The following was the Charge given at Uchee Pines' Trainee Dedication.
Turn with me to the theme text, Isaiah 43:1-2: “But now [this is a present thing, right now!] thus saith the LORD that created thee [the Creator of the universe, the One who speaks and it is—now, in this moment, the Creator of the universe, the Creator of YOU, says], O Jacob [Oh (insert name)], and he that formed thee, O Israel, [oh Uchee Pines trainee—the personal God, the One who knows you intricately, the One who is invested in you. What does Psalm 139 say? “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” The God who formed YOU in your mother’s womb. “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel.” At this point in the verse the stage is set for what follows. This all wise, all caring, tender, loving, powerful God, says,] Fear not: [don’t be afraid; now if we are being told not to be afraid then there obviously must be something fearful we are dealing with—so whatever that is, God says, fear not…and why? What reason do we have not to be afraid?] for I have redeemed thee, [that word redeemed translates, “to redeem, to be next of kin, to buy back.” God, the One who not only formed us in our mother’s womb, but the One who bought us back from the enemy to give us a place next to Him, to call us not slaves and outcasts, but family—fear not, don’t be afraid because I have not only created you but I’ve considered you of such value that I’ve bought you back, and I bought you back with an infinite cost] I have called thee by thy name; [God says, I know you by name; you’re not just one among many; I have chosen YOU; (insert name)—I have called YOU. “Fear not, because I’ve redeemed you and I’ve called you BY NAME”—but that’s not all] thou art mine. [A few years ago Jai and Shanice went with Mom and I to put on a seminar at a church and during that weekend they noticed that all throughout Mom’s presentations she referred to me as, “my Kim.” They loved teasing me about that. I’m her daughter, I came from her. She loves me. I’m a part of her. God says, You’re mine. Zechariah 2:8 says, “he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” So now that God has thoroughly established His place, how He views you, how intimately connected and invested He is in YOU—then He goes on…] “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Water and rivers, fire and flame—this sounds dangerous. We’re going to go through some things! What does water represent?
What does fire represent?
Let’s break it down. Your theme for this Dedication is “Through It All.” You’ve made it through some things over the last year. But your time here at Uchee Pines is only a part of your journey. This verse outlines some of the things you have to get through in life.
Isaiah 59:19 says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” It doesn’t say, you’re going to rise up and retaliate. “The rivers…shall not overflow you.”
“The fire…shall not burn you.” 1 Peter 4:12-13, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” Zechariah 13:9, “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” When you go through all of this—when you go through the water and the fire—your God—the all powerful, all knowing, loving, invested God—will be with you. You’re not going to drown. Even when you feel like the waters are about your neck and you don’t know how you can take anymore—if someone puts one more task on you, if someone says one more unkind word about and to you, if something takes the control out of your hands; even when all this and more surround you and you just don’t know if you can take anything else; God says you’re going to get through it all. You will. And how? When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water and Jesus called to him, “come,” Peter got out of the boat and started to walk on that water. And he was safe as long as he kept his eyes fixed on Jesus. The moment he put his eyes on others he started to sink. “Looking unto Jesus, Peter walks securely; but as in self-satisfaction he glances back toward his companions in the boat, his eyes are turned from the Saviour. The wind is boisterous. The waves roll high, and come directly between him and the Master; and he is afraid. For a moment Christ is hidden from his view, and his faith gives way. He begins to sink. But while the billows talk with death, Peter lifts his eyes from the angry waters, and fixing them upon Jesus, cries, ‘Lord, save me.’ Immediately Jesus grasps the outstretched hand, saying, ‘O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’ ” (E. G. White, DA 381) “These trials of life are God's workmen to remove the impurities, infirmities, and roughness from our characters, and fit us for the society of pure, heavenly angels in glory. But as we pass through these trials, as the fires of affliction kindle upon us, we must not keep the eye on the fire which is seen, but let the eye of faith fasten upon the things unseen, the eternal inheritance, the immortal life, the eternal weight of glory; and while we do this the fire will not consume us, but only remove the dross, and we shall come forth seven times purified, bearing the impress of the Divine.” (E. G. White, 1T 706) “God brings His people near Him by close, testing trials, by showing them their own weakness and inability, and by teaching them to lean upon Him as their only help and safeguard. Then His object is accomplished. They are prepared to be used in every emergency, to fill important positions of trust, and to accomplish the grand purposes for which their powers were given them. God takes men upon trial; He proves them on the right hand and on the left, and thus they are educated, trained, disciplined.” (E. G. White, 4T 86) Where are your eyes? Where will be your eyes in the coming days, weeks, months, and maybe even years? You have made it through your Lifestyle Educator course, your Healthcare Provider Internship. You’ve learned a lot of good things. But when you leave this place and you find the chilling waters of affliction and distress, the cold indifference of people, the fiery heat of trial and test—where will your eyes be? This isn’t the end of the journey. There are more things you’re going to have to pass through. You are being dedicated tonight and charged with the responsibility of bearing the title Medical Missionary. When those waters come, when that fire is hot, as it most surely will be, look to Jesus and you’ll pass through it all. In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet, God leads His dear children along. Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long. God doesn’t promise to remove trouble from our lives. The verse specifically says “pass through”. The word through shows us there is an end. The trouble won’t last forever. And as we pass through it, God promises that He will be WITH you. He’s right there by your side, holding your hand, saying, “Be not afraid.” He will get you through it all. When those waters of affliction, pain, suffering, pressure, overwhelm you—He’s there, working to get you through it. When you feel like you’re drowning in “people problems”—He’s there, pouring love and wisdom into your heart so you can draw warmth from their coldness and get through the issues. When temptation and trial harass your soul and nobody sees or understands the inner fire that’s raging—He’s there, walking with you in the furnace and bringing you through it. “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” My charge to you, Lifestyle Educators, Healthcare Provider, look to Jesus, because it’s Jesus, and Jesus only, who will take you safely through it all.
0 Comments
She was a weak woman. She had been battling with sickness for more years than she wanted to count. She had been to physician after physician, tried remedy after remedy, with no success. Her money was gone, but her sickness was not. Everyone had failed her. I'm sure she was ready to give up. But in one last attempt to find help, she mustered all her remaining strength and went to find her last Hope for health. But even in this her efforts seemed but futile. There were so many people crowding the street that it was just about impossible for her to make her way in the right direction. Then it happened, her moment of opportunity, and with all the determination left in her body she reached forward and grasped but the hem of Jesus' garments, but in that moment she was made whole. He just wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short. It's almost laughable, such a small issue, but in that moment it was one of his biggest challenges. People crowding the streets making it impossible for him to see anything. I'm sure he wanted to give up. What's the use. It's not like he could make himself grow! But determination seized the opportunity and made circumstances his helpers. He climbed a tree and not only caught a glimpse of Jesus but received Him as a guest into his home. What will determination get you? “Johnny Fulton was run over by a car at the age of three. He suffered crushed hips, broken ribs, a fractured skull, and compound fractures in his legs. It did not look as if he would live. But he would not give up. In fact, he later ran the half- mile in less than two minutes. “Walt Davis was totally paralyzed by polio when he was nine years old, but he did not give up. He became the Olympic high jump champion in 1952. “Shelly Mann was paralyzed by polio when she was five years old, but she would not give up. She eventually claimed eight different swimming records for the U.S. and won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. “Lou Gehrig was such a clumsy ball player that the boys in his neighborhood would not let him play on their team. But he was committed. He did not give up. Eventually, his name was entered into baseball's Hall of Fame. “Woodrow Wilson could not read until he was ten years old. But he was a committed person. He became the twenty-eighth President of the United States. “At the age of seven, he had to go to work to help support his family. At nine, his mother died. At twenty-two, he lost his job as a store clerk. At twenty-three, he went into debt and became a partner in a small store. At twenty-six, his partner died leaving him a huge debt. By the age of thirty-five, he had been defeated twice when running for a seat in Congress. At the age of thirty-seven, he won the election. At thirty-nine, he lost his reelection bid. At forty- one, his four-year-old son died. At forty-two, he was rejected for a land officer role. At forty-five, he ran for the Senate and lost. At forty-seven, he was defeated for the nomination for Vice President. At forty-nine, he ran for Senate again and lost again. At the age of fifty-one, he was elected President of the United States. During his second term of office, he was assassinated. But his name lives on among the greats in U.S. history--Abraham Lincoln.” (Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 43-44) “In 1962, Victor and Mildred Goertzel published a revealing study of 413 "famous and exceptionally gifted people" called Cradles of Eminence. They spent years attempting to understand what produced such greatness, what common thread might run through all of these outstanding people's lives. “Surprisingly, the most outstanding fact was that virtually all of them, 392, had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become who they were.” (Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 134) Determination. How much do you have? When faced with challenges, obstacles, limitations, hindrances, what do you do? "Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances." (COL 331.4) What kind of determination do you have? Think of the biggest physical challenges you face. Are you determined to press on despite them? To Succeed anyway? Or do you just want to give up? What’s the point? It’s hard. Does a “I can’t” mentality plague you? “Imagine getting through your busy day without hands or legs. Picture your life without the ability to walk, care for your basic needs, or even embrace those you love.” (lifewithoutlimbs.org) What would you do? How would you cope with life? {SEE VIDEO BELOW} "Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances." (E. G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 331) “…the Christian, as he nears the goal, will press onward with even more zeal and determination than at the first of his course.” (E. G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 311) “True Christian character should be marked by firmness of purpose, an indomitable determination, which cannot be molded or subdued by earth or hell.” (E. G. White, 4 Testimonies, p. 543-544) How determined are you? |
SolominaEverything in life has meaning. There's a lesson in every object, every situation, every process. I want to go deeper, in a higher way. I want to listen, to understand, to know. Archives
June 2023
Categories
All
|