My baptism 11/19/2023 (Romans 6:4-7, 1 Peter 3:22, Mathew 28:16-20, Acts 2:38-41, Acts 8:12-13)
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:3-7
It’s been a joy to get to know the Lord and He has provided me so much strength this semester! I will say that this semester was not like any other and opened my eyes to keep close to the Lord during the hardest of times and also the greatest times in life! After coming from a tremendous summer in understanding Christ’s significance, I learned to carry that joy as I went back to school. The road was not easy, but His Spirit has brought to my attention in many circumstances where He provided me the strength to overcome challenges I faced during the semester. I will be sharing some of the many lessons the Lord Jesus has taught me and continues to teach as I dive deeper and deeper into His Word.
1. Growing in fellowship in the body of Christ (Acts 2:42-46, Romans 12:3-8, Romans 16, 1 Corinthians 1:9)
While coming back to school, I started to attend a local church called Fellowship Church. It is very much a friendly environment, and I got to connect with some college students my age. As you can see above, it was also the church where I got my baptism. It was a blessing in uniting with student believers and I definitely have learned a lot being there. Their teachings were very encouraging, and I very much enjoyed the bible studies they hosted, where we discussed Jonah and Habakkuk throughout the semester, which was very encouraging. However, I felt off coming to Fellowship Church, and I think it is more of a personal issue.
Fellowship is a massive church with a ton of people, which sounds like a good thing but I struggled in being “part” of the church. When looking back on the assembly I attend in Mechanicsburg (also where I got saved), I felt more encouraged being there because there is this sense of belonging in a smaller group of believers where I find it easier to discover my spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). A dear brother has mentioned to me how a church is where we all love, encourage, and serve with one another so we may honor the Lord who is the Head and we are the body of Christ and where it is written in Spcripture that we are His temple ( 1 Corinthians 3:17, and Ephesians 2:19-22). I think Fellowship Church does put in the effort to have people welcomed and be part of their church, but with my introverted self, I thought it was overwhelming. I managed to develop good relationships with them and will remain close to them and continue to attend their bible studies, but by going to their Sunday services, I felt the Lord was drawing me somewhere else.
The Lord then provided me with a much smaller church called Grace Community Church. There are many older folks, but I definitely found a sense of peace being there. I could connect with each of the members of the assembly, which felt very nice, and I did not feel overstimulated. Much like Mechanicsburg, where we sing hymns (Colossians 3:16) to the Lord, and have midweek bible study and prayer meetings (Acts 4:23-31), which is where I find a deeper connection with the Lord.
I still visit the Mechanicsburg assembly often and am still very much in touch with the saints who are part of it. With that said, I was able to build connections with others at another assembly in Jersey City called Grace Gospel Chapel. As of right now (12/26/2023), I only attended there twice (since I am in Pennsylvania for the majority of the year), but similarly with Mechanicsburg and Grace Community, there was the same structure. While meeting the saints there, I got to meet a diverse group of individuals, and many of them had connections with the people in Mechanicsburg, which is amazing! I am thankful to the Lord that He provided me with God-honoring communities where my faith in Him will increase as myself will decrease (John 3:30). With the connections that Grace Gospel Chapel have with Mechanicsburg, they also are connected with the camp called Greenwood Hills, which I met some good saints who attend there. So kind that the Lord finds a way to allow His people to connect with one another and provides us with close fellowship with Him. I am excited to see what the Lord does next as I continue to trust in Him.
2. Being aware of the foolish. Learn to gain wisdom in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1-4, Mark 13, Colossians 3:5, Proverbs 1:1-7) and share the gospel with others (Acts 5:12-16).
When being a college student, it may be difficult to remain a faithful Christian when you are surrounded by those who are unbelievers. I run cross country and track for my school, in which I tend to see my teammates almost every day since we train together for the season. It is remarkable that the Lord provided me the awareness to understand His wisdom, in which He can provide ways for me to plant the seeds for God to make it grow to those who don’t believe (1 Corinthians 3:7). During runs, I try to find opportunities to speak about the Lord by understanding their perspectives and using that to connect that way in scripture. Most people don’t follow His Word because they are filled with lies from the world and are blind from the Truth (John 9). A dear brother lent me the book “Key Bible Concepts” by David Gooding and John Lennox. The second chapter of the book, “Holiness,” starts by telling how people who don’t believe see God as “unwelcoming” or “a restriction to man’s freedom.” From those statements, that is simply not true, and the book tells us that He wants to be with us to save us. The world shapes the way Christians view the world, which brings unbelievers to think that they do not want to live that “strict life” and want to be “free” and do whatever they please. But as we all know, we are freer than ever when we will be living eternal life in heaven (John 5:24), and God’s wrath will be upon those who don’t believe.
God is an all-loving God who so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son for us to live eternal life with Him. He did not come to the world to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:16-18), and that is what I am willing to teach my teammates throughout the semester, and not just my teammates but with my family and friends, where they may be saved one day. One example I would like to share is when working at Dunkin’, I spoke to a co-worker who is a senior in high school. He lives in the area and plans to attend Messiah University in the fall (where the Mechanicsburg assembly is). I spoke to him about our Lord by modifying myself and adjusting my way of speaking to build up this opportunity to talk to him about the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). He was interested and willing to hear more, which is excellent! Willing to see if the Lord will have him thinking and maybe having to come to Messiah will have him saved. That is one example of me sharing His good news with someone, and I have many more people I continue to share the gospel with.
While sharing His good news with others, a thought came to mind. As mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3, we ourselves cannot save people; only God has that authority. He does the work in us, and we are His handiwork to do these good works (Ephesians 2:10). I remember having a conversation with dear saints in which we all came to an agreement that we are the ones who share the gospel, and then bring them into an assembly as God works in their lives to bring them closer to Him. Another point is that we should not dwell if someone does not comply with the Lord’s teaching. We should remain courteous and compassionate; if they disagree and persecute us, it might be best not to associate with them (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). It does not mean to cut ties with every unbeliever; as long as they are being respectful, then it is okay to remain associated with them, as long as we stay aware of what is good and evil, which is why it is essential to read the bible daily. Also, our actions may show Christ in our lives, which can also plant the seed for them (James 2).
Speaking of reading the bible daily, I have fallen on days where I did not read my bible at all, and when those days occur, I fall into unclean feet and will need washing (John 13:10-13). At times like this, it brings the question, “How can I teach someone the gospel (cleansing their body) if myself is not fully clean?” That thought comes into mind daily, and I have to understand that we should read His Word daily so we can be blessed and be a blessing to others. Similarly, as we eat food every day to nourish our bodies, I put that in the same perspective in reading His Word. By reading His Word, I can be a good instructor in teaching what the Teacher already knows (Luke 6:40, Mathew 5:48). Learning to read the bible daily is a blessing, and the Lord continues to teach me as I grow in His love, honor, and glory.
The Lord also provided me with good instructors who have built wisdom over the years to disciple those who are struggling. At the beginning of the semester, I finished reading through Mathew and Romans and struggled to find the “right” books to read. A brother texted me with an idea to read through John and Romans again. Whenever I read about someone who repents and believes Christ as Savior, I mark it down, which becomes very encouraging and helpful. That study brought to loads of other studies such as understanding the “I Am” sayings, the seven miracles that Jesus gives, the twenty-five “Amen Amen” statements, a deeper understanding of John 6, seeing John 14-16 as a unit, memorizing important verses, and so many others. Doing this study helped me grow, and thankful to the Lord for providing me with a brother who has been very helpful in getting to know Him. I am currently doing the same thing with Acts and Luke (while also reading these books with college believers in the hope of encouragement for both them and me), reading through 1 Corinthians leading to Hebrews (in building an understanding of His plans for the church), learning the books from the Old Testament to the New Testament (which another dear brother has been helping me with), and so many other studies. It truly is a blessing as I learn more of His wisdom.
3. The Lord Jesus has the ultimate authority (Mathew 28:16-20, Colossians 3:15-23)
In college, I attend classes that may seem “biased” in many cases, and that is how the world is. I have witnessed professors and teachers who seem to have it “all figured out” and see themselves above the students. I see that as somewhat true because God gave them those positions to teach the younger generations, but there is only One who has the ultimate authority, which is God (Luke 4:31-32).
He is in control of everything that happens and has a reason. In many cases, I run into issues where I feel nervous about being around people who are “higher” than me and feel intimidated by those who judge me on what I believe and who I am. Sometimes, people underestimate me because they don’t take the time to listen or justify the words I have to say due to my communication impairment. The Lord has been helpful in building confidence to stand up to the Truth and knowing that the Lord will keep me safe (Romans 5:2, Acts 5:17-24). At times, I also think nervousness comes into play when talking to people who have a “higher authority” over me, but that is something I continue to pray and meditate on as I trust in Him (Romans 15:13). I was listening to teaching recently when we remain in Christ, we shall not be defeated, and that is what I put my mind when the nerves come in. Not only with speaking but also with responsibilities such as presentations and preparing for an exam. Those nerves slowly loosen when knowing that Christ is in control. The Lord has given me the thought of going into speech therapy after I graduate so I can learn to be more fluent in speaking, which I continue to pray for as I get closer to May.
When speaking about intimidation from “higher authorities” when praying with others, I have struggled to contribute when I am in groups. Not only with prayer but also sharing thoughts at the Lord’s Supper and sometimes even at bible studies. I have mentioned how great prayer meetings are, but I also have to know that every person who is part of the body of the assembly is there to encourage one another. I spoke to a dear brother about this, and we were discussing through Mathew 6:5-15 what prayer is and its purpose. I knew that prayer is developing a relationship with our Lord, and He, of course, knows what's in our hearts. Still, the intimacy of speaking with the Lord will show our humility to Him, and He will reward us through His love (Just like the Lord Jesus prayed for believers in John 17:20-26). I keep that in mind whether I am praying on my own or in groups. Even with nonbelievers at the dinner table, I strive to say grace and offer it to others before eating. Sometimes, it may be easier to pray on our own, but I am slowly building confidence in praying with others and showing less hesitancy.
4. Learning not to quit when things get difficult (Proverbs 19:1-2)
I have filled various responsibilities this semester where I struggled to keep track of everything. I was a tutor and an academic coach, ran cross country, took 18 credits, and worked at Dunkin throughout the fall semester. At times, it was overwhelming, but I am thankful that the Lord taught me to take it one step at a time (Psalms 61:1-2).
There were moments of almost quitting, such as my job at Dunkin’, but the Lord made His way (like He always does) to prevent me from doing so. I was speaking to a dear sister about the situation, and she sent me a message quoting Proverbs 19:1-2 where she discussed with me two lessons, which are that poverty is not always bad in comparison to lack of integrity or that there are greater things to have than a lack of poverty such as integrity. Her second lesson was that hasty decisions lead to missing your way. She encouraged me to pray more about it, not to be hasty, and not to quit when it gets tough. Instead, I will be open to using the position I was offered to build opportunities to speak the gospel with others. And that is what I did when I mentioned my co-worker before. Everything got better afterward, and of course, there were some rough patches here and there, but the Lord continued to take care of me. A week later, I was put off the schedule for Sundays without even asking for it. It is amazing how the Lord can reward us and that obeying Him will create the time needed to praise Him for His love for us.
While deciding not to quit that job, I still had a sense of overwhelmedness and thought of quitting something again. It was not Dunkin’, but I was considering not tutoring, academic coaching, or dropping a class. Also, laziness started to occur, and I did not “feel” like putting in the effort to do well in school. When those thoughts occurred, I took time in prayer, and an hour later, I went on my phone and saw a dear brother posting a teaching on being a Godly man about Boaz in the Book of Ruth. Using the example of Boaz, he got things done and honored the Lord in his everyday life. The primary purpose of the teaching is that even though there may be things we don’t like to do, we have to do them even if it may be challenging. In the position that I am in, as a senior in college, I am getting closer to being in the “real world,” and I need to keep striving for success because the Lord wants me to succeed. We need to do these things in order to develop the resources to honor the Lord Jesus. Very much encouraged me to strive to do things not for myself but through Christ because we are in Christ and not through my own flesh (Romans 8:6). So I decided to keep with the positions I was given, and everything went well, thank the Lord. I managed to end the semester on a good note and was provided with an internship for the spring semester for a running company in the area. I am glad the Lord has given me this opportunity after a long but very rewarding semester.
5. Thanking God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for everything (Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 3:3-14)
When I get to the end of the year, I need to thank the Lord Jesus for everything He has done for me. Even before I was saved, He took care of me and provided me with a good conscience (1 Peter 3:16). He kept me from doing anything too significantly wrong, and I thank the Lord for drawing Him to me as I got to trust in His significance this summer. He brought me the understanding to forgive (Colossians 3:13), repent (Acts 3:19), and build His wisdom with others around me so that I may not bring unwholesome talk to others (Ephesians 4:29-32).
I also thank the Lord for His care in my everyday life for not just the significant things but even the small things in life, such as sleeping in a warm bed every night, having to afford meals every day, having a healthy body for me to live in; it truly is a blessing the know that the Lord has been so kind even though I spent twenty-two years in not knowing Him. Spending time praying with Him and reading His Word brings me joy and confidence not to be afraid and knowing He will be with me for eternity (Joshua 1:9).
To conclude this post, I want to give a word of gratitude and hope this brings encouragement to you as I continue to be open in sharing what the Lord teaches me. If you have not read my testimony (Which I published in September 2023), I invite you to do so and will continue sharing my journey in Christ as we approach the new year! Happy New Year everyone! Praise the Lord (Psalms 150)!
It’s been a joy to get to know the Lord and He has provided me so much strength this semester! I will say that this semester was not like any other and opened my eyes to keep close to the Lord during the hardest of times and also the greatest times in life! After coming from a tremendous summer in understanding Christ’s significance, I learned to carry that joy as I went back to school. The road was not easy, but His Spirit has brought to my attention in many circumstances where He provided me the strength to overcome challenges I faced during the semester. I will be sharing some of the many lessons the Lord Jesus has taught me and continues to teach as I dive deeper and deeper into His Word.
1. Growing in fellowship in the body of Christ (Acts 2:42-46, Romans 12:3-8, Romans 16, 1 Corinthians 1:9)
While coming back to school, I started to attend a local church called Fellowship Church. It is very much a friendly environment, and I got to connect with some college students my age. As you can see above, it was also the church where I got my baptism. It was a blessing in uniting with student believers and I definitely have learned a lot being there. Their teachings were very encouraging, and I very much enjoyed the bible studies they hosted, where we discussed Jonah and Habakkuk throughout the semester, which was very encouraging. However, I felt off coming to Fellowship Church, and I think it is more of a personal issue.
Fellowship is a massive church with a ton of people, which sounds like a good thing but I struggled in being “part” of the church. When looking back on the assembly I attend in Mechanicsburg (also where I got saved), I felt more encouraged being there because there is this sense of belonging in a smaller group of believers where I find it easier to discover my spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). A dear brother has mentioned to me how a church is where we all love, encourage, and serve with one another so we may honor the Lord who is the Head and we are the body of Christ and where it is written in Spcripture that we are His temple ( 1 Corinthians 3:17, and Ephesians 2:19-22). I think Fellowship Church does put in the effort to have people welcomed and be part of their church, but with my introverted self, I thought it was overwhelming. I managed to develop good relationships with them and will remain close to them and continue to attend their bible studies, but by going to their Sunday services, I felt the Lord was drawing me somewhere else.
The Lord then provided me with a much smaller church called Grace Community Church. There are many older folks, but I definitely found a sense of peace being there. I could connect with each of the members of the assembly, which felt very nice, and I did not feel overstimulated. Much like Mechanicsburg, where we sing hymns (Colossians 3:16) to the Lord, and have midweek bible study and prayer meetings (Acts 4:23-31), which is where I find a deeper connection with the Lord.
I still visit the Mechanicsburg assembly often and am still very much in touch with the saints who are part of it. With that said, I was able to build connections with others at another assembly in Jersey City called Grace Gospel Chapel. As of right now (12/26/2023), I only attended there twice (since I am in Pennsylvania for the majority of the year), but similarly with Mechanicsburg and Grace Community, there was the same structure. While meeting the saints there, I got to meet a diverse group of individuals, and many of them had connections with the people in Mechanicsburg, which is amazing! I am thankful to the Lord that He provided me with God-honoring communities where my faith in Him will increase as myself will decrease (John 3:30). With the connections that Grace Gospel Chapel have with Mechanicsburg, they also are connected with the camp called Greenwood Hills, which I met some good saints who attend there. So kind that the Lord finds a way to allow His people to connect with one another and provides us with close fellowship with Him. I am excited to see what the Lord does next as I continue to trust in Him.
2. Being aware of the foolish. Learn to gain wisdom in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1-4, Mark 13, Colossians 3:5, Proverbs 1:1-7) and share the gospel with others (Acts 5:12-16).
When being a college student, it may be difficult to remain a faithful Christian when you are surrounded by those who are unbelievers. I run cross country and track for my school, in which I tend to see my teammates almost every day since we train together for the season. It is remarkable that the Lord provided me the awareness to understand His wisdom, in which He can provide ways for me to plant the seeds for God to make it grow to those who don’t believe (1 Corinthians 3:7). During runs, I try to find opportunities to speak about the Lord by understanding their perspectives and using that to connect that way in scripture. Most people don’t follow His Word because they are filled with lies from the world and are blind from the Truth (John 9). A dear brother lent me the book “Key Bible Concepts” by David Gooding and John Lennox. The second chapter of the book, “Holiness,” starts by telling how people who don’t believe see God as “unwelcoming” or “a restriction to man’s freedom.” From those statements, that is simply not true, and the book tells us that He wants to be with us to save us. The world shapes the way Christians view the world, which brings unbelievers to think that they do not want to live that “strict life” and want to be “free” and do whatever they please. But as we all know, we are freer than ever when we will be living eternal life in heaven (John 5:24), and God’s wrath will be upon those who don’t believe.
God is an all-loving God who so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son for us to live eternal life with Him. He did not come to the world to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:16-18), and that is what I am willing to teach my teammates throughout the semester, and not just my teammates but with my family and friends, where they may be saved one day. One example I would like to share is when working at Dunkin’, I spoke to a co-worker who is a senior in high school. He lives in the area and plans to attend Messiah University in the fall (where the Mechanicsburg assembly is). I spoke to him about our Lord by modifying myself and adjusting my way of speaking to build up this opportunity to talk to him about the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). He was interested and willing to hear more, which is excellent! Willing to see if the Lord will have him thinking and maybe having to come to Messiah will have him saved. That is one example of me sharing His good news with someone, and I have many more people I continue to share the gospel with.
While sharing His good news with others, a thought came to mind. As mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3, we ourselves cannot save people; only God has that authority. He does the work in us, and we are His handiwork to do these good works (Ephesians 2:10). I remember having a conversation with dear saints in which we all came to an agreement that we are the ones who share the gospel, and then bring them into an assembly as God works in their lives to bring them closer to Him. Another point is that we should not dwell if someone does not comply with the Lord’s teaching. We should remain courteous and compassionate; if they disagree and persecute us, it might be best not to associate with them (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). It does not mean to cut ties with every unbeliever; as long as they are being respectful, then it is okay to remain associated with them, as long as we stay aware of what is good and evil, which is why it is essential to read the bible daily. Also, our actions may show Christ in our lives, which can also plant the seed for them (James 2).
Speaking of reading the bible daily, I have fallen on days where I did not read my bible at all, and when those days occur, I fall into unclean feet and will need washing (John 13:10-13). At times like this, it brings the question, “How can I teach someone the gospel (cleansing their body) if myself is not fully clean?” That thought comes into mind daily, and I have to understand that we should read His Word daily so we can be blessed and be a blessing to others. Similarly, as we eat food every day to nourish our bodies, I put that in the same perspective in reading His Word. By reading His Word, I can be a good instructor in teaching what the Teacher already knows (Luke 6:40, Mathew 5:48). Learning to read the bible daily is a blessing, and the Lord continues to teach me as I grow in His love, honor, and glory.
The Lord also provided me with good instructors who have built wisdom over the years to disciple those who are struggling. At the beginning of the semester, I finished reading through Mathew and Romans and struggled to find the “right” books to read. A brother texted me with an idea to read through John and Romans again. Whenever I read about someone who repents and believes Christ as Savior, I mark it down, which becomes very encouraging and helpful. That study brought to loads of other studies such as understanding the “I Am” sayings, the seven miracles that Jesus gives, the twenty-five “Amen Amen” statements, a deeper understanding of John 6, seeing John 14-16 as a unit, memorizing important verses, and so many others. Doing this study helped me grow, and thankful to the Lord for providing me with a brother who has been very helpful in getting to know Him. I am currently doing the same thing with Acts and Luke (while also reading these books with college believers in the hope of encouragement for both them and me), reading through 1 Corinthians leading to Hebrews (in building an understanding of His plans for the church), learning the books from the Old Testament to the New Testament (which another dear brother has been helping me with), and so many other studies. It truly is a blessing as I learn more of His wisdom.
3. The Lord Jesus has the ultimate authority (Mathew 28:16-20, Colossians 3:15-23)
In college, I attend classes that may seem “biased” in many cases, and that is how the world is. I have witnessed professors and teachers who seem to have it “all figured out” and see themselves above the students. I see that as somewhat true because God gave them those positions to teach the younger generations, but there is only One who has the ultimate authority, which is God (Luke 4:31-32).
He is in control of everything that happens and has a reason. In many cases, I run into issues where I feel nervous about being around people who are “higher” than me and feel intimidated by those who judge me on what I believe and who I am. Sometimes, people underestimate me because they don’t take the time to listen or justify the words I have to say due to my communication impairment. The Lord has been helpful in building confidence to stand up to the Truth and knowing that the Lord will keep me safe (Romans 5:2, Acts 5:17-24). At times, I also think nervousness comes into play when talking to people who have a “higher authority” over me, but that is something I continue to pray and meditate on as I trust in Him (Romans 15:13). I was listening to teaching recently when we remain in Christ, we shall not be defeated, and that is what I put my mind when the nerves come in. Not only with speaking but also with responsibilities such as presentations and preparing for an exam. Those nerves slowly loosen when knowing that Christ is in control. The Lord has given me the thought of going into speech therapy after I graduate so I can learn to be more fluent in speaking, which I continue to pray for as I get closer to May.
When speaking about intimidation from “higher authorities” when praying with others, I have struggled to contribute when I am in groups. Not only with prayer but also sharing thoughts at the Lord’s Supper and sometimes even at bible studies. I have mentioned how great prayer meetings are, but I also have to know that every person who is part of the body of the assembly is there to encourage one another. I spoke to a dear brother about this, and we were discussing through Mathew 6:5-15 what prayer is and its purpose. I knew that prayer is developing a relationship with our Lord, and He, of course, knows what's in our hearts. Still, the intimacy of speaking with the Lord will show our humility to Him, and He will reward us through His love (Just like the Lord Jesus prayed for believers in John 17:20-26). I keep that in mind whether I am praying on my own or in groups. Even with nonbelievers at the dinner table, I strive to say grace and offer it to others before eating. Sometimes, it may be easier to pray on our own, but I am slowly building confidence in praying with others and showing less hesitancy.
4. Learning not to quit when things get difficult (Proverbs 19:1-2)
I have filled various responsibilities this semester where I struggled to keep track of everything. I was a tutor and an academic coach, ran cross country, took 18 credits, and worked at Dunkin throughout the fall semester. At times, it was overwhelming, but I am thankful that the Lord taught me to take it one step at a time (Psalms 61:1-2).
There were moments of almost quitting, such as my job at Dunkin’, but the Lord made His way (like He always does) to prevent me from doing so. I was speaking to a dear sister about the situation, and she sent me a message quoting Proverbs 19:1-2 where she discussed with me two lessons, which are that poverty is not always bad in comparison to lack of integrity or that there are greater things to have than a lack of poverty such as integrity. Her second lesson was that hasty decisions lead to missing your way. She encouraged me to pray more about it, not to be hasty, and not to quit when it gets tough. Instead, I will be open to using the position I was offered to build opportunities to speak the gospel with others. And that is what I did when I mentioned my co-worker before. Everything got better afterward, and of course, there were some rough patches here and there, but the Lord continued to take care of me. A week later, I was put off the schedule for Sundays without even asking for it. It is amazing how the Lord can reward us and that obeying Him will create the time needed to praise Him for His love for us.
While deciding not to quit that job, I still had a sense of overwhelmedness and thought of quitting something again. It was not Dunkin’, but I was considering not tutoring, academic coaching, or dropping a class. Also, laziness started to occur, and I did not “feel” like putting in the effort to do well in school. When those thoughts occurred, I took time in prayer, and an hour later, I went on my phone and saw a dear brother posting a teaching on being a Godly man about Boaz in the Book of Ruth. Using the example of Boaz, he got things done and honored the Lord in his everyday life. The primary purpose of the teaching is that even though there may be things we don’t like to do, we have to do them even if it may be challenging. In the position that I am in, as a senior in college, I am getting closer to being in the “real world,” and I need to keep striving for success because the Lord wants me to succeed. We need to do these things in order to develop the resources to honor the Lord Jesus. Very much encouraged me to strive to do things not for myself but through Christ because we are in Christ and not through my own flesh (Romans 8:6). So I decided to keep with the positions I was given, and everything went well, thank the Lord. I managed to end the semester on a good note and was provided with an internship for the spring semester for a running company in the area. I am glad the Lord has given me this opportunity after a long but very rewarding semester.
5. Thanking God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for everything (Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 3:3-14)
When I get to the end of the year, I need to thank the Lord Jesus for everything He has done for me. Even before I was saved, He took care of me and provided me with a good conscience (1 Peter 3:16). He kept me from doing anything too significantly wrong, and I thank the Lord for drawing Him to me as I got to trust in His significance this summer. He brought me the understanding to forgive (Colossians 3:13), repent (Acts 3:19), and build His wisdom with others around me so that I may not bring unwholesome talk to others (Ephesians 4:29-32).
I also thank the Lord for His care in my everyday life for not just the significant things but even the small things in life, such as sleeping in a warm bed every night, having to afford meals every day, having a healthy body for me to live in; it truly is a blessing the know that the Lord has been so kind even though I spent twenty-two years in not knowing Him. Spending time praying with Him and reading His Word brings me joy and confidence not to be afraid and knowing He will be with me for eternity (Joshua 1:9).
To conclude this post, I want to give a word of gratitude and hope this brings encouragement to you as I continue to be open in sharing what the Lord teaches me. If you have not read my testimony (Which I published in September 2023), I invite you to do so and will continue sharing my journey in Christ as we approach the new year! Happy New Year everyone! Praise the Lord (Psalms 150)!