Chosen To Go

You probably looked at the title of this post and wondered what on the earth glasses and grief have in common. If I were to see the headline without context, my first thought would be the anxiety caused when your only pair of up-to-date glasses are lost or broken. I know the feeling from personal experience when mine were washed away at the beach, and I had to wear old ones for several days. The strain to see clearly can cause a measure of grief. Another potential uniting factor is the money you have to pay. My friends and I were once discussing the most expensive things we use by wearing. A Michael Kors shirt? A Fossil watch? Nope. None of those were the winner for me. It was glasses. It can be painful to dish out so much money for them. Yet, neither ideas were the inspiration for my title. It was the conversation I had with the receptionist at the eye doctor yesterday. As the lady (Emily) was processing my insurance, I asked when the office closed. She seemed tired, and I can relate ...

Godly saints have often said the devil fights when you are working for Jesus. As I prepare for ministry, I have noticed an increase in spiritual opposition. Yet, Jesus has been so sweet and faithful!  The devil tempted me to negative thoughts and discontentment, but I am basking in Christ’s satisfying love. His Word moreover says He will not withhold anything good from His children. Satan then turned to shooting fiery darts of doubts of God’s ability to keep my soul, but I remind him Jesus would not have gone so far to save me only to leave me now. Plus, Jesus said nobody can pluck us from His hand. Following that episode, I began to hear muddled and vague messages of condemnation. From those characteristics alone I can conclude it is not the voice of my Shepherd.  Sometimes, I feel weary of the fight and wish for reprieve, but in the depths of my heart, there is undisturbed rest. I am at peace with my Savior and God. Although I may be tempted to focus on how many tricks the d...

 “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” ~ John 15:16  These were the words of Jesus spoken approximately 2,000 years ago to His disciples. The timeless truth, however, was sealed to my own heart on March 1, 2021 when God used that Scripture verse to call me into missions work. I gladly answered with a resounding “Yes!” I do not know where all that will lead me throughout my life, but it is such a joy to serve Jesus and endeavor to advance His Kingdom. It is merely a drop in the bucket of repayment for the massive debt of love I owe Him for everything He is to me: Savior, Sanctifier, Best Friend, Healer, Shepherd, and the list could go on for eternity!  As most of my audience probably already knows, I graduated from Allegheny Wesleyan College last month with a BA in cross-cultural missions. Jesus h...