Just a few pictures

The Plastic Knife

   

 

      Soiled, tainted, dull, expired, worthless, these are the words that swirl around my mind as I contemplate my value as a servant of the King. How can I decide to dedicate another year of my life to His service in a culture and society so different from my own when these are the characteristics that describe me? I know me, I know my failures, temptations, shortcomings, and inadequacies. On my knees before God I hear a dark voice whisper in my ear, “Not you. You don’t belong, you are too different and too broken.” My gaze lifts to meet the eyes of my Savior, I see the love in His eyes. I know these words do not come from His beautiful lips. Yet, I cannot loosen their grasp as they sink into my heart.
    My gaze drops back to the ground, dragging my hope down with it as an iron anchor racing toward the pitch black ocean floor.  A battle rages within me. I know my freedom in Jesus. Sin no longer has dominion over me. My Savior has made me new, He has brought me from death to life and He calls me into His service. How can I refuse the call of my King? He knows every detail of my life. If He chooses to call me to His service, even though my life is laid bare before His eyes, what right do I have to question His call?
    Yet, even as this truth rings within my soul, the foe advances. Memories of past failure and present weaknesses attempt to sweep over the truth and cover it like a thick blanket. The battle is fierce and my emotions struggle against my knowledge. Which voice will I allow to triumph in my heart? Will I embrace my Savior or the destroyer?
    In this moment, an odd picture rises above the battle and captures my attention. A solitary plastic knife sits in a pile of garbage. This knife is soiled, dull, worthless. The edges are covered with slime and filth and a stench wards off any who might wander nearby. There it sits, forgotten, disposed of, and devoid of even a sliver of value.
    Suddenly, I see my King approach this repulsive knife and stoop down to lift it from its home of refuse. He desires to carve a masterpiece. Rather than select a beautifully fashioned carving utensil, He has selected this unlikely knife as His tool of choice. Calmly, with great focus, He sets about using the plastic knife to carve His intricate statue. Each detail is precisely chiseled. The sculpture emerges from the stone with power and beauty. The Master stands back and observes His completed masterpiece. The statue is breathtaking and the crowd is left in awe of His accomplishment.
    The plastic knife is gently placed in the Master’s tool belt. He glances at its new home, safe and treasured, and a soft smile spreads over His face. Yes, this knife belongs to Him and He will cherish it forever. The knife was not worthy by its own merit to attract the attention of the Master, yet He placed His affections upon it. His affection and calling changed everything.
    In many ways, my life is just like this knife. I was utterly helpless. My sin drenched me to the bone and condemned me to death. My soul was saturated with filth and there was no shimmer of hope for my future. Yet, in this state of repulsive and defiant sin, my Savior reached down and rescued me.
    The Holy Master required a consequence for my sin, death. Remarkably, the Master chose to pay that price in my place. Jesus died to pay for my sin, and rose to give me newness of life. Therefore, I am free. I have accepted His offer of forgiveness and placed my faith completely in Him. He has called me to His service, like the knife He placed in His tool belt.
    No masterpiece will form from the work of my hands. However, if I walk closely with my Master, He will use me to create unthinkable masterpieces. Then I will stand in absolute awe with the crowd and bow before my Maker saying, “Only You are worthy of praise, for only you could accomplish such marvelous works with such a lowly tool as myself.” The honor does not fall to the plastic knife, but rather to the Master who uses the available knife to create His precious works.
    Surely I am the plastic knife formerly devoid of value. The Master has placed His affections upon me, He has redeemed me and called me to His service. I am not who I was, I am not who I should be, I am His. My placement in the Master’s hands has changed everything. My failures, temptations, shortcomings, and inadequacies are swept away because the Master grasps me in His service. I can walk forward in humble confidence because He has called me and He will accomplish great works for His glory. He calls me to pursue Him, to walk with Him, and to let Him be the one to use me for His glory. I am a plastic knife in the Master’s tool belt, treasured by the King.

A Few Pictures

 Many of you are able to follow me on Facebook. However, for those who do not have Facebook, I decided to post some pictures that show a little glimpse into my life lately. These are mostly pictures from Christmas programs.

 

The kids performing at the Christmas service.

 

School workers acting out the Christmas story.

  

My roommate and I getting ready to try to blend in at the market.

School workers playing a game.

 

Another fun game. 

 

Christmas morning at a church service/ birthday party for Jesus. 

Attack of the Fluffy Flock

   Leaves crunch under my sparkly flip flops. Rays of sun flood through the cracks in the canopy of tree branches and wash over my face. I soak in this moment as I walk with my dear friend. It is wonderful to be on our hospital compound in Malamghat for the weekend. This escape from the chaos of the city and the demands of school life is as precious as cool water to a thirsty desert caravan. We love the work God allows us to be a part of in Chittagong, but we are also thankful for times of rest and peace. All of a sudden, in the middle of this peaceful scene, we hear a soft rumble behind us and the sound of many leaves crunching. Turning, I expect to see a man on a bicycle peddling along the path. It takes me a few seconds to rein in my shock and jump out of the way when I realize the approaching sound certainly is not coming from a bicycle.
    Barreling toward us down the narrow dirt path is a whole flock of sheep! We barely jump off the path before they are upon us. Each sheep is dragging a thin green rope with a stake attached to the end. In the back of the flock, leisurely trailing behind, is the shepherd. He seems to be completely unconcerned with the fact that his sheep are running almost out of his sight. We watch with a bit of astonishment and big grins spread across our faces.
    When the trail clears we begin our walk once again. After a minute more of walking we see the flock ahead. They are now circled around a bright red plastic pail of food. The pail is set in the middle of a small, and rather brown looking, pasture of grass. By this time the shepherd has already caught up with his crazy flock and he is staking each rope to the ground. That is one way to move the flock! 
    My friend looks at me and says, “Well, aren’t you glad that is not how Jesus shepherds His people?!” I smile as I ponder this comment and watch one of the wayward sheep try to climb over a ledge of dirt and escape. Yes, I am very thankful my Shepherd is the perfect Good Shepherd. He doesn’t trail behind and expect to meet up with me eventually. He doesn’t begrudgingly look on as I stupidly sneak into danger.
     My Shepherd has a beautiful heart of love that overflows as He sets His affections on me. Wow, how can that love be directed to a sheep like myself? I don’t understand it, but I cherish it. My Shepherd walks before me, leads me, protects me, and treasures me. I am so thankful for my Shepherd. This sheep is basking in the joy of knowing and being treasured by the Good Shepherd.

 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

 -Jesus (John 10:11)