"Go get your packs and meet me out back. You have 5 minutes."
The noisy speaker crackles, bringing every grade 12 student to full awareness. These words have long been waited for, dreaded by some, longed for by others. We all know that the day is coming when we will be called from our cozy spots in the warm school building to the buses waiting for us outside. Five minutes after the call is made, they will roll off campus and carry us to the most astounding part of our Health Class experience: Senior Survival Camp-out.
I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to the “Senior Survival” experience of Life. That will be the day when Jesus calls us to come home with Him. So many people dread that day. They hide from the consequences that their current actions will give them then. Others, however, can't wait to experience that most glorious, astounding moment of their Christian experience, when at the trumpet sound and the voice of God, all people in the world will be snapped to attention by their Savior descending to meet them face to face.
In Health Class, we have been getting super ready for the awaited day. Mr. Ras. has made 100% sure that we will be prepared, so long as we listen to his instructions. There will be no ten-virgin parables in this class, if we pay attention. Everything from shelter-building to fire-starting to wild edibles; I've tried to learn as much as possible. In fact, studying this material has invaded every other part of my life. I quiz myself as I walk down to school. While I harvest, I work on identifying the “bothersome weeds” that may end up save me from starving in an emergency. I know the material, I just need to practice it.
Christ has made all provisions for me, to make sure that I am ready to join His kingdom. As I go about my day, I work on the Bible verses I have memorized. These portions of the Bread of Life will keep me from starving when the epic test of faith comes.
What ways has preparation changed your life? Have you devoted the time and energy into learning the inspired material provided? Are you practicing trusting your teacher? Remember that He knows which things are “edible” and which are not? Is your pack ready, checked and rechecked by the capable hands of your Master? Are you ready for the day when the loud trumpet sounds, and the voice of the archangel shouts,? Always be ready! You never know, you may only have five minutes!
“Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” Amos 4:12 NIV
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Freedom?
Today at 8:46 AM, several of us students had a memorial service remembering those who died ten years ago today. "Taps" was played, flags were raised to half mast. Moments of silence were taken, and prayers said. A speech was made, and anthems were sung. I never realized how devastating those attacks were to the United States. 2,996 people lost their lives that day. The sacrifice that they made, to many people around the world, represents the cost of freedom.
So many people have died in the course of history for the freedom of this nation. Many battles have been fought and countless lives lost to secure freedom, but I want to turn our thoughts to the one person who died for the freedom of the entire world. Why was His sacrifice so much more emancipating than the other lives that were lost?
"Jesus said 'Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.'" (John 8:34-36 NKJV)
Free indeed! That is more than just freedom here on earth, but freedom for eternity. To me, that is so much more important than freedom here for a little while. However, just like here, freedom is a a choice that each one of us has to make. We can chose to be free from sin and slavery, or we can let ourselves be made captive by Satan and our own desires. What is your choice today?
Monday, June 13, 2011
Thunderings!
The other day was an amazing day. The weather was beautiful, and sunny. Then suddenly there came a rain storm. It wasn’t too wet, but down the valley, we could hear thunder. I even saw the flash of lightning once. It was such a comfort to me. I had missed the thunderstorms that we have at home sometimes, and was glad to hear rumble and feel the power of the storm.
In Bible class, we have been studying the Seven Trumpets of Revelation 8-11. One of the things we were looking at was “voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake” in Revelation 8:5. When I was sitting there, listening to the thunder, I heard the rumbling of the Bible truth: Jesus is coming soon! I heard the power of the message. Jesus is coming soon!
Accept this message in your heart. God will put His power in your life so that you can be a powerful witness for him.
In Bible class, we have been studying the Seven Trumpets of Revelation 8-11. One of the things we were looking at was “voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake” in Revelation 8:5. When I was sitting there, listening to the thunder, I heard the rumbling of the Bible truth: Jesus is coming soon! I heard the power of the message. Jesus is coming soon!
Accept this message in your heart. God will put His power in your life so that you can be a powerful witness for him.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Canoe Camping
Last weekend, my school went on a campout. Within that campout, there were two options: one, we could stay with the main group, or two, we could go on a canoeing campout. There was limited space for the canoeing trip, but I was blessed enough to be able to go. My friend Wayanne said that we could share a tent. From there, we decided to do everything else together, including cooking and canoeing. At breakfast the day we left, we organized our meal plans and packed our food for the weekend. Shortly after that, we were off.
There were 73 people that went on this campout all together and just a little over 20 of those people went canoeing. We had lunch with the main group, and then headed out onto the water. After a couple hours of zigzagging through the water, we finally made it to the camp site. Our canoe was the first one to scrape against the gravelly shore.
All in all, it was a great weekend. I got plenty of sleep, spent quality time with friends, and ate great camp food. The challenge came when we headed home.
After breakfast, we packed everything up, cleaned our campsite and headed out. After thanking God for the weekend, and asking His protection on our safe return, we headed out. All the way from the start of the trip, Wayanne and I were in the back of the line. We tried to apply force to our paddling, which helped momentarily, but we soon would fall behind again. For most of the way we were in the back of the line, struggling to keep up. We felt invigorated by our restful weekend, but it wasn’t enough to keep us with the group.
For most of the trip, I was frustrated. “Why aren’t we moving?” I wanted to be with the rest of the group, but it just wasn’t working. Finally, I remembered a verse that my morning worship group has been memorizing: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4 KJV)
I was uplifted by remembering this verse. It was also encouraging to know that memorizing Bible verses really does pay off! Being patient helped me enjoy my trip, and made the time pass more quickly.
When you are faced with trials and difficult circumstances, trust in God. Understand that God knows what He’s doing. By testing your faith, He can build your patience so that you can be more like Him.
There were 73 people that went on this campout all together and just a little over 20 of those people went canoeing. We had lunch with the main group, and then headed out onto the water. After a couple hours of zigzagging through the water, we finally made it to the camp site. Our canoe was the first one to scrape against the gravelly shore.
All in all, it was a great weekend. I got plenty of sleep, spent quality time with friends, and ate great camp food. The challenge came when we headed home.
After breakfast, we packed everything up, cleaned our campsite and headed out. After thanking God for the weekend, and asking His protection on our safe return, we headed out. All the way from the start of the trip, Wayanne and I were in the back of the line. We tried to apply force to our paddling, which helped momentarily, but we soon would fall behind again. For most of the way we were in the back of the line, struggling to keep up. We felt invigorated by our restful weekend, but it wasn’t enough to keep us with the group.
For most of the trip, I was frustrated. “Why aren’t we moving?” I wanted to be with the rest of the group, but it just wasn’t working. Finally, I remembered a verse that my morning worship group has been memorizing: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4 KJV)
I was uplifted by remembering this verse. It was also encouraging to know that memorizing Bible verses really does pay off! Being patient helped me enjoy my trip, and made the time pass more quickly.
When you are faced with trials and difficult circumstances, trust in God. Understand that God knows what He’s doing. By testing your faith, He can build your patience so that you can be more like Him.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Backhoe Driver
The other day, in PE, my class helped the people working campus clean up the entry way to our school. They were working towards planting grass, but they had to get rid of as many rocks as they could first. That was where we came in. Our PE teacher wanted us to help gather rocks. One of the guys climbed into the backhoe and followed along behind us. Slowly, we worked on picking up all the larger rocks, and throwing them into the backhoe’s bucket. We soon got a system going. Our class formed a line, so that we covered as much as we could. There were people out on the end of the line that had plastic buckets, so they didn’t have to go to the backhoe each time they picked up a rock. I was one of those people.
As time went on, our line got a little staggered. Some people stayed with the backhoe, and some skipped on ahead. Others fell behind. I was also one of those people. Some of the others who also fell behind asked me if they could put their rocks in my bucket, since the backhoe was a ways away. “Of course” I would tell them, “That’s what I’m here for!”
Gradually, my bucket got full. It almost got to the point where I couldn’t carry it anymore. I finally had to empty my bucket. I slowly made my way to the backhoe. Once there, I heaved my relatively little bucket up to the large metal bucket. Oh how light it felt after I emptied it!
The driver was careful of all of us. He made sure that none of us got ran over, and that we all were able to put our rocks into the metal bucket. He often encouraged me to empty my bucket by slowing down his speed so I wouldn’t be afraid to come near to the machine.
I know of another “Backhoe Driver” who behaves much like ours did that day. In our everyday lives, I pick up burdens, and so often, I put these burdens in my own little bucket. I add weight to my life. People also give me their burdens to carry; they ask if they can lean on me. Slowly but surely, I find that I have a back-breaking load. What can I do but give it all over to Him?
The Driver calls to me “Take My yoke upon yourself and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
(Matthew 11:29-30 NKJV) He will carry the weight for me; I know that I can’t carry it on my own.
Jesus asks you to give Him all your burdens. Why should you carry them, when you have a Backhoe Driver who will take them all for you?
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV
As time went on, our line got a little staggered. Some people stayed with the backhoe, and some skipped on ahead. Others fell behind. I was also one of those people. Some of the others who also fell behind asked me if they could put their rocks in my bucket, since the backhoe was a ways away. “Of course” I would tell them, “That’s what I’m here for!”
Gradually, my bucket got full. It almost got to the point where I couldn’t carry it anymore. I finally had to empty my bucket. I slowly made my way to the backhoe. Once there, I heaved my relatively little bucket up to the large metal bucket. Oh how light it felt after I emptied it!
The driver was careful of all of us. He made sure that none of us got ran over, and that we all were able to put our rocks into the metal bucket. He often encouraged me to empty my bucket by slowing down his speed so I wouldn’t be afraid to come near to the machine.
I know of another “Backhoe Driver” who behaves much like ours did that day. In our everyday lives, I pick up burdens, and so often, I put these burdens in my own little bucket. I add weight to my life. People also give me their burdens to carry; they ask if they can lean on me. Slowly but surely, I find that I have a back-breaking load. What can I do but give it all over to Him?
The Driver calls to me “Take My yoke upon yourself and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
(Matthew 11:29-30 NKJV) He will carry the weight for me; I know that I can’t carry it on my own.
Jesus asks you to give Him all your burdens. Why should you carry them, when you have a Backhoe Driver who will take them all for you?
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV
Monday, May 16, 2011
Swim Harder
Many who are qualified to do excellent work accomplish little because they attempt little. (Help in Daily Living, pg. 43)
“AHH! This is so cold,” I screamed as I stepped warily into the freezing pond on the lower end of our campus. Katie was already in up to her knees in the water. Determined to swim at least a little that day, Katie and I headed down to the pond. By the time I was finally up to my knees in the water, Katie was already swimming around. She was planning to do 30 laps across the pond. I didn’t even consider it. There was no way I would be able to stay in that water long enough to swim one lap, not to mention 30.
I finally decided to jump in, head long, and swim frantically towards the floating dock. About half-way there, my legs started to cramp up, which made any progress completely dependent on my arms. I made it to the floating dock in record time; there was no way I would stay in the water for much longer than record time!
I hauled myself up onto the floating dock and sat there, watching Katie swim back and forth. She ended up only doing 21 laps, but that was still 21 more laps than I did. When I decided that it was time to head back to the dorm, I forced myself to muster the courage to get back into the water. I finally slipped into the frigidness, and paddled back to the shore.
I did enjoy my time at the pond, but I could have gotten more out of it if I had tried. Instead of swimming the most I could, I tried to swim the least. I didn’t try to swim a lot, so I didn’t think I could.
In my Christian walk, I sometimes don’t want to do things that I’m not used to doing. I want to stay warm in my “comfort zone” instead of doing hard things for God. But if I was to apply myself to what He calls me to do, I would be able to accomplish so much for His cause! Will you attempt to do more for God today?
“AHH! This is so cold,” I screamed as I stepped warily into the freezing pond on the lower end of our campus. Katie was already in up to her knees in the water. Determined to swim at least a little that day, Katie and I headed down to the pond. By the time I was finally up to my knees in the water, Katie was already swimming around. She was planning to do 30 laps across the pond. I didn’t even consider it. There was no way I would be able to stay in that water long enough to swim one lap, not to mention 30.
I finally decided to jump in, head long, and swim frantically towards the floating dock. About half-way there, my legs started to cramp up, which made any progress completely dependent on my arms. I made it to the floating dock in record time; there was no way I would stay in the water for much longer than record time!
I hauled myself up onto the floating dock and sat there, watching Katie swim back and forth. She ended up only doing 21 laps, but that was still 21 more laps than I did. When I decided that it was time to head back to the dorm, I forced myself to muster the courage to get back into the water. I finally slipped into the frigidness, and paddled back to the shore.
I did enjoy my time at the pond, but I could have gotten more out of it if I had tried. Instead of swimming the most I could, I tried to swim the least. I didn’t try to swim a lot, so I didn’t think I could.
In my Christian walk, I sometimes don’t want to do things that I’m not used to doing. I want to stay warm in my “comfort zone” instead of doing hard things for God. But if I was to apply myself to what He calls me to do, I would be able to accomplish so much for His cause! Will you attempt to do more for God today?
Friday, April 29, 2011
Perspective
This semester, my class has been working on writing a devotional book. I finally have all my essays written and turned in. Using quotes from the book "Help in Daily Living" as the basis, we built our essays with experiences from our own lives.
Looking back at the ways God has lead me, and looking for meaning in everyday experiences has really helped my perspective. Instead of complaining about the piles of dishes to wash in the cafeteria, I now think of what Ellen White says in this quote: "We are to look upon every duty, however humble, as sacred because it is a part of God's service" {Help in Daily Living, Pg. 13.} Sometimes I look at each thing I do, whether good or bad, as if it had no consequence. “It won't matter if I leave my room messy this one time. It's normally really clean, so one day of slacking won't hurt a bit,” or “I’ll just sleep this morning in until the dean wakes me up.” If I let my thoughts continue this way, my life will soon be a complete mess. It is only when I pray the words in this prayer, with a sincere heart that I can truly put things into perspective: “’Lord, help me to do my best. Teach me how to do better work. Give me energy and cheerfulness. Help me to bring into my service the loving ministry of the Savior'” (Ibid.)
"Life is chiefly made up, not of great sacrifices and wonderful achievements, but of little things." {Ibid 32.} The way you look at things will change your whole life. I’m sure you’ve heard the question “Is the cup half empty, or half full?” When I think about that question, my mind goes to Psalm 23:5 “…My cup runs over….” God has blessed me more than I can ever imagine, even though I may not often recognize it. My cup is more than half full! When you feel like God has forgotten about you, look for things to thank Him for. Just thinking about the small ways God has blessed me gives me a better perspective. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Verse 6.)
Looking back at the ways God has lead me, and looking for meaning in everyday experiences has really helped my perspective. Instead of complaining about the piles of dishes to wash in the cafeteria, I now think of what Ellen White says in this quote: "We are to look upon every duty, however humble, as sacred because it is a part of God's service" {Help in Daily Living, Pg. 13.} Sometimes I look at each thing I do, whether good or bad, as if it had no consequence. “It won't matter if I leave my room messy this one time. It's normally really clean, so one day of slacking won't hurt a bit,” or “I’ll just sleep this morning in until the dean wakes me up.” If I let my thoughts continue this way, my life will soon be a complete mess. It is only when I pray the words in this prayer, with a sincere heart that I can truly put things into perspective: “’Lord, help me to do my best. Teach me how to do better work. Give me energy and cheerfulness. Help me to bring into my service the loving ministry of the Savior'” (Ibid.)
"Life is chiefly made up, not of great sacrifices and wonderful achievements, but of little things." {Ibid 32.} The way you look at things will change your whole life. I’m sure you’ve heard the question “Is the cup half empty, or half full?” When I think about that question, my mind goes to Psalm 23:5 “…My cup runs over….” God has blessed me more than I can ever imagine, even though I may not often recognize it. My cup is more than half full! When you feel like God has forgotten about you, look for things to thank Him for. Just thinking about the small ways God has blessed me gives me a better perspective. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Verse 6.)
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