The Exchange

"Christ takes His children from that which holds their attention, that they may behold His glory" - Our High Calling, pg. 315. What a glorious exchange!

"Oh, Lord Jesus, show me more that I may give up, that I may have more of Thee!" - Springs in the Valley, pg. 303.

Sing!

     "There is a beautiful story which tells of song birds being brought over the sea. There were 36,000, mostly canaries. The sea was very calm when the ship first sailed, and the little birds were silent. They kept their little heads under their wings and not a note was heard. But the third day out at sea, the ship struck a furious gale. The passengers were terrified. Children wept. Then a strange thing happened. As the tempest reached its height, the birds began to sing, first one, then another, until the 36,000 were singing as if their little throats would burst.

     "When the storm rises in its fury, do we then begin to sing? Should not our song break forth in tenfold joy when the tempest begins?

'I can hear the songbirds singing their refrain

It is morning in my heart;

And I know that life for me begins again,

It is morning in my heart.

It is morning, it is morning in my heart,

Jesus made the gloomy shadows all depart;

Songs of gladness now I sing,

For since Jesus is my King,

It is morning, it is morning in my heart.'

     "'Break forth into singing' Isaiah 49:13."

(Taken from Springs in the Valley, pg. 302-303)

Never underestimate the power of song!

A Day of Miracles

Today is Sabbath, the most precious day of the week. And today has been a precious day, indeed! A day of miracles. Let me fill you in...

During the praise and prayer time at church, I watched from my vantage point at the piano as Gideon* raised his hand timidly. Gideon is one of the academy boys I have a special burden for. I'm not sure what has happened, but for some reason he's extremely quiet, shy, and depressed. Today was a milestone for him. When his hand was acknowledged, he proceeded to tell us how the Lord had blessed the evangelistic series that had just finished at his parents' church. I was thrilled! Then for Sabbath School, Gideon had the opening prayer, as well as sang a duet with his roommate for special music!

Then we divided for classes. I made my way to one of the academy classes. Normally the academy seniors teach Sabbath School. This weekend, however, the seniors are on "Senior Survival" and no one was prepared to teach the lesson. (I hadn't even looked at it yet!) Someone asked me if I was prepared to teach the lesson and I said no, but we could all wing it together. 

Opening the lesson study, I found that this week's lesson had been on the purification sacrifice and the memory verse was 1 Pet. 1:18, 19. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." I hesitated for a moment and sensed that lovely little Voice whisper, "Bekah, I'm with you. I'll give you words to speak. Just speak them boldly!" I trembled inside, knowing that I was dealing with a precious subject, a holy topic, and that some of the most flippant students in the school were sitting in my class. Paul* and George* were watching me intently. Very reserved with most of the staff here, Paul is another student that I am intentionally trying to reach. George is often irreverent and rebellious, and had almost never had anything nice to say to me, even when I paid him a complement. With a prayer in my heart, I started in.

We talked of redemption, of what it meant in general, and of what it meant specifically. Paul and George listened closely, hanging on everything I said, even making occasional remarks or questions. At one point, I felt a nudge to do something I had never done with these students. Going back to 1 Pet. 1:18, 19, I began to paraphrase the verses. "Paul was not redeemed with anything this world can offer, but instead with the priceless life of the Son of God! George was not redeemed with... Gideon was not redeemed with... Rebekah was not redeemed with..." Silence filled the room. Paul looked at his feet with a solemn expression. George shifted uncomfortably, then glanced up at me before staring at his hands. Did I glimpse tears in George's eyes? Suddenly it felt like my heart was about to burst with love for these youth. I spoke with a passion and an intensity that surprised me. And God touched hearts. No amazing commitments. No sudden confessions or consecrations. Just a solemn realization of the price paid for each one of them. A personal epiphany of their value to God - and how much we should value Him. 

But the miracles weren't over yet. Class finished and most of the students filed outside. A few boys stayed to fold the chairs and put them away. I was putting my Bible and quarterly away when a voice interrupted me. "Um, Miss Rebekah?" I looked up to see George standing over me, his hand reaching out to shake mine. "You did a really good job, especially since you had to wing it. Thanks. I - I really appreciated what you said." A mixture of shock, incredulity, and joy filled me as I shook hands with this boy and thanked him for his input and help with the discussion. With a smile, he left. 

I walked into the gorgeous fall sunshine, but hardly felt it. I barely noticed the swirling leaves, the caressing wind, the sweet bird songs. My heart was soaring! I was reminded of what my friend Beth used to tell me so often: "Our Jesus has never lost a battle yet!" 

*Not their real names.

The House or the Field?

I came across this song several years ago and found it again last night. Ouch. "Who will go and work for [Him] today?" May we all say, "Here am I, Lord; send me!"

My House Is Full, But My Field Is Empty
By Lanny Wolfe

There is peace and contentment in the Father's house today
Lots of food on His table and no one is turned away
There is singing and laughter as the hours pass by
But a hush calms the singing as the Father sadly cries:

"My house is full, but My field is empty, who will go and work for Me today?
It seems My children all want to stay around My table
But no one wants to work in My field, no one wants to work in My field."

Push away from the table, then look out through the window pane
Just beyond the house of plenty lies a field of golden grain
And it's ripe unto harvest, oh, but the reapers where are they?
There in the house, oh, can't the children hear the Father sadly say:

"My house is full, but My field is empty, who will go and work for Me today?
It seems My children all want to stay around My table
But no one wants to work in My field, no one wants to work in My field."

When God Is Silent

Today I was feeling a bit discouraged and overwhelmed. I had prayed, but it seemed God was silent, and I was wondering why I had to wait for His answer. As I often do in such moods, I reached for a treasured book, Springs in the Valley, by L. B. Cowman. The entries in this devotional book often seem to be written just for me. This time was no different. The words jumped off the page and struck my heart:

     "'When He had heard therefore that [Lazarus] was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was.' (Jn 11:6) And so the silence of God was itself an answer. It is not merely said that there was no audible response to the cry from Bethany; it is distinctly stated that the absence of an audible response was itself the answer to the cry -- it was when the Lord heard that Lazarus was sick that therefore He abode two days still in the same place where He was. I have often heard the outward silence. A hundred times have I sent up aspirations whose only answer has seemed to be the echo of my own voice, and I have cried out in the night of my despair, 'Why art Thou so far from helping me?' But I never thought that the seeming farness was itself the nearness of God -- that the very silence was an answer.
     It was a very grand answer to the household of Bethany. They had not asked too much, but too little. They had asked only the life of Lazarus. They were to get the life of Lazarus and a revelation of eternal life as well."

Maybe I haven't asked enough of God yet...

     "There are some prayers that are followed by a Divine silence because we are not yet ripe for all we have asked; there are others which are so followed because we are ripe for more. We do not always know the full strength of our own capacity; we have to be prepared for receiving greater blessings than we have ever dreamed. We come to the door of the sepulcher and beg with tears the dead body of Jesus; we are answered by silence because we are to get something better -- a living Lord."

Now it made sense. I am not yet ready for God's answer because I have not yet fully died to wanting my own way in the matter. When I die to self, I will be stretched to receive the full measure of the answer God wants to give me. I want that. I want a living Lord!

     "My soul, be not afraid of God's silence; it is another form of His voice. God's silence is more than man's speech. ... Have thy prayers been followed by a calm stillness? Well! Is not that God's voice -- a voice that will suffice thee in the meantime till the full disclosure comes? ... Wait for Him in silence, and ere long it shall become vocal. ... Think not that God's silence is coldness or indifference. When birds are on the nest preparing to bring forth life, they never sing. God's stillness is full of brooding. Be not impatient of God! When the Lord is to lead a soul to great faith, He for a time leaves his prayer unanswered" (pg. 284-285).

Humbled, I put the book away. God's silence is no longer something to be feared, but rather something to be cherished until He chooses to speak. I am satisfied. I want great faith, and if it means long silence from God, then so be it. 

The Reason

Why does the battle thicken so –

The darts rain fast upon my breast,

While missiles hurled with cruel force

Ring loud against my burnished crest?

Above the din I seem to hear

My Captain's voice in accents clear,

“Because your shield is down!”

Why does the enemy advance

And hem us round on every hand

While we, the army of the Lord,

Can scarce his arrogance withstand?

Above the shouts I seem to hear

My Captain's voice in accents clear,

“Because your shields are down!”

Ah! Now it's brighter – now I see

The enemy is taking flight,

And lo, the banner of the Cross

Streams red against the morning light;

But as they flee I seem to hear

My Captain call in accents clear,

“Let not your shields go down!”

-Thomas Kimber

Faster than the Speed of Light

Elder Jeff Arthur presented our worship talk this morning. Here's a nutshell version of his thoughts:

"And while I was ... praying ... and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God ... Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, ... being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, 'O Daniel, ... at the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved...'" (Dan. 9:20-23).

The speed of light is 186,000 miles per second. In one year light travels 5,865,696,000,000 miles. We are told in Early Writings, pg. 41 that heaven lies beyond Orion. How far away is Orion? It's about 1,300 light years away from us. That's approximately 7,625,404,800,000,000 miles away! Light coming from Orion has been traveling for 1,300 years before we can see it. 

As soon as Daniel started to petition the throne of grace, God sent Gabriel, the covering angel, from His presence to answer the prayer of His beloved servant. And before Daniel finished praying, Gabriel was standing beside him. How fast did Gabriel travel? If one angel can do something so impossible to human logic, what can my God do? 

"Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. ... His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice." (Steps to Christ, 100)

Vessels

Knock, knock, knock. "Sir, please help me!" A request that always got the attention of this man of God. The woman pleading for his assistance was a widow. But not just any widow. No, her husband had been what was called a Son of the Prophets. He had been a godly man, one who loved and served the Lord with his whole heart and life. 

But now his widow was in desperate straits. She told Elisha that the creditors were about to take her two sons as slaves unless she could pay off the debts she owed, but all that she had in the house was a pot of oil. "Then he said, 'Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.' So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, 'Bring me yet a vessel.' And he said unto her, 'There is not a vessel more.' And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, 'Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.'" (2 Kings 4:3-7)

What was the limit to the amount of oil she ended up with to sell? The number of vessels she had available to fill. What is the limit to the amount of power God can pour out upon this world? Could it be that He is limited by the number of vessels we make available for Him to fill?

It's time to stop limiting God, to stop postponing the glorious homecoming. Let's make ourselves available as vessels for our Savior to fill with His Spirit so that this work can be finished quickly and we can go home!

A Living Sacrifice

"That ye present your bodies" (Rom. 12:1).
"'Lend Me thy body,' our Lord says. For a few brief years, in the body that was prepared for Me, I delighted to do My Father's will. By means of that body I came into contact with the children of men -- diseased, weary, sin-sick, heavy-laden ones. Those feet carried Me to the homes where sorrow and death had entered; those hands touched leprous bodies, palsied limbs, sightless eyes; those lips told of My Father's remedy for sin, His love for a prodigal world. In that body I bore the world's sin upon the tree, and through its offering once for all my followers are sanctified.

"But I need a body still; wilt thou not lend Me thine? Millions of hearts are longing, with an indescribable hunger, for Me. On that far-off shore are men, women, and little children sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death -- men who have never yet heard of My love. Wilt thou not lend Me thy body, that I may cross the ocean and tell them that the light after which they are groping has at last reached them; that the bread for which they have so often hungered is now at their very door?

"I want a heart, that I may fill it with Divine compassion; and lips, purged from all uncleanness, wherewith to tell the story that brings hope to the despairing, freedom to the bound, healing to the diseased, and life to the dead. Wilt thou lend Me thine?"

(adapted from Springs in the Valley, page 265)

Lord, here I am. Use me as Thou wilt.

Blessed indeed!

We just finished Week of Prayer here at Ouachita Hills. The Beatitudes (Mt. 5:1-12) is always a favorite topic, but there's always more to glean from those verses. It made my heart sing to see a fresh glimpse of my Father's love for me. But the best part was Friday night.

Friday night the speaker made an appeal for baptism. Several students responded, including two of my academy girls! As the congregation was leaving the meeting hall, one of my girls came to me trying hard not to cry. She could hardly speak for the struggle. She looked at me with tears in her eyes, torn as to whether it was too late for her to join the group who had responded for baptism. I asked her if she wanted to go join the small cluster that had formed around the speaker and pastors. She clung to me for a minute, her eyes, swimming with tears as she struggled. "Go join them," I whispered to her, "It's not too late."With a smile peeking through her tears, she joined the ones who had made their decision that night. Another soul enlisted under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel!

Sometimes I've wondered if I am being an effective worker for God. I can't point to large numbers of people who have surrendered their hearts to Christ as a result of my work. I can't even point to a lot of people who have gone to the mission field because of my work. By those standards, my life and work have been complete failures already. But Friday night, I realized that, in reality, no one can really claim to have led "so many" people to the Lord. Each person's conversion is the result of uncounted numbers of times God sent someone to work on that person's heart. "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6, 7). What a privilege it is to watch God work in the hearts of those around me, but especially in the hearts of my younger brothers and sisters! And I'm so thankful that God stoops to encourage us, even when we shouldn't have doubted in the first place.

Learning to Sing

"In the full light of day, and in hearing of the music of other voices, the caged bird will not sing the song that his master seeks to teach him. He learns a snatch of this, a trill of that, but never a separate and entire melody. But the master covers the cage, and places it where the bird will listen to the one song he is to sing. In the dark, he tries and tries again to sing that song until it is learned, and he breaks forth in perfect melody. Then the bird is brought forth, and ever after he can sing that song in the light. Thus God deals with His children. He has a song to teach us, and when we have learned it amid the shadows of affliction we can sing it ever afterward" (MH 472.2).

Sometimes trials surround me.

I feel like a bird in a cage.

The darkness presses around me.

I can sense the devil's rage.

But then I hear through the darkness

A song that is new to me.

A song of trust and deliverance,

Of faith that the sunshine I'll see.

I sing, for the song tells my story.

And now the plan I can see.

My Master knows just how to teach me,

For in the darkness He drew close to me.

Lord, teach me to sing in the darkness

The song that You want me to sing.

So when the daylight comes again,

The song will glorify my King.

A Pressing Question

My days have been filled with classes, homework, music lessons, and deaning. Life was getting settled back into the OHC routine (whatever that is!). I had just finished lunch and logged into my email account. "Hmm. I have an email from Mrs. Clark, the academy principal. Why did she email me?" I wondered. I was floored with the contents of her email. 

Rebekah,
Is your passport still current?  If so, would you be willing to serve as the female sponsor on the mission trip again this year?

Mrs. Clark

The female sponsor?! In other words, the female staff! I was stunned. Last year I went with the mission team to Cuba and served as the female staff. I wanted to go back to Cuba as soon as I heard they were planning another trip there this fall, but I knew I couldn't raise the money to go as a student and I didn't think they'd send me as a staff member a second time. As I read and reread the email, objections weakly vied for mental space with excited plans and precious memories. Would I be willing?! My questions were the finances, the deaning and, most important of all, God's will. I asked my friends to pray for me as I had a big decision to make. I know what the challenges are if I accept. I know what will be required of me as the female staff if I were to go on this trip. Last year, the other staff and I worked past our endurance and dearly paid for it. Yet I loved the challenges, I loved watching God work despite our weaknesses, and I wanted more than anything to answer YES!! to Mrs. Clark's email. But did God want me to say yes? All of this flashed through my brain in the first few seconds after reading the email.

Then other thoughts came. You owe it to your academy girls to stay here: the dean is in a courtship and, although she doesn't have her head in the clouds yet, she probably will by that time and the girls will need you. You're tired from your service this summer and you'll be exhausted by the end of the semester. Remember how things went last year's first semester: the first few weeks the girls were angels but by the end of September/beginning of October they had lost their halos and wings; you can't leave the dean to deal with that alone again. You're having a hard time keeping up with your studies and assignments as it is; this will overload you. And then the really nasty one: When you went to India, one grandfather was killed. When you went to Cuba last year, your other grandfather died. You didn't get to say goodbye to either one of them. What will happen this time? That last thought was counter-productive for the devil. You see, I view myself and my family differently than he does.

I am not my own. I hold myself ready to do whatever my Savior asks me to do, to go wherever He asks me to go, and to be whatever He asks me to be. I am not my own, to live my life as I please. But I am discovering that as I yield my will to Him, He refines and purifies me. The result is that His desires become my own, His will becomes my will, and His plans become my joy! My family is in His hands. How can I influence them to yield to Christ if I myself do not yield? How can I influence them to surrender and to joyfully obey His every wish if I do not joyfully and willingly obey His outright command? God will bless my work for my family as I do what He asks me to do. I would rather lose years with my family on this earth and yet have eternity with them and others, than to spend these years with my family and have others miss out on eternity that I could have reached with the gospel. Both of my grandfathers loved the Lord. I know I will see them again if I am faithful. 

I told the Lord I had relinquished all claim to myself. I chose to be like the ox on the old Roman coins: ready for either service or sacrifice, whichever my Master chose for me. I asked for the following things to fall into place if He wanted me to go: (1) the finances and (2) the dean's approval. 

Last night I talked to the dean, Abby. Her response? "Rebekah, go!" This morning I checked my email again. "We would pay your way as the staff." I had my answer. And now, I can hardly wait for November! Another adventure begins... :)

Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;

Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;

Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,

Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.

Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends.

Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

Pressed into knowing no helper but God;

Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.

Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;

Pressed into faith for impossible things.

Pressed into living a life in the Lord,

Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.

               -Streams in the Desert, page 156

The Backpack

I don't remember exactly how old I was, maybe about 12. I was crying myself to sleep one night for some reason, feeling as if the world rested on my little shoulders. I don't remember what started my tears, but I do remember wishing with all my heart that I could get rid of the heaviness in my heart. The problem was that I didn't know how. No one had told me. In fact, my guess is that no one around me knew the answer themselves, at least not well enough to explain it to me. Finally, I fell asleep. And as I slept, I dreamed...

I peeked around the corner of the empty hallway, terrified that someone would find me and scold me for being there. But I didn't know where I was or where I was supposed to be. And the backpack I had on felt soooo heavy! I saw an open door close to me and I felt drawn to look in. As I peered around the doorframe, I saw a small room. The only furniture in the room was a plain wooden chair in the center of the room. A man was sitting in the chair. All I saw was his eyes. They were so kind and gentle. Then he smiled at me and held out his arms. It was Jesus! And He wanted me to sit on His lap! But I stood, frozen to the spot, because I knew I couldn't climb on His lap. Not with the backpack. The backpack would get in the way, but I didn't know what to do to get rid of it. Oh, how I wanted to sit on His lap! I walked up to Him, but didn't even try to climb in His lap. Then the thought impressed itself on my mind: "Bekah, give Me your backpack." I looked at Him, and He took the backpack. Then, with the tenderest smile I've ever seen, He picked me up and held me in His lap. He didn't just let me sit on His lap. No, He held me close to Him, just like a parent holds their child close to their heart.

When I woke up, I knew what to do to get rid of the heaviness in my heart. The dream stayed with me through the years, the Holy Spirit reminding me of it whenever I struggled with how to surrender: "Bekah, will you give Me the backpack?" Recently I've been hearing several people talking about surrender. From friends, to teachers, to classmates and academy students, many people were struggling with surrendering or telling how God had called them to a surrender of something in their lives. Thursday night I had evening worship for the academy girls and I told them the story of my dream. Last night (Friday night) as I was saying goodnight to my girls, one of them told me, "Goodnight, Miss Rebekah! I hope you have another dream about sitting in Jesus' lap." As I walked away, I began to ask God, "Lord, is there something I haven't surrendered to You that You're trying to help me see? This topic keeps coming up. Is there a reason? What are You trying to tell me?" I didn't like the answer that came. I hadn't realized that particular issue was in my backpack, so to speak. But I chose to give Him the backpack again. What peace! 

Friend, what's in your backpack? Whatever it is, give your backpack to Jesus. It's the most precious experience in the world!

At His Word

The story is told...

     Napoleon was once reviewing his troops near Paris. The horse on which he sat was restless, and the Emperor having thoughtlessly dropped the reins from his hand in the eagerness of giving a command, the spirited animal bounded away and the rider was in danger of being hurled to the ground. A young private standing in the lines leaped forward and, seizing the bridle, saved his beloved Commander from a fall. The Emperor glancing at him said in his quick abrupt way, "Thank you, Captain." The private looked up with a smile and asked, "Of what regiment, sir?" "Of my guards," answered Napoleon, and instantly galloped to another part of the field.
     The young soldier laid down his musket with the remark, "Whoever will may carry that gun; I am done with it," and proceeded at once to join a group of officers who stood conversing at a little distance. One of them, a General, observing his self-possessed approach, angrily said, "What is this insolent fellow doing here?"
     "This insolent fellow," answered the young soldier looking the other steadily in the eye, "is a Captain of the Guards." "Why, man," responded the officer, "you are insane; why do you speak thus?" "He said it," replied the soldier, pointing to the Emperor, who was far down the lines. "I beg your pardon, Captain," politely returned the General, "I was not aware of your promotion."
     To those looking on, he was still a private, dressed in the coarse rough garb of a common soldier; but in the bold assertion of his dignity, he could meet all the jeers of his comrades and all the scoffs of his superiors with the ready reply, "He said it."


That soldier took a man at his word. True, that man was the Emperor Napoleon, but he was still a human. If someone can take another human's word as so being of such authority, why are we so slow to take Christ at His word? "'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus / Just to take Him at His word ... Oh for grace to trust Him more!"

The Sacrifice

He said: "Wilt thou go with Me

Where shadows eclipse the light?"

And she answered: "My Lord, I will follow Thee

Far, under the stars at night."

But He said: "No starlight pierces the gloom

Of the valley thy feet must tread;

But it leads thee on to a cross and a tomb --"

"But I go with Thee," she said.

"Count the cost; canst thou pay the price --

Be a dumb thing led;

Laid on an altar of sacrifice?"

"Bind me there, my Lord," she said.

"Bind me that I may not fail --

Or hold with Thy wounded hand;

For I fear the knife and the piercing nail,

And I shrink from the burning brand.

Yet whither Thou goest I will go,

Though the way be lone and dread --"

His voice was tender, sweet, and low --

"Thou shalt go with Me," He said.

And none knew the anguish sore

Or the night of the way she came;

Alone, alone with the cross she bore,

Alone in her grief and shame.

Brought to the altar of sacrifice,

There as a dumb thing slain:

Was the guerdon more than the bitter price?

Was it worth the loss and pain?

Ask the seed-corn, when the grain

Ripples its ripened gold;

Ask the sower when, after toil and pain,

He garners the hundred-fold.

HE said (and His voice was glad and sweet):

"Was it worth the cost, My own?"

And she answered, low at His pierced feet,

"I found at the end of the pathway lone

NOT DEATH, BUT LIFE ON A THRONE!"

-Annie Clarke (quoted in Springs in the Valley page 242-243)

My Epiphany in History Class...

History has always fascinated me. I am intrigued by how people have lived, by the deeds they accomplished, and most of all by the way God has worked behind the scenes to accomplish His plan. However, learning dates and time periods has never held much appeal for me. This past week I was sitting in my U.S. history class, listening to the teacher elaborate on the stages of immigration into the U.S. and the corresponding time periods, wondering why I had chosen to minor in social studies. The teacher directed our attention to a graph illustrating the annual immigration rates from 1800-2000. I idly stared at the graph as she continued to talk about the fact that the annual immigration rates peaked between the years of 1870-1910, adding that about 50% of the immigrants actually went back to their homelands after working in the States for awhile. Suddenly, things clicked...

In the year 1900, a book was printed entitled Testimonies for the Church, Volume 6. On page 450 of this book, Ellen White said, "Had the purpose of God been carried out by His people in giving to the world the message of mercy, Christ would, ere this, have come to the earth, and the saints would have received their welcome into the city of God." Think of it: thousands of immigrants from all over the world were coming to the U.S. every year (many of them stayed in the New England states where Adventism was growing rapidly) and roughly half of those immigrants would return to their homelands. If God's professed people had worked as He had wanted them to work (instead of arguing over the 1888 General Conference session, among other things), they would have been able to reach many of those immigrants, who in turn would have taken the truth to their own people. The work would have been finished, and Christ would have come. 

In the history of ancient Israel, the people God had chosen as His special people were directed to cross the Jordan River and conquer the land of Canaan. Because they were not faithful in carrying out His directions, they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Eventually, though, their children were brought to the same place where their fathers had failed. 

But the rate of immigration from 1870-1910 wasn't all the information on the graph. Interesting. There is one other time during the years 1800-2000s when the annual immigration rates actually surpassed the wave of immigration between 1870-1910. From the 1980s onward, annual immigration rates have equalled and even surpassed those of the years 1870-1910!

Now God has brought us, His spiritual Israel, full circle. Our forefathers missed the opportunity back in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Because of their mistake, we've been here on Earth longer than our Father wanted. But the question each of us must answer is: Will we make the same mistake our forefathers did? Or will we learn from their mistake and focus on fulfilling the commission our Savior gave us so long ago? 

The promise is sure ("Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."), but it is for those who will obey the command ("Go ... into all the world..."). People from around the world are coming to our very doorstep. Are we reaching them? Others are waiting in darkness around the globe. Are we going to their doorsteps? The promise is sure for those who obey. Will you obey right where you are?

(By the way, I remembered why I had chosen to minor in social studies. "We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history." Selected Messages, volume 3, page 162)

Thoughts to begin the Sabbath...

He stood beside the gate of heaven, waiting to go in,

And he wondered how this holy place could take a man like him.

With shouts of great rejoicing and with music then they came;

Of the angels standing by him he asked, "What could be their name?"

"These are the company of prophets. The goodly fellowship of souls

Who spake God's Word with faith and boldness; 

Who blessed the poor and made the wounded whole."

"Oh," he fell upon his knees, and cried, "I am not one of these."

He waited 'til another band of shining ones drew nigh.

They entered into heaven with a "Hallelujah" cry.

He asked again, "Who are these? Can you tell me whence they came?"

He seemed to see the answer in a burning tongue of flame.

"These are the company of martyrs, the mighty fellowship of saints

Who knew our Lord and walked beside Him;

Who ran the holy race and did not faint."

"Oh," he fell upon his knees, and cried, "I am not one of these."

Then suddenly a multitude was heard from far away.

Their voices rang with songs of joy like children at their play.

He saw Rahab; he saw David, Mary Magdalene, and Paul;

And the thief who died by Jesus was the one who led them all.

"Who are these?!" he almost shouted at the angels.

"These are the sinners saved by grace!

The host of them who called upon the Savior - 

Washed in blood and justified by faith!"

And, Oh! he leaped up from his knees!

"Oh, I can go in with these!

And I can go in, for my heart is free from sin.

I've been washed in the blood, everlasting life to win.

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice - I can sing! - and I can go in!"

Oh, he thought that there could be no hallelujahs and no cries,

For this lowly band of people by the world despised.

Bu as the scenes of heaven opened up before his eyes

He saw the martyrs and the prophets and the host of rise -

And they sang, "I can go in, for my heart is free from sin.

I've been washed in the blood, everlasting life to win.

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice - I can sing! - and I can go in!"

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice - I can sing! - and I can go in!"

"I can go in!"

-Abigail Miller

I am so thankful that Jesus made it possible for us to "go in," even into the very throne-room of heaven by prayer and faith! And best of all, soon we'll go into heaven in reality! As the Sabbath begins, let's enter into the special blessing God has for us in these hours.

"He shall be like a tree..."

I gave a worship talk at the YD counselor retreat/rally earlier this week, and the message of that worship talk has continued to impress me and teach me. I just love how God arranges things like this! We looked at a few lessons from trees, lessons from the roots, bark, and pH of the soil. But God has been pointing out more lessons to me since then. 

I find it fascinating that the root system of a tree must be at least the same depth as the height above ground and at least as broad underground as the branches spread above ground. Notice I said "at least." It's not infrequent to find root systems larger than that! One lesson from this that has impressed itself on me is that while we cannot see the heart, we can see the effect of the heart on the life. At the beginning of the Christian life (like at the beginning of the life of a tree) we may not see anything much above ground, but that doesn't mean we never will. The growth must first be in the heart (or the ground) before its effect is seen in the life (or the growth of the tree above ground). "It is no easy matter to gain the priceless treasure of eternal life. No one can do this and drift with the current of the world. He must come out from the world and be separate and touch not the unclean. No one can act like a worldling without being carried down by the current of the world. No one will make any upward progress without persevering effort. He who would overcome must hold fast to Christ. He must not look back, but keep the eye ever upward, gaining one grace after another. Individual vigilance is the price of safety. Satan is playing the game of life for your soul. Swerve not to his side a single inch, lest he gain advantage over you. If we ever reach heaven, it will be by linking our souls to Christ, leaning upon Him, and cutting loose from the world, its follies and enchantments. There must be on our part a spiritual co-operation with the heavenly intelligences. We must believe and work and pray and watch and wait. As the purchase of the Son of God, we are His property, and everyone should have an education in the school of Christ. Both teachers and pupils are to make diligent work for eternity. The end of all things is at hand. There is need now of men armed and equipped to battle for God" (6T 148.1). "Oh, you much need to gaze fixedly upon Jesus! Keep beholding His charms. As you behold they will keep brightening and enlarging until you are filled with all the fulness of God and bear much fruit to His glory. The branch is too firmly connected with the parent stock to be swayed by every breeze. Strength and vigorous growth tell to the world that your root is in Jesus, that your foundation is sure" (OHC 216.4).

Another lesson that stood out to me is from Our High Calling, page 216.1: "'Watch unto prayer,' and you will steadily grow in grace and in a knowledge of Christ. Your experience will not be one-sided, deformed, but healthful, symmetrical. All unawares to yourself, you will have expanded like the wide-spreading cedar, and many will profit by your counsel; your association with them will have the fragrance of heaven." How beautiful! The pine tree gives off a special scent, a healthful and life-giving fragrance. Why? Simply because it is a pine tree. Many trees can be identified by their fragrance. Just that surely, the life of the Christian is like a breath from heaven to those wandering in the world. Just as a pine tree can be identified by its scent, a connected Christian can be identified by the fragrance of heaven in his/her life. 

"We all have an influence, and that influence is telling upon the destiny of others for their present and future good or for their eternal loss" (3T 528.3). "The closer we keep to Christ, and the more meek and lowly and self-distrustful we are, the firmer will be our hold on Christ, and the greater will be our power, through Christ, to convert sinners; for it is not the human agent that moves the soul. Heavenly intelligences co-operate with the human agent and impress the truth upon the heart. Abiding in Christ we are able to exert an influence over others; but it is because of the presence of Him who says: 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' Matthew 28:20" (6T 399.2). "You may never know the result of your influence from day to day, but be sure that it is exerted for good or evil. Many who have a kind heart and good impulses permit their attention to be absorbed in worldly business or pleasure, while the souls that look to them for guidance drift on to hopeless wreck. Such persons may have a high profession and may stand well in the opinion of men, even as Christians, but in the day of God, when our works shall be compared with the divine law, then it will be found that they have not come up to the standard. Others who saw their course fell a little below them, and still others fell below the latter class, and thus the work of degeneracy went on. Throw a pebble into the lake and a wave is formed, and another and another; and as they increase, the circle widens until they reach the very shore. Thus our influence, though apparently insignificant, may continue to extend far beyond our knowledge or control" (Review and Herald, Jan. 24, 1882, par. 11, 12).

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." Psalm 1:1-6

Ramblings and Object Lessons

Often when I think of Christians spreading the gospel, certain pictures come into my mind. One of the most common is the picture of a dandelion with the seeds, borne in the vapory arms of the wind, blowing to all corners of the world. But today, while preparing for Sabbath, a very different picture intruded into my thoughts. I say intruded, because I was rather fond of the ethereal dandelion picture and this one certainly wasn't filled with tranquil beauty.

I was sweeping the hallway, trying to corral the most obstreperous balls of cat hair I've ever seen. I still think long-haired cats are lovely, but I don't like sweeping their hair! I was beginning to get a bit irritated with the inanimate cat hairs when the picture intruded.

Maybe spreading the gospel is sort of like being a clump of cat hair. The lessons began to form themselves in my slow brain. (Remember, this blog is about my ramblings, so...)

1. Cat hairs are dead. They have no life in them whatsoever. In order to finish the work, God's people must be dead to self.

2. Cat hairs cannot reproduce themselves. They can only be produced by a cat. We cannot make anyone a Christian. And we shouldn't try to make someone be a copy of ourselves. Only God can produce a changed life. And the only one who should be copied is Jesus.

3. The presence of cat hair proves the presence of a cat in the vicinity. The presence of a Christian should prove the presence of the Christian's God, too.

4. How often does cat hair need to be swept up? Well, I could sweep every day and the next day there will be enough hair on the floors to warrant the floors being swept again. So with God's servants. As the devil tries to clean his habitation of the pesky things, he wakes up the next morning to find that they are back again. Is it any credit to the cat hairs that they keep bothering our house? No, the credit goes to the cat. No credit is due to the Christians who continually harass and render impossible the complete rule that the devil wants to have. The credit all goes to the Creator.

So, I still like the serenity of the dandelion picture. But I needed the less glorified picture of the cat hair.

Happy Sabbath!

Jewels

My nephew, Tyler, is seven years old. His mother is Chinese, born and raised in a home where Christianity was unknown. My step-brother married her and eventually brought her and their son to America. At one point soon after their marriage, Holly asked my step-brother about Christianity. He told her that he didn't want to talk about it, but that when he took her to see his dad and step-mom his step-mom would tell Holly all she wanted to know about Jesus and Christianity. Thus, some of the first words out of Holly's mouth when she met my mom were, "Jason said you tell me 'bout Jesus! I Christian, I just don't know anything 'bout Jesus. But Jason say you tell me." My mom almost cried.

Soon after that visit, my step-brother and Holly divorced. But Holly told my mom and step-dad that they were her American parents, she still loved them, and would they please take Tyler to visit them for a little while every summer and teach him all about Jesus? She lived in California and couldn't afford to leave her job, but she desperately wanted Tyler to learn about Jesus. "You teach Tyler about Jesus," she told Mom, "and he'll come home and teach me."

We haven't been able to have him every summer, but whenever he comes, it's pure joy! The last time Tyler was with us he had just turned five. He loved learning the songs like "Zacchaeus," "Only a Boy Named David," and "The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock." He asked my mom one time, "Grandma Shari, why did God die? My mommy said God died but she didn't know why and I should ask you. Why did God die?" Later I found him playing with his transformer toys in the living room, having worship with them and trying to teach them to sing "Into My Heart, Lord Jesus"! When he went home that summer, he told his mom they were going to pray before he went to bed. She said she didn't know how to pray. "That's okay, Mommy," he told her, "You just get on your knees beside the bed with me and I'll pray. Oh, and you have to close your eyes and fold your hands." Holly called Mom the day after he went home to thank her for teaching Tyler about Jesus. "Now he'll teach me!" she told Mom excitedly. Oh, what precious jewels these two are!

Now Tyler is seven and visiting us again. At first he couldn't remember the songs he had learned two years ago. When Mom asked if he remembered any of them, he screwed up his adorable little face for a minute, then pronounced solemnly, "Yes. One. I think it said something like 'Jesus loves me this I know.'" Of all the songs we had tried to teach him, I'm so glad that if only one stuck with him it was that one! As the first day wore on, he remembered more and more stories and songs that we had taught him. When he and Grandma Shari went to the post office to mail some packages, he asked her what they were going to make for supper. "Can we have those meatballs?" he asked. "I mean the meatballs that aren't really meat? I liked those. Those were the best meatballs I've ever tasted!" His delight at his grandpa's garden knew no bounds. "Of course, it's best to grow everything yourself!" he declared, much to his grandpa's satisfaction. (Little does the imp know that the surest way to win his grandpa's heart is to admire his garden!)

I am reminded again of our dear Savior's words spoken so long ago, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mk. 10:14). 

Little children, little children

Who love their Redeemer

Are the jewels, precious jewels,

His loved and His own.

A Trip to the River

Psalm 65 is a beautiful psalm that recounts some of the things God does for His people. This poem was inspired by verse 9 which says, "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it."

The River of God

The river of God is full of water,

Why stand you so still upon its brink?

The river of God is full of water,

Kneel down, and take a drink!

“What kind of water?” I hear you ask,

“Is it clean and free from dirt?”

Nothing can enter God's land that defiles,

No sin, no pain, no hurt.

“How much does it cost?” you ask again,

“Is it really free indeed?”

It is free to all who will drink of it,

To all who sense their need.

“I'm glad that it is so full and free,

But how long will it last?” you sigh.

All through the years of eternity,

And its tide will always be high.

The river of God is full of water,

Do you still stand on its brink?

Linger no longer! Move quickly; act now!

Kneel down, and take a drink!

Hard Journeys

"This journey is hard." 

My uncle, my mom, and I were in town after visiting my great-grandmother. Mom had gone into Taco Bell to get something for us to eat and my uncle and I were waiting in the car. Uncle Mark and Mom had been talking about serious matters and he remarked, "Oh, Bekah, when you're young it's so much easier to change paths." Then under his breath he muttered, "This journey is hard." 

Yes, the journey of life can be hard. But it's kind of like breaking a path through the deep snow. It's tough going, but when someone else has gone before you and you follow in their footsteps, it's easier. The Lord never promised this life would be easy, but He did promise to go before us and break the path, so to speak. When we walk in the path He has for us, He takes the brunt of the work and the majority of the pain and labor. It's when we strike out on our own that the going gets truly hard.

I want to stay in the footsteps of my Savior. Wherever He leads, I want to follow. Life is difficult, but a life lived contrary to God's plans for you is just plain miserable, in addition to being the hardest path of all. "...The way of transgressors is hard" Prov. 13:15. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" Prov. 14:18.

My uncle's comment reminded me of one of the songs our choir director taught us this past year, called "Pathway of Hope." The words are by Joseph M. Martin.

The road is long, the way is narrow,

The path is steep, the mountains high.

Lord, when we walk through valleys filled with fear,

You wipe away our tears,

We know that You are near.

And when we stray, You are our Shepherd.

And when we fall, You give us grace.

When we are lost, You find us where we are,

You hold us to Your heart with everlasting arms.

Oh, Lord, You are the way, You are the journey;

Come walk beside us as we go.

Lord, You are the way, You are the journey;

You are our legacy, eternal destiny.

You are the pathway of hope.

Come join us faithful pilgrims,

We'll walk the road as one.

And when we've walked ten thousand years,

The journey will have just begun.

We'll walk with God, through every valley

We'll walk with God, through every storm.

And on the day our earthly walk is done, we'll sing before the throne:

"We've never walked alone!"

Oh, Lord, You are the way, You are the journey;

Come walk beside us as we go.

Lord, You are the way, You are the journey;

You are our legacy, eternal destiny.

You are the pathway of hope.

"Catching Up" part 2...

No, I did not intend for this much time to intervene between part 1 and part 2! But lest any more time elapse...

Soon after getting back from Cuba, it was time for Christmas break. Everyone at Ouachita Hills knows what happens during Christmas break -- GYC. This year my younger sister (Carli) and I were flying to Seattle, WA, attend the meetings. I was eagerly anticipating the time alone with my teenage sister. The last several years I've been away from home more often than not and this sister-time was long overdue. Not only did we both thoroughly enjoy our time together (despite my getting the flu!), but I had an added joy. My sister made a decision to give her heart and life to the Lord! My heart is still singing!

I came back to ... well, as the principal said, there's only been one year in the history of OHA where the disciplinary committee has met more times than it has this year. Much of this year has been the proverbial nightmare. We've lost several students so far (for various reasons, some completely unrelated to school). My heart aches over each one. One of my dear friends was reminding me recently that we cannot see the impact that has been made on these students. Even when it seems we've completely failed to impact a student, or anyone for that matter, we won't know until heaven what the Lord was able to accomplish through us, despite our flaws. I'm so glad our God is so powerful!


Love's Harvest

Love bestowed is never wasted,
Though sometimes it seems to be.
With our vision, dimmed and clouded,
We cannot see eternity.

I cannot count the grains of wheat
Resulting from one plant, can you?
But there is One who counts each grain
And sees more future harvests, too.

Harvests that we cannot see
Of souls redeemed from Satan's snares;
The ones we thought would never change,
Would never learn Christ's robe to wear --

This is the harvest we cannot see;
Love Himself must tend these seeds
Within the hearts that seem as stone.
His grace alone can meet their needs.

The grace that won this heart of mine
Is strong to reach their hearts as well.
Stones will yet yield to the strength of Love's seed
And each heart will become a fruitful dell

Filled with the harvest Love brings forth
In the hearts of each that yield to His hand.
The love that we give is but reflection dim
Of the Love that came from that heavenly land.

Though time after time we've rejected His grace,
Christ's love for us remains the same.
His love is not wasted, not one little bit.
He'll use ours, too, to honor His name.

Someday, when we reach Canaan-land,
We'll see the harvest Love brought in.
Keep pressing on; reflect Christ's love;
He'll complete the work He's begun within.