Perspective

A 3-year old taught me a great lesson on perspective today. After a story about bears he remarked, “I’m thankful that we can pet the bears when they’re not eating us”. This was quickly followed by, “I’m thankful too that no animals are planning to eat me.” I never would have thought to be thankful for that, but it is true, I also am very thankful that I’m in no immediate danger of being eaten by some wild animal. There are so many things I forget to be thankful for. When my focus is on my problems and frustrations, I miss out on a whole other perspective.

Author Ellen White offers the following perspective:

“To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.”—(Gospel Workers, 258.)

Oh, to have the faith to always take God at His word and trust His promises even when our circumstances point in the opposite direction! I think God wants me to learn how to look at things from a new angle, with heavenly, eternal perspective. He answers every prayer I’ve prayed, but I think I often miss his answers because they don’t fit my pre-determined criteria.

Jesus, please open my eyes, help me to see with the eye of Faith, learning to trust Your timing and Your ways.

“Faith is trusting in God,—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership, and accepts its blessings. Truth, uprightness, purity, are pointed out as secrets of life’s success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these. Every good impulse or aspiration is the gift of God; faith receives from God the life that alone can produce true growth and efficiency.” (Gospel Workers p.259)

By faith

I've been reading a bit in Hebrews. Chapter 11 to be specific, sometimes called the " hall of faith". What a legacy! By faith: the Red Sea opened, the walls of Jericho fell, kingdoms were conquered, the lions mouths were shut, fiery flames were quenched, weakness was turned to strength, dead we're raises to life, others gave up their lives for a better promise, and on and on the list goes. Such exciting stuff! But what gets me is verse 13: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted they were aliens and strangers [pilgrims] on this earth."

Like Abraham was asked to give up his only son, the only visible hope to see God's promise fulfilled, each of us is asked to give up our most precious hopes and dreams, by faith. But what if God doesn't fulfill His promise on this earth? Will I still trust Him? Can I leave my treasure on the alter and believe that He has something a zillion times better in mind? Can I walk by faith, still believing I have my place in His plan? Will my name someday appear on the wall of faith? Food for thought. 

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2)

By God's grace I will choose to see with the eye of faith and spend my life running after the purpose He has for me. I feel restless and strange here. I'm longing for Home and to see my Jesus face to face. I want to do great things, but I'm afraid of the sacrifice required. I'm afraid to give up the things that bring me comfort or a feeling of security. I have to remind myself daily that He is able to do abundantly more than we could ever imagine. His promises are sure. Its time to live... by faith.

Decisions, Decisions

Yikes! Only 10 more days of work left. Then what? Well, I’ll spend about 10 days on a mission trip, but then what? Contrary to popular belief I do not intend to just sit around and be a bum all day J  Times of transition are never easy, and I’m feeling the weight of all the things I need to decide, and how things are going to change. I’ve been feeling various shades of sick on and off for about a month now. I’m feeling very weary and unable to deal effectively with the challenges that are coming my way. What to do?

I finally got my long awaited email this morning, hearing back about a volunteer position I was interested in. Though I don’t really know any details at this point, there’s a possibility out on the table. What should I do? Is this where God wants me? Will I be happy there? Can I survive there? I feel super nervous about making such a big decision, or even, really, where to begin.

All these questions that I’ve been thinking about, and will continue to, I’m sure. I just want to know the right answer! While this may seem simplistic, I’m learning, and I have to keep reminding myself, that the answer to every question is JESUS! He is the center of all, the purpose of life, and the beauty of everything good. Somehow, someway, I just have to keep my eyes centered on the light of His presence, and walk always toward Him, whatever the particular steps may be. It’s really hard, but I have to take it one step at a time, remembering to praise Him in the sunshine and in the storm, and even in the silence. In the end, that’s the only decision that matters anyway.

Live out Thy Life Within Me

We sang this hymn during worship tonight, and it's just such a beautiful way of expressing what I want for my life, that I wanted to share (emphasis mine).

Live Out Thy Life Within Me

Words: Francis Ridley Havergal, (1836-1879)

Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings!

Be Thou Thyself the answer To all my questionings;

Live out Thy life within me, In all things have Thy way!

I, the transparent medium Thy glory to display.

The temple has been yielded, And purified of sin;

Let Thy Shekinah glory Now shine forth from within,

And all the earth keep silence, The body henceforth be

Thy silent, gentle servant, Moved only as by Thee.

Its members every moment Held subject to Thy call,

Ready to have Thee use them, Or not be used at all;

Held without restless longing, Or strain, or stress, or fret

Or chafings at Thy dealings, Or thoughts of vain regret.

But restful, calm, and pliant, From bend and bias free,

Awaiting Thy decision, When Thou hast need of me.

Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings!

Be Thou the glorious answer To all my questionings.

Sickness

Being sick is no fun! It gets really old after a while too. My household has been fighting sickness since before Christmas. Now everyone at work has it too. It seems to keep cycling back, replaying over and over again. I wonder if it might not be a good analogy for sin? How you might be able to mask the symptoms for a while ( like taking cold medicine), but the virus is still there inside of you, still trying to destroy the good. What we need is something to get rid of the root problem, or rather, Someone. Connection to the source of life, Jesus Christ, is the key to making our lives into a environment very inhospitable to the virus of sin.

In "Christiana" there is one part where she and her children are traveling on a dangerous road through thick fog and muck. How much longer? the children complain. The answer is "sooner than you think, but longer than you wish" but the time will go much faster if we sing praises. There's just something about singing that lifts the spirit and helps us keep our eyes focused upward. God has been reminding me to keep on singing, especially when I don't feel like it.

One good thing about being sick is that it can help you see what your priorities are. When you have very little energy, you have to use what you have wisely. It also helps remind me of my dependence on God, how much I need him. A friend reminded me again today to ask God specifically for the things I need, and believe that I will receive them. That's kind of difficult though, because I sometimes feel unsure what things I actually need, or which things would actually be harmful to me I'm the end. Fortunately God is so much bigger than my doubts. I've heard lots of people say that God loves it when His people trust him enough to ask Him for big things, things only He can do. So stay tuned as I continue to make my list.....

The Red Sea Experience

“Have you come to the Red Sea place in your life, Where, in spite of all you can do, There is no way out, there is no way back, There is no other way but through? Then wait on the Lord with a trust serene Till the night of your fear is gone; He will send the wind, He will heap the floods, When He says to your soul, "Go on."

And His hand will lead you through-clear through--Ere the watery walls roll down, No foe can reach you, no wave can touch, No mightiest sea can drown; The tossing billows may rear their crests, Their foam at your feet may break, But over their bed you shall walk dry shod In the path that your Lord will make.

In the morning watch, 'beneath the lifted cloud, You shall see but the Lord alone, When He leads you on from the place of the sea To a land that you have not known; And your fears shall pass as your foes have passed, You shall be no more afraid; You shall sing His praise in a better place, A place that His hand has made”.--Annie Johnson Flint

One of the most life-changing concepts I’ve ever encountered is encapsulated in the sermon series by Lee Vendon entitled “All about Jesus” (more on this later). One particular illustration he uses seems very applicable to current life. Exodus 13 and 14 tells the story of the children of Israel, hotly pursued by the enemy army from behind, and facing a seemingly impassable Red Sea in front of them. There appeared to be no way of escape, no way out. But imagine if they had never come to this place. We might have never known what God was capable of, that He could make a way right through the middle of the sea!

A few weeks ago (after many months of searching and praying), I came to the conclusion that God had new plans in mind for me. Through various Bible passages I came to the solid conclusion that He was asking me to trust Him, and only Him, to provide for me and take care of me. So, I took my leap of faith and quit my job, in order to prepare myself for His next step, and to have some time to focus on the struggle to regain my health. So far He has chosen not to reveal the larger plan, but only each small piece as I have need. I feel like I’m at the Red Sea. I see no way to go forward, I can’t go back, and there seems no solution.

Yet there are times when I KNOW that He is providing. Like the other day. I started a list of things God would need to provide for me. The first item on the list was a plane ticket for my upcoming mission trip. A highlight of my year, I was pretty bummed about the possibility of not going, but just knew I didn’t have the funds. Well, the evening after I had started the list, a friend of mine sent me a message saying “Hey, do you want a ticket? Because I know someone who is offering you one”. Maybe it seems small, but in that instant I was sure of God’s provision. I really can’t figure out why I doubt, doubting doesn’t make any sense, but I do it far too often. I’m so thankful that God is  much bigger than my doubts and fears.

So, here I am facing the Red Sea. Can’t wait to see how God is going to make a path for me!

What it's about

For my birthday one year, some dear friends presented me with the dramatized audio version of the John Bunyon classic “The Pilgrim’s Progress”, as well as the sequel “Christiana”. What a blessings these works have been to me! From the slough of despond to the pearly gates, they chronicle the pitfalls, heartaches, and great blessings of a Pilgrim (a Christian) on his journey to the Celestial City. The journey is rough and full of dangers. The Pilgrim often grows tired and weary, but the Lord of the Place is always near. Though I hate sharing things in public ways, and though my writing is far from polished, I believe God is asking me to chronicle a little of my own Pilgrimage, and the things that He is teaching me along the way. I hope and pray that these words can be used to uplift and encourage, but most of all, to draw the seeker a little closer to the King of Kings, who loves us so dearly.

^“ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11: 13-16, KJV)