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Hope, Seeing Clearly, Words of Endurance

A Battlefield Perspective

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April 30, 2014

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Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground,
absorbed with the things right in front of you.
Look up, and be alert
to what is going on around Christ—
that’s where the action is.
See things from his perspective.
COLOSSIANS 3:2 (THE MESSAGE)



Two D-Day veterans were interviewed for a program commemorating the 61st anniversary of the famous World War II battle. The first veteran was a marine who fought the battle on the ground on Omaha Beach. The other was an Army reconnaissance pilot. He fought the battle in the air high above the seashore.



The Marine described the scene on the sand that day as right out of the movie “Saving Private Ryan.” Men were dropping all around him. It looked hopeless. He began to despair and said to himself, We’re going to lose. I can’t believe it. We’re going to lose.



“That’s how I felt in the heat of the battle that day,” he told the interviewer.



The pilot, however, described a completely different scene. He told the interviewer that he could see everything that was going on including the number of troops on the ground and where they were headed. “I got so excited,” he explained, “because I could see the overall battle. I remember saying out loud, We’re gonna win! We’re gonna win!”



These two men were engaged in the same battle – for the same cause – on the same day. But they had two very different perspectives on the conflict and its probable outcome. When we are in the heat of the battle, surrounded by overwhelming circumstances, like the Marine on Omaha Beach, we also can feel hopeless and near defeat. That is when we need to see our situation from a different perspective. We need a reconnaissance perspective – and God is more than happy to provide it.



It’s what we trust in
but don’t yet see that keeps us going.
1 CORINTHIANS 5:7 (THE MESSAGE)



On the journey with you,
Jan & Dave Dravecky

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Hope, Pain, Seeing Clearly, Words of Endurance

Listening for Fresh Insights

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April 30, 2014

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Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.
PROVERBS 18:15 (THE MESSAGE)



Fresh insight – that is what is needed when we have a perspective meltdown due to the difficult times we all face. As I have gone through my perspective meltdowns and have watched others endure through it I have come to realize how shortsighted our human perspective is. We can’t see the whole picture but we live as if the little piece we do see is all there is!



In contrast, God sees the whole picture from beginning through eternity. He is the Alpha and the Omega. In our trials as we turn to Him and listen for fresh insights we can find hope and strength to endure by learning to view our life from God’s perspective – an Eternal Perspective.



I know it is not easy to always see your life from an Eternal Perspective especially when you are dealing with the painful here and now. But I am so grateful that God didn’t give up on me as I struggled to learn to see my suffering in light of eternity rather than what I could visually see and discern. I learned from His Word that …



There’s far more here than meets the eye.
The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow.
But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 (THE MESSAGE)



But while I would waver between the here and now and what will last forever – God never gave up on me. One of the really cool things I have learned about Him is that even when I lose sight of His Eternal Perspective – He still loves me! When I take my eyes off Him and become fixated on this journey because it is really hard and I am hurting – he doesn’t wag his finger at me! And when I get stuck and can’t see beyond my immediate circumstances He keeps encouraging me to look to Him because He wants me to see clearly what He can see.


And the Good News is that as I look to Him I am drawn closer to His heart where I find comfort, understanding, and clarity as I endure the journey. My eyes are opened to clearly see and embrace the bigger perspective that is all about trusting Him to lead me to eternity with Him.


We don’t yet see things clearly.
We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist.
But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright!
We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
1 CORINTHIANS 13:12 (THE MESSAGE)



On the journey with you,
Dave Dravecky

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Hope, Pain, Words of Endurance

Hope for a Shattered Perspective

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March 6, 2014

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So we’re not giving up.
How could we!
Even though on the outside
it often looks like things are falling apart on us,
on the inside, where God is making new life,
not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.
These hard times are small potatoes
compared to the coming good times,
the lavish celebration prepared for us.
There’s far more here than meets the eye.
The things we see now are
here today, gone tomorrow.
But the things we can’t see now
will last forever.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18 (THE MESSAGE)



I know firsthand how hard it is to find solid ground when pain and suffering blast into your world and turns it upside down. How overwhelming it feels when adversity shatters your view on life. How frustrating it is to lose perspective just when you need clear vision and insight the most.



To me, the journey through pain and suffering feels a bit like waking up in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. All of a sudden you are in a world you don’t understand. You don’t understand what people are saying to you and you don’t know how to communicate back to them. Sometimes you don’t even understand what your own brain is thinking! You have no clue about what is happening around you but there is no doubt you are right in the middle of it.



That is the way it is in the world of pain and suffering. Suddenly everything you thought you knew about life – how it worked – how it was supposed to be – what is important – is up for grabs. At that moment the questions flood over you: “How do I survive this?” “How do I make life work again?” “Is it always going to be this hard?” “What do I need to do to just to get through the day?” “Will my life ever be normal again?”



As difficult as this journey is I promise you that in the midst of your pain there are some wonderful things that you can begin to experience that will help you endure and bring you to a new normal. Over the next several weeks we will be sharing others’ perspective-building experiences with you. We know these true-life stories will bring you a new perspective resulting in hope.



So if you feel lost in the darkness of a strange and unknown place – be assured that you will survive the journey when you begin to rebuild your shattered perspective. Be assured there is a hope that will not lead you to disappointment!



We can rejoice, too,
when we run into problems and trials,
for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character,
and character strengthens
our confident hope of salvation.
And this hope will not lead to disappointment.
ROMANS 5:3-5 (NLT)



On the Journey with You,
Dave Dravecky

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Grace, Hope, Prayer, Words of Endurance

Triage For a Shattered Perspective

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March 6, 2014

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A healthy spirit conquers adversity,
but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?
PROVERBS 18:14 (THE MESSAGE)



Sometimes our perspective shatters so violently when adversity hits that we are deeply wounded and our spirit is crushed. And when our spirit is crushed it may seem like we will never conquer that adversity but that is when we need the help of others to heal physically, emotionally and spiritually. The following suggestions are steps you can take when your spirit is crushed and your perspective is shattered.



SEE YOUR DOCTOR if you think you may be depressed. Whenever we experience adversity and the stress from that adversity – it affects our emotions that in turn will affect us physically in a negative way. You may experience insomnia or sleep all the time. You may experience weight gain or weight loss. You may feel overwhelmed, numb and unable to experience the joy that you once felt before the adversity. Both of us experienced a season of clinical depression and we went to see our physician who developed a treatment plan for the both of us. He helped us heal physically.



FIND A COUNSELOR. We also needed objective Godly wisdom from a person who was trained in dealing with physical, emotional and spiritual wounds. Our counselors helped us understand what had happened to us and why. They also led us to God’s truth and we learned new and better ways to respond to our adversity. They helped us heal emotionally.



CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVIDE SPIRITUAL SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. It is so healing to be a part of a Christian community who loves and supports you without judgment. We were part of grace-filled church community who loved us through the ugliness of our journey. The emotional support, spiritual wisdom and prayers we received were like a breath of fresh air – a refreshing wind from God! They helped us heal spiritually.



AND BE ASSURED …

And this same God who takes care of me
will supply all your needs from his glorious riches,
which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
PHILLIPPIANS 4:19 (NLT)



On the Journey with You,
Dave & Jan Dravecky

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Hope, Words of Endurance

God Restores Shattered Perspectives

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February 22, 2014

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When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life …
He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade,
wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die:
“Enough of this, God! Take my life—
I’m ready to join my ancestors in the grave!”
Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.
1 KINGS 19:3-5 (THE MESSAGE)



When Elijah hit bottom, he responded the way many of us do. In his battle-weary, despairing state he lost perspective. Discouragement clouded his vision. He focused on the negative and totally dismissed the positive. His immediate circumstances loomed so big that he lost sight of God’s faithful character and sovereign power. The result? He ran as far and as fast as he could – then he simply gave up.



Although Elijah’s perspective that God was in control appears to have shattered completely, God had not changed. We can take comfort in the way God reached out to restore His weary, depressed servant. God didn’t reprimand or reject him. Instead, He sent a messenger to provide food and water to meet his basic needs. Once Elijah was rested and refueled, he and God met for a heart-to-heart talk about the way Elijah saw things. This counseling session is most revealing …



Then the word of God came to him:
“So Elijah, what are you doing here?”
“I’ve been working my heart out
for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,” said Elijah.
“The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant,
destroyed the places of worship,
and murdered your prophets.
I’m the only one left,
and now they’re trying to kill me.”
1 KINGS 19:9-10 (THE MESSAGE)



First, Elijah complained to God that the other prophets had been killed and that he was the “only one left.” Elijah was so overwhelmed that he had forgotten that Obadiah, a prophet and friend of Elijah’s, had hidden one hundred prophets in caves. The two prophets had discussed the covert operation shortly before the showdown on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:13-18).



Second, Elijah complained to God that the entire nation of Israel had rejected Him. God revealed to Elijah that He had reserved “seven thousand in Israel … whose knees have not bowed down to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18). Elijah thought he was alone and he wasn’t alone after all.



Third, Elijah complained to God that they (the entire nation) were trying to kill him. The truth was only one person threatened Elijah – Queen Jezebel. When one is distraught everything appears to be much larger than it actually is.



What Elijah was really saying was “After all I’ve done to serve you – all is lost – all is lost!” This may have been how Elijah saw it but his conclusions about the state of the nation of Israel were not accurate. God knew the bigger picture and knew exactly how to reconstruct the weary prophet’s perspective.



God invited Elijah to unload the burdens on his heart by asking, “So Elijah, what are you doing here?” Next God gave Elijah specific instructions for dealing with the situation before him (1 Kings 19:15-17). He told Elijah where to go, who to see, what to do. He set Elijah back on course – a sure sign that Elijah still had a purpose and God still had a plan.



God didn’t scold His down-and-out servant for his clouded perspective and therefore wrong conclusions. He met him right where he was and addressed his concerns and needs. God showered Elijah with His grace, mercy and guidance.



That same grace, mercy and guidance is available for us. When our perspective gets shattered God wants us to come to Him and share our concerns and needs. Although He may not show up to address them in the same way He did for Elijah – He will show up. It may be through the encouraging words of a friend. It may be through a passage of Scripture that speaks to us as never before or silences a nagging question. Or it may be through a breathtaking sunset that reminds us that God is still in the heavens – still in control – and that the sun will rise again!



“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me
and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and
you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
MATTHEW 11:29-30 (THE MESSAGE)



On the Journey with You,
Dave & Jan Dravecky

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Hope, Shattered Perspectives, Words of Endurance

From Mountaintop to Valley Floor

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February 22, 2014

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Immediately the fire of God fell
and burned up the offering,
the wood, the stones, the dirt,
and even the water in the trench.
All the people saw it happen
and fell on their faces in awed worship, exclaiming,
“God is the true God! God is the true God!”
1 KINGS 18:38-39 (THE MESSAGE)



The scene atop Mount Carmel must have been spectacular. The people of Israel and their evil king, Ahab, had gathered to witness the showdown between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-40). God, the God of Elijah showed up in a heavenly fireball! The people’s response was no less dramatic. The false prophets were killed and the people repented of their idol worship.



After the decisive victory, Elijah was elated. Nothing could stop him. He ran 17 miles cross country to be present when Queen Jezebel got the news that her beloved prophets were no match for the living God. That, however, was when good news turned to bad. Instead of repenting, Jezebel had a death threat hand delivered to Elijah!



Elijah’s mood plunged from the exhilaration of the mountaintop to the chasm of despair on the valley floor. The Bible doesn’t tell us what went on in Elijah’s mind when he received the life threatening news. It only tells us that he, the great prophet who had been used by God to orchestrate one of the most dramatic spiritual confrontations in history, turned tail and ran!



He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all – to just die: “Enough of this, God! Take my life!
I’m ready to join my ancestors in the grave!”
Exhausted he fell asleep under the broom bush.
1 KINGS 19:4-5 (THE MESSAGE)



That’s an unusual victory speech! Why the sudden change? Apparently Elijah, a man of great faith, momentarily lost perspective. Why else would he flee from one lone woman after defeating 450 men? Why else would he be so discouraged after such a great victory that he would ask God to take his life?



Exhaustion, stress, unfulfilled expectations and fear are just a few of the experiences that can lead to a loss of perspective – no matter how spiritual we are or what Spiritual victories we may have amassed. But we can find comfort in knowing that giants of the faith lose perspective and become discouraged too. Elijah’s response (1 Kings 19) to a crushing loss of perspective provides helpful insights for dealing with our own perspective issues.



He sought solitude. Elijah got alone with God. After receiving Jezebel’s death threat, he went off by himself “a day’s journey into the wilderness.”



He was honest with God. Elijah didn’t hold back his true feelings. “Enough of this God! Take my life”



He rested. Elijah didn’t fight his body’s response to stress and exhaustion. He took care of his need for rest. “Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.”



At times, we may find ourselves in a similar state of mind as the prophet Elijah. One moment we’re standing tall on the mountaintop. We’re certain that God is with us, working for our good in the midst of great adversity – cancer, divorce, financial crisis or whatever trial we face. Then, before we know it and when we least expect it – everything changes. Our perspective shatters and we don’t recognize the landscape at all. Our circumstances don’t indicate that any plan might be in place – much less a good plan with a good outcome. Our expectations are dashed. We grow disillusioned and weary. Our perspective shatters.



But thank God we don’t have to stay in that place. We can survive the plunge from the mountaintop to the valley floor . With God’s help – because He is with us in both places – we can reconstruct a perspective that enables us not only to see the mountaintop but to stand upon it!



The distance between the mountaintop and the valley floor
can be quickly traversed.
Yet God’s children who make that journey
discover that God is in both places.
JAN DRAVECKY



On the Journey with You,
Dave & Jan Dravecky

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Hope, Perspectives, Words of Endurance

Wisdom for the Journey

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January 13, 2014

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ATTITUDE



If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure;
real survivors learn wisdom from others.
PROVERBS 28:26 (THE MESSAGE)



Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
WINSTON CHURCHILL



Our attitude toward things is likely to be more important
than the things themselves.
A.W. TOZER



Attitude is the librarian of our past,
the speaker of our present,
the prophet of our future.
JOHN MAXWELL



Afflictions color your life
but you choose the color.
ANONYMOUS



An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity;
A pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.
HERBERT V PROCHNOW



Some people complain because God put thorns on roses,
while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns.
ANONYMOUS



A pessimist is a person who, regardless of the present,
Is disappointed in the future.
ANONYMOUS



A thankful disposition will always find some cause for cheer
And a gloomy one will find a cloud in the brightest sky
and a fly in the sweetest ointment.
Let us cultivate a spirit of cheerfulness
And we shall find so much in God and in our lives
to encourage us
that we shall have no room for doubt or fear.
A.B. SIMPSON



Thankfulness that is put into words has a healing effect
upon the soul.
A.W. TOZER



Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
PROVERBS 3:13 (NLT)



On the Journey with You,
Dave & Jan Dravecky

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Hope, Pain, Perspectives, Words of Endurance

Training for an Attitude Change

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December 12, 2013

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Train yourself in godliness,
for, while physical training is of some value,
godliness is valuable in every way,
holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 TIMOTHY 4:7-8 (NRSV)



Changing our attitudes requires us to change the way we think and that is a process that doesn’t happen overnight – it takes training! It may take weeks, months or even longer to “retrain” our attitudes in godliness but like an athlete in training, those of us in “attitude training” need to focus on the specific exercises that will enable us to reach our goal.



Below is an ATTITUDE acrostic. Perhaps you can use the reminders on the ATTITUDE acrostic as “training stations” to help keep you on track while you train for a godly attitude. I know it sure has helped us on our journey to mature our attitudes!



Ask God to help you have a right attitude. Ask Him often for …


Teachability, for a heart that is willing to embrace change.


Truth, so you know what and how to mature.


Insight into the obstacles that keep you from maturing.


Tenacity, so you don’t give up when you experience setbacks.


Understanding of the Scriptures, the source for right thoughts and attitudes.


Desire to have a godly attitude – the same attitude as Jesus.


Endurance to continue to mature your attitude.



Your attitude should be
the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ,
who, though he was God,
did not demand and cling to his rights as God,
but laid aside his mighty power and glory,
taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men.
And he humbled himself even further,
going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8 (TLB)



On the Journey with You,
Dave & Jan Dravecky

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Hope, Perspectives, Prayer, Words of Endurance

Divine Help for an Attitude Adjustment

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November 13, 2013

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I obviously need help!
I realize that I don’t have what it takes.
I can will it, but I can’t do it.
I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it;
I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.
My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions.
Something has gone wrong deep within me
and gets the better of me every time …
I’ve tried everything and nothing helps.
I’m at the end of my rope.
Is there no one who can do anything for me?
Isn’t that the real question?
ROMANS 7:18-20,24 (THE MESSAGE)



Knowing that I need an attitude adjustment is one thing but implementing the needed adjustment is a totally different story –the truth is it isn’t easy because there are times that I don’t have what it takes – I obviously need help! How about you? Who do you go to for help when you need to implement an attitude adjustment?



How encouraging is it to know the answer is Jesus Christ and it is to Him that we can go to for help …



The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.
He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions
where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind,
but am pulled by the influence of sin
to do something totally different.
ROMANS 7:25 (THE MESSAGE)



God has been helping his children take on the attitude of Christ for a long time. God is always available to us. He will always hear our prayers for guidance and counsel because He promises …



The Lord says,
“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.”
PSALM 32:8 (NLT)



Not only that but we can ask Him through the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the Scriptures so that we can understand the Truth of His Word in a life-changing way because …



God means what he says.
What he says goes.
His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel,
cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense,
laying us open to listen and obey.
Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word.
We can’t get away from it—no matter what.
HEBREWS 4:12-13 (THE MESSAGE)



Need an attitude adjustment? Then turn with me to the One who is more than able…



Now all glory to God, who is able,
through his mighty power at work within us,
to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
EPHESIANS 3:20 (NLT)



On the Journey with You,
Dave Dravecky

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Hope, Perspectives, Prayer, Words of Endurance

Change My Attitude?

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November 6, 2013

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Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Put on your new nature, created to be like God—
truly righteous and holy.
EPHESIANS 4:23-24 (NLT)



No one who is alive and breathing has a perfect attitude all of the time. I know that I certainly don’t! Although most of us readily admit that our attitudes need adjustment – especially if suffering has revealed some of our less desirable attitude tendencies – but the thought of actually changing our attitudes can be overwhelming.



Instead of owning up to our bad attitudes we often times justify them by reasoning – “I’ve been sick for so long. If anyone has earned the right to be pessimistic it is me.” Or we may choose to blame others when our attitudes fall short – “My family life was so hard growing up that I learned to be self-centered just to survive.”



At other times we may refuse to see the harm in our attitudes – “So what if I have a pity party? It isn’t hurting anyone.” And sometimes we simply deny our need to deal with problem attitudes – “My attitude just isn’t that big a deal. Look at all the other things I am doing right.”



If any of these justifications sound familiar to you then take note. There is one unchanging and inescapable reason for correcting our bad attitudes – God tells us to!



You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5 (NLT)



Why would God care about our attitudes?



First of all, we are God’s beloved children and bad attitudes are detrimental to us and the life He wants us to live. Bad attitudes create distance in our relationship with Him and lead to brokenness and dysfunction in our relationships on earth. God wants to heal our brokenness and set us free from attitudes that perpetuate pain.



Second, as God’s beloved children we are heirs to all of His creation. He wants us to mature into that heritage and position. He wants us to have the same attitudes that Jesus did because these attitudes befit our divine nature and calling. When we are hurting we easily lose sight of who we are and where we are headed. So dealing with our attitudes is a foundational part of our training to be more like Christ.



In his book, A Small Book About God, Roy Hicks, Jr. sums up why our attitudes are so important…



“You will never become what you want to become,
let alone what God wants you to become,
until you become a person who accepts responsibility
for who you are and
begin to respond in a godly way to life’s circumstances.”



I know that there are many times I need an attitude adjustment and I run out of excuses forcing me to face the fact that I need to make an attitude change. And after many failed attempts to change my attitude in my own strength, there is nothing left for me to do but to allow the God to transform me into a new person by changing the way I think. So my advice to you if you are in need of an attitude adjustment…



Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,
which is good and pleasing and perfect.
ROMANS 12:2 (NLT)



On the Journey with You,
Dave Dravecky

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