This year more than any other, I've been meditating on Holy Week. Studying and thinking about all that Jesus lived through before the crucifixion. I know it by heart, but I've never wanted to dwell there. Never wanted to think deeply about the pain and the suffering willingly felt out of love for me. The devil wanted to steal, kill, and destroy. That's been his tactic from the beginning of time. This last week of Jesus' life on earth was Satan's final, furious attempt to stop God's amazing plan for us. The devil aimed at all of Jesus' weak human spots. Betrayal by people with whom He loved and lived. Mockery of His identity and calling. Physical torture. Crucifixion...the most painful way to die. Separation from God, His Father. Emotional, physical, and spiritual attacks were launched against Jesus.
Jesus knew what was coming. He prayed and sweat drops of blood on the Mount of Olives as He prepared with Father God for the days ahead. He submitted. He was obedient. He set His face toward eternal victory, knowing that the battle and the wounds were temporary.
The same is true for us who are Christians. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) The devil's tactics have not changed. He is still trying to steal, kill, and destroy. He lies to us saying that the battle will go on forever and that we will lose. He is the father of lies...and the exact opposite is the truth. The battle is temporary and the victory is eternal! Jesus won the victory at the cross. The victory is His. The victory is ours when we have Jesus in our hearts. The victory was for then, and for now, and for all time.
We will struggle and battle in the human life, but Jesus made a way for us to stand, confident in the victory that is already ours. He gave us armor and weapons to use as we stand our ground with our eyes on the eternal victory. (See Ephesians 6.) Our battles are momentary! The victory is assured! Jesus wins forever!
Friday, March 25, 2016
Friday, March 18, 2016
just ask
I had lunch with a friend this week and we were talking about a hard time that she had been through. The words she said really made me think, "You were the only person who noticed that my sparkle was gone." I find that hard to believe, but it is possible that I was the only person who said anything to her about my observations.
The conversation stuck with me and spurred another conversation with a different friend. She is a deep relationship person like I am and we speculated about reasons that I was the only person who said something. Not everyone sees, not everyone wants to know, not everyone wants deep connection. There is nothing wrong with that, but I'm not wired that way. I am always going to ask if things are ok when I see and hear things that lead me to believe otherwise.
We are living in a world filled with darkness and deception. Every single one of us has had times when the darkness overwhelms our sparkle and it dims. We all need people in our lives who will notice and ask. I am very intentional about having those kinds of people in my life. Those of us with Jesus in our hearts need to take His light and shine it in the dark places and share Him with those who have lost their sparkle. There is our true calling.
We have nothing to lose by just asking. It could save a friend's life for eternity.
The conversation stuck with me and spurred another conversation with a different friend. She is a deep relationship person like I am and we speculated about reasons that I was the only person who said something. Not everyone sees, not everyone wants to know, not everyone wants deep connection. There is nothing wrong with that, but I'm not wired that way. I am always going to ask if things are ok when I see and hear things that lead me to believe otherwise.
We are living in a world filled with darkness and deception. Every single one of us has had times when the darkness overwhelms our sparkle and it dims. We all need people in our lives who will notice and ask. I am very intentional about having those kinds of people in my life. Those of us with Jesus in our hearts need to take His light and shine it in the dark places and share Him with those who have lost their sparkle. There is our true calling.
We have nothing to lose by just asking. It could save a friend's life for eternity.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
abundant life...celebrating 5 years
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
On April 4, 2011, my life changed. I was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer. Four days later, I had surgery to remove the tumor and part of my colon. April 8 became "survivor day" and began the journey that would be the next 5 years of my life and beyond. There have been many lessons learned in the last 5 years. Some of them are documented in this blog, and that is why I started writing, to record the lessons I learned from cancer. Some of them are too personal to even be written in my journal and they are carried in my heart. At any rate, in classic Dawn style, as I prepare to celebrate 5 years without cancer, I am looking back so that I can move forward to live an abundant life!
The devil's goal has always been to steal from me, kill me, and destroy me. He tried with cancer. He tried again three years later to convince me that my life was purposeless and full of failure. He tried to paralyze me with fear. Over and over he has tried to shut me down so that I cannot fulfill God's plan for me. But, God and I win! God wins every time!
I could fill books with the things that God has taught me in the last 5 years and someday maybe I will. For now, I will write here about the strength that has come from the struggles. Gratitude has been woven into the fabric of my life. I know that my life has value and purpose simply because God loves me. I've learned to dig into the Bible for the truth that exposes the lies of the enemy. My relationship with God is 24/7 because my life depends on Him! I am fully convinced that Jesus loves me and I can share that love with the people around me. My life here on Earth is temporary and I can fix my eyes on things that are eternal. Meanwhile, I will continue to be obedient to my Father God. I will fulfill His purpose for me. I will live an abundant life!
On April 4, 2011, my life changed. I was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer. Four days later, I had surgery to remove the tumor and part of my colon. April 8 became "survivor day" and began the journey that would be the next 5 years of my life and beyond. There have been many lessons learned in the last 5 years. Some of them are documented in this blog, and that is why I started writing, to record the lessons I learned from cancer. Some of them are too personal to even be written in my journal and they are carried in my heart. At any rate, in classic Dawn style, as I prepare to celebrate 5 years without cancer, I am looking back so that I can move forward to live an abundant life!
The devil's goal has always been to steal from me, kill me, and destroy me. He tried with cancer. He tried again three years later to convince me that my life was purposeless and full of failure. He tried to paralyze me with fear. Over and over he has tried to shut me down so that I cannot fulfill God's plan for me. But, God and I win! God wins every time!
I could fill books with the things that God has taught me in the last 5 years and someday maybe I will. For now, I will write here about the strength that has come from the struggles. Gratitude has been woven into the fabric of my life. I know that my life has value and purpose simply because God loves me. I've learned to dig into the Bible for the truth that exposes the lies of the enemy. My relationship with God is 24/7 because my life depends on Him! I am fully convinced that Jesus loves me and I can share that love with the people around me. My life here on Earth is temporary and I can fix my eyes on things that are eternal. Meanwhile, I will continue to be obedient to my Father God. I will fulfill His purpose for me. I will live an abundant life!
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
grace
[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:8-9
If my physical body showed the marks of me beating myself up, I would be battered and bruised. It happened today. As I drove home this afternoon, the Spirit of God whispered to my heart...grace. I am going to mess up in this life. I am human and imperfect. God knows that better than anyone. But, He made a way. He offered me salvation, a free gift of grace. I only had to accept it and receive it. There is no way for me to earn salvation and there is no way for me to earn God's grace. God gives grace freely and abundantly, but I can refuse it and beat myself up. Or, I can receive the grace of God and have faith that He can and will work in all things for my good. Even when I mess up. He is a God of grace!
If my physical body showed the marks of me beating myself up, I would be battered and bruised. It happened today. As I drove home this afternoon, the Spirit of God whispered to my heart...grace. I am going to mess up in this life. I am human and imperfect. God knows that better than anyone. But, He made a way. He offered me salvation, a free gift of grace. I only had to accept it and receive it. There is no way for me to earn salvation and there is no way for me to earn God's grace. God gives grace freely and abundantly, but I can refuse it and beat myself up. Or, I can receive the grace of God and have faith that He can and will work in all things for my good. Even when I mess up. He is a God of grace!
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