body

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Dana

Watchman Nee died in 1972 after spending twenty years in communist prisons in China. This is a quote from his book, The Normal Christian Life: “The life of Christ in me will gravitate to the life of Christ in others. I can no longer take an individual line. Jealousy will go. Competition will go. Private work will go. My interests, my ambitions, my preferences, all will go. It will no longer matter which of us does the work. All that will matter will be that the Body grows.”

After reading this quote recently, I began writing down names of people who have influenced me as a follower of Jesus. Before long I had a list of about 100 people. I realize this group is just a tiny, tiny fraction of the Body of Christ, but God has used each to impact my life. I have been blessed because others have allowed Jesus to live in them.

About 40 on this list would not be considered personal friends, though in God’s eyes we are in the same family. You would probably recognize many from this group, and though I have met three or four of them, none would recognize my name. But God has used their teaching or writing or music or example to build my faith and draw me closer to God.

23 on this list are no longer alive on this earth, but their influence continues to spread. About 30 of these 100 are of a different nationality than mine. No matter the color of skin or national heritage, if Christ lives in a heart and a person lives in Christ, good fruit will result. Just think of the multitude from every tribe and nation and tongue that will worship at the throne of God!

60 of the people on this list would probably not consider themselves very important in the Body of Christ, but they are very special to me. These friends and family members are brothers and sisters who know me well. I dare not pretend around these individuals or they will call me out… for my own good! All these believers have helped me grow in Christ, and though we do not necessarily agree on every single point, we love each other deeply. And I truly believe we all need one another.

Now if each of the 100 people on my list created their own list of 100 people who helped them grow in Christ, and then each on those lists wrote down 100 people that influenced them in the Lord, could we get a glimpse of the magnitude of the Body? May Christ, who is our Head, help each of us see his beauty and bless one another.

“It was he (Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13

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loves

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Dana

The most moving part at the funeral of Ashley’s father was a song.

On November 1, 2002, a youth minister named Stephen Coffey prayed boldly at a prayer meeting: “Lord, I will give my life today if it would shake the youth of the nation.” Later that day Stephen died in a car accident.

John Mark McMillan is a singer and song writer, and was one of Stephen’s best friends. He was devastated when he heard of the death of his friend. Out of pain and anguish he wrote the song, How He Loves, popularized by many different Christian artists. Many agree that over the past decade this song with a simple message has indeed shaken the youth of the nation.

David Crowder’s version of the song played on the radio contains two verses and the chorus, but there is a third verse. John Mark McMillan, while honestly sharing his pain, proposed what his friend would sing if we could hear him now.

I thought about You
The day Stephen died
And You met me between my breaking
I know that I still love You God
Despite the agony
See, people, they want to tell me You’re cruel
But if Stephen could sing
He’d say it’s not true
‘Cause You are good

He loves us
O how He loves us
O how He loves us
O how He loves

(©2005 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)

In the middle of the funeral, a courageous Ashley walked to the piano and shared the background of this song then played and sang all the verses, directing the last verse toward her dad. Though there were many tears, we all were reminded of the truth of the One who loves.

“The Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” John 16:27

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me.” Psalm 86:15-16

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victory

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Dana

One morning a few weeks ago, a friend dropped by school to see me.  He said, “I ran across this letter and thought of you, so I brought you a copy.”  The letter was written by his cousin Julie in 2006, who was battling cancer.

Julie died later that year. I remember the courage and faith of a lady who lived a brief but victorious life.

The afternoon of that same day, I learned that the father of Ashley, one of my former students, had been admitted to hospice. About two years ago, Ashley told me her dad had been diagnosed with cancer.  Knowing what her family faced, I did my best to encourage a student the same way others have encouraged my children throughout the years. Five days after being admitted to hospice care, Ashley’s dad passed away.

The family asked me to share some thoughts at the funeral.  As I visited with Ashley, her mom, and her younger brother in their home, I could not help but remember that such sorrowful times are inevitable on this earth. If we are all to face death one day, why do we not constantly keep life’s brevity in mind? That was one thought the family wanted me to share: “Please remind everyone of what is really important.” Julie’s words from her letter written seven years ago seemed appropriate.

You see, no matter what happens, I win! If the Lord graciously heals me with a miracle, I will rejoice and tell of his mighty power to save, giving him the credit! (It is certainly a situation that requires miraculous work.) If the Lord allows the continuation of this disease over the next months ending in death, I still win, because I can confidently say, ‘I love Jesus!’ He will not allow anything to harm me without his all-knowing, all-good direction. Nothing can separate me from him and his love. Nothing else matters, ultimately! What makes Heaven ‘Heaven’ is Jesus!

Now, what about you? Do you love Jesus? Do you love him more than anything or anyone in your life? Don’t wait to decide! This is the most important question you will ever ask yourself. When you have nothing left but Jesus, it is easy to be bold. It is during ‘every day life’ that it is easy to sit back and coast with wasted time and energy on non-valuable things. It is easy to not love and to let those you love and care about continue along a path that leads to destruction and death. I love you all and desire for you to be able to live and die with confidence – not in yourselves, but in the Lord. Jesus saves… and not just for a few years of human life and struggle… He saves forever and completely!

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalms 73:23-26

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new song

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Dana

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” Psalm 33:3
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1
“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.” Psalm 98:1

So what new song will you sing to the Lord? If my life could be considered a song and this new year represents a clean slate, what would I want to express?

Every song ever written was once a new song and the psalmist David wrote many. He wrote in the good times and in the bad; he wrote songs of praise and songs of lament; he wrote honestly, knowing God already knew his heart and circumstance.

Though times aren’t always easy, I want to sing of the Lord’s goodness. Though life often requires waiting, I want to sing of God’s faithfulness. Even in the midst of trials, when we see what God has accomplished through Jesus and when we remember that he has given us the Holy Spirit as Comforter and Counselor, we recognize that we have a reason to sing and a reason to worship.

O for fresh revelation this year! Paul prayed that the children of God could “grasp how wide and long and deep and wide is the love of Christ,” knowing such truth would produce many new songs. The world needs to hear such singing, as the absence of God can only result in worry, fear, and despair.

So, let us sing of hope and a future! May our lives mirror God’s love and may we depend on him to live as Jesus did on this earth, remembering that “the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”

Happy New Year!

I will exalt you, my God and King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty —
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works —
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.

Psalm 145:1-13

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sing

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Dana

Twelve men gathered for fellowship and prayer one recent Saturday morning and we sang two or three songs before we prayed. The singing reminded me a bit of the dwarfs singing in The Hobbit. J.R.R. Tolkien loved to put songs in his stories. Sad songs, happy songs, songs of war, songs of peace, silly songs, and serious songs were part of his fantasy world.

God intends for songs to be a part of our world too. “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Jesus had just completed his last supper with his disciples; and knowing what lay ahead, they sang a song.

This is the month of much singing. Fun songs of the season and serious songs of the Savior are traditions of Christmas. And don’t we now remember the heavenly host who sang the Good News to the shepherds in the field? “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

I pray you and your families have a wonderful holiday week. And may we always sing the praises of the One who gives us life.

Merry Christmas!

“Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20 (The Message)

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