Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Lessons from Weeds...



Even the ugly things of nature can teach us beautiful lessons about God and our growth with him. I was pondering one such simple lesson this past week.

Being a beautiful October day...I set outside looking for some productive activities to do that would help a local fami-Lee. The breeze was refreshing, just right in fact, it had just stopped raining and the sun was now playing hide and seek behind the clouds.

I worked on one project for a bit...but then needed to wait for more supervision, so had to stop. So then, I turned to the weeds. Here and there, in between the cracks of concrete in the drive, some daring little weeds were just beginning to push their heads to the sun. I felt sorry to uproot their progress, but they had unfortunately chosen to bed down in the wrong location...no doubt influenced by their friends. (Doesn't pay to hang with the wrong crowd!) So I set to work pulling them up. These came out quite effortlessly and with ease.

However, there were other weeds that had been around a while and were already well rooted. And they were NOT about to give up their place of establishment easily...I could just hear them taunting me "We've been here awhile, and we aren't moving! Go try working somewhere else!" Even though I pushed and pulled and dug and prodded...they did not want to come out. When I did finally get them out, they still left some of their roots behind...and since their roots were stuck in between the cracks of concrete, it was hard to get to the bottom of things. Uggghhhh....if only these had been pulled sooner.

And so my time went...back and forth...easily plucking the baby weeds, and fighting with the older ones. And it made me stop and think...

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You know, our bad habits and wrong choices work a lot like these weeds. Initially, if we do something wrong and are convicted by God to change, we can quickly root out the evil tendencies. But, if we ignore the convictions of the Holy Spirit and allow things to grow...they get stronger...and pretty soon they are sooo strong it is VERY HARD to uproot them. Oh, it's still possible - with God, ALL things are possible!!! But just imagine how much easier it would be to keep a clean heart (free of weeds and other debris) if, as soon as we noticed a weed (bad behavior, attitude, habit or action), we'd go and viciously rip it up and give it to God. "There, over and done with!!" Isn't that the way it is suppose to be??

Yes, weeds may be ugly little creatures...but even through them...God wants to teach us how to better live for Him.

Considering the above, I found the following quotes really convicting:


"It is My Father's good pleasure," Christ says to His disciples, "that ye bear much fruit." But you can not bear much fruit unless you take out of your lives the weeds of selfishness and sin. We do not ask what your past life may have been. We ask you to take out of your hearts, now, the weeds of evil, and let the word of truth dwell in you richly, that your lives may produce the fruits of righteousness and holiness. If you will do this, you will see in the kingdom of God the result of what you have learned on this school farm. Pull up the weeds of evil in your hearts, and plant the seeds of truth. {GH, June 1, 1904 par. 10}


"And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up, and choked them." "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." Matt 13:7,22


Here is represented the controversy between satanic agencies and the Prince of Life. Which will obtain the supremacy? Which will become possessor of the soul? If the truth impressed upon human hearts is carefully cherished, and the weeds are uprooted, there will be a precious crop of grain. But the gospel seed often drops among thorns and noxious weed; and if there is not a moral transformation in the human heart; if old habits and practises and the former life of sin are not left behind; if the attributes of Satan are not expelled from the soul, the wheat crop will be stunted. The thorns of sin will grow in any soil. They need no cultivation. But grace must be carefully cultivated." {RH, October 3, 1899 par. 2-3}

So my friends...I think we probably all could find a few weeds in our lives...maybe attitudes of "ungratefulness, impatience, selfishness, vanity, or vain glory..." Let's get on our knees and go find them, whatever they may be, and pull them NOW...quickly, before they get ANY bigger. God will help us!!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Moving again: The Broad or Narrow way...



Once again Melody has been packing...but this time, it's not to go on another mission trip or family vacation. No, it's time to uproot and find a new home base.

Yes, believe it or not, after almost 3 years since I moved to Southern California, I am finally leaving..."Whew - what a relief! Away from Sodom and Gomorra at last!" Ha ha!! (Of course, more truth is in that statement than jest! Even though I never really did anything in the city, I never was comfortable with being soooo close to LA and Hollywood. The whole place has just seemed kinda counter-productive to the spiritual journey God is calling us to take.)

But of course, besides being sooo close to the big lights and the big city, being in Southern CA has not been all bad. In fact, it's largely been rather good. I've made soooo many friends in Loma Linda and Advent HOPE and made so many awesome memories, I can't even count. So, while it's a relief to leave the valley, it's also very hard to uproot and say goodbye. In fact, as I packed, I got rather depressed. This move has made me realize just how much I seem to invest emotionally, mentally and physically into not just the people I meet, but also my places of residence.

Spare me a few moments to reminisce: My dear little home in Loma Linda has been such a cozy comfortable spot. In fact, since I've been living on my own, it's probably the largest and nicest place I've ever had...complete with my dream view of a snow-capped mountain peak.

From the first night Susy and I moved into it on our air-mattresses, we prayed and dedicated it to God. And since that time, I feel God has richly blessed. I painted some of the walls. I tore out the guest bathroom wallpaper and remodeled it with a wild exotic missions theme. (I got more compliments on that bathroom than any other room in the house too!!) I planted my first California garden there. Even if it was only the size of my back patio, I had tomatoes and peppers and squash and all sorts of goodies that contributed to our health and happiness during our first summer there. I planted ferns and rose-bushes that will probably be thriving till the next century, or till their new owner uproots them all! I've fought with ants, moles and set-up my first "miracle swing." And the list could go on. Even though I am packing up and leaving...I feel like I'm leaving part of "myself" behind...

Of course, beyond the physical love my little home has received, is the people that have occupied it's walls. In the course of my time at this location (2.5 years to be precise), we've had at least 10 girls call this place their home!! (Some for 3 months, others for 6-8 months, and others for more!) We've had dozens of people over for Sabbath pot-lucks, birthday parties, girl-friend parties, prayer sessions, Bible studies and more. It's been the girl's hang-out for many, the place where the guys could come get a yummy bite to eat, and a "home away from home" for more. And now, I have to say goodbye...I hate goodbyes.


My current roommates weren't too keen on me leaving actually (that's kinda nice), and have been coming up with all sorts of reasons to try to convince me to stay. Or, if I wasn't going to stay, to leave as much of my stuff as possible. I guess they really did like my pictures and decorations hogging up ALL the walls! (Laugh laugh smile smile - yep, one of my roommies even told me that it actually "comforts" her to see my stuff around, and makes her feel like I'm not far away! Whatever that is suppose to mean!?) At first I thought that was kinda cool...you know, them wanting me to leave stuff around. And so, I decided I wouldn't take all my pictures or decorations just yet, after all...if I leave a few things about, it also makes ME feel like it's still "my home" when I come to visit, and I still have my foot in the door. Yes, the warm feeling of security from "still belonging here" was wonderful. But then the thought hit me...I have this problem everywhere I go, and leaving my "foot in the door" does nothing for helping me move on. I need to let go, pack it up, and just go. I need to just take the PLUNGE!!!! Ouchhh..... sniff sniff.... "Ok, here goes..."

So I did it!!! All my mission pictures down...all my bulletin board mementos off the wall, all my keepsakes off the shelves...and as for the bathroom...well, let's just say they are going to have to completely redecorate the bathroom, because there's nothing there now! (I think I over-heard them say something about having a "theme contest" to see who could come up with a replacement theme!! So we'll have to check back and see what happened?) And yes, I still had stuff in the kitchen. I took that too! So...no more crying! I had to keep reminding myself, I don't pay rent here anymore. This isn't my home anymore. I am moving on!!!! It was kinda hard to do, but once I did it, it was liberating too...

As I drove away...headed to some Northern new destination and work place, my moving situation reminded me of what it's like for us spiritually as we prepare for Heaven. As we journey onward, we know that we are going to have to let go of more and more of this world and depend more and more upon Christ...yet we still keep holding on. We can't let those worldly treasures or worldly memories go it seems. "Maybe if I just keep a few, you know, so I still have my foot in the door...I can leave that way. But I still have the security of knowing, I can come back if I want." But how can we truly be ready to meet Jesus when He comes back, IF we still have our foot in the door....still holding on to our place in the world.

Or maybe there are those of us that are willing to pack it all up, but what we can't take we aren't going to let go of. We'll just store it away. In case we need it for a rainy day!! That's just as bad as leaving it all upon our walls or shelves. Even stored treasures, hopes, dreams or plans can tie us down and keep us from really growing and becoming who God has called us to be. We must prepare to meet our soon coming Lord...and this means, we must LET GO of the WORLD!!!!

There's a dream a women named Ellen White once had about the journey towards Heaven. It's called the "Narrow Way." Let me share it with you here:

"While at Battle Creek, Michigan, in August, 1868, I dreamed of being with a large body of people. A portion of this assembly started out prepared to journey. We had heavily loaded wagons. As we journeyed, the road seemed to ascend. On one side of this road was a deep precipice; on the other was a high, smooth, white wall. As we journeyed on, the road grew narrower and steeper. In some places it seemed so very narrow that we concluded that we could no longer travel with the loaded wagons. We then loosed them from the horses, took a portion of the luggage from the wagons and placed it upon the horses, and journeyed on horseback. As we progressed, the path still continued to grow narrow. We were obliged to press close to the wall, to save ourselves from falling off the narrow road down the steep precipice. As we did this, the luggage on the horses pressed against the wall, and caused us to sway toward the precipice. We feared that we should fall, and be dashed in pieces on the rocks. We then cut the luggage from the horses, and it fell over the precipice. We continued on horseback, greatly fearing, as we came to the narrower places in the road, that we should lose our balance and fall. At such times, a hand seemed to take the bridle, and guide us over the perilous way.

As the path grew more narrow, we decided that we could no longer go with safety on horseback, and we left the horses and went on foot, in single file, one following in the footsteps of another. At this point small cords were let down from the top of the pure white wall; these we eagerly grasped, to aid us in keeping our balance upon the path. As we traveled, the cord moved along with us. The path finally became so narrow that we concluded that we could travel more safely without our shoes; so we slipped them from our feet, and went on some distance without them. Soon it was decided that we could travel more safely without our stockings; these were removed, and we journeyed on with bare feet. We then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves to privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not in the company. At every change, some were left behind, and those only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships. The privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to the end. Our danger of falling from the pathway increased. We pressed close to the white wall, yet could not place our feet fully upon the path; for it was too narrow. We then suspended nearly our whole weight upon the cords, exclaiming: "We have hold from above! We have hold from above!" The same words were uttered by all the company in the narrow pathway.

As we heard the sounds of mirth and revelry that seemed to come from the abyss below, we shuddered. We heard the profane oath, the vulgar jest, and low, vile songs. We heard the war song and the dance song. We heard instrumental music, and loud laughter, mingled with cursing and cries of anguish and bitter wailing, and were more anxious than ever to keep upon the narrow, difficult pathway. Much of the time we were compelled to suspend our whole weight upon the cords, which increased in size as we progressed. I noticed that the beautiful white wall was stained with blood. It caused a feeling of regret to see the wall thus stained. This feeling, however, lasted but for a moment, as I soon thought that it was all as it should be. Those who are following after will know that others have passed the narrow, difficult way before them, and will conclude that if others were able to pursue their onward course, they can do the same. And as the blood shall be pressed from their aching feet, they will not faint with discouragement; but seeing the blood upon the wall, they will know that others have endured the same pain.

At length we came to a large chasm, at which our path ended. There was nothing now to guide the feet, nothing upon which to rest them. Our whole reliance must be upon the cords, which had increased in size, until they were as large as our bodies. Here we were for a time thrown into perplexity and distress. We inquired in fearful whispers, "To what is the cord attached?" My husband was just before me. Large drops of sweat were falling from his brow, the veins in his neck and temples were increased to double their usual size, and suppressed, agonizing groans came from his lips. The sweat was dropping from my face, and I felt such anguish as I had never felt before. A fearful struggle was before us. Should we fail here, all the difficulties of our journey had been experienced for nought.

Before us, on the other side of the chasm, was a beautiful field of green grass, about six inches high. I could not see the sun, but bright soft beams of light, resembling fine gold and silver, were resting upon this field. Nothing I had seen upon earth could compare in beauty and glory with this field. But could we succeed in reaching it? was the anxious inquiry. Should the cord break, we must perish. Again, in whispered anguish, the words were breathed, "What holds the cord?" For a moment we hesitated to venture. Then we exclaimed: "Our only hope is to trust wholly to the cord. It has been our dependence all the difficult way. It will not fail us now." Still we were hesitating and distressed. The words were then spoken: "God holds the cord. We need not fear." These words were then repeated by those behind us, accompanied with: "He will not fail us now. He has brought us thus far in safety."

My husband then swung himself over the fearful abyss into the beautiful field beyond. I immediately followed. And oh, what a sense of relief and gratitude to God we felt! I heard voices raised in triumphant praise to God. I was happy, perfectly happy.

I awoke, and found that from the anxiety I had experienced in passing over the difficult route, every nerve in my body seemed to be in a tremor. This dream needs no comment. It made such an impression upon my mind that probably every item in it will be vivid before me while my memory shall continue." By EG White, Christian Experience and Teachings, 1922

Wow - what a powerful dream, huh?? And to think, that she had this dream back in 1868. It certainly contains a powerful message for us today as we are even nearer to Jesus coming. Are we on the "Narrow Way" or have we chosen the wider more traveled path???

"Before you are two ways--the broad road of self-indulgence and the narrow path of self-sacrifice. Into the broad road you can take selfishness, pride, love of the world; but those who walk in the narrow way must lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset. Which road have you chosen--the road which leads to everlasting death, or the road which leads to glory and immortality? There never was a more solemn time in the history of the world than the time in which we are now living. Our eternal interests are at stake, and we should arouse to the importance of making our calling and election sure. We dare not risk our eternal interests on mere probabilities. We must be in earnest. What we are, what we are doing, what is to be our course of action in the future, are all questions of untold moment, and we cannot afford to be listless, indifferent, unconcerned. It becomes each one of us to inquire, "What is eternity to me?" Are our feet in the path that leads to heaven, or in the broad road that leads to perdition?" Our High Calling, page 8-9

So, as I've packed and am moving again...I am reminded...it's not the THINGS that really count...I can leave them behind. I'd rather make sure my life is cleansed from all that would keep me from God...and that I am safely in His care...on the Narrow Way!

Thursday, October 08, 2009

HOPE for Bengali Orphans...and HOPE for me!

Well, after a 48 hour long Monday (in Bangladesh & Hong Kong...and then starting it over again once we crossed the International date line coming to LA), and hours and hours of uncomfortable travel on the airplane...I am back in the land of technology and modern convenience. Back in the land of prosperity and plenty. Whew!!!! And yet, although the world that I have returned to seems about the same...I am not the same. You cannot step into another culture or get a glimpse into the need of another's heart and stay the same.
Between visiting the destitute children of the slums, to the sweat and push of thousands of desperate bodies seeking medical care at our clinic in Madhupur, to the sweet scent of dozens of newly bathed Orphan children as they clamoured into our laps wanting a bedtime story at Bangla-Hope...I have once again seen both extremes of Bangladesh. The side of despair and the side of HOPE!! The side of caus and pain, and the side of what could be if ALL of us "Rich American Christians" (we are rich compared with them) truly went out of our own comfort zones to give and care. And once again, my heart has been touched...and challenged.
After spending a grueling challenging week at the medical clinic where, as I mentioned before, we saw over 3,000 patients, going to the Bangla-Hope Orphanage in Northern Bangladesh was a real vacation. I had visited last year and spent time with the children, so it was a joy to return and be welcomed with open arms and delighted squeals from all the little kiddos... "Melody!!!! Melody!!! Melody is here!!" And they all clamoured for hugs and kisses. Melony, my little girl who I want to adopt someday, was the first that came running into my arms. (She was the first that I met last year when I came too!) I was sooo happy, I couldn't help letting the tears flow as Melony snuggled close and they gave us their welcoming ceremony. (Of course, it was sooo hot, my tears just mixed with the sweat - so it wasn't very obvious I was crying!) The kids were also quick to accept and welcome Valerie, and right off Valerie began to love and reach out to them as well. (It was a real treat to share this experience with my best friend!)
Thankfully, with the help of generous donors, I was able to bring clothes and supplies for the Orphanage as well as a special toy for each child - a doll for the older girls, animals for the younger, light-up balls for the boys etc. Orphan kids very rarely can claim something of their very own, so it was a joy to see the delight in their eyes as we wrote THEIR name on THEIR very own toy! Here I am below with my girl Melony (on my right) and Kocolie (on my left) who is the first child the Waid's took into their orphanage!As to be expected, our remaining week in Bangladesh at the Orphanage went all too quickly. Each day we spent as much time as possible with the kids, telling them stories, playing with them on the playground, doing games and teaching them songs. We also spent time with the care-givers (who are mostly local Christian women who have no formal education.) I talked with them about the principals of raising and loving children (as outlined in "Child-Guidance" - after all, I am not really my own expert on the topic, though I like to pretend to be at times. Ha ha!!) Then Valerie did basic CPR education and had the women take turns resuscitating a toy doll. (That was kinda funny!!!) Of course, another great joy was to see my Bengali sister Shati, who has such an incredible heart of gold. She always takes such good care of us when we visit and cooks the best food ever. But not only does she serve just us....she's one of the most hard-working and unselfish of the team and the kids just love her to death. It's nice to see the touch that Shati has with them. The most difficult part of the whole trip was saying goodbye...I literally thought I (if not the kids) were going to get "dehydrated from crying." In fact, the kids started crying 2 days BEFORE we left when they heard our time was almost over. I felt soooo bad. In fact, it made me wonder if maybe coming and then leaving again did more damage then good...after all, so many of these kids have either lost or been abandoned by their own parents. But after talking with my good friend Litton (who works in the Administration at Bangla-Hope, but also spends as much time with the kids as he can), I was encouraged that even though our time was brief...it meant sooo much to the kids to know they were loved and cared for, and that they mattered to people on the other side of the world. "They always remember you in their hearts...and just like this time...they can look forward to when you come again! It gives them a reason to HOPE...knowing someone cares!" So...with hugs and tears, we once again said goodbye. But the children and Bangla-Hope staff, and the sacrificial dedication of the Waid's and all those that help sponsor the children of Bangla-Hope are not forgotten. And Valerie and I are determined to be more frugal in our own lives so that we can help the Orphanage with their many needs and expansion.Already they have almost 100 children (there were 69 last year when I visited), but they are running out of room (they need to build a second floor). They are building a medical clinic for the Hindu community right at their doorstep, but need medical workers to come and staff it. They do multiple trips to Dhaka (7hours away for staff or supplies) and yet all they have is a 4 seater Toyota truck that breaks down or has to be pushed to start every time you turn around. (They need a larger vehicle or van that can carry their staff and supplies.) They have a huge beautiful lawn, but must put all their money into upkeep and feeding the children rather than buying a lawn-mover...so they cut the grass all BY HAND. (Can you imagine?? Yes, they need a lawn mower!) They have a garden, but need more tools to work it. They have an office where they keep up with all the business of running an Orphanage plus taking care of almost 600 children in their community feeding school programs, but their office equipment is old and breaking down. (They need new up to speed equipment.) They already have many "feeding day-schools" around Bangladesh, but they need funds for more. (There are sooo many kids yet unreached!) And the list of needs just goes on and on!!!!!!
If only all of us, would truly reach out with the resources God has given us...we could do SOOO MUCH MORE...yet...we are comfortable; Comfortable in our spacious mansions (you should see what little space they have to live in those Orphan rooms - clean and tidy, but still some with 18 kids to a room), comfortable with our heaping tables of food (the kids are well fed...but they pretty much only eat rice and curry with sometimes some vegetables and a banana for snack!) We are comfortable with our nice car or the variety of ware that our ward-robe boasts. (These kids are clean and clothed, but rarely have clothes or toys of their own!) We are comfortable giving our 10% tithe and offering, comfortable doing Sabbath afternoon outreach, and comfortable sharing our lunch with a friend at work. But the Bengali missionaries that work for their people often live on less than $100 a month and barely get by, living in conditions that would make us stutter. Sacrifice...true sacrifice for the Orphan, the widow, the outcast... Who of us really knows what that is???? I'll be the first to say, "I don't!"

Valerie and I have been humbled and challenged...and convicted...in a deeper way to make priority to share the resources God has given us...with Bangla-Hope, but also with anyone that God brings us in need.

"Said the angel, 'Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to the world than ye have ever yet died.' I saw that there was a great work to do for them and but little time in which to do it." Early Writings, Page 64.

"By all that has given us advantage over another, be it education and retirement, nobility of character, Christian training, religious experience, we are in debt to those less favored, and so far as lies in our power, we are to minister unto them. If we are strong, we are to stay up the hands of the weak." Ministry of Healing 29

"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." Matt 19:21

*To donate to Bangla-HOPE or help sponsor a child, you can visit their website at: http://www.banglahope.org/ I am hoping to help them completely redo their website in the near future as it is in severe need of a face-lift, but for now, this is their contact info.