two truths

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Dana

As Jesus lived in his Father, He knew two things were always true: 1) God is love. 2) With God, all things are possible. With these truths planted deep in his heart, Jesus lived the abundant life. His motivation and passion was the love of the Father, and no obstacle or resistance ever shook his faith.

Most failures in our life can probably be traced to a lack of love on our part. Paul tells us that all God’s commandments “are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Romans 13:9) And how many times do we fail because of a lack of faith? If we simply remembered that nothing good is impossible for God, would we pray bolder prayers and live more courageous lives?

The Holy Spirit helps us think on earth like Jesus thought on earth. He wants us to remember, when the lonely, addicted, or marginalized person crosses our path, that “God is love.” And while we know we do not control every outcome, we are called to have great faith… so we can pray without shrinking, and serve without growing weary, and persevere without giving up.

Paul prayed that his brothers and sisters in Ephesus would know the power God offers his children and the incredible love He has for everyone. May these prayers fill our hearts with hope and joy.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of the glorious inheritance of the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19

“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. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

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Father’s house

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Dana

Competent and trustworthy scholars have translated original writings into both the New King James Version and the New International Version of the Bible.  Each version reads slightly differently, although each group strove to be true to the original meaning.  An interesting parallel can be made from these two translations regarding Jesus’ word in Luke 2:49. Didn’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business? (NKJV) is the same question as: Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house? (NIV)

Twelve-year-old Jesus asked this question in the Temple in Jerusalem after being found by his parents listening to his elders, asking questions, and giving answers. Communication is a part of the Father’s business, but as we examine the life of Jesus, we know there is much more than words. The magnificent Temple was known as God’s house, but Jesus understood there is much more than a structure.

The secret of Jesus’ life on earth was that He continually lived in God’s house. He did not live in the Temple; He lived in his Father. “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:2) Jesus, always about his Father’s business, lived with a deep understanding: “Father, you are my dwelling place and I choose to live in You.” As Jesus lived in his Father, his Father lived in Him.

Where do we choose to live? This world continually tempts us to call it home, but this world is not our home. We are to live in Christ… and when we do, He lives in us. And when Christ lives in us, the Father’s work is done. Notice what Jesus said about Himself and us. Let’s choose to live in Him!

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father… Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father living in me who is doing his work.” John 14:9-10

“I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing… As the Father has loved me so I have loved you. Now remain in my love.” John 15:5,9

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

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man of God

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Dana

When the kids were younger, they would often be at Chris’ house up the street or Chris would be at ours. He and Taylor roomed a while together in college and have been close friends for seventeen years. So when Chris and his beautiful fiance, Lee Anna, asked me to officiate their wedding set for July, I was quite honored.

I love helping in weddings, knowing God has something special in mind for a man and a woman pledging themselves to one another in his Presence. I always feel God gives a special thought or Scripture for each wedding and Chris and Lee Anna’s was no different.

I was watching nine-year-old John take swimming lessons at an indoor pool in early spring. The instruction had not yet begun when John got my attention. From the water he pointed to a family of Indian descent sitting on a bench. They also were watching a little boy prepare for lessons, but I could not understand why John was wanting me to look at them. He became so animated that I finally walked close to the pool to hear what he was saying. “Dana, go meet that man sitting at the end of the bench… he’s a man of God!” The swimming lesson ensued and I went and sat on the same bench as the Indian family, more than a little confused by John’s declaration.

Every time John had a pause in his lesson he pointed to the young father sitting with a book in his hand watching his son take lessons. I could read John’s lips: “Go talk to him Dana, he’s a man of God!” Realizing I was going to be embarrassed one way or another, I walked in front of the bench and stood next to the father. I got close enough to read the title of his book: Men of God.

I learned that the man’s name is Daniel, as I struck up a conversation that eventually centered on Jesus. The book he was reading was written by Zac Poonen, a pastor who lives in India.

The next week Daniel brought me two books by the same author. One was a wonderful encouragement to look to Jesus as our Source of Life and the other dealt with the Christian family. In one of the chapters in the family book, Mr. Poonen shared advice he gave one of his sons on his wedding day. I knew this was the message for Chris and Lee Anna. Giving credit to Indian Christians in the wedding ceremony, I suggested that three simple statements might provide some of God’s wisdom for us all.

1. Be centered in God and not in yourselves. The hope for us being a great husband or wife or parent or friend is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus — not on one another. God shows us how to love and how to live.

2. Accept one another and don’t wear masks. Jesus accepts us as we are and this is the way we are to accept one another — no masks, no pretense, no hypocrisy.

3. Do things together and you’ll overcome Satan. There is an enemy who wants to destroy all marriages and all godly relationships. But if we live in unity and pray in unity we will see God’s authority and power over darkness and evil.

I’m thankful a little boy introduced me to a man of God.

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20

(The three statements are from A Heavenly Home, by Zac Poonen; ©2007; published by Christian Fellowship Church.)

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Father’s business

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Dana

“Did you not know I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49)

The twelve-year-old Child asked his parents this question after they had been looking for him for three days. Surely Jesus realized that the business of a mother and father is to keep up with their children. But a higher agenda seemed to consume the Son of Mary and Joseph as they visited Jerusalem for the annual Passover Feast.

Perfect humility enabled the King of kings to submit to modest parents in the unimpressive town of Nazareth. The holy Messiah obeyed a young mother and a simple carpenter even though He was Lord of all. The attitude of Christ revealed complete trust: “My circumstances were chosen by my Father in Heaven. He chose my parents, my physical appearance, my hometown, and my social status. My Father knows what He is doing and I gladly accept his will.”

Jesus’ answer in the Temple was neither rebellious or prideful; He simply revealed the priority of the child of God: “I must be about my Father’s business.” Are we not all to think this way?

I was born in a precise location at an exact time on a particular day in 1959. I now live in a certain city and have a God-given job. I have a wife and children and many friends. But is my mind set on the Father’s business? If a person ever asked why I was doing a certain thing, would I ever honestly answer: “Don’t you know this is what God intends for me to do?”

The secret to Jesus’ life is our hope for such focused living: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:11) Jesus says to us, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” (John 15:4)

Come Lord, live your life in me. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Reveal to my heart what is important to You, and may I be about the Father’s business. Amen.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’” Acts 17:24-28

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complete

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Dana

As we close out another school year, this completes another writing season, though occasionally I may send out a summer note. Susan and I appreciate your prayers this year. Doctors seem pleased with the results of the trial drug I have been taking the past couple of months, so the plan is to stick with it.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

The testing of our faith helps us develop perseverance which is essential in the life of a believer. Perseverance must be present in order for us to be mature and complete. So as we live and learn, we must keep in mind God’s great purpose: ‘To mold us into the image of his Son.’

The more ‘complete’ we become, the more we look like Jesus. And, of course, the more we look like Jesus, the more we love. One reason we can “count it all joy” as we go through various trials is that God continually gives us opportunities to love. Love is the crowning result of the work of God in a person’s life.

Even Jesus went through a journey on earth that brought him to the ‘complete’ place where he could pour out his love and save the world. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:8)

Jesus trusted his Father… and so must we. There is no One more trustworthy.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

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