There’s No Place like Home

After going through the storm and facing numerous trials, all she wanted was to simply go home. Her new companions were in search of brains, heart, and courage. She wanted no more than to return to the place where things were familiar and safe, where she was loved by her family and friends. So, Dorothy closed her eyes, clicked her ruby slippers and repeated the words of a longing heart: “there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.”

I know how Dorothy felt, for somewhere over the rainbow is my home. Few places equal the beauty of Hawaii. Too often, the picturesque land and sea can be taken for granted and not appreciated in the midst of the chores of the daily routine. Friends from home have sent me calendars of Hawaii which call me home.

My mouth waters as I remember favorite foods. Kalbi ribs, mandoo, shrimp and vegetables, andagi, Portuguese bean soup, lumpia, and Lorrie’s bread pudding. I feel like getting a flight home just to eat. I have the Baptist gift of potluck.

Like Dorothy, what I truly miss are the people. After 23 years of walking life’s journey together, I am still overwhelmed by the love, support, and prayers I have received from home. I have been so blessed to serve with such a gracious and generous people.

Unfortunately unlike Dorothy, I cannot simply decide to go home. They apparently do not make ruby slippers in size 14. So I will continue to have the wish of returning to the home of rainbows, because there’s no place like home.

These musings on my earthly home have reminded me of my home beyond eternity.

"Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14: 1-3

Jesus has gone before me to prepare my heavenly dwelling place according to His father’s design. Jesus not only prepares my future home, but also promises to come for me when it’s my moving day, when I step from time to the timelessness of eternity.

The Bible contains few descriptions because our human words are so inadequate to describe the celestial vistas. So for now, we can imagine.

Imagine the relief of laying down our burden of sin and guilt.
Imagine viewing every day the extraordinary masterpiece of God’s perfect creation, painted with colors that do not even exist on our palette.
Imagine the intimacy of unending fellowship with other believers - a people who will be the embodiment of the Fruit of the Spirit.
Imagine worship that flows as naturally as breathing - where the majestic peals of thunder shout forth His praise.
Imagine a place where there are no more fears or tears. No more pain or disease. No more selfishness or pride. No more questions, only God’s perfect answer…Jesus.

This is a simple yet profound description of heaven: “…that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3. Paradise regained in the presence of the Prince of Peace.

Richard Baxter writes,
My knowledge of that life is small,
The eye of faith is dim,
But it's enough that Christ knows all,
And I shall be with him.

Some think this pondering is some sort of morose fatalism. It may seem that such thoughts reflect a desire to escape this world. I have found that this blessed hope allows me to truly enjoy God’s lavish grace today.

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

So my heart yearns for my earthly home and heavenly home. Jesus asks me just to believe and trust His promises. My heart will not be troubled, for in Christ, there is no place like home.

See you at home,
Dan

Disappointment an Appointment with God

"Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

William’s life was a disappointment in everyway. He could not find a way to escape the avalanche of discouraging circumstances that now were bringing a crushing depression. There was such a hopelessness in William’s heart that he finally grasped at the only way he knew to regain control. He decided to end his own life.

William called for a cab to take him to the river. He would throw himself in and drown. He got in the cab and then a mysterious thing began to happen. A dense fog rolled in and the driver could not find the river and had to take William home.

He laid on his bed in disbelief. He could not even take his own life. That is when he remembered his pistol. He placed the pistol against his head and pulled the trigger…

Have you ever been disappointed? When life is not going the way you appointed it? When circumstances are overwhelming you and you feel you have no control? When you are hoping for change and then it does, by getting worse?

Have you ever been disappointed with God? We, of course, would probably not admit this, yet the questions still haunt our minds. It is a frightening and lonely place to be when as a believer we have unbelief.

God is not limited by my self-appointed plans. He is not stressed by our to-do lists, goals, or timing. Too often we are short-sighted and fearfully pursue human expectations. God’s plans invite us to the pinnacle of faith, which help us to move beyond our disappointments to gaze into eternity and discover our place in God’s Kingdom.

Waiting for a liver transplant has often given me a ticket to ride on a rollercoaster of faith and disappointment. My position on the waiting list can change day by day. This at times seems to leave me suspended between my old life and the life I hope for if God provides me with a liver.

Disappointments stimulate deep feelings that require more than clichés, Sunday School knowledge or a casual untried faith. Disappointments can be God’s invitation to meet Him. When I accept His appointment, I will meet the One who never disappoints.

I am gradually learning to approach my disappointments by surrendering myself to God’s sovereignty, purpose, and timing.

God’s Sovereignty
God must reign in every aspect of my life. He does not need my permission or advice to do whatever pleases Him. This is true whether I believe it or not. This is far more than mental acceptance of a doctrinal truth. It is a reality learned by living it.

Everything that touches my life has first been presented in the throne room of God.
Job, who was a righteous man, faced every kind of disappointment imaginable: loss of wealth, livelihood, children and families, and health. After a myriad of questions, the God who seemed distant and silent offers the only response needed…I am God! Hear the disappointment fade away in Job’s words.

Then Job replied to the LORD:
"I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, `Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
You said, `Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.'
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.” Job 42:1-6

When I am disappointed, I am usually focused on my circumstances rather then God’s control. The fog of disappointment clears away in the light of God’s love.

God’s Purpose
The twin towers of God’s sovereignty and purpose have the foundation of His love. This truth guards me from the terrorist attacks of Satan and self. A life that does not recognize God’s rule and purpose will easily be defeated on the battlefield of faith. As frustrations grow, questions attack:

How can I make my plans work?
Will I ever be able to change that other person?
Why did this happen?
Does God not hear me?
What should I do next?

Jesus and His disciples encountered a man who had every right to be disappointed and live a lifetime of questions. Instead, it is the disciples with the questions. Why has this man been blind from birth? What went wrong?

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:3-5

This was not a question of punishment, but of God’s purpose worked out through his life. We love to pray for God’s will to be done, as long as it is our will also. It is not a matter of my disappointment but God’s appointed purpose in my life.

God’s Timing
Few things generate more questions of faith then God’s timing. Sometimes God seems confused. I have carefully worked out what should happen and when, but God appears in a completely different time zone. My disappointment comes when I fail to remember God’s timing flows from His sovereignty and purpose. We see this process throughout God’s word.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:20-21

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

Both Joseph and Esther were foreigners in places where they had no control or power, but the King of Kings was in complete control and would use their lives in ways beyond their comprehension.

It is always a mistake to inject my timetable on the One who is timeless. Time is the brush of God which He uses to paint His masterpiece of the human heart.

William placed the pistol against his head and pulled the trigger… but it misfired. He then found some poison and drank it. You guessed it, it did not kill him, it just made him very sick.

As he laid on his bed, he saw his life preserver. It was an old bible. In these pages He found the God who knew every disappointment of his life and slowly showed him how He was there all along and was preparing his life for His glory. God gave him sense where there had only been an endless parade of senselessness. He gave his life to Christ, and 3oo years later we can still find our appointments with God through William Cowper’s words.

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sov'reign will.

You fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Expecting God in the Unexpected,
Dan

More than Conquerors

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

This has always been a phrase that has intrigued me. How can someone be more than a conqueror? It seems that if you have conquered something or someone, you are the winner – game over.

I have come to understand these words against the backdrop of Roman conquest. The Romans were not simply raiders and pillagers. Their purpose was not just to defeat an enemy and reap the spoils of war. The Romans' goal was to totally dominate the enemy so that they would no longer be a threat of any kind. They would then seek to assimilate them in their civilization and often leave a military presence to ensure future control.

This strategy would make them more than conquerors. Now they would be unconquerable.

I am discovering that spiritual warfare takes place everyday. The enemy is constantly attacking my mind and heart. Seldom are the tests of my faith a one-day, one-time occurrence. It seems the moment I reach higher ground, Satan will challenge my commitment and beliefs. Henry Blackaby calls this “the crisis of belief”. Basically, am I willing to live what I profess to believe?

I know a young woman that is definitely more than a conqueror. Her example of living a life of faith has often encouraged me to continue to fight the good fight. Her quiet and steadfast faith helps her to experience God’s victory day after day. The following scripture truths come alive as I watch her life.

Focus on Our Commander

In times of battle, it is essential that we focus on our leader. He alone knows the battle plan and has the power and resources to lead us to victory. In verse 37 He is identified: we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

David understood the strategy of the conqueror: David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me." I Samuel 17:45-46

Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; But we will boast in the name of the LORD. Psalm 20:7

As the enemy assaults us we must trust our God, even when are being overrun and God’s answer appears unfair and ridiculous. This is exactly when we have the opportunity to break through to spiritual conquest.

My friend continues to grow in faith as she keeps her eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. She has survived the ferocious attack of the enemy. Her husband died at age 45 and left her with three children. She had to relocate and leave a church they had served for nine years. She found a new home and teaching job. In all these things she had to trust God every moment. Not just one moment, but every moment.

Serve the Needs of Others

I lose ground spiritually when I focus on myself. The enemy uses my problems and pain to out flank my joy and confidence. Jesus focused on my needs all the way from the cradle to the crucifixion. Romans 8:34 tells me he is still doing so.

Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

She is always caring for others. Besides being a school teacher, she also serves in children’s ministry at her church. Her days are very long as she continues to keep her children involved in church. Like all moms, she seems to always be chauffeuring the kids to activities.

If you talked to her, you will not hear words of complaint, but discover she has grown by serving others.

When I feel defeated and frustrated by my limitations, I will follow my Lord to the frontlines of battle and intercede for the needs of others.

Remember What You Have in Christ, Not What You Do Not Have

What do I have that cannot be taken away?

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Whenever we march onto the battlefields of faith, we can be certain that God’s love surrounds us.

That is what she has done. Although she has lost much and at times feels overwhelmed, she continues to trust in God alone. When I am tired of the fight and the relentless challenges, I think of my sister, Debbie. Her life is an incredible testimony of God’s love and provision.

Debbie, thank you for teaching me how to become more than a conqueror, and know that your brother could not be more proud of you.

Unconquerable in Christ,
Dan

The First Christmas

Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:19

It was in the quiet, early hours of a summer morning that the first cry of life rang out. The gift we had been expecting, hoping and praying for had arrived. God in His grace had lavished upon us a gift too wonderful for words. A grandson named Swen.

As my body prematurely ages and breaks down, Swen’s body grows stronger. His life refreshes my soul. This will be his first Christmas and my best. Whether I spend Christmas in the hospital or at home, I am blessed beyond my imagination. Every time I see Swen’s smile, hear his giggle or hold him in my arms, I will remember God’s astonishing gift of His son… Jesus!

God’s gift - the divine wrapped in flesh. The One who has always been, steps into time and is born. The mighty King of Kings leaves His throne to lie in a rustic manger. Swen has provided his Grandpa Van a new lens to see the gift of God, His only Son. I have decided, like Mary, to treasure up all these things, pondering them in my heart.

God has given me the following thoughts to ponder each of the 7 days leading to Christmas. Thanks Swen for all the help.

1- As the baby Jesus gasped for His first breath, I acknowledge that every breath I take is His gift to me.
“Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
“And when the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’” Mark 15:39

2- Eyes that struggled to see His parents have been watching over me all my life.
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9.

3- Mary holds the baby close to her breast and feels the heartbeat of life. This is the life that now lives in my heart. This Immanuel, God with us, will one day be the mystery of God, Christ in Us.
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23
“…to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

4- The mouths that now can only utter unintelligible noises will declare the Wisdom of God.
“And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” Luke 2:40
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” Romans 11:33

5- Soft little hands, that will have the calluses of a carpenter, created all things. Tiny hands that disappear in His father’s hands are so large they easily hold the waters of the whole earth in His palm.
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span.” Isaiah 40:12
“He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:15-16

6- Arms that reach out to His mother will be strong enough to carry His cross. He will allow Himself to be nailed to the cross so that He might reach out through history to embrace us in His mercy and grace.
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53: 5

7- Tiny feet that now cannot take a step, will walk all the way to the place of execution carrying our sins. This is the path to intimacy with God. It runs from the manger to Golgotha. A holy journey planned before the foundation of the world. God already loved the whole world. You can see His love in His footsteps of humility, sacrifice, and obedience.
“Who emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:7-11

This Christmas, make time to treasure in your heart the baby who is King. Be careful, illumination leads to seeing the extraordinary in life’s ordinary. Luke chapter 2 shows me that receiving God’s gift leads to praise, rejoicing, witnessing, wonderment, and worship. Who knows, you might even hear the sound of angel wings and receive a personal invitation to see God’s miracle of love.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Dan

Loneliness: God’s Invitation to Solitude

"It is in solitude that we discover that being is more important than having and that we are worth more than the results of our efforts. In solitude we discover that our life is not a possession to be defended, but a gift to be shared." Henri Nouwen

He usually comes at night. I can sense him coming closer. He peers in the windows of my soul and tries to open the doors of my emotions. He has come again to break into my life and rob me of God’s joy and peace.

Suddenly he stands defiantly before me and laughs at my weakness. He moves in closer and I recognize his frightening face. He is loneliness - an unwelcome visitor permeating my heart.

Loneliness is a feeling of separation and grief. It is a sense of loss. It leads me to what seems like an unbridgeable canyon of isolation from God and others.

Loneliness lurks about when relationships are lost. He is there when circumstances spin out of control, when we are facing change, empty nests, and difficult trials. And strangely enough, sometimes in the aftermath of significant accomplishments, and even when we are surrounded by others.

After nearly six months of being away from my home, wife, friends and job, I have found loneliness scratching at my door. I am slowly learning something quite unexpected. I am never really alone. My Good Shepherd has gone before me and now walks each step of the journey with me. In fact, when I am alone I can see God and others more clearly.

Solitude is a remembrance of the presence of God.

Solitude develops a single-minded focus on God. This awareness creates an attitude of servanthood. Servanthood blows away the mists of loneliness and allows me to see the needs of others and the sufficiency of God.

The goal of solitude is not so much to unplug from my crazy world, as it is to change frequencies so that I can hear the Father. Lance Witt

God has been using the dramatic life and ministry of Elijah to instruct my heart. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah has just experienced God using him to defeat the prophets of Baal. Chapter 19 moves from the mountaintop miracles to the desert valley of loneliness and despair. The transformation of mindset and emotions is astonishing yet very true to my own battles with loneliness. God is now ready to use a time of solitude to heal Elijah’s loneliness.

Solitude is not the same as running away. Verse 19:1-3

Elijah is not running to God. He is running away from Jezebel. Elijah tells us he is all alone. In the valley he becomes isolated. On the mountaintop he stands with God. It is a choice of fear fueled by isolation, or calm strength of letting God be his champion.

When things seem too hard and patience grows thin. When the doctor’s report is disappointing and pain continues to attack. This is the time to seek solitude with God. The incredible thing is this can be practiced in my room, in the doctor’s office, or on the hospital bed.

"The wonderful thing about contemplative prayer is that it can be found everywhere, anywhere, anytime for anyone." Quaker Richard Foster

Solitude is affected by my physical and emotional health. Verses 5-7

Twice, the angel gives Elijah food and sleep. There is no lecture here or rebuke. My Creator knows exactly what I need and when I need it. God is preparing Elijah for a time of solitude to receive God’s revelation.

Sometimes, the most Holy thing we can do is receive nourishment and take a nap. Then I will be able hear God clearly and respond to His instructions. Although this is not easy for me, I must learn to peacefully rest in Him.

Solitude allows me to think deeply. Verses 9-14

Loneliness produces conversations dominated by me. By the time I am done talking to myself, I not only do not have God’s answer, but I can not even remember the question. Confused? Me too.

In solitude I learn to listen to God. One of the great blessings in this time of waiting for a transplant has been the freedom of meeting with God. He has given me the gift of many hours daily to pray, study His word, read, and meditate on the application of His truths. Solitude permits me to think deeply, instead of the mind-numbing exercise of watching TV all day.

Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:7-8

Solitude teaches me to pray confidently and live courageously.

Elijah learns in God’s school room about his purpose in God’s plan. He discovers that he never was alone. In verses 18-21, God reveals to Elijah that He has 7,000 more faithful servants and that He has already prepared his successor, Elisha. This time with God allows Elijah to move from a depressed “has-been” waiting to die under a tree, to a warrior who is more than a conqueror.

The next time loneliness comes prowling around, I will remind him that I have never, ever been alone, that God still has a purpose for my life, and one day God just may take me home on His chariot.

Alone with God,
Dan

A Delightful Surrender

God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.
Andrew Murray

Sometimes God’s revelation cascades over me like a flashflood in a dry desert wash. It is sudden and powerful. Usually I have missed the warning signs and my only response is immediate, obedient action. This is often a choice of self-sufficiency or God saving me from myself.

More often, God’s truth is like a mountain stream flowing slowly through the banks of my life. His truth gently pours over the stones of my experiences. As it makes its way through every turn, it intersects my life and quietly calls me to drink and know it’s refreshing, life-giving power.

Psalm 37:4-7 are very familiar verses that God has continuously allowed to flow into my life. I am afraid I have not fully recognized their source and potential for quenching my thirst for God. I have settled for only sips of the eternal, instead of drinking deeply from God’s living water.

Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.

The following are a few simple observations of how I might surrender my spiritually-parched life for a soul saturated by God. I must learn to do five things.

1- Delight in the Lord

Delight: great pleasure, high degree of gratification, extreme satisfaction Original biblical language: to bend or incline.

I recently had the delight of being with my daughter and grandson Swen. To watch Amy’s loving care for her baby son around the clock brought my heart great pleasure. I continuously bent towards him to see what he would do next. My ear was inclined to hear every sound. I was amazed to hear him speak his first words, “I love Grandpa best.” OK that was probably a burp. My love grew each day I spent with him. It did not matter what kind of day I was having, Swen always brought me pleasure and a joyous laughter.

I delight in the Lord by spending time with Him. I allow my heart to fill with wonderment and awe in His presence. I long to hear His words of love. I anticipate His work around me. I delight in the One who desires me to drink deeply and often of the healing and refreshing water only He can provide.

2- Commit my way to the Lord

When Debbie and I knew we loved one another, commitment was a natural response. As I learn to truly love and delight in the Lord, commitment is not an act of obligation but a white flag of surrender. This is an unconditional and complete surrender of all my ways. My thoughts, rights, plans, decisions, family, vocation and future are released into the control of my loving and gracious King. A delightful surrender often comes at the end of the battle of who will be God in my life: me or Jesus?

Oswald Sanders wrote: “…overwhelming passage in your circumstances where your program of belief is about to emerge into a personal belief? This can never be until a personal need arises out of a personal problem. To believe is to commit. In the program of mental belief I commit myself, and abandon all that is not related to that commitment. In personal belief I commit myself morally to this way of confidence and refuse to compromise with any other; and in particular belief I commit myself spiritually to Jesus Christ, and determine in that thing to be dominated by the Lord alone.”

The roots of of commitment grow deep when watered by the storms of trials.

3- Trust in God

Delight and commitment are ignited by trust. This is the personalization of God’s activity in my life. This is not simply acquiescing to doctrinal truth. My trust is based on nothing less then the very character of God. Here I must reveal what I really believe about God. Will God be just my genie in a bottle or Lord and Master?

Recently I have experienced several weeks of fun with a kidney stone. This caused an infection and took me off the transplant list. Everything medically was tried, to no avail. The doorstep of trust is located just beyond human possibilities. So I trusted God.

Then at my appointment with the surgeon, I was told the infection was gone and God rolled away the stone. But it appeared God made a mistake. The stone could not pass or be reached by another surgery. So God moved it back up into the lower kidney. This should not have happened, but now I am cleared for transplant.

The stone could, of course, return to create the same problems. Why did God leave it in my body? I believe so that I might continue to learn to trust and wait.

4- Rest in the Lord

Stop and let God do His work. This requires a connection to each of the previous points. As I delight, commit, and trust Him, I can now experience a peaceful relaxation that is only found in His arms.

5- Wait patiently for Him

Is it possible to wait impatiently? Sure, I do it all the time. Just check your stress and worry level. Too often I have waited for Him while pacing the floor of uncertainty. Too often my faith is crippled by my desire to regain control. It is never a good idea to try and wrestle from God what you have already put in His hands.

The key to waiting patiently is who we are waiting for. It is not a thing or circumstance or even a miracle. I wait for Him. God is never late or too early. He has no need to work according to my watch or check my day planner. To wait patiently for Him, I must meditate and ponder the greatness of God. In His presence, time has no hold on my emotions. Only in God does senselessness make sense. C.S. Lewis captures these thoughts when he wrote:

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

When I apply these five truths to my life, God will give me the desires of my heart…which is Himself. This is always the fruit of a heart that has experienced a delightful surrender.

Delighting in God,
Dan

Interdependence: Growing Up Together

Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:15-16

One day the doors slid open and I stepped into eternity. As I walked down the corridor, I heard her laughter, a sweet music of joy. This was present in a place that usually mutes these peaceful sounds with the dissonance of despair.

Before I walked through the door of her hospital room, I could feel the warmth of her spirit. As soon as she saw me, she spoke my name and my heart felt the embrace of God. In spite of pain and a long battle with cancer, she only wanted to hear about how others were doing. In her, I did not see a small fragile body, but a giant soul.

Elsie was one of the kindest persons I have ever met. God’s grace seemed to flow effortlessly from her life. Each time I visited her in the hospital, time seemed suspended because Elsie was now living on God’s doorstep.

God used Elsie to reveal to me that regardless of my circumstances, God is composing in my life a melody of His love. This is a song I am to share and harmonize with others. Then the beauty of Christ can be heard and seen in my life. I have no doubt that one day I will step into eternity and hear Elsie’s laugh, and heaven will be brighter because of her smile.

I am blessed beyond measure by the people God has brought into my life. Each person is a unique gift from God. Through each person, God teaches me about Himself and molds me more into His likeness. I have found that God uses each person’s life to illuminate His path to intimacy with Him.

While on a tour of California's giant sequoias, the guide pointed out that the sequoia tree has roots just barely below the surface. "That's impossible!" I exclaimed. "I'm a country boy, and I know that if the roots don't grow deep into the earth, strong winds will blow the trees over." "Not sequoia trees," said the guide.

I offer God thanks for the extraordinary gifts of ordinary people who have been used by Him to build my life of faith. Hundreds come to mind, here is a sample of just a few.

Missionary and martyr Jim Elliot wrote; “Wherever you are, be all there.”

Paul is a veteran of three wars. This sacrifice alone brings my deepest thanks and respect. Even more importantly, Paul is still actively serving in God’s army. Paul has a true servant’s heart and stands ready for any mission God has for him. Paul is now in his late 80’s and always reminds me of Caleb’s courage and zest for following God (Joshua 14:6-14). My prayer is that God might find me faithful and passionate in all the days He chooses to give me.

It is not great talents God blesses as much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God. Robert Murray McCheyne

It is not difficult to understand why so many loved Pastor Dub. God’s love seemed to radiate from his heart. Jesus described Himself as “gentle and humble of heart.” After spending a lifetime with Jesus, these words also describe Dub’s character and ministry.

Jesus also told us that in Him we might know His rest. Whenever you talked with Dub, God’s calming Spirit flowed through him and you would experience some of God’s rest. My hope is that as I spend time with The Good Shepherd, I might be used to care and minister to others as I try to follow Dub’s example.

No one person has had a greater impact on my life than my best friend Rick. Rick was responsible for getting me involved in church and leading me to accept Christ. God used him to introduce me to my wife Debbie. Rick helped me to believe God could use me in full-time Christian service.

When Debbie and I left home almost 30 years ago to join a church staff in Washington, I asked Rick to keep an eye on my younger sisters. He took my request seriously because a few years later, he married my sister Debbie.

Rick was the friend of my youth. Together we learned to follow Jesus. Our hearts were in one accord about the essentials in ministry such as servanthood, discipleship and missions. Rick was one of the most genuine sold out Christians I have known. He was willing to serve in places many others would not even consider.

When God took Rick home at age 45, he left this world a wealthy man. Not by the standards of this world, but rich in the lives his life had touched.

In 1522 at Zwickau, Martin Luther pronounced a simple but expressive eulogy upon a pastor named Nicholas Haussmann: "What we preach, he lived."

This is certainly true of Rick, and I ask God to make it so in my life.

"Not sequoia trees," said the guide. "They grow only in groves and their roots intertwine under the surface of the earth. So, when the strong winds come, they hold each other up." There's a lesson here. In a sense, people are like the giant sequoias. Family, friends, neighbors, the church body and other groups should be havens so that when the strong winds of life blow, these people can serve as reinforcement and can strive together to hold each other up. Unknown source

I could fill notebooks with the names of those that have blessed my life. These are not perfect people, but people that have walked with God. If you want to see God at work, remember this Thanksgiving the people He has used to build your faith. Treat each person as a gift from God. Find God’s example in each life and follow them all way to your eternal home.

Thanking God for You,
Dan

Contentment: Soul Satisfaction

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Contentment at times can be like a mirage of a life-promising oasis. The closer you get, the further away that which we desire becomes, like a vapor of disappointment. Contentment is something we all want yet can seldom define. Living in our world, it is a thirst that can not be quenched. Instead of feelings of peace, security, and satisfaction, emptiness echoes in the hallways of our hearts.

The boxer Muhammad Ali was known as "the champ," arguably the most famous athlete of his generation. He was on top, and his entourage of trainers and various helpers shared the adulation with him. But the party ended, leaving many of Ali's loyal followers disillusioned--and in some cases, destitute. Ali himself, now halting in speech and uncertain in movement, says "I had the world, and it wasn't nothin'."

This has not been a week of contentment for me. I have been mugged by a gang of contentment robbers. To quote the king “I’m all shook up.” A surgery gone wrong, additional appointments and tests. There has also been unpleasant new procedures. More blood transfusions and another round of trial drugs to fight off a stubborn infection. Most disappointing to me, all of this has prolonged timelines and has sidelined me temporarily on the transplant list.

All of this brings feelings of frustration, worry, anger, impatience, and loneliness. I stand watching contentment sailing over the horizon, leaving me stranded on the shores of discontentment.

The dictionary defines contentment as feelings and showing of satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, and situations. The goal of satisfaction is shallow and not very satisfying. Our society views satisfaction as simply good enough. This, at best, is a very temporary settling for our current situation.

Our god is too often materialism. Advertising slowly drugs our minds, emotions, and will. The mission is to never allow us to reach any level of contentment. Products often have built in a planned obsoleteness. This means before you get your new computer out of the box, there is already a computer that is bigger, better, and faster. That which you could not do without will be tomorrow’s junk. Our society is depending on the fact that you will never be content.

The world is full of people who are making a good living but living poor lives. source unknown

Corrie ten Boom said, “I've learned that we must hold everything loosely, because when I grip it tightly, it hurts when the Father pries my fingers loose and takes it from me!"

True contentment calls us to a soul satisfaction. Contentment is much more than a feeling. It is a heart that is totally consumed and satisfied in Jesus.

“I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13

Paul provides for us a portrait of contentment. This was not a picture painted in some mountaintop retreat or the safe confines of academia. Paul’s studio is a prison. His canvas is a life filled with persecution and every imaginable pain. His future seems dangerously uncertain. His contentment is not a result of his giftedness, self-effort or discipline. Yet somehow, Paul has learned an eternal secret—how to be content in “whatever circumstances.”

Paul discovers contentment by living a life that would satisfy few of us. Paul has contentment because he desires, and will settle for nothing less than, the fullness of God found in Christ alone.
Contentment is not a matter of getting what I want, but in intimately knowing and experiencing what I have. That is why in spite of his circumstances and needs, Paul can say with a Holy confidence and anticipation: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!”

Contentment does not come from trying to escape our lives. It is not about emptying our selves, but by being totally filled with His presence. Contentment is not about desiring less, but supremely more.

Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:4-6

Contentment floods my life as my soul delights and is satisfied with my God who is love, mercy, grace, wisdom, provider, protector and strength. This contentment changes and molds my life. I can have a deep confidence in Christ. I slowly cease from striving and enjoy His rest. I must surrender concerns about my future to the Composer of my days. I will learn to set aside the futility of accumulating that which is temporal and only drains away my contentment. I will live in wonder as God opens before me His treasure chest of spiritual blessings.

* I will remember that I am a child of God and a joint heir with Jesus.
* I will totally depend on God meeting every need according to His riches in Christ.
* I will make my heart’s desire to worship and glorify God.

In Him, I will be completely satisfied. God guarantees it for no less than eternity.

So if you don’t mind, I will return to the garden of contentment where the Lover of my soul awaits.

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.
In The Garden - Words and Music by Charles Austin Miles

Dan

Anxiety-Free Living

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. George Muller

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all others thoughts are drained. Arthur Somers Roche

The other day, I got stuck on the merry-go-round of worry. As anxiety grows, my thoughts seem to form an unending cycle of unanswerable questions. One concern pushes another until reality and logic have little impact. So I accelerate round and round until I lose my perspective and move dangerously close to the edge of depression.

To make matters worse, there is a bully who will not let me escape my anxious thoughts. He just pushes harder and harder making it seem impossible to jump free of the ride of emotions. You might have seen him lurking about the shadows of your life. He is looking for moments of uncertainty and vulnerability.

This bully wants to intimidate you and shake up your faith. He hopes to disorient you and take away your peace and rest and leave you with panic and stress. The bully is called “what if”.

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day. Abraham Lincoln

When it seems you cannot stop worrying, you will hear his taunts:

“What if” things get worse?
“What if” this happens?
“What if” they misunderstand me?
“What if” I cannot work and provide for my family?
“What if” the infection grows?
“What if” I cannot return to my ministry?
“What if” a liver cannot be found?

As my imagination multiplies the “what ifs,” anxiety grips my heart. Incredibly, the “what ifs” battleground is seldom wider than my mind.

The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. C.S. Lewis

I am discovering again the power of prayer that can break through the bonds of worry and free me to live the larger, stronger, and quieter life that only flows from intimacy with God.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Familiar passage. Unfamiliar practice. Seldom-experienced blessings.

Be anxious for nothing
Nothing, who are you kidding, God? Have you seen my worry list lately? Sure, I can see why I should not worry about some silly things (these are usually defined as things on someone else’s list.) But God must understand the impact of the big serious stuff of my life.

Perhaps this command is time-related. God must mean when I am at church or trying to witness to an unbeliever. This cannot apply when I am thousands of miles from home and receive bad news from the doctor. He cannot mean in the middle of the night when the “what ifs” attack.

Unfortunately, in my search for spiritual loopholes, I find God is clear. Don’t be anxious about anything, anytime, or anywhere. Oh, great … now I’m worrying about worrying.

God provides the option that works:

Pray about everything. Everything! Including anything that makes me anxious. Big or little. Real or imaginary. Current or future. How do I do this?

Make my requests known to God. This is not about informing God. The prayer focus is on me knowing that God knows. So much of my anxiety comes from me trying to figure out what I should do. Stress will always follow when I try to do what God can do.

I must learn to exchange my worry for worship. One of the ways I have found to make this a reality in my life is by transforming my list of worries into my prayer list. This I must do quickly, consistently, and often. I must not lean on my own limited understanding or try to come up with my own solutions. If I want God’s peace, I must have the Prince of Peace ruling in my mind and heart.

A powerful weapon against worry is found in the phrase “with thanksgiving”. Thanksgiving remembers God’s character and work in my past. It also gives me joy and strength for today and a blessed hope for tomorrow. Every worry and anxiety should be wrapped in a God-focused thanksgiving. This is when I have Holy anticipation of seeing what only God can do.

These are not difficult truths to understand, but require the fullness of God to live. This is not a natural process for me, therefore God in His loving kindness and wisdom has given me many opportunities to learn and apply this type of prayer. The results are supernatural. My anxiety melts into the peace of God at the very moment that seems impossible.

So tonight I will cast all my cares upon Him. I will not fear the “what ifs” because my heart and mind are being guarded in Christ Jesus.

Living in God’s Peace,
Dan

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:7-8

“Sorry, all I can do is pray”

A number of times, people have shared such words of apology about their prayers for me. I know that such words are said from hearts of concern and love. These people desire to find some way to help that is tangible, practical, and immediate. I appreciate and understand these expressions of grace and kindness.

My fear, however, is that such a limited view of prayer may cause us to settle for less than God’s best. God is grossly underestimated and we fail to receive God’s invitation to be a part of His Holy motion.

Prayer is never meant to be the last and least we can do. Prayer is always the first and best thing we can do. John Bunyan wrote, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”

Prayer is not an afterthought or some kind of spiritual, magical formula uttered to awaken God and ensure His granting our every wish. I wonder how often I have insulted the majesty and sovereignty of God by treating Him like my personal genie in a bottle that I only occasionally let out when I want Him to serve me.

I am discovering in my prayers for others what they need is the One who is their answer. My puny human efforts, no matter how well intended, are an extremely poor substitute for the work of God in their lives. I believe there is nothing better I can do for someone than to immediately take their needs to the throne of grace so that they might receive God’s help in their time of need.

I know I am always in great need of the prayers of others. I also know sometimes all of us are more aware of this need than other times.

Attending church in Kentucky, we watched an especially verbal and boisterous child being hurried out, slung under his irate father's arm. No one in the congregation so much as raised an eyebrow -- until the child captured everyone's attention by crying out in a charming Southern accent, "Ya'll pray for me now!" Jean McMahon

God has been teaching me several things about the privilege of praying for others.

First: God’s will is always the answer of every need.

Often we prefer immediate action to divine intervention. We want what we want when we want it. It seems obvious when someone we love is distressed or in pain to pray for instantaneous deliverance. God’s ways are so different from mine that I may actually pray for the removal of the very thing God is using to conform the person to the image of His son. I must begin with the model prayer of Jesus.

"This, then, is how you should pray: `Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"

As I intercede for others, my mission is not to point out their needs to God, but to focus on their need for God. As I revere and worship Him, I become filled with a faith that knows He can easily meet every need. My simple life-changing request is ‘Father, let your will be done.’ Now I have allowed myself and the one I am praying for a little glimpse of Heaven.

Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God. E. Stanley Jones

I have regularly asked God that if my requests lead to anything less than His best, then cancel my request and do only His will.

Second: The privilege of praying like Jesus.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:20-21

“…because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them”. Hebrews 7:24-25

One of the greatest blessings of this extended time away from home has been the privilege of interceding for others. I pray through our church membership, for my family, friends, and doctors. I especially love to pray for requests that come through our blog site. Each request is like receiving an assignment from God and gives me a feeling of connection and purpose. I treat each request as a precious gift entrusted to my care. I do not get out much these days, so intercessory prayer allows me to break free of physical limitations and join God anywhere in the world.

Third: Prayer allows me to remove the chains of independence and experience the freedom of total dependence on God and the joy of interdependence on other believers.

"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.” Matthew 18: 19-20

I wonder what this world would be like if tomorrow we had everything we asked for today?

Intercessory prayer reminds me of how little I can do, and reveals to me that all things are possible with God. When was the last time you were amazed and marveled at our awesome God? Too long? Then take some time through intercessory prayer to hang out in God’s neighborhood. That is where people’s lives are changed and your heart will beat in rhythm with the heart of God. It’s the place where prayers are answered and dreams still come true.

So thank you for praying for me. It is the first and best thing we can do for one another. Together, we will delight in witnessing His divine hands molding our eternal lives.

I am asking God to make the following prayer a reality in my life. Please pray with me. Say, I’m going to the throne room of grace later on – why not e-mail your request and I’ll take it with me?

Strengthened by God and You,
Dan

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for--but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.
Written by an unknown soldier