Psalm 143

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Dana

I have a friend younger than me who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last Fall. He is finishing up his fourth round of chemotherapy and preparing to go through a stem cell transplant. Though I don’t think King David ever battled cancer, he did face many fierce enemies in his lifetime. His honest songs and prayers give words that my friend (and all of us) can use in dark days.

The enemy is chasing me, crushing my life in the dirt, forcing me to live in the dark like those who’ve been dead forever. My spirit is weak inside me — inside, my mind is numb. (vv 3-4)

It is a terrible feeling when your mind is numb. Trauma, intense anxiety, emotional strain, tragic news, or harsh drugs can bring such a state. What do you do when you can’t think? David knew his hope was not in his mental capacities. He cried out to the Lord and lifted up honest pleas to the One he knew holds all power.

I stretch out my hands to you; my whole being is like dry dirt, thirsting for you. Answer me, Lord — and quickly! My breath is fading. Don’t hide your face from me or I’ll be like those going down to the pit! Make me live again, Lord, for your name’s sake. Bring me out of distress because of your righteousness. (vv 7, 11)

David also teaches us a discipline to practice in hard times. Though the spirit suffers and the mind is cloudy, we can still dig deep and remember God’s faithfulness.

I remember the days long past; I meditate on all your deeds; I contemplate your handiwork. (v 5)

God hears us and answers our heart cry. “Draw close to Me, and I will draw close to you” — these are the words of a perfect Father who can always be trusted.

Tell me all about your faithful love come morning time, because I trust you. Show me the way I should go, because I offer my life up to you. Teach me to do what pleases you, because you are my God. Guide me by your good Spirit into good land. (vv 8, 10)

(All Psalms 143 quotes are from the Common English Bible)

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seed

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Dana

Early one morning before Christmas, our faculty at school joined in prayer on behalf of two families with sudden life and death health emergencies. We understand God wants us to approach Him in faith… the type of faith that knows He is going to answer. But when the natural evidence is totally negative and our human minds say, “This is hopeless,” it is often challenging to pray with much confidence.

We’re not the first to struggle with such weakness; the apostles also desired more faith. “Lord, increase our faith,” they said to Jesus one time. We might be tempted to write an essay in response to such a request or hold a conference or at least preach a sermon, but Jesus simply spoke a matter-of-fact sentence. Our faculty read his response before we prayed, recalling that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.” Another translation reads: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

Jesus said: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:6) That was the Word of God to the apostles and the message of Christ to us.

God answered the prayers we prayed that morning. I believe He has received much glory as many have recounted His faithfulness and power toward these two families.

Kristhel, Dana, and Kinsey

Kristhel, Dana, and Kinsey

A few days later, on New Year’s Eve, two of Karlyn’s friends came to stay at our house during the Passion Conference in Atlanta. Several of us gathered that evening to pray and give thanks for God’s blessings and I shared the story above. The next morning our guests were the first to rise so I prepared a simple breakfast and we visited together.

These two girls from different countries are going to college as a result of scholarships instituted by the late Sam Walton, who died of multiple myeloma in 1992. Kristhel is from Costa Rica and Edith is from Belize.

Card

Card

As we finished eating, Kristhel said, “I have something for you,” and left the kitchen. She came back with a little card containing a tiny seed with words in Spanish above and below. Fe was above the seed and these words were below: Grano de mostaza. “I carry this in my Bible, but I want you to have it. It is the story you told last night.”

I’ll carry this gift in my wallet this year… God knows what we need.

Written on the back of the card: “Es, pues, la fe la certeza de lo que se espera, la coneccion de lo que no se ve.” Hebreos: 11.1

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

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mind

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Dana

Dr. Sagar Lonial is my doctor at Emory in Atlanta. He is one of the best in the world at fighting multiple myeloma, the blood cancer we’ve been dealing with since 2000.

Several months ago he noticed an increase on a blood test from 17.6 to 22.0. “We’ll need to watch that number,” he said, “it could be a sign that the cancer is active again.”

With eight weeks between tests, the number has increased as follows: 22.0, 31.5, 60.9, 162.9. This week, with just four weeks between tests, the number increased to 313.8. After a 2009 stem cell transplant, it looks like a wonderful season of three and a half drug-free years is coming to a close.

My gambling nature always wants to press the maximum limit before starting chemo, but my arguments cannot defeat those of a good doctor… and an honest wife. Susan and I are at peace with the plan ahead. I will start one drug immediately and then, Lord willing, enter a ‘new drug trial’ after returning from Ecuador at the end of February. We see God’s direction clearly and we know many people will be praying, as so many have throughout the years.

I plan to teach and coach and live life as normal. My main prayer request is for the mind of Christ. He does not worry or doubt, so I should not worry or doubt. He does not fear, so I should take courage. He faced hardship on this earth with eyes on his Father, so I should do the same. I want Susan and the kids and all my brothers and sisters to have the same mindset, not just in this situation, but in all circumstances. We know our hope is the Holy Spirit whom God has placed in our hearts.

So may we all “live in the Spirit” and trust a perfect Father who has given us “everything we need for life and godliness” through his Son, Jesus Christ.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. I Corinthians 2:16

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garden

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Dana

Susan and I have a soft spot in our hearts for nurses… especially since our daughter Kinsey is one. We have also seen the huge difference a nurse can make in health struggles throughout the years. As Susan’s mom Lou left the hospital to go home, twelve days before she passed away, a nurse told us a beautiful story.

We had already fallen in love with this nurse because she had fallen in love with Lou. Sincere care is not easily faked. We knew Angelica had a special place in her heart for Lou, who was alert but not able to fully communicate because of a stroke. Angelica said to Susan that last day in the hospital, “Your mom and I sang together after breakfast this morning.”

Susan’s family is not exactly known for singing, so this was an interesting comment. “What did you sing?” we asked. “She wanted to sing an Elvis song so that’s what we did.” “An Elvis song?” we asked as I was trying to picture Angelica and Lou singing Jailhouse Rock or some other catchy tune. “You know,” she replied, “the one that says, He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.”

Two weeks later, a congregation of family and brothers and sisters in Christ sang this hymn about sweet fellowship as we honored Lou Taylor.

I Come To The Garden Alone by C. Austin Miles

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gives to me,
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him,
Tho’ the night around me be falling
But He bids me go: thru the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

“Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread abroad. Let my lover come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.” Song of Songs 4:16

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Franklin

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Dana

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:42

I’ve thought recently about this verse, wondering how it should play out in our lives and in our culture. On the mission field and in certain foreign lands, we know Jesus needs to be proclaimed and perhaps might even need to be shared for the first time. But our country has churches in every community; everyone has heard of Jesus and sermons tend to make people yawn.

But does everyone know that Jesus is the Christ — the anointed King who now has all authority and who loves perfectly? “Where was God?” has been asked quite often lately as our country has dealt with storms and loss and murder. A few days ago Franklin Graham received this question on a nationally broadcast talk show. His answer went something like this:

“America needs to turn to God. There is one God and his Son is Jesus Christ. Jesus lived on earth and dealt with all the things we deal with, yet He overcame. He lived a perfect life and was falsely accused. He was nailed to a Roman cross and died outside Jerusalem to pay for all our sins. But on the third day God raised Jesus from the dead and He lives today. Jesus is our Answer in these times. I urge everyone to turn to Him.”

In one minute, on a non-religious program, a disciple of Christ told the “good news that Jesus is the Christ.” I don’t think it was what the interviewer expected, but God’s message was proclaimed. Now we might think: “Well that was the son of Billy Graham. Of course he’s going to say that! Franklin is a preacher and the son of a preacher.”

But do not think Franklin Graham simply inherited bold faith. He does not hesitate to tell of the time in his life when he opposed God. An older friend cared enough to tell a young man the truth: “Kid, you’re running from the Lord.” Franklin knew it was true, but he did not want to quit living for himself. Thankfully God’s Word is more powerful than our rebellious hearts.

At the age of twenty-two, in a hotel room far from home, after reading John 3 and Romans 8 over and over, Franklin came to the point of surrender. “I put my cigarette out and got down on my knees beside my bed. I’m not sure what I prayed, but I know that I poured my heart out to God and confessed my sin. I told him I was sorry and that if he would take the pieces of my life and somehow put them back together, I was His. I wanted to live my life for Him from that day forward. I asked Him to forgive me and cleanse me, and I invited Him by faith to come into my life.”

Franklin Graham has led Samaritan’s Purse for many years, blessing children and people in need throughout the world. In 1994, project director Kenny Isaacs organized a group of volunteer doctors and nurses to go to Africa and offer medical aid during the Rwandan genocide. The UN would not let them enter the huge refugee camp in Tanzania so Franklin and Kenny decided to try to enter Rwanda through bordering Uganda. Led through mine fields by a Tutsi guide, the group marched to within fifteen miles of Kigali as the violence continued to rage.

In Rutare they set up a clinic to help those who had escaped the massacre. In the name of Christ, fifteen professionals cared for the sick, treated the wounded, and fed 900 children who had lost their parents in unimaginable atrocities.

So this is the bold mindset we should have today: “This world is a mess… and the answer is Jesus. We know Him and confidently proclaim He has all power to save any person who calls on His Name. And because He cares, we will go to the difficult places. We will extend love to the broken and bring healing to the suffering. We will feed the starving and give what we have to the poor. We will not think of our own comfort while the lost drown. Our lives will speak louder than our words as we proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

“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, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:19-20

Quotes and stories from Rebel With A Cause, by Franklin Graham, published in 1995 by Thomas Nelson, Inc, Nashville, TN

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