The last few posts I've written have been newsy/chatty comments, but now I'd like to share a more "serious" post.
I'd like to share about a burden a feel the LORD has put on my soul for missions and evangelism. Ever since I was saved, really, I have had the desire to share the gospel with others. I would love to ask the friends I played with, and new ones I met, if they knew the LORD.
A few years later when I was 11, and our nation experienced the 9/11 attack on the trade center, I prayed for the names of people I heard of that were involved. It was at this time that I felt the strongest desire to be a missionary. I wanted with my whole heart to grow up to be a single missionary called to Afghanistan.
As I entered into the high school years, I believe God used our history curriculum, Tapestry of Grace, to further develop these desires. I felt amazed by studying how all men from every age needed a Redeemer, and the common thread of hope and salvation that the gospel held out throughout all of history. Seeing the gospel's advance in the past like this encouraged me more for its advance in this age.
Since I was 11, I have changed my desires for specific countries many times. One time I felt like I wanted to go to Israel, and once I thought China, and even another time I thought it was Africa. I also don't know that I want to remain single my whole life, but would like to marry a pastor and possibly be on a church-planting team (LORD-willing ☺).
At 17 and 1/2, I still don't know what are all the wonderful, sovereign plans God has for my life, but I do know that He intends for me to serve His kingdom with my whole heart where He has placed me as a youth. In His kindness, He has blessed me with a wonderful gospel-centered church with godly pastors and friends, where I can serve in and continually grow in my passion for the gospel! I have also been given the wonderful opportunity of joining my mom in taking a friend to the Simply Jesus Bible studies, which has been a very encouraging time of watching someone be drawn to the gospel.
From time to time, God has also impressed various people whom I don't know on my heart to pray for, including the guy my dad used to work for, and the candidates of the presidential race.
I want to close this post by, first of all, thanking you for reading such a long post, and also by asking you to pray that God will continue to help me trust Him for my future, that I would make the most of every evangelism opportunity He brings my way now, and that I would always keep my eyes fixed on what God has opened my own heart to believe about the gospel. All this be to the glory of God and my great Savior!!
Rom. 1:16,
♫ Karen ♫
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3 comments:
Karen, I appreciate your post; it's a joy to hear how the Lord has been at work in your heart. I will gladly pray for you, as you asked. I remember very vividly the temptations that came as my high school graduation approached and I was uncertain as to just where the Lord would take me. It was particularly tempting to be anxious or to be discontent, wanting my future to hurry up and be revealed. I will pray that God will give you wisdom to see how you can best use this time for God's glory as you trust Him for whatever He has in store for you in the future!
p.s.- Would you post some more of your poems? They are always such an encouragement to me!
Thank you so much 4 the encouraging comments, Ms. Katie! I will try to share more poems; I'm glad they minister to you. How gr8 is our God!
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