#adventurePalawan

Fine snowfall turns the view into an almost exclusive picture of white. Heaps of water in it’s fluffy form line every road and balloon on random places in yards where the wind decided the snow should collect. I am thankful I am at home and don’t have to venture out through the most wintery snap so far in Michigan’s cold season.

My mind scampers back over the trend of numerous recent conversations: 

“So.. where are you going?”

Me: “I am going to Palawan in the Philippines.”

Get mental picture of slightly bulging eyes. “Wow. Never heard of it. When do you leave?”

Me: “February 5”

An even more incredulous look. “What is it that you’re gonna do again?” 

Me: I am scheduled to go there for a few months to help with medical evacuation flights, and to do anything else I can to be helpful.”

“Why?”

It’s a valid question. Why am I doing this? Too often the rationale for our actions is not based on the most appropriate research, thought, motive, evidence, or purpose. Why—it’s a question that gets at the core of a thing. It asks in a single verb, what would otherwise take paragraphs: have you thought this through? Have you done your research? Have you planned it thoroughly enough? What about your education and future? Do you want to leave the security of a job? Would you rather live without western comforts and the ease of the familiar? What can you do over there that you cannot do over here? What is your motivation?

Many things could motivate. Adventure for one. If this was it, I certainly wouldn’t be the first one drawn to service for such a reason. An element of adventure does exist in doing things you’ve never done and going places you’ve never gone, but what happens when you’ve been there and done that? Countries can be visited in a matter of days; hearts can take much longer to reach. 

Experientially, I have been led to believe that the only motivation with solidity to it comes from outside ourselves. It can be found in the promises and commands of God, and in a settled conviction of His will. It works in a faith that obeys the word of God no matter what may come. Other motivation tends to make a flop of things. 

What I’m after: 

To learn. 

To grow. 

To be a channel of blessing. 

These may be good, but there is something deeper when it comes to a stimulus. At the very core of motive rests either the law of life or the law of death, unselfishness and love, or selfishness and want. Here is both the dichotomy and the beauty: those who lose their life for the sake of Jesus, will find it. Matthew 16:24-25. What is given is preserved, those who die to self may live in Christ. 

As I begin my journey to Palawan, will you join me in seeking a source of motivation, a why, that comes from Above? Will you choose the surrender in which is victory? Will you lose your life in the furrow of the world’s need, so that you can find it again? What is your why?

#adventurepalawan #reflections #hereswhy

Morning Prayer

Make me Lord, a sunbeam,

A little ray of light

Doing everything I can,

To make my corner bright

Polish please, the mirror,

That should reflect your face

Making Jesus clearer,

In this, my lowly place

Turn my eyes to Jesus,

Full, enfaced to Him

No one, or thing distracting,

To make the picture dim

Let me die this morning,

That Christ alone might be

Living, shining, serving,

In little sunbeam me!

Stay Close to the Light

Stay close to the Light,

And follow His lead,

Because in the night,

His guidance we need

Stay close to the Light,

When questions arise,

The way, truth, the right,

May come as surprise

Stay close to the Light,

-Our Savior and Friend-

Or wander we might,

In tide or in trend

Stay close to the Light,

For safe is His way,

His lamp, it is bright,

While near it we stay

Stay close to the Light,

Yet, faith must still grow

In trusting His sight

For what we don't know

Stay close, my dear friend, to the Light!

The Potter's Plans

I know that there are those anticipating my blogged updates from the other side of the planet and the other hemisphere...but I am still north of the equator, this side of the pond. Nevertheless it is due that this dusty blog come out of the coma it went into when yours truly plunged into the deep end of nursing school.

God does not see as humanity sees. (Amen?!) He doesn't plan like us either. Why would you? If your vision was not limited to time and space, and your plans had creative power, why formulate any idea only within the box of here and now? It wouldn't make sense. After all, what kind of plans would we devise?

What kind of plans would we devise,

Who have but mortal minds and eyes?

Who cannot see the greater scheme,

Nor conjure an immortal dream?

How would we plan from day to day

(When we cannot discern the way

That circumstances often take)

And not be left to our mistake?

Whose thoughts can think beyond this realm?

Whose arm can handle his own helm?

Whose goals are broad enough or high 

As His whose stars still trace the sky?

Could we record the sands of earth?

Or figure out the code of birth?

Could we design our very breath?

Or somehow stop the work of death?

Then how do we suppose we may,

Now orchestrate ourselves our way

And from a human point of view

Contrive a life that's worth debut?

How can we think that if we could,

We'd work things out just as they should,

Preventing all the bumps and rain,

And getting all we reckon gain? 

Do we forget that One whose heart

Has held us from the very start,

Whose fingers fashioned us -the clay,

Is also Potter of each day?

Do we now think that in His hands

Our life's in danger at His plans?

When every turn the Potter makes

Produces what He undertakes?

This is the One who's Authored life,

Who knows the controversies' strife,

Who walked this earth in Heaven's will,

From manger to Golgotha's hill

This is the One whose love would dare,

Almighty bonds to cut and tare,

And God from God Himself to break,

In my behalf, for His love's sake

Then how can we not trust to Him:

The future which we see so dim;

The turns beyond finite repeal;

When they are of the Potter's wheel?

And can we not discern and tell,

That He who "doeth all things well",

Does not forget His chosen clay, 

But purposely leaves it to lay?

That through each change the Potter's hand,

May work out that which He had planned

And one day to His Father bring,

A vessel fit to serve the King.

God's Success

Dying to live, giving to have, surrender to conquer, and choosing to leave the choice with God are all part of that life that measures with the life of God... the life of human failure that allows God to succeed. Such a life can be rightly called an ultimate success, because it is not human success. It is a success of the power of Heavenly transformation. 

Our usefulness and destiny 
Depend not on our birth,
And beauty is no guarantee
Of what a life is worth.

The genius, or the master mind,
Speak not of moral weight.
Too often those of brilliance find
They've learned it far too late.



It isn't chance or incident
That tells us who we are.
One failure does not represent
Our aptitude and par.

It's rather in the daily choice
That we can see our make,
Our habits tell with candid voice
If we're a fraud or fake.



But even habits can be changed
And molded by our Lord.
Our filthiness can be exchanged—
His heart in us restored.

It's work that only He can do—
To carve in us His face.
Each blow is shaping us anew,
Each stroke another grace.

He will not strike us needlessly,
He knows our feeble frame,
And how to make us fully free
Of sin and all its shame.



So no it isn't prettiness
That makes a girl like gold,
Nor is in strength the manliness
That makes his worth untold.

But in yielding up the will,
Despite the cost and pain,
Is found the one essential skill
For true success and gain.

Obstacles

It's obstacles that make you strong,
And not that helping hand
It's difficulties all along,
That give you strength to stand

Those hard responsibilities,
That conflict or rebuff,
Those things that take from life it's ease,
It's these that make you tough

So challenges are not that bad—
They're blessings in disguise
So when you face them don't be sad,
For they will make you wise!

Heaven's Antidote

Stars sprinkle themselves across the sky around the furry silhouette of our feline. My bedroom window has often been as a sanctuary to me- a Bethany, a Bethesda. At times it's sees the struggle of faith against an onslaught of fear, doubt, complacency, sleep. It is the place to go when the sun dawns, or sets; when hopes spring bright and fresh, or when disappointment drives me to my knees.

They recur, random and scheduled, these window-side interviews. What makes it come to life is often what seems like death itself to me... Death of plans, pursuits, purposes-- requiring, perhaps, death of self?

In those 'conclusion of the whole matter' kind of moments, this remains: God is trustworthy.

Well...duh. That's an understated, indisputable, undeniable, and unmistakable comment of the obvious. Is it not?

Corrie Ten-boom's father only gave her the train ticket when she got on the train. Before she needed it, she didn't have it, but when the need came, there was no lack.

They say, 'Trust is earned'. It's true. Trust is also learned. Before our Heavenly Father gives us the ticket of His supply for our needs, we have the opportunity to learn that trust.

Whoosh. From the windowsill above the cat jumps into my reverie. Two inches closer and it would have been a direct hit.

I know it again tonight: God is trustworthy. His word is sure. Even "if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13. Case closed.

Heaven's antidote for stress seems to be there. ...yet He abideth faithful. It is the faithful individual that we can trust in this world. Yet, there is no one, no human upon whom we can place our trust. Here is our God, the epitome, the essence, the embodiment of perfect faithfulness; the answer to every question; the song for every night.

Yes, trust is earned, and it is learned, but praise God it is also given. God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3. Drinking in the night sky, it seems that I see only the smallest picture of His faithfulness, and of what he would do in my heart, but His heart is as an endless ocean of constancy, and commitment. His heart holds Heaven's antidote for the problems of life...the problems of my life...the problems of your life. 

Oh to see more, more of That heart!