 Loving Hope Messages by Pastor Travis Dean July 2010 About four months ago my son, Elijah, was given a 32-piece puzzle. At that time he had to be handed every piece and shown where it went. He would simply lock the piece into place. Over time Elijah began picking out pieces by himself and putting them together. He gradually was able to do more and more on his own. Recently Elijah has succeeded in putting the entire puzzle together by himself.
I have found it fascinating to watch Elijah’s progress. He scans the pile of pieces. Certain ones catch his eye and he grabs them, locking them together. His little mind is busy. The “wheels” are turning. He solves each part of the puzzle in his mind before assembling the pieces with his hands.
I imagine that the enjoyment I get out of seeing Elijah’s puzzle solving skills improve are similar to how God feels about His children as they grow in their Christian experience.
In the book of Revelation (chapters 2 & 3) Jesus gave specific messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor. He shared words of encouragement, instruction, and reproof. In Revelation 2:19 He says to the church in Thyatira, “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.” Jesus sees all the good things in His church. He takes notice of their progress and affirms them. Other people may not notice. They may even mistake our right decisions for being bad ones. But God notices the little victories each day. Every time we follow the impressions of the Holy Spirit, He makes a record of it in heaven.
In Job 1:8 and again in Job 2:3, God calls attention to Job’s faithfulness. His words to Job are also for us: “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is none like him on the earth.” June 2010 My son, Elijah, has become a skilled driver of his tricycle. I have tried to teach him to stay along the curb or side of the road. He can maneuver around vehicles and around corners quite well, keeping his back tires right up against the curb. My daughter, Abigail, enjoys these excursions just as much as her brother. For part of the time she likes being pushed in her pink umbrella stroller (the faster the better). For the other part she prefers to strike out on her own, checking out the various rocks and flowers like a true tourist.
Each child has their own unique way of enjoying our walks. Elijah, for the most part, likes to stay on the move. There are certain destinations that he looks for along the way which keep him moving. Abigail, on the other hand, enjoys stopping for extended periods of time in order to “stop and smell the roses”. She is less interested in a destination than she is in what there is to experience along the way.
Elijah’s and Abigail’s different styles of traveling often make it difficult for me accommodate both of them. Elijah will usually stop and wait when I tell him to, but he can only wait for so long. And, if I were honest with myself, I would have to say that my style of traveling is more like Elijah’s. So, it takes a concentrated effort from us guys to accommodate Abigail’s style.
There is one tactic that Elijah and Abigail have in common, though. They are both rarely in a hurry. I can’t say this is always my style. But when I observe it in my children, it reminds me of the way Jesus lived. In John 5:19 He says, “the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does the Son also does in like manner.” Jesus let God be in charge of His day. When God moved ahead, Jesus moved ahead. When God lingered, Jesus lingered. As a result, Jesus was always on time and never late (according to God’s timing not man’s). I don’t want to run ahead of God. Neither do I want to sit around when God is on the move. It is my prayer that my steps will always be ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23). May 2010 A Message from Mrs. Pastor Travis Dean Yes, you read the heading correctly. This is a message written by yours truly, Cesilia Dean. I am very blessed to be the mother of Abigail and Elijah (the subjects/illustrations in my husband’s messages) and wife of Pastor Travis. Since it is Mother’s Day month (and I encourage you mothers out there to celebrate all month!), Pastor Travis gave me the opportunity to write this month’s message. As mother of two children, pastor’s wife, part-time nurse case manager, not to mention sister, daughter, and friend to many, I have a new appreciation for the “support people” in my life. In each season or transition there have been people who came along side of me, in this battleground called life. Today is no different. Those people hold me up like Aaron and Hur who held Moses’ hands up as he interceded for the troops and even provided a seat for him to rest on during that crucial time. (Exodus 17:8-16) You may have those people in your life too. They are people who bless our lives with a listening ear, good advice, a hug, a prayer or maybe something more tangible (i.e. a meal when you are ill). It is also a joy to be that “support person” for someone else. Acts 20:35 says, “…It is more blessed to give than to receive.” What a privilege we have as children of a very good God to share the wealth of love and grace He bestows on us. As a mother (or a parent in general), my children are a never ending vacuum of needs. I am reminded over and over how important it is to go back to my Heavenly Father and be filled. He is the source of everything good (James 1:17). We need to receive in order to give. In order to be a nurturing “support person” for our children, spouse, friend, co-worker, or a stranger, we must be full ourselves. God’s Word is full of support for us; a well-spring for our refreshment. I encourage you to take some time today (and every day), to tap into the abundant resource of the Word of God. Here are a few texts that have been a blessing and support to me: Isaiah 58:11; Psalm 139; Philippians 4:19 May the Lord bless you as you live to bless others. April 2010 I have found my children’s eating habits interesting, to say the least. As newborns they wanted nothing but Mommy’s milk. Then around six months they took an interest in what Mommy and Daddy were eating. So, we started feeding them pureed food. Well, that satisfied them until they were about one year old. At this point their appetites were no longer content with pureed food. They wanted solid food with texture. At each stage there seemed to be a transition period. Their digestive systems were equipped. Their appetites were geared up. But their mechanical abilities were lacking. Abigail tried sucking down pureed food like it was milk. Elijah swallowed peanuts like they were pureed food.
The Bible uses milk and solid food as an analogy in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (see also Hebrews 5:12-6:3). It compares milk to what we learn in order to become Christians. Solid food is compared to what we learn after we become Christians. For example, milk is like confessing my need of a Savior. Solid food is like learning how to keep the Sabbath.
For many years of my life I seemed to be stuck in a spiritual transition period between “milk” and “solid food”. I was craving “solid food”, but couldn’t figure out how to gain any nourishment from it. My appetite was geared up, but my digestive system was lacking. As I dug into the deeper things of the Bible, I became confused. I now realize that I hadn’t spent enough time drinking “milk”. I had quickly passed over what I needed to know in order to become a Christian. It took a few rough years, but finally the Lord awakened in me a great desire for “milk”. And when I finally took the time to get the “milk” I needed, the gospel of Jesus Christ suddenly satisfied the longing of my soul. Realizing what a Savior I have in Jesus filled my deepest cravings. After a couple years of drinking nothing but this “milk”, the Lord began to put a desire in me for “solid food”. And this time my digestive system was ready. As I studied the deeper things in the Bible, I gained the nourishment that before was lacking.
I have to say, though, I still have not lost my appetite for spiritual “milk”, which, I guess, is ok. Because in Revelation 14:6 the “milk” of the gospel is called the “everlasting gospel”, which to me means we’ll always be drinking it. March 2010
I used to think that God was hiding from me in some hard-to-find place. But I have learned a couple things in the Bible that have changed my mind. First, I have realized that God has always been seeking me. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God came looking for them. Genesis 3:9 says, “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” John 1:11 says, “He (Jesus) came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” This is the story throughout the Bible. God comes looking for me. And I hide from Him.
Secondly, I have learned that I often end up looking for God in all the wrong places. In my desperate search for God I kept hoping that maybe He would be behind the next page in my devotional book. Or maybe He would be behind the next sermon I would preach. Surely I would find Him if I went on a mission trip! Well, if I ever did seem to find Him in any of these kinds of places, it wasn’t long before I was looking for Him again. 1 Corinthians 1:22, 23 says, “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.” The problem with the Jews and Greeks is not that they weren’t looking. They were looking in the wrong places. God chose to reveal Himself in “Christ crucified”.
Whenever it seems that God is far away, I always find Him in the same place – at the cross. What Christ did for me there is like a light that makes it easy for me to find God. I never want to take my eyes off of this light. This is where God is. He will always be here. February 2010 Abigail, our 11-month-old daughter, has recently started walking. It is entertaining to watch her. She is clearly enjoying herself. Even though she took her first steps later than her older brother, she seems to be progressing rapidly. Her many and frequent falls do not seem to deter her in the least. She immediately raises herself back up and continues on her way. What an inspiration she is. The innate drive of a baby is impressive. No one has to motivate them. No one has to explain to them how important it is for them to learn how to walk. They desire to walk, and enjoy every minute of it. In the Bible the Christian life is repeatedly equated with walking. In Ephesians 5:18 Paul says to the new believers in Ephesus, “Walk as children of light.” Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:1-8 that when we become Christians, it’s like being born again. We are like babies when we first believe. So, it seems that Abigail’s experience of learning how to walk is a lot like us learning how to live the Christian life. Here are two truths that Abigail illustrates: First, walking with the Lord is an exciting adventure. It’s a journey filled with new discoveries. And second, it’s ok if we fall down. (Jesus is there to help us back up.) No one expects a baby to walk without ever falling. And neither does God expect us to always make the right choices. He knows we are like babies who learn gradually. I love the words of the old song, “Trust and Obey”: When we walk with the Lord, In the light of his Word, What a glory He sheds on our way.
We do not walk alone. The Lord is with us. Because of Him the Christian life is a glorious one. Let us walk in the light. January 2010 As we begin a new year, I again turn to my children for a fresh perspective. So much in life is new to them. I remember so many of their firsts. Their first cry. Their first dirty diaper. Their first smile. Their first taste of solid food. There are many firsts yet to come. Their first day in school. Their first car. Their first speeding ticket. When we become Christians it’s like becoming a baby again. In John chapter 3 Jesus refers to the experience as being “born again”. I remember my “new birth” experience at the ripe old age of 25. So much in life was new. There were so many “firsts” – times when it seemed like I was doing things again for the first time. My first shave (I had had a full beard). My first laugh (I hadn’t laughed in a LONG time). My first sermon (the testimonies that followed were such as I had never heard before). My first Bible study (I was just as excited as the students). Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that when we become Christians all things become new. What a wonderful experience this is! The second verse of the song “Amazing Grace” speaks of this: ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved, How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed. Sometimes I wish I could go back and experience “the hour I first believed” all over again. There was such newness then. But I do find encouragement in God’s Word. And of all places, it is in the mournful book of Lamentations. Chapter 3 verses 22 and 23 say, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.” Every morning God brings newness. The same mercy and compassion, that makes us new when we first believe, meets us at the beginning of each day. As a new year begins, the year 2010, God’s mercies are new. And they will be new every morning until Jesus comes. December 2009 It is a profound thought to me that God the Son became a baby. It wasn’t that long ago that our two children, Elijah and Abigail, were born. They both came into this world with nothing. (They didn’t appear holding money in their clinched fists.) They both came out not knowing how to feed themselves, not knowing how to talk. They were completely helpless and dependent. But they brought joy to my heart, because they were my children. They didn’t have to give me anything. They didn’t have to do anything for me. I loved them for no other reason than that they were my son and daughter. I believe God felt the same way when Jesus, His Son, was born. Jesus came into this world with nothing. He was a completely helpless and dependent baby. But what emotions must have stirred God’s heart as He looked at His Son lying in the manger! In all the universe there was nothing that captivated Him like this little baby. What do we feel when we “look” at Jesus lying in the manger? Do we feel anything at all? Do we just see a doll in a nativity scene? Oh, I love the baby in Bethlehem because of who He is. He is my Creator. He is my Savior. Oh, come let us adore Him – Christ the Lord. Let us gaze upon Him not just while it’s the Christmas season. Let us look upon Him in His Word, the Bible, every day of our lives. As we behold Him, we will become like Him. November 2009 What must it be like to be so dependent? I could only imagine. Jesus gives a wonderful invitation to hurting people in Matthew 11:28-30. He says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” We all need to be comforted at times. Sometimes we need a listening ear. Other times we just need some ice cream. But there are times when Jesus is the only one who can comfort us. The devil would like us to think in these times that we don’t have anywhere to go. But Jesus extends His invitation to us, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened.” It’s like He is speaking to people who have tried everything else. When you don’t know where else to turn, turn to Him. He is gentle, approachable, and a great listener. I want to be like Elijah. When I look around and don’t see anyone else I can turn to, Jesus is there. October 2009 I thank God for ‘Aha!’ moments. Often they bring meaning to a mundane daily routine. Have you had an ‘Aha!’ moment? I’m talking about those times when you have an overwhelming realization. You see or hear something that makes you stop and say, “Wow! That’s profound!” Last month I mentioned an ‘Aha!’ experience: seeing Elijah use sign language to communicate his need for help. This wasn’t actually the first time Elijah induced an ‘Aha!’ moment. I don’t remember how old Elijah was. He might have been a couple months old. I had laid him on the changing table and stepped away for a moment. When I turned and saw him laying there, an overwhelming feeling came over me. It was an ‘Aha!’ moment. It came as a question in my mind. “Where did HE come from!?” I was overwhelmed with the thought that this boy in front of me was here because of us. A few months ago Elijah Dean didn’t exist. God, my wife, and I working together had brought him into existence. It amazed me to be a part of such a miracle! In Psalm 139:13-16 David praises the Lord for his own miraculous birth: “For You created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” What a blessing to know that we were designed by God. We are not accidents. We are here because God destined us to be here. So, when the daily routine of life seems mundane, remember this. Let the miracle of your birth refute the idea that your life is meaningless. God has a plan for you. It extends throughout eternity. Don’t miss out on that. September 2009 Jesus says unless we become like little children we will not make it to heaven (Matthew 18:3). With this in mind, I have sought to be a student of our children. They are little gifts from God. And they have a lot of wisdom to share.
When Elijah was 9 months old, we started teaching him sign language. We had heard that babies are able to learn sign language before they are able to talk. The first sign he learned was “milk”. My wife provided some incentive by insisting he give the sign before being able to nurse. Another sign he learned quickly was “more”. He used this one at meal time when he wanted more food. The sign he learned, though, that made the most impression on me was “please”. I remember walking into the room and seeing him in an obvious predicament. When he saw me, he made the sign for “please”. This was the first time that I sensed this kind of connection with my son. He was asking me for help! I felt like he was giving me a window into his needs and desires. He was in a situation that was impossible for him. And he asked me to do the “impossible”.
Like Elijah, I often face situations where I need help. Sometimes my wife can help me. Sometimes a salesperson in Home Depot can help me. Sometimes only God can help me. Unfortunately, it often takes some time for me to ask for help. Here also, Elijah is a lesson for me.
According to Luke 11:9-13, my heavenly Father wants to help me so much more than I want to help Elijah. When I see Elijah in need of help, everything inside of me responds to his request. I don’t have to think twice about it. It bothers me when he tries to do the “impossible” on his own. When God sees me in a predicament, everything inside of Him wants to help me. The only problem is, I don’t always ask for help. And when I do, sometimes it takes me a while. There’s a great song entitled, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. In this song it says, “Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear; all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” May God help us to be quick in asking for help. Life is full of impossible situations for us. But what is impossible for us, is possible for God. August 2009 With the Spirit of the Lord working in me, combined with some help from my wife and mom, my messages to Abigail improved. In my mind they went something like this: “Ok, Abigail. This milk was made just for you. You can have as much as you want. And I’ll do my best to make it as pleasant as possible.” As a result, we both have been a lot better off. She’s been drinking more milk. And I have had less stress. As I mentioned last month, the Bible refers to God’s Word as milk. Those of us who have received God’s Word ourselves have the privilege of sharing it with others. But we have no control over how people will receive it. We can use sales techniques, offer them incentives & rewards, and make it look as attractive as possible. But the decision to receive God’s Word or reject it belongs to them, not to us. All we can do is present the Word. And that’s what they really need. Just as Abigail’s milk has everything she needs to grow, so God’s Word has everything we need to make it to heaven. There’s one more thing. When I relaxed, Abigail relaxed. And when she relaxed, she was more able to drink from the bottle. In the same way, people can tell when we’re not relaxed about sharing God’s Word with them. It makes them uncomfortable. They wonder why they would want what makes us uncomfortable. So often I have forced myself to say something or do something in order to be a faithful witness of God’s Word. It hasn’t worked. I have learned to only share in a way that’s natural and real. So, let’s share God’s Word with others. And remember to relax, be real, and leave the results with God. July 2009
A large part of my life lately has been spent at home with our two small children. Six weeks after giving birth to Abigail, our 4 month-old daughter, my wife had to go back to work. So for fourteen hours a day, three days a week, I was home alone with our children. During these days I spent a lot of time trying to get Abigail to drink milk from the bottle. She was used to breastfeeding, so drinking from the bottle was a new thing to her. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make her drink the milk. During this frustrating time, I did a lot of praying. And the Lord used this experience to impress upon me an object lesson. In 1 Peter 2:2, Peter refers to God’s Word as milk. Just as babies grow by drinking milk, so as Christians we grow by taking God’s Word into our lives. Recalling this analogy while trying to get Abigail to drink milk from the bottle, I was enlightened. What bothered Abigail was not the milk. It was the bottle. She didn’t like how the milk was packaged. And as a result, she didn’t receive any of the nutrients in the milk. She only got upset and grew hungrier. How often have I rejected God’s Word because of how it was packaged? I may find the messenger offensive. His personality or teaching style may not appeal to me. Instead of receiving the Word as life-giving milk, I focus on the speaker’s faults. And as a result, I don’t receive any of the life-giving power in God’s Word. I leave irritated and unfed. I often wonder if this is not at least part of the reason why it took so long for the Lord to get me to accept the Gospel in His Word. Let us not focus on the one who brings us God’s Word. They are only the packaging. Let’s focus on the Word they bring us. It is the Word that gives us life. By receiving it, we will grow into healthy, mature Christians. June 2009
It is my privilege to be the new pastor for the Lancaster Seventh-day Adventist Church. Two years ago I began praying for the Lord to let me labor in His fields. I realized the Lord is an employer with many job openings. “Please, Lord,” I prayed, “pick me to fill one of those openings.” On June 1, 2009, I believe the Lord answered my prayer. I thank the Ohio Conference President and the Lancaster Church Board for the opportunity to pastor in Lancaster, Ohio. Currently, this poses a unique challenge. According to MapQuest, my house is 478 miles from the church. In the Lord’s timing I believe this distance will be greatly reduced. But in the meantime, we have to believe that the Lord has orchestrated these circumstances to be a blessing. The Lord has taught me that difficult situations are one of His ways of tugging our hearts closer to His.
There’s a saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” My wife and I have found this to be true in our relationship. I’m sure in our pastor/church relationship we will find this to be true as well. Now listen to what Jesus says in John 17:24, “I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am.” Jesus does not like being so far away from us. The unsettled feeling we have from being so far away from each other, Jesus feels too.
Let us not get used to being so far away from Jesus. Let us do all we can to make the day come soon when we will see Him face to face.
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