through the Holy Spirit He has given us. The Spirit points us to Jesus; Jesus takes us to the Father. There is no rivalry or disunity in the Holy Trinity. Rather, there is perfect harmony and perfect love. The Father has placed us in the Son and has placed His Spirit in our hearts. “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus…” (I Corinthians 1:30)

May we offer ourselves to Him daily as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable because of the Blood of Jesus. This is our act of worship as we call others to follow the Good Shepherd… who helps us in our aging.

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” II Corinthians 1:21-22

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:32

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stand

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Dana

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:31-32) If Satan knows “without faith it is impossible to please God,” (Hebrews 11:6) it is no wonder he wants our faith to fail. If the enemy knows “the work of God is this: to believe in the One he has sent,” (John 6:29) Satan, of course, will try to keep us from truly believing in the One.

In March of 1952, eighteen years after marrying Charity Chang, Watchman Nee was arrested on false charges, then tried and imprisoned. During his captivity, Charity was the only person permitted to visit. She passed away six months before he died on May 30, 1972. With no fanfare, his body was cremated and the family was notified. When Nee’s sister-in-law and grandniece arrived to gather his ashes, an officer showed them a note found under his pillow. Written in large letters with a shaky hand, this may be the last thing Watchman Nee wrote before meeting his Savior: “Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ. – Watchman Nee”

This Chinese disciple finished his race with the message he taught others: Christ is everything. Because Jesus overcame, we overcome. Because He lives, we live. ‘Even though my freedom is taken away, my loved ones are banished, and my life on earth is ending… by God’s grace, I stand.’

In the final chapter of his short book on Ephesians titled ‘Sit, Walk, Stand,’ Watchman Nee focuses on Paul’s instruction to stand against the enemy who hates God and all His children.

Christian living begins with sitting and leads to walking, but it does not end with these. Every Christian must learn also to stand. Each of us must be prepared for the conflict…

Only those who sit can stand. Our power for standing, as for walking, lies in our having first been made to sit together in Christ. The Christian’s walk and warfare alike derive their strength from his position there. If he is not sitting before God he cannot hope to stand before the enemy.

Satan’s primary object is not to get us to sin, but simply to make it easy for us to do so by getting us off the ground of perfect triumph on to which the Lord has brought us. Through the avenue of the head or of the heart, through our intellect or our feelings, he assaults our rest in Christ or our walk in the Spirit. But for every point of his attack defensive armor is provided, the helmet and the breastplate, the girdle and the shoes, while over all is the shield of faith to turn aside his fiery darts. Faith says: Christ is exalted. Faith says: We are saved by grace. Faith says: We have access through Him. Faith says: He indwells us by His Spirit. Because victory is His, therefore it is ours.

In Christ we stand.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17

‘Sit, Walk, Stand’ by Watchman Nee; Gospel Literature Service; ©1957; Bombay, India

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