A LIFE CHANGING TESTIMONY

I remember hearing on the radio one morning that five missionaries were slain by the Auca Indians in Ecuador. In my junior year in high school, I read with great interest, "Shadow of the Almighty", the journal and testimony of Jim Elliot. I was so impressed with his devotion to Jesus Christ. Through his journal, it was obvious that Christ was first in his life. God used his testimony to challenge me on in my devotion to Jesus Christ. His writing about his time at Wheaton College interested me in applying to Wheaton. Jim wrote, "he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." That truth has been very helpful in my life and I pray it will guide those after me.

GOD USED IT FOR GOOD

Teenage years can be very difficult. One experiences many changes and adjustments. I remember the difficulty I experienced with acne and my complexion. It made me quite self conscious. Looking back, I have thanked the Lord many times for the blessing which I considered a curse. It was a real safeguard against over attention to girls and dating. Over the years, I have noticed that some of the things we consider to be bad for us are there for a purpose. God saw that Paul needed his thorn in the flesh. God did not want me to get my life fouled up with girls before I would meet His choice for me.

GOD DOES HEAR ME

As a young person, I remember a great desire to share my new found faith in Jesus Christ, but with little instruction of what to do. During my Jr. High years I told the Lord one day, " if you ever have Mrs. Cosgrove assign a paper entitled 'The Most Important Event in My Life', I will write about my salvation experience". I think only several days later she gave that assignment almost word for word. I was sort of stunned. I did follow through and wrote about accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior. She always picked several students to read their paper. I was a little scared that she would call on me and she did. I am grateful for this early test of obedience. Looking back, I realize what it did for me was to give me an awareness that God does hear my prayer and was able to move a teacher to respond to my prayer. I also learned that God takes us at our word. I know now, God used it to encourage me on in daily conversing with God.