Trusting His Wisdom & Love

A friend shared this today and I was greatly encouraged. 

". . . We all desire immediate and direct answers to our prayers, and are tempted to become discouraged when the answer is delayed or comes in an unlooked-for form. But God is too wise and good to answer our prayers always at just the time and in just the manner we desire. He will do more and better for us than to accomplish all our wishes. And because we can trust His wisdom and love, we should not ask Him to concede to our will, but should seek to enter into and accomplish His purpose. -MH 229,230

 Powerful thoughts. No matter how bleak things appear or how confused we are, we can Keep trusting! His purpose is best. It goes beyond what we think, feel, or ignorantly ask for.  

Waiting.

I strongly dislike waiting. I really do. It's probably one of the best things for me, and yet it always feels like the worst.

Waiting to know test grades. Waiting to know God's plans for my summer. Waiting to understand God's will for my future. Something about my impatient human nature detests not having instant answers.

Nevertheless, I need to remember. Abraham waited. Joseph waited. Noah waited. Moses waited. Jesus waited. So many of the men and women of God's word waited. Abraham waited for years God to fulfill His promise of an heir. Joseph waited in an Egyptian prison not knowing how it would fit into God's great plan. Noah worked and waited for the rain to come for what could have seemed like endless years. Moses spent years herding sheep, learning the lessons that only being a shepherd could teach him. My own Saviour spent over thirty years on this earth revealing God's love in His daily interactions with men before He paid the ultimate price for our sins. If you find yourself waiting, you can rest assured that you're in good company.

They waited for decades. They waited in dark prisons. They waited in the wilderness. They waited without knowing, and yet they trusted God. And now it's my turn. It's time for me to remember how God has led me in the past.

There have been countless times when He has waited to reveal His will to me. Sometimes, He waited until I was surrendered and ready to unconditionally accept His plan. Sometimes He's waited in order to teach me to trust Him more. Sometimes, to teach me patience. Looking back, I've always been thankful. It was by waiting and seeking His will that I came to Southern, that I choose to spend a year among the Karen in Thailand, and that I chose to take nursing. Those three decisions have been three of the most rewarding decisions of my life. They weren't my initial gut choices. I really wanted to attend Andrews. I wanted to go be an SM through AFM. And I thought I was meant to pursue elementary education. All these were good things & great places. They weren't bad decisions.  But they weren't where God was calling me. My time at Southern, my year among the Karen, and my near two years in the nursing program have brought more joy & learning experiences than I ever could have dared to dream up and hope for. God has been so good to me.

So I keep waiting. Actively waiting. And like God spoke to his waiting servant, Abraham, He reminds me, "Fear not. . . I am thy sheild, and thy exceeding great reward." (Gen 15:1) My reward. I am not rewarded by the events that happen, the answers I recieve, or the learning experiences I have. God Himself is my reward--my exceeding great reward every step of the journey. He is enough. My All-in-All. It's not just the reward at the journey's end. It's the reward of who He is & the daily joys that come from walking with Him. Oh Lord, keep teaching me. Teach me to wait.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." -Isaiah 40:31

A Beautiful Rebuke & Great Encouragement

I read the following blog post of a friend today. I don't normally re-blog other's posts, but I felt this was well-worth the exception. I encourage you to read it. It sent me to my knees in prayer,  both humbled by the rebuke & yet greatly encouraged by God's great love & the vision of unity He has for us, His church. 

It's so true. "The powers of darkness stand a poor chance against believers who love one another as Christ has loved them." 

Blog entry: Where is the Love?

One Gleam of Hope

"Never should we cease to labor for a soul while there is one gleam of hope. Precious souls cost our self-sacrificing Redeemer too dear a price to be lightly given up to the tempter's power." -Ministry of Healing p.168

Don't lightly give one up. Ever. He hasn't given up on you. 

When Champions are Few

"When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, 

when His law is most despised, 

then should our zeal be the warmest

 and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. 

To stand in defense of truth and righteousness

when the majority forsake us, 

to fight the battles of the Lord

 when champions are few

--this will be our test. 

At this time we must gather 

warmth from the coldness of others, 

courage from their cowardice, 

and loyalty from their treason."

--5T 136 (1882).

Lord, teach us how to let every trial, person, and situation draw us only closer to You. 

All Along

A Grateful Heart

With another semester of nursing school behind me and with it exams and finals, countless clinicals, and uncountable hours of study, I am welcoming Christmas break with open arms. Sometimes, I have to stop to rest before I realize how exhausted I really am and how badly I need a break!

I was reflecting today on this past semester and its many adventures, and as I did, endless God-given blessings started coming to mind. God has been so good to me. I'll share just a few of the many people & opportunities I'm thankful for tonight.

Michelle: Michelle (far right in the picture above) was my first nursing classmate to greet me and introduce herself. After being gone as an SM for a year and returning Fall of 2011, I was slightly overwhelmed by a new class of 70+ future nurses I'd never met, especially when all my old classmates were a year ahead of me. Michelle was so quick to befriend me that we sat together not only the first day, but nearly every day of nursing classes since then.  She's such an amazing friend, so full of sunshine, life, and most importantly, a deep passion for Jesus. The challenges of nursing school has definitely strengthened our friendship as we've overcome a lot together. We've had too many adventures to list here, but it's definitely safe to say that nursing school never would have been the same without her.

Maria: A prayer, a last-minute trip to Chiang Mai, (when I lived in Thailand) and a week living together in a hospital with a very sick little boy brought Maria and me together as close friends. I thank God that neither time nor distance has pulled us apart. When I returned to Southern after my SM year,  leaving a big part of my heart in Asia, God alone knew how much I'd need a cross-cultural friend. Maria's been that friend, the one who could understand things from an American view and then swap over and completely re-evaluate things with me from a Karen villager's perspective. I've treasured every minute of our sometimes record-long phone calls this semester. She's just the trustworthy kind of friend who makes it so easy to be completely genuine and real. She helps to keep my passion for missions alive as well as my love for the medical work.

So many other dear names are pouring into my thoughts as well. I wish I could write about them all. Friends to go running with and to cheer you on at half marathons. Friends who are eager to practice IV starts on you (and are happy to let you practice on them too & even are willing to re-offer their arm even if your first IV didn't go so well.) Friends who send frequent updates from Thailand. It has been said that "If you have one true friend you have more than your share" but if that's true than I have been richly blessed.

Future opportunities:

Nicaragua Trip 2013: In an answer to prayer, after being on the waiting list for weeks, I got accepted for the School of Nursing mission trip to Nicaragua over spring break! I'm so excited for the chance to use my meager nursing skills for God's work internationally. And an extra-special bonus--my brother, Ellis is also going on the trip as part of the auto-mechanic team!

ER Clinicals: God worked a miracle, and it looks like I'm going to be able to do my nursing management clinicals in the ER! I'm stoked. There's something about ER: the assessments, the fast-pace, the you never-knowing-what-is-coming-through-the-doors-next feeling, and the steep learning curve that makes me love it. But I think the reason I love it most is because it reminds me of the work a village nurse does, constantly assesssing patients and never knowing what he or she will treat next. Some of the best village nurses I've met got their training in the ER.

But that's the future. And as excited as I am about the future, I know I am not always promised it. I do have this moment. So in the moment I do have, I want to thank God so much everything this semester: the friends, the challenges, the teamwork, struggles, the joy, and now the victories. Praising Him for another semester now complete.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities:
Who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction:
Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103: 1-5

The more we learn to fear God. . .

"The more we learn to fear God the less we fear anything else." -Elisabeth Elliot

The Power of a Smile

According to an article on longevity.about.com, here are some of top ten reasons to smile:

1. Smiling makes us attractive.

2. Smiling changes our mood.

3. Smiling is contagious.

4. Smiling relieves stress.

5. Smiling boosts your immune system (possibly by relaxing you)

6. Smiling lowers your blood pressure.

7. Smiling releases natural endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin.

8. Smiling lifts the face and makes you look younger.

9. Smiling makes you more successful. (Rational: smiling people appear more confident, are easier to approach, and are more likely to be promoted.)

10. Smiling helps you stay positive. (Test it: Smile. Now continue to smile & try to think of something negative without loosing your smile. It was harder that I thought. Your body is sending you the "Life is good" message while you attempt to worry.)

What stood out to me? Happy feelings can follow your smile! Not just the other way around. I've heard this so many times before, but it's so easy for me to get mixed up and think "When I'm not so stressed or when I'm having fun, then I'll smile. I have so much to do right now." Maybe smiling a little extra  would help take down those stress levels. Maybe choosing to smile would remind me how much fun I am having, even when surrounded with deadlines. There's so many benefits of smiling. Maybe they could even be contagious  Hmmmmm. . . . I have a  new theory to test for  for finals week.

What if I had Given Everything

we went to elementary school so
we could go to middle school so that
we could attend high school  and head on to
college for degrees so we could get the
job we wanted and thus have money so we
could get the things we thought we wanted and
age in comfort,
seeking the joy we thought it would bring
but when we reached that point, there was no joy
all the work and stress only took away
our health, our time with family,  and our best years

And so we used the money we'd made to try to salvage our failing health
And we regretted the way we lived our lives
And we tried to spent the last of our time with those who mattered most,
Making every final moment here count for eternity
But it seemed so weak. So limited. And as this life came to a close, we could only ask weakly from a hospital bed,

"What if I had given everything?"

--

I've met these people. I see them all the time. I see people jogging in circles, chasing dreams that will  never bring them joy. I've jogged these same paths. I've been there, chasing what I thought would bring satisfaction. There's nothing in it.

What good things people might think of you? Not worth it. What money might buy you? So cheap. Living for our self? So purposeless. This life is way too short to live it without a God-given mission. Too short to live for ourselves.

---
What if. . .

Every moment of elementary school was spent learning about the greatness of our God so
middle school could be spent learning how to share God's love for the rich, the poor, the weak, the strong, the lost, the found, the world, the church, everyone. What if high school became a training time for young leaders to learn to lead God's work?

And if the degrees sought in college was sought only to bring honor and glory to God by doing His will, wherever He would lead? What if  our strongest, most adventure-seeking years in, after, and in-between college were spent passionately sharing Jesus? Here. And overseas. And to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people

What if our incomes went to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, support the struggling?
What if we woke up every morning and said "God, I'm Yours. Who can I love for you? How can I best represent Your love to this broken world?" What if we were His hands to our hurting world? His feet to seek the lost His comfort for the broken? His tears crying with those who have suffered so much. His listening ears to those who have never been listened to before. His eyes to see the potential in others. His passion for the lost, that they might learn of the Savior. His love.

God has so much in-store for those who will dedicate their lives to Him. And there's so much more in-store. His service becomes our passion. His mission, the fire in our veins. So much more life & joy than in these crazy cycles we get ourselves in.

And just think, if someday, by God's grace, years later, we could lay our our death beds and look back on our life and honestly say beyond a shadow of all doubt, "That was a life worth living. I gave everything." It would be so worth it.

Ponder it this week---a life giving all for God. He's already given everything for you.

If you found a cure for cancer. . .

"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death." -Dave Davidson

The God of Angel Armies

I know who goes before me

I know who goes behind

The God of angel armies is always by my side.

The One who reigns forever

He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies is always by my side

And nothing formed against me shall stand

You hold the whole world in Your hands

I’m holding on to Your promises

You are faithful

The song caught my attention as I drove to Southern. Maybe it was because I was nervous about my nursing exam that morning. Maybe it was due to the confusion of sorting out the many options for next year. Maybe it was because I’ve been realizing more and more how weak I am and how much I need His grace  & strength. For whatever reason, the lyrics gripped my heart more than ever. 

I know who goes before me. I know who stands behind. The God of angel armies. . . It was that simple. All my worries at their cores were faithless. All my confusion seemed so small. . . is always by my side. What a paradigm shift! A God so great. A God who will never leave us. My heart sang all the way to school.

I think sometimes I’m a lot like Elisha’s servant (2 Kings 6). The city was surrounded. A whole host was after Elisha and his servant cries out, “Alas, my master! How shall me do?” Yup, that sounds like me—the one longing to see the instant answers when God has them hidden for my own good. Me, the one who sees the enemy, but sometimes forgets the Savior’s mighty power. Are you tempted to forget? Elisha’s reply is for all of us.

Elisha answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” The he prayed, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round Elisha.

I’m praying that same prayer & hope you’ll pray it with me. “Lord, open my eyes that I may see.” Grant me the eyes of faith that look beyond the problems, the trials, and the confusion of this earth. Give me the sight to see my Savior and His matchless love. Give me the vision to see the God of angel armies.

You Can Serve.

http://vimeo.com/adventistfrontiers/youcanserve

Influences for Good

"Ever remember that Jesus is your helper. No one understands as well as He your peculiarities of character. He is watching over you, and if you are willing to be guided by Him, He will throw around you influences for good that will enable you to accomplish all His will for you." -Messages to Young People, pg 17.

I never thought of it before. God throwing good influences around me? Enabling me to accomplish all His will for me? If I am willing to be guided by Him? 

I don't have to be surrounded by evil influences, nor become numb to poor decisions. I don't have to accept this world's definition of "good" or "ideal." God's willing to send spiritual backup. Such a powerful thought & refreshing truth. 

I am willing to seek His will. And He will send those influences. And in many ways, as I think of it, He already has. I'm so thankful. 

Broken People, Perfect Gift

Of all my family's traditional Christmas decorations we had growing up, these always seemed to fascinate me the most. Mary, Joseph, a shepherd,  three wise-men, and a radiant baby Jesus---yes, the Nativity Scene definitely captivated my young heart's attention. Apparently I wasn't alone for my siblings also loved to play with the figurines and rearrange the scene time and time again. I'm not completely sure why my parents let us children play with the breakable ceramic people & animals while our imaginations explored the story, but they  were quick to let us. 

And being clumsy children, we dropped the figurines. 

We accidentally broke Joseph in half, and decapitated a shepherd.

And Daddy glued them back together.

And we broke them again. 

And Daddy fixed them again. 

And again. 

And again. 

There was no anger, no "You can't play with these again." 

Only my parent's forgiveness for us and my father's repair and healing for our Nativity friends.

Over time the cracks and dark glued seams showed more and more. 

And to this day, it is very broken ceramic people that tell the most amazing story in our home.  

I'll admit. Sometimes it bothers me. I want the story to be perfect. I want perfect people to tell the story of our perfect Savior in a perfect way. But my Nativity scene full of imperfect people, and so is my world. 

But thankfully, God doesn't call perfect people to tell of the greatest Gift ever given. He calls all of us to tell it. Us, the broken, the hurting, the confused, the sinners. He glues our broken pieces back together. He gives us the Gift of His Son, the greatest gift ever given, and calls us stand before the world to tell the perfect story of the Lamb of God through our imperfect lives. To show His perfect love through our often very imperfect hearts, that we might accept His forgiveness and day by day strive to be more like Him. 

How can this be? You might ask. How can you tell the story?

Well, you see there's a special person who's never been shattered. He's never failed.  

It's Jesus. He was, and He is, and He is to come. 

And so the story can be told through imperfect people, because of the unchanging perfect Lamb of God.

And if we can point our world to Him, they will never be disappointed.

Broken People. 

Perfect Gift. 

Beautiful Christmas.

The Special Place

"Not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God." --COL, pg 327

I ponder it. There's so much purpose in a life lived for God. And I ask God, "Where's my special place?" and the answer comes, "Look around, my child. Wake up to the needs surrounding you! Have you been blind these past 4 months?"

Have you ever overlooked your special place?

I know I have. In Thailand, the needs were easy to spot. But on the home front, it took me a little longer. But with God's help, I slowly began to see the many mission fields here. And what mission fields they are!

I'll never give up my dream of returning to Asia. It's a dream that God has given me. But I also won't be such a fool as to ignore the pressing mission fields here, while I continue my education. God's special place for me right now---just happens to be right where I am. Special place, here I am. =)