Good afternoon GYC!
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Is there sunshine in
your soul today? Amen!
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How many of you saw
the sun shining through
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the convention windows?
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Wasn't that beautiful?
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What a reminder of the beauty
that the Son of Righteousness
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permeates and warms every sinew
and chamber of our hearts. Amen?
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You know, in the
book of Acts you see Saul
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on his way to Damascus.
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And as he's on his way
to Damascus to persecute
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God's people, this light just
enshrouds him and blinds him.
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And it is in that
moment that he has a definite,
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and personal
encounter with his Savior.
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You know, Vera Onkoba is
a personal friend of mine;
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a very close friend of mine,
and she often refers to her
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testimony as her
Damascus experience.
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Something that I have treasured
of our friendship is that
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it reminds me of heaven, because
we are constantly sharing
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the manna that God is
feeding us with from His Word.
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And you look at our text
messages and they're really
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long, because we often are
sharing what God has taught
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us in our devotions.
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And its been a friendship that I
treasure, because in the life of
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Vera, she reflects the
righteousness of Jesus.
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And it is her desire this
afternoon that the scales that
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have been on our
eyes; those scales of fear,
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those scales of doubt of God,
she longs that this afternoon
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those scales would fall, and
that you would see Jesus for who
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He is: your personal Savior.
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And so after this song you will
hear Vera sharing her testimony
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of who God has been to her.
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Isn't it a wonderful privilege
to be able to lean on the
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everlasting arms of Jesus?
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We want to invite you
to join us in singing,
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Leaning On the Everlasting Arms.
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Fellowshipping in
Christ, please stand with us.
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Happy Sabbath!
That's a weak Happy Sabbath.
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Happy Sabbath! Happy Sabbath!
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Praise the Lord! Let us pray.
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Loving Father, we come before
Your presence this afternoon
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to Your throne of grace.
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We thank You that it
is a place of refuge.
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Father, as I share what
You have done in my life,
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I humbly ask that not I,
but Christ be seen, be heard,
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be known, is my humble prayer
in the loving and precious name
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of my Savior, and my
Redeemer, Jesus. Amen.
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You may be seated.
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I want to humbly thank God for
this opportunity He has given me
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to share what God has done in
my life; to share of His glory,
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His praises, His faithfulness,
and goodness to me, a sinner.
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I can only share my testimony
as it centers around the most
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sacred book in the
world, and throughout all the
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ceaseless ages of eternity.
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And so before I start my story,
I would like us to turn to
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a couple verses that I consider
personally as anchor verses
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in my life; the first of which
is Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 61:10.
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And this is the verse
that actually God grabbed my
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attention as I began my
intense personal journey.
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The Word of God says, I will
greatly rejoice in the Lord,
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my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for He hath clothed me with
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the garments of salvation, He
hath covered me with a robe of
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righteousness, as a bridegroom
decketh himself with ornaments,
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and as a bride
adorneth herself with jewels.
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The second verse
is Isaiah 43:3, 4.
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Again, this is an anchor verse
in my life that God has revealed
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to me more and
more that has value.
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Isaiah 43:3, 4. For I the Lord
thy God, the Holy One of Israel,
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thy Savior: I gave
Egypt for thy ransom,
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Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
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Since thou wast precious in my
sight, thou hast been honorable,
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and I have loved thee: therefore
will I give men for thee,
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and people for thy life.
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And the last verse of many
others, but this is another
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third anchor verse for me
is 2 Peter 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1.
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Once I get there! Simon Peter,
a servant and an apostle of
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Jesus Christ, to them that have
obtained like precious faith
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with us through the
righteousness of God
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and our Savior Jesus Christ.
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By trade I am a nurse,
but really I am a follower
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and disciple of Jesus Christ.
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And I want to thank
Him for the experiences
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that He has given me.
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When I was a little girl I
remember thinking to myself,
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I want to be a
missionary when I grow up.
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I want to give my life
for the sake of the gospel.
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Little did I know how God
would shape and curve my life
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to where I am today.
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I'll share a testimony
with you of a recent experience
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that I had in the hospital.
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While I was taking care of this
gentleman, he was 93 years old,
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very sharp intellectually.
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He had actually just
retired at the age of 92.
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He was a full time businessman.
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But he decided that he needed
to slow down so that he can also
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focus more on the ministry
that God had called him to,
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which is praying for people.
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And so this day that I
was taking care of him,
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unfortunately, he had
suffered from a mild stroke,
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and a decision needed to be
made; would it be worth it to
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have a surgical procedure
to help clear the clot that had
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developed in one of
his arteries on his neck,
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or would it be
just to let him be,
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and then
whatever happens happens?
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And so this was... I entered
his room, and we're talking
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about the plan of care.
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And a man of God, I was so
grateful that he trusted and
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believed that God would
do what is right for him.
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And I rejoiced with him,
and I said, Praise the Lord!
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You believe in the God of heaven
who is able to answer prayers.
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And right before the end of my
shift, I did not know whether I
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would take care of him the next
day, so I'm so grateful that
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God gives us opportunities all
the time to share with people
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a word of hope in due season.
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And so I told him, I
have a promise for you.
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And he said, What is that?
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And I turned to
the book of Isaiah.
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You'll find out that Isaiah is
my favorite book in the Bible.
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In Isaiah 46:4, and I gave him
this promise: And even to your
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old old age I am He; and even
to hoar hairs will I carry you;
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I have made, and I will
bear; even I will carry,
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and will deliver you.
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And so I said goodnight to him.
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I left. I didn't know
what the next day would bring.
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The next day comes; I
am given him as my patient.
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And of which I was very thankful
for, and honored to be able to
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take care of a 94 year old.
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And while I was
taking care of him that day,
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the surgeon of the family
was leaning toward doing the
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surgical procedure, so... But
the surgeon needed to explain
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to him exactly what would
be done, and the outcomes,
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or side effects of the surgery,
or the complications rather.
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And so while we are discussing,
and I'm standing there in the
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room silently listening to
what the surgeon is telling him,
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he explains the procedure and
then explains the complications,
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as well as the benefits
of having the procedure.
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And then the
family is all silent.
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You can hear a
pin drop in the room.
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And I'm standing there looking
a him, and just silently praying
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that God would give the
family the right understanding
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of what they needed to do.
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And I was not expecting this,
but the patient turns around
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and looks at me,
and he says, Vera,
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what do you think I should do?
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And my eyes, and my jaw just
dropped almost to the ground
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thinking, he's just
asking me after the surgeon has
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explained to him what he should
do, and the family has not
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decided what
they are going to do.
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And at that moment I prayed.
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I sent a quick prayer up
to heaven and I said, Father,
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give me wisdom to
know what to tell this man.
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He's 94 years old. I have
not even lived to be that long.
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What wisdom do I have?
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And he says, Yes, please share.
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What do you think I should do?
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And God gave me
these words to him.
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I told him, I said,
Sir, you're a man of God.
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You're a man of prayer.
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I can tell you've walked
with God for a long time.
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I believe that by praying
God will give you the answer.
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And, sure enough, by the grace
of God, they made a decision.
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They decided that
they were going to do
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the surgical procedure.
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And by God's grace,
this man is a living miracle,
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because the procedure
that he had done at his age,
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and some of the complications,
he would not have survived.
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Now why do I
share this testimony?
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It is because when I thought
that I wanted to be a missionary
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somewhere in the
world, I did not know how God
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was going to do this.
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Well, my story really starts
a hundred years ago where two
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missionaries, both from North
America, decided that they were
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going to leave
everything and come to Africa.
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And my grandfather, from my
Mom's side, he was working in a
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tea farm, and he
hears a knock on the door.
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He opens the door. There's
a colporteur and Bible worker
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standing at his door
asking him, Do you know
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about the Bible Sabbath?
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Well, my grandfather
happened to be reading a Bible
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at that time in his life.
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And he said, No, I
don't know about the Sabbath,
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but I've heard of it, and
I don't know how to keep the
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Sabbath, and I
don't know what to do.
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And so this colporteur
began sharing with him.
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Soon enough my grandfather
worked for a tea farmer,
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and he decided that he
was going to keep his Sabbath
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the very first
time the next week.
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And so he said, Can I
please have my Sabbath off?
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Well the tea farmer, who
was the owner of this tea farm,
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said, No, there's no
way that you can keep
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the Sabbath and work here.
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So my grandfather, from my
mother's side, decided that he
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was going to quit working.
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And, sure enough, the next
week came, the Sabbath came,
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and he did not show up to work.
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And that was the end of
his career, as far as working
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for this tea farmer, only
to work for the greatest person
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in the universe, which is God.
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And so he became a full
time minister of the gospel,
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although he never
went to a Bible college,
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or anything like that.
00:14:31.23\00:14:32.57
And he started
working with his people.
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They're the Kolan
geen people: teaching them,
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preaching the gospel.
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Then my dad's father, which I'll
share later on a little bit more
00:14:40.11\00:14:44.65
about this man that
I met here in America,
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he, as well,
was... he planted fruits.
00:14:48.22\00:14:51.62
And this missionary from America
in the early 1900's decided
00:14:51.65\00:14:57.23
that he was going to leave
everything and come to Africa,
00:14:57.26\00:14:59.96
and so went to my
grandfather to buy fruit.
00:15:00.00\00:15:04.27
And it was at that time that
they developed a relationship.
00:15:04.30\00:15:07.97
And the missionary started
sharing with my grandfather
00:15:08.00\00:15:10.94
about the health message, and
things about healthful living.
00:15:10.97\00:15:14.51
And then the door was open.
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And in six months this
missionary learned fluently
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the Kisii language, and was
able to communicate very well
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with my grandfather,
and many other people
00:15:24.39\00:15:26.25
in the home village.
00:15:26.32\00:15:27.66
The commitment both grandfathers
made to raise their families
00:15:27.69\00:15:31.69
to believe the teachings of the
Bible as Seventh-day Adventists
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has greatly impacted me,
and my siblings, and my parents.
00:15:36.03\00:15:40.20
And so my grandparents raised
our parents, and then my dad
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and my mom come
into the picture.
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They also met, and got
married, and have five children.
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I am two of five. And it
was their decision as well that
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they would choose
to remain faithful
00:15:56.92\00:15:59.25
to the teachings
of the Scriptures.
00:15:59.32\00:16:01.62
My grandmother, my dad's
mother, was very influential
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as well in my life.
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I remember at a very young
age she'd wake up very early
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in the morning, and
because I have my name,
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which is Morah in
Kisii, she would wake me up.
00:16:15.57\00:16:20.18
And she'd say,
Vera, Vera, wake up!
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And she'd always... She
had arthritis on her back,
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and she always wanted me to
rub her back with some lotion.
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And I used to get so
frustrated thinking, Lord,
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why does she wake me up?
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There's two other
sisters, and out of the two
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she's always waking me up.
00:16:35.32\00:16:36.79
But God knew that I needed to
see that example of a woman who
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prayed, because later on God
would encourage me to experience
00:16:41.50\00:16:46.07
Him through a
journey of prayer as well,
00:16:46.10\00:16:48.84
and love to spend
time with God in prayer.
00:16:48.87\00:16:51.54
I would like, at this time,
to take a moment to really thank
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missionaries who have chosen
to give their life to service.
00:16:56.08\00:17:01.28
You have no idea how greatly
impacted the lives of many are.
00:17:01.35\00:17:06.52
I am a witness as a
result of many of the
00:17:06.55\00:17:09.39
sacrifices of missionaries.
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I am indebted to the call that
now I myself see myself as a
00:17:11.79\00:17:17.33
missionary here to
America, the great America.
00:17:17.37\00:17:20.84
To the colporteurs and Bible
workers, I really praise God
00:17:20.87\00:17:24.47
that this work,
though it is hard,
00:17:24.51\00:17:27.24
there's a song that I learned
one summer where it says that
00:17:27.28\00:17:30.98
even if it is hard,
heaven is cheap enough.
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It's worth the effort.
00:17:34.28\00:17:35.72
So as life is going on in Kenya
growing up, learning more about
00:17:35.75\00:17:41.79
Jesus, at home my parents had
made the decision that morning
00:17:41.82\00:17:45.66
and evening prayer
time was very important.
00:17:45.69\00:17:48.80
So every morning we
would have morning worship,
00:17:48.83\00:17:51.33
and in the evening we
would have evening worship.
00:17:51.37\00:17:53.80
No matter how late it was,
no matter how early it was,
00:17:53.84\00:17:56.91
my parents really
made that a point.
00:17:56.94\00:17:59.07
And their reason why is they
always told us that before you
00:17:59.11\00:18:03.85
go out there in the
world, we need to bind you
00:18:03.88\00:18:07.18
to the altar of prayer.
00:18:07.22\00:18:09.12
And they would always encourage
us that throughout the day
00:18:09.15\00:18:12.59
it was this atmosphere of
keeping prayer as part of our
00:18:12.62\00:18:16.02
lives that would keep us
faithful, and would enable us
00:18:16.06\00:18:19.39
to be encouraged
with whatever trials
00:18:19.46\00:18:21.56
and challenges that we'd face.
00:18:21.60\00:18:23.26
And so I remember
thinking, Wow, Lord!
00:18:23.30\00:18:26.67
You know, one time my brother,
actually it happened to him,
00:18:26.70\00:18:30.77
he... We were going
to be late to school.
00:18:30.81\00:18:33.11
But again, because my parents
had pledged that morning and
00:18:33.17\00:18:36.48
evening prayer was something
that they would choose to
00:18:36.51\00:18:39.71
carry out in our home,
we would end up being late.
00:18:39.75\00:18:42.62
And my brother pleaded,
and he'd say, daddy, daddy,
00:18:42.65\00:18:45.49
but we're going
to be late for class.
00:18:45.52\00:18:47.26
And my dad said, Well, if you
had woken up at the time I woke
00:18:47.32\00:18:51.16
you up, then you would
not be late, and we'd still be
00:18:51.19\00:18:53.60
able to have family worship.
00:18:53.66\00:18:55.10
And sure enough, we got late,
and we got punished in school,
00:18:55.13\00:18:59.00
but we learned
that morning prayer is
00:18:59.03\00:19:02.10
something very important.
00:19:02.14\00:19:04.04
We also learned in childhood
the love and character of God.
00:19:04.07\00:19:08.04
And I really want to encourage
parents that something that was
00:19:08.11\00:19:12.05
so beautiful that my parents did
was they just simply showed us
00:19:12.08\00:19:16.75
the practical
truths about the gospel.
00:19:16.79\00:19:20.16
At home they lived the life that
they lived, and in public they
00:19:20.19\00:19:23.59
also lived the life they did.
00:19:23.63\00:19:25.43
It was a consistent
reflection of the love of Jesus.
00:19:25.49\00:19:29.30
I'm not saying in any way that
my parents are perfect parents,
00:19:29.33\00:19:32.73
but what I do love is they
constantly pointed us to the
00:19:32.77\00:19:36.67
character of the
loving God that we serve.
00:19:36.71\00:19:39.27
They also encouraged us that if
we wanted to spend eternity with
00:19:39.31\00:19:44.95
Jesus, that we would
have to forsake our sins.
00:19:44.98\00:19:49.78
And I remember as a little girl
thinking that, Wow, if I do not
00:19:49.82\00:19:55.32
see the face of Jesus, it
is because my sins will have
00:19:55.39\00:20:00.20
kept me away from Him.
00:20:00.23\00:20:01.96
And that was something that was
so important, because I remember
00:20:02.00\00:20:05.37
one evening, particularly,
running into my room
00:20:05.40\00:20:09.70
and pleading with God,
and asking Him to please
00:20:09.74\00:20:13.07
give me victory over sin.
00:20:13.11\00:20:15.51
Though I was a child, I did not
understand the deep theological
00:20:15.54\00:20:19.91
complexities of the science
of salvation, but I did know
00:20:19.98\00:20:25.32
something, that when I did
something wrong it was sin,
00:20:25.35\00:20:28.32
but when I did something
good, it was the right thing.
00:20:28.36\00:20:32.83
And so I remember thinking,
Wow, Father, please change my
00:20:32.86\00:20:37.33
heart, change my heart.
00:20:37.37\00:20:38.70
And at this time I'd
just like to be a little
00:20:38.73\00:20:41.00
transparent with you.
00:20:41.07\00:20:42.40
I remember as a little
girl I struggled with pride,
00:20:42.44\00:20:45.57
and not because there was
anything special about me,
00:20:45.61\00:20:48.94
but I do know that we all
have different tendencies.
00:20:48.98\00:20:52.25
And that was an issue
that I struggled with deeply.
00:20:52.28\00:20:55.92
And I'd ask the Lord
every night to please give me
00:20:55.98\00:20:59.55
victory over pride.
00:20:59.62\00:21:00.96
One of the things that the Lord
really did was revealing to me,
00:21:00.99\00:21:06.46
as my parents would read
stories to us from Uncle Arthur,
00:21:06.49\00:21:09.40
was the story
about the two Caroline's.
00:21:09.43\00:21:11.30
Some of you may be familiar.
00:21:11.33\00:21:12.67
But this little girl, she
had one personality at home,
00:21:12.70\00:21:16.87
and then at school she
had another personality.
00:21:16.91\00:21:19.37
And I remember while my
parents would read that story,
00:21:19.41\00:21:22.61
I'd think, Wow,
Father, that is me!
00:21:22.64\00:21:25.25
I am one way this way,
and then one way this way.
00:21:25.31\00:21:29.72
And I'd constantly be asking
God to give me the victory
00:21:29.75\00:21:33.22
over this
experience; to change my heart.
00:21:33.25\00:21:37.76
I remember how I struggled
so much with disobedience.
00:21:37.79\00:21:41.06
My parents would tell me one
thing, because I was so strong
00:21:41.10\00:21:43.67
willed, and I'd always
reason with my dad or my mom,
00:21:43.70\00:21:46.77
and say, Well, why do
I have to do it that way?
00:21:46.80\00:21:49.80
There's a
different way of doing it.
00:21:49.84\00:21:51.74
And, friends, it's so beautiful
to know that even as a little
00:21:51.77\00:21:56.21
child, God is willing to give us
victory over these little things
00:21:56.24\00:22:00.62
that we struggle with.
00:22:00.68\00:22:02.02
And as we grow older, if we've
not learned to overcome them,
00:22:02.05\00:22:05.99
they become deeper, and deeper
roots that we struggle with.
00:22:06.02\00:22:09.99
But I thank God that
my parents persistently,
00:22:10.03\00:22:13.83
consistently shared with
us how Jesus is able to save.
00:22:13.86\00:22:18.77
Jesus is able to
give us the victory.
00:22:18.80\00:22:20.87
And so they'd always
point us back to the Scriptures.
00:22:20.90\00:22:23.47
They'd always pray with us
about the struggles that we had.
00:22:23.51\00:22:27.34
And so throughout the
years growing up in Kenya,
00:22:27.38\00:22:30.15
such a carefree
life, you know, happy.
00:22:30.18\00:22:34.38
It was wonderful growing there,
until there was a war in the
00:22:34.42\00:22:38.99
Middle East, which
shaped and curved events
00:22:39.02\00:22:42.49
in the African Continent.
00:22:42.52\00:22:43.86
It is the Gulf War.
00:22:43.89\00:22:45.23
And I remember that
time my dad was working,
00:22:45.26\00:22:48.46
and things were pretty
peaceful for the most part
00:22:48.50\00:22:51.27
in the country of
Africa, I mean country of Kenya,
00:22:51.30\00:22:54.04
until that war happened.
00:22:54.07\00:22:56.30
And we do not realize how
interconnected the world is.
00:22:56.34\00:23:00.31
We are so connected,
and one event in one country
00:23:00.38\00:23:03.51
can actually shape and
impact the lives of people
00:23:03.55\00:23:06.65
in a different country.
00:23:06.72\00:23:08.05
And that's what happened to us.
00:23:08.08\00:23:09.42
It was at that time that the
economy of Kenya started going
00:23:09.45\00:23:11.99
downhill, and soon the word
on the news was they were going
00:23:12.02\00:23:15.99
to start laying off
people who were much older.
00:23:16.02\00:23:18.43
Well, my dad wasn't that old.
00:23:18.46\00:23:19.79
We were all little kids.
00:23:19.86\00:23:21.20
And so they started
laying off individuals like him,
00:23:21.23\00:23:25.00
and he was in his late 30's.
00:23:25.03\00:23:27.80
And so my mom turns
around and says, Well,
00:23:27.84\00:23:31.64
you need to find a job.
00:23:31.67\00:23:33.14
You need to find something that
we can maintain as a family.
00:23:33.17\00:23:36.04
And the last thing
that my dad ever thought
00:23:36.08\00:23:38.71
was coming to America.
00:23:38.78\00:23:40.12
And interestingly enough, at
that time around the Gulf War
00:23:40.15\00:23:44.89
many of the baby boomers were
retiring, and were starting to
00:23:44.92\00:23:49.69
see an increase in need
for occupational therapy,
00:23:49.72\00:23:53.23
rehabilitation services.
00:23:53.26\00:23:55.06
My dad, by trade, was
an occupational therapist.
00:23:55.10\00:23:57.93
And so the opportunity came for
him to have this job in America.
00:23:57.97\00:24:02.70
While he comes here,
and we remain in Kenya
00:24:02.74\00:24:06.44
for a couple of years.
00:24:06.47\00:24:07.81
And we're praying, asking the
Lord to open the doors for us
00:24:07.84\00:24:11.08
as a family to
come and be with my dad.
00:24:11.11\00:24:13.21
By God's grace the
Lord opened up doors,
00:24:13.25\00:24:17.52
and we were able to come.
00:24:17.59\00:24:18.92
And at the time when we came
to America I was 14 years old.
00:24:18.95\00:24:21.62
And it's such an
interesting time period to come
00:24:21.66\00:24:25.53
when you're a teenager.
00:24:25.56\00:24:26.90
But I want us to turn
to a chapter in the Bible,
00:24:26.93\00:24:30.53
in Acts 17:26 that really, later
on, God would help us understand
00:24:30.57\00:24:36.64
even how, and why He would
bring us here to this country.
00:24:36.67\00:24:39.77
Acts 17:26, 27. And hath
made of one blood all nations
00:24:39.81\00:24:47.48
of all men for to dwell
on the face of the earth,
00:24:47.52\00:24:50.82
and hath determined
the times before appointed,
00:24:50.85\00:24:54.09
and the bounds
of their habitation.
00:24:54.16\00:24:56.46
And this is the reason why:
That they should seek the Lord,
00:24:56.49\00:25:02.03
if haply they might
feel after him, and find him,
00:25:02.06\00:25:06.37
though he be not far from us.
00:25:06.40\00:25:08.97
I do believe with all my
heart God uses migration so that
00:25:09.00\00:25:13.88
He can shift events in
our lives to seek after Him.
00:25:13.91\00:25:17.91
It was when we came here to
America, and the changes that
00:25:17.95\00:25:21.32
happened, that God would
open the door for me to really
00:25:21.35\00:25:24.69
begin to grow in Him.
00:25:24.75\00:25:26.45
When we came here I,
like I said, I was a teenager.
00:25:26.49\00:25:30.53
I went to an Adventist Academy.
00:25:30.56\00:25:32.43
And it was such a blessed
time, because though it was very
00:25:32.49\00:25:36.73
foreign, going to school with
girls and guys in one school,
00:25:36.77\00:25:40.97
that was totally different.
00:25:41.00\00:25:42.34
Because in the British
system usually it's girls
00:25:42.37\00:25:44.71
alone, and guys alone.
00:25:44.74\00:25:46.07
And so I was not used to
that kind of interaction.
00:25:46.11\00:25:48.81
But I praise God for
the school that I went to in
00:25:48.84\00:25:51.51
Clap Valley
Academy, in Nebraska;
00:25:51.58\00:25:54.18
very humble people, very loving.
00:25:54.22\00:25:56.72
And so I quickly
adapted to the American culture.
00:25:56.79\00:26:00.02
And throughout the years there
I had very influential teachers
00:26:00.06\00:26:05.53
who guided me
into loving God more.
00:26:05.56\00:26:08.56
But during my senior year, I
remember it was at that time,
00:26:08.60\00:26:12.80
for whatever reason, my dad
wanted me to play the piano.
00:26:12.83\00:26:15.40
And so, I was like
alright, but I really wanted
00:26:15.44\00:26:17.17
to play the guitar.
00:26:17.21\00:26:18.54
And I was like, fine,
I'll do this, Daddy, you know.
00:26:18.57\00:26:22.81
And so I started playing
the piano, and I'm practicing,
00:26:22.84\00:26:25.31
but I decided I was like,
because I really liked being
00:26:25.38\00:26:28.92
outdoors, and I really was
very adventurous growing up,
00:26:28.95\00:26:32.45
and played a lot of
soccer, I decided that I wanted
00:26:32.49\00:26:35.86
to play basketball, so I
joined the basketball team.
00:26:35.89\00:26:38.56
Which was good. It was
good exercise, but at this point
00:26:38.59\00:26:42.36
I want to say something friends,
I believe with all my heart
00:26:42.40\00:26:45.63
that sports, to some
extent, cultivates a spirit
00:26:45.67\00:26:51.17
of self-glorification.
00:26:51.21\00:26:53.11
And innocent as sometimes
they are, there is a spirit of
00:26:53.17\00:26:58.01
competition that the enemy can
capitalize on, and that's really
00:26:58.05\00:27:01.58
where a shift in my
walk with God started.
00:27:01.62\00:27:05.09
I joined the basketball team,
and then school was going well,
00:27:05.12\00:27:09.62
I was having a good time growing
in Christ, but something was
00:27:09.66\00:27:14.10
also happening in my heart.
00:27:14.13\00:27:16.10
I was becoming very... again.
00:27:16.16\00:27:18.03
The issue that I struggled with
as a child, pride, was becoming,
00:27:18.07\00:27:22.50
was starting to come back again.
00:27:22.54\00:27:24.24
And because of natural
abilities that God has given me,
00:27:24.27\00:27:29.78
but placed in the
wrong place they're not good,
00:27:29.84\00:27:32.78
very determined, and very,
the ability to push through
00:27:32.81\00:27:36.79
and get things done.
00:27:36.82\00:27:38.15
I became a good basketball
player, and by my senior year
00:27:38.19\00:27:41.62
when I was graduating, I decided
that, Hey, since I was able to
00:27:41.69\00:27:46.33
join the basketball team,
I think when I go to college
00:27:46.36\00:27:48.83
I want to play basketball.
00:27:48.86\00:27:50.27
And I decided that I
wanted to stay at home,
00:27:50.30\00:27:53.54
so I'd go to a public college.
00:27:53.57\00:27:55.47
And, which I did, but I decided
as well that I was going to
00:27:55.50\00:28:00.24
trial for the college
basketball varsity team.
00:28:00.28\00:28:05.08
And that's
something that's unheard of.
00:28:05.11\00:28:07.38
Usually they go,
coaches go and recruit
00:28:07.42\00:28:09.48
students to play for them.
00:28:09.52\00:28:11.19
But I walked in,
I told the coach,
00:28:11.22\00:28:13.66
I want to play for your team.
00:28:13.69\00:28:15.56
And he asked me how
I did in high school.
00:28:15.59\00:28:18.96
And I mean it was an Adventist
school, so it wasn't really
00:28:18.99\00:28:21.83
a top notch school
that you would say.
00:28:21.86\00:28:24.73
But he saw something, and so
he was like, Sure, come on in.
00:28:24.77\00:28:29.24
And so he opened the
doors for me to start
00:28:29.27\00:28:31.64
playing with the team.
00:28:31.67\00:28:33.17
And at that time I was averaging
about 3 to 5 hours a day
00:28:33.21\00:28:40.52
practicing, training, working
out, and it was super intense.
00:28:40.55\00:28:44.82
And when I say intense, it
really is, because we would wake
00:28:44.85\00:28:49.09
up at five in the morning,
and do our run for about
00:28:49.12\00:28:51.63
one and a half hours, and
then in the gym for another
00:28:51.66\00:28:54.36
one and a half hours, and
then scrimmage in the afternoon,
00:28:54.40\00:28:57.13
and then we'd work out in the
evening before the day was done.
00:28:57.17\00:29:01.50
And I'd begun to
see a little spiral.
00:29:01.54\00:29:04.24
My life was beginning
to start, I would say...
00:29:04.27\00:29:06.61
My parents had advised me,
Vera, you really should end
00:29:06.64\00:29:09.68
the playing basketball.
00:29:09.71\00:29:11.05
And I was like, Well, they're
going to give me the Sabbath's
00:29:11.08\00:29:13.48
off, and I can be
able to go to church.
00:29:13.52\00:29:16.42
You know, and they reasoned
with me, but again, some of the
00:29:16.45\00:29:19.79
issues that I had struggled
with in childhood came up again.
00:29:19.85\00:29:23.16
And I was like, No,
it's going to be okay.
00:29:23.19\00:29:25.56
I'm going to have a good time.
00:29:25.59\00:29:26.93
I'll be able to witness.
00:29:26.96\00:29:28.30
People will get
to hear about Jesus.
00:29:28.33\00:29:30.60
And, praise God, people did
get to know about the Sabbath.
00:29:30.63\00:29:34.77
But self-exultation and pride
were again arising in my heart.
00:29:34.80\00:29:39.07
And when the Sabbath would come,
because basketball season is
00:29:39.11\00:29:42.38
usually during the
winter time; the sun sets.
00:29:42.41\00:29:44.85
And so I was like, Well, I'll
be able to go out and play after
00:29:44.88\00:29:48.12
Sabbath, or watch the team.
00:29:48.15\00:29:49.55
So the coach decided,
actually since I'd walked in,
00:29:49.58\00:29:52.09
that I would red shirt.
00:29:52.12\00:29:53.46
And what red shirt means is
you sit on the bench for a year,
00:29:53.49\00:29:57.23
and then the next year you play.
00:29:57.26\00:29:59.63
And I was, I was fine with that.
00:29:59.66\00:30:01.96
But, you know,
something was also happening
00:30:02.00\00:30:04.17
with my devotional life.
00:30:04.23\00:30:05.57
It was spiraling. I
had started compromising.
00:30:05.60\00:30:07.70
I was like, Oh yeah, my
parents have morning and evening
00:30:07.74\00:30:10.47
worship, so that's
my devotional time.
00:30:10.51\00:30:12.77
And, you know,
it's not a big deal.
00:30:12.81\00:30:15.01
We'll, we'll...
Lord You're with me.
00:30:15.04\00:30:17.68
And it was a
slippery slope just like
00:30:17.71\00:30:21.62
Pastor Mark
Finley shared earlier on.
00:30:21.65\00:30:24.32
And I thank the Lord that in the
midst of this whole experience
00:30:24.35\00:30:30.46
my teammates were like super
excited that I was on the team.
00:30:30.49\00:30:33.40
And they'd always be excited
that I would still come to the
00:30:33.43\00:30:36.77
basketball games after sundown.
00:30:36.80\00:30:38.63
Because I didn't go on
Friday, but on Sabbath,
00:30:38.67\00:30:41.27
after the sunset, I used to go
and join them during the games.
00:30:41.30\00:30:45.31
And then something happened
one day during scrimmage.
00:30:45.34\00:30:48.51
I was playing with the team,
and I go up to reach for the
00:30:48.54\00:30:53.42
ball, and the next
thing I land on the ground.
00:30:53.45\00:30:56.25
I have a total knee injury,
which would end up putting me
00:30:56.28\00:31:01.46
throughout the entire
season out of practice.
00:31:01.49\00:31:03.93
Well, God used that
experience, and I thank Him now.
00:31:03.96\00:31:07.53
I really thank Him.
00:31:07.56\00:31:08.90
Every day I'm reminded by
the scar of the power of God
00:31:08.93\00:31:12.47
to deliver me from
this spiraling life event.
00:31:12.50\00:31:17.17
And it was at that
time that I started spending
00:31:17.21\00:31:19.34
time with the Lord.
00:31:19.37\00:31:20.71
And I was thinking,
Wow, where is my life going?
00:31:20.74\00:31:23.04
Here I am, I can't
play; I can't do anything.
00:31:23.08\00:31:25.85
I can barely walk to school.
00:31:25.88\00:31:27.75
But God was using
this experience to turn
00:31:27.78\00:31:31.22
my heart back to Him again.
00:31:31.25\00:31:33.22
And, friends, I was so excited,
because it was at this time that
00:31:33.25\00:31:38.79
the Lord opened my eyes to
see that I can start doing other
00:31:38.83\00:31:42.80
things with
such passion for Him.
00:31:42.83\00:31:44.60
And so I started. I got more
involved at the local church.
00:31:44.63\00:31:47.90
We started having very early
morning prayer in the morning,
00:31:47.94\00:31:51.21
and in the evening with church
members, praying for missing
00:31:51.24\00:31:53.98
church members to come back.
00:31:54.01\00:31:55.51
We started seeing sick people
being healed as we were praying.
00:31:55.54\00:31:58.91
A lot of missing
members started coming back.
00:31:58.95\00:32:01.58
There was more unity.
00:32:01.62\00:32:02.95
And as the Lord began opening
my eyes to this experience,
00:32:02.98\00:32:06.19
I started
returning my heart to Him.
00:32:06.22\00:32:08.52
Fast forwarding: my
Senior year in college.
00:32:08.56\00:32:11.69
So I'm not playing
basketball anymore,
00:32:11.73\00:32:14.10
and I'm back busy in
school studying to be a nurse.
00:32:14.13\00:32:19.10
And my Senior year in
college the reality hits:
00:32:19.13\00:32:22.77
soon I'll be done.
Soon there'll be a job.
00:32:22.80\00:32:25.57
Then what next? And I thank
God for this question that the
00:32:25.61\00:32:30.35
Holy Spirit put in my
heart during my Senior year.
00:32:30.38\00:32:33.38
It started with a question, Why
am I a Seventh-day Adventist?
00:32:33.42\00:32:38.32
Why do I believe
what I believe in?
00:32:38.35\00:32:40.52
Does it really matter?
00:32:40.56\00:32:41.92
Am I an Adventist just
because this is the only message
00:32:41.96\00:32:45.23
I have heard from birth?
00:32:45.26\00:32:47.00
Or is truth, as revealed in the
Bible, upon which a Seventh-day
00:32:47.03\00:32:51.53
Adventist believes
relevant and practical
00:32:51.57\00:32:54.40
in today's world for me?
00:32:54.44\00:32:55.94
Can I trust the
expressed Word of the Living God
00:32:55.97\00:32:59.67
of heaven and
earth as the only truth?
00:32:59.71\00:33:02.38
Why am I called
to be an Adventist?
00:33:02.41\00:33:04.91
Lightening flashes
like across into my mind,
00:33:04.95\00:33:09.18
and the verse comes,
What shall a man gain if he...
00:33:09.22\00:33:14.42
What is a man
advantaged if he gain the whole
00:33:14.46\00:33:17.26
world and lose
himself, or be cast away?
00:33:17.29\00:33:20.50
As I'm musing upon these
thoughts, as a little girl I had
00:33:20.53\00:33:25.33
seen a book called,
Christ Our Righteousness,
00:33:25.37\00:33:28.60
in my dad's library,
and I was always fascinated
00:33:28.64\00:33:30.94
by the word righteousness.
00:33:30.97\00:33:32.57
And I thought, What is this
big, big, big word that nobody
00:33:32.61\00:33:35.48
could really explain it
to me when I was little?
00:33:35.51\00:33:37.11
But that seed had been planted.
00:33:37.15\00:33:39.85
And the Lord takes me back,
and then I remember my Senior
00:33:39.88\00:33:43.15
year in High School.
00:33:43.18\00:33:44.55
We were doing Bible class,
and we were using the book by
00:33:44.59\00:33:47.46
Mark Finley called, Revelation
Speaks, as our study guide.
00:33:47.49\00:33:50.73
And I gotta name the class.
00:33:50.76\00:33:52.93
It was a Bible study, so it was
a simple thing, but I did not
00:33:52.96\00:33:57.47
take advantage, when I was in
High School, to absorb the truth
00:33:57.50\00:34:02.30
that it was personal.
00:34:02.34\00:34:03.67
But God works
in miraculous ways,
00:34:03.71\00:34:05.81
because He
brought me full circle.
00:34:05.84\00:34:07.54
So I pick up that book Mark
Finley wrote, Revelation Speaks,
00:34:07.58\00:34:12.61
and then I realized the beauty
of Christ Our Righteousness
00:34:12.65\00:34:16.79
through the book of Revelation.
00:34:16.82\00:34:18.59
I start studying the sanctuary
message; start realizing the
00:34:18.62\00:34:22.69
beauty of the character of God.
00:34:22.72\00:34:25.53
And then as this journey
continues, I'd spend hours.
00:34:25.56\00:34:30.20
So the hours that I was
spending playing basketball,
00:34:30.23\00:34:33.17
I would spend
with God in the Word.
00:34:33.20\00:34:36.10
I closed all my school books.
00:34:36.14\00:34:37.84
I was like,
forget the school books!
00:34:37.87\00:34:39.64
Well, not literally, but I
did to some extent, because as I
00:34:39.67\00:34:44.85
started spending
more time in the Word,
00:34:44.88\00:34:46.82
all of a sudden when I was in
class, my mind was just so sharp
00:34:46.85\00:34:51.45
I could remember everything
that the teacher said.
00:34:51.49\00:34:54.16
When we took exams, I really
didn't study for exams my Senior
00:34:54.19\00:34:57.89
year, because the Word of
God became so meaningful to me
00:34:57.93\00:35:02.40
that I preferred studying it.
00:35:02.43\00:35:04.27
And I did study a
little bit the other books.
00:35:04.30\00:35:07.04
But what I'm trying to share
with this was God enabled me
00:35:07.07\00:35:11.64
to see the beauty of
seeking first His kingdom,
00:35:11.67\00:35:14.68
and His Righteousness.
00:35:14.71\00:35:16.21
At this time I would
like to share a quote,
00:35:16.24\00:35:21.05
which should come up on the
screen, that was really powerful
00:35:21.08\00:35:25.12
as I was discovering the beauty
of Christ's Righteousness.
00:35:25.15\00:35:30.03
In Southern Watchman, June 11,
1903, this is what the word of
00:35:30.06\00:35:36.83
the pen of inspiration says:
Holiness is constant agreement
00:35:36.87\00:35:41.47
with God. Amen? This is
such a beautiful quote to read,
00:35:41.50\00:35:46.68
because then I began to
realize when I agree with God,
00:35:46.71\00:35:50.58
as I'm walking
with God in my journey,
00:35:50.61\00:35:53.38
this is what holiness is.
00:35:53.42\00:35:55.68
It's just, Can two walk
together except they be agreed?
00:35:55.72\00:35:59.49
So the Bible became more
meaningful to me as I discovered
00:35:59.52\00:36:02.96
that when God says
this, Yes, I will follow!
00:36:02.99\00:36:05.63
When He says
that, I will go there.
00:36:05.66\00:36:07.50
When He says, Don't do this,
I don't do it, because I am
00:36:07.53\00:36:10.20
agreeing with the mind of God.
00:36:10.23\00:36:12.97
It was at that point that I made
the decision that I wanted to be
00:36:13.00\00:36:19.91
a follower of Jesus Christ.
00:36:19.94\00:36:22.61
The scales began to drop from
my eyes, and I began to see more
00:36:22.64\00:36:26.82
clearly the beauty of the work
that Christ does on my behalf.
00:36:26.85\00:36:31.79
I believe that comprehending
the righteousness of Jesus
00:36:31.82\00:36:36.26
is the root to accepting the
call to follow the Lamb of God,
00:36:36.29\00:36:41.60
the reason why I
choose to follow the Lamb,
00:36:41.63\00:36:46.90
and the motivation to
remain faithful to Him.
00:36:46.94\00:36:49.64
Influenced by the writings and
teachings of Paul, I pleaded for
00:36:49.67\00:36:53.84
an experience like that of
Paul, where he would go around
00:36:53.88\00:36:56.41
encouraging the churches.
00:36:56.44\00:36:57.78
And I thank the Lord
that He would give me this
00:36:57.81\00:37:00.58
experience later on.
00:37:00.62\00:37:01.95
And, friends, as I
was journeying with God,
00:37:01.98\00:37:04.89
and discovering the beauty
of Christ's Righteousness,
00:37:04.92\00:37:07.59
through the sanctuary message,
I remember realizing also that
00:37:07.62\00:37:11.69
God loves for us to come to Him
with the struggles that we have.
00:37:11.73\00:37:16.80
I don't have time to go
through all of the Bible verses,
00:37:16.83\00:37:20.50
but you can write
them down: Psalm 37:23, 24.
00:37:20.54\00:37:24.91
The steps of a good man
are ordered by the Lord:
00:37:24.94\00:37:27.58
and he delighteth in his way.
00:37:27.61\00:37:29.34
Though he fall, he shall not be
utterly cast down: for the Lord
00:37:29.38\00:37:33.55
upholdeth him by his hand.
00:37:33.58\00:37:35.75
Micah 7:7-9, Micah 7:18,
19, and then Psalm 130:3, 4.
00:37:35.78\00:37:44.63
If thou, Lord,
should mark iniquities,
00:37:44.66\00:37:47.73
O Lord, who shall stand?
00:37:47.76\00:37:49.83
But there is
forgiveness with thee,
00:37:49.86\00:37:52.30
that thou mayest be feared.
00:37:52.33\00:37:53.87
Recognizing the Righteousness
of Christ gave me the
00:37:53.90\00:37:58.01
strength every single time.
00:37:58.04\00:37:59.71
And even to this day, when I
struggle with things that are
00:37:59.74\00:38:03.35
tempting in my life, to know
that the Righteousness of Jesus
00:38:03.38\00:38:07.22
is able, and capable
of giving me the victory.
00:38:07.25\00:38:11.45
I praise the Lord for that.
00:38:11.49\00:38:13.39
In a quote, Testimonies of the
Church, Volume 7, it says that:
00:38:13.42\00:38:18.03
If you make a mistake
turn your defeat into victory.
00:38:18.06\00:38:22.30
The lessons that God sends
will always, if well learned,
00:38:22.33\00:38:27.64
bring help in due time.
00:38:27.67\00:38:29.77
Put your trust in God.
00:38:29.80\00:38:31.31
Pray much, and believe;
trusting, hoping, believing
00:38:31.34\00:38:35.48
holding fast the hand of
Infinite power, you will be more
00:38:35.51\00:38:40.62
than conquerors. Amen?
00:38:40.65\00:38:42.28
So I graduated
from nursing school.
00:38:42.32\00:38:44.82
I start working. I decided that
what I really loved doing was
00:38:44.85\00:38:49.12
working in the
Intensive Care Unit.
00:38:49.16\00:38:50.99
And it was quite an intense
experience to say the least,
00:38:51.03\00:38:54.73
because I worked in a Trauma
Center where we got all the
00:38:54.76\00:38:58.37
trauma's that you can imagine.
00:38:58.40\00:39:00.34
But it was also in that
place that God really helped me
00:39:00.37\00:39:03.41
understand my dependence upon
Him to really minister to people
00:39:03.44\00:39:08.24
who are in very
traumatic situations.
00:39:08.28\00:39:10.75
And I want to encourage
you, friends, that, you know,
00:39:10.78\00:39:14.42
it is sometimes when you're
in places where you think that
00:39:14.45\00:39:18.05
you are not capable of doing
something, how God is able to
00:39:18.09\00:39:22.96
take our weaknesses.
00:39:22.99\00:39:24.33
And I did not think I was
adequate enough to take this
00:39:24.36\00:39:27.90
work as an Intensive Care Unit
nurse, but it was in that place
00:39:27.93\00:39:32.07
that God helped me realize the
power of making right decisions.
00:39:32.10\00:39:36.77
Because many times in
life we do things that causes,
00:39:36.81\00:39:41.74
like in the hospital,
when you come there: traumatic
00:39:41.78\00:39:44.35
experiences, and choices,
and decisions that people make.
00:39:44.38\00:39:47.12
And, so, God uses experience
to help me understand also the
00:39:47.15\00:39:50.45
value of making right choices.
00:39:50.49\00:39:53.02
One of the things that I really
have learned as I take care of
00:39:53.05\00:39:56.09
patients, is
the value of prayer.
00:39:56.12\00:39:58.63
And, you know, when you
see somebody almost dying,
00:39:58.66\00:40:03.77
there is no better time to be
able to witness to them about a
00:40:03.80\00:40:07.87
God who is close to them.
00:40:07.90\00:40:09.37
One particular instance: I
got a call from the floor that
00:40:09.40\00:40:13.07
they told me, Vera, you're
going to be getting this really
00:40:13.11\00:40:15.48
critical patient who's going
to need emergency intervention.
00:40:15.54\00:40:18.68
And I said a prayer like, God,
give me the wisdom to know how
00:40:18.71\00:40:22.98
I will take
care of this patient.
00:40:23.02\00:40:24.49
And when the patient comes in,
not only am I taking care of the
00:40:24.52\00:40:29.26
patient, but I'm
also dealing with family.
00:40:29.29\00:40:31.43
They're very
emotional, and stressed out,
00:40:31.46\00:40:33.96
and very concerned,
and rightfully so as well.
00:40:34.00\00:40:36.70
But the Lord has been giving me
all this wisdom throughout the
00:40:36.73\00:40:40.27
years, as I've been learning,
not only about Him, but the work
00:40:40.30\00:40:44.24
that He desires
to do in their lives.
00:40:44.27\00:40:46.01
And I remember just pleading
with God to help me minister
00:40:46.04\00:40:50.35
to the whole family.
00:40:50.38\00:40:51.71
As I took care of them, they
became very closely attached,
00:40:51.75\00:40:55.45
to the point when a
decision needed to be made;
00:40:55.48\00:40:57.85
what they needed to
do with their father.
00:40:57.89\00:40:59.75
I was not working that
day, but they called me at home,
00:40:59.79\00:41:04.13
and they said, Vera,
we want you to tell us
00:41:04.16\00:41:07.13
what to do with our dad.
00:41:07.16\00:41:08.50
And I thought to myself, Father,
they talked to the doctors,
00:41:08.53\00:41:12.17
and they are calling me at home.
00:41:12.20\00:41:13.54
This is breaching the
confidentiality of working in
00:41:13.57\00:41:18.14
the hospital, and
being away from the hospital.
00:41:18.17\00:41:20.08
But I thank the Lord because
it was when they finally decided
00:41:20.11\00:41:24.21
that they would
let go of their father.
00:41:24.25\00:41:25.95
I was there that day to
take care of their father.
00:41:25.98\00:41:29.68
And I remember just letting them
know, and encouraging them that
00:41:29.72\00:41:33.66
there is heaven awaiting them,
and that soon one day there'll
00:41:33.69\00:41:38.23
be no more pain and sorrow.
00:41:38.26\00:41:39.59
And so I take out my phone,
and I play for them a song by
00:41:39.63\00:41:42.93
Jennifer
LaMountain, No More Night.
00:41:42.96\00:41:45.03
And as they were listening
to that song, and as the patient
00:41:45.07\00:41:47.97
was listening to that song,
he died listening to the promise
00:41:48.00\00:41:53.24
that there's coming a day where
there will be no more night.
00:41:53.27\00:41:56.61
Fast forwarding in my life,
as I was praying about being a
00:41:56.64\00:42:01.65
missionary when I was a child,
I didn't know that God would
00:42:01.68\00:42:04.25
allow me to be a
missionary as a nurse,
00:42:04.29\00:42:06.02
but not only as a nurse, but to
live a life that is consistent
00:42:06.05\00:42:09.39
of full time ministry.
00:42:09.42\00:42:11.53
I had moved to Arizona, where
my brother was at that time.
00:42:11.56\00:42:15.76
And a call came for me to
help out with literature work
00:42:15.80\00:42:20.84
in the Arizona Conference.
00:42:20.87\00:42:22.24
And so I decided that I am
going to go ahead and do this.
00:42:22.27\00:42:26.27
And the point that I want
to bring out about the blessing
00:42:26.31\00:42:29.78
of pain and trials in the
midst of accepting the call.
00:42:29.81\00:42:33.01
When I accepted the
call to do full time ministry
00:42:33.05\00:42:36.38
with the Arizona Conference,
and at the same time be working
00:42:36.42\00:42:38.99
full time, it was not long
after that that I got diagnosed
00:42:39.02\00:42:44.06
with a brain tumor.
00:42:44.09\00:42:45.43
And I remember thinking to
myself, Father, I know what
00:42:45.46\00:42:50.33
this looks like,
because I've taken care of
00:42:50.37\00:42:52.30
patients who've come.
00:42:52.33\00:42:53.67
They're normal one
day, and the next day
00:42:53.70\00:42:55.54
their life just changes.
00:42:55.57\00:42:56.91
And my life just
passed by in front of me;
00:42:56.94\00:43:00.38
this tumor could grow,
and these different things
00:43:00.41\00:43:03.75
just racing in my mind.
00:43:03.78\00:43:05.28
And again the Word of God is our
only firm foundation, friends.
00:43:05.31\00:43:10.29
Because there's a promise in
Psalm 31:15 where it says that
00:43:10.32\00:43:14.39
the psalmist cries
out and he says, My time,
00:43:14.42\00:43:18.19
my life is in your hands.
00:43:18.23\00:43:20.33
And it was at that moment that
I made the decision that even
00:43:20.36\00:43:23.63
though I had been
diagnosed with a brain tumor,
00:43:23.67\00:43:25.73
which was inoperable, and
which could continue to grow,
00:43:25.77\00:43:29.67
and which could cause me
to be blind as well as deaf,
00:43:29.70\00:43:33.71
if the tumor continued to
grow, that I was like, Lord,
00:43:33.74\00:43:37.78
it's all in Your
hands. I am Yours.
00:43:37.81\00:43:39.85
And I realized that as I
committed my life to God,
00:43:39.88\00:43:43.99
the peace that He gave me.
00:43:44.02\00:43:46.45
And I still have the tumor,
and I still deal with some
00:43:46.49\00:43:50.09
of the side effects.
00:43:50.13\00:43:51.46
But I thank God that He gives
me the strength, and the grace;
00:43:51.49\00:43:54.60
when I am weak
then He is strong.
00:43:54.63\00:43:56.83
The key lesson, that I
have learned two things:
00:43:56.87\00:43:59.77
God does not afflict.
00:43:59.80\00:44:01.14
In Job 37:23 it is very clear
in the great controversy that
00:44:01.17\00:44:07.48
God does not afflict, and that
it is also through prayer that
00:44:07.51\00:44:12.35
God has strengthened my
experience, because every time
00:44:12.38\00:44:16.05
when I'm so overwhelmed, I
come to Him through prayer,
00:44:16.08\00:44:19.42
because I can talk to Him, and
I can express my heart to Him.
00:44:19.45\00:44:23.12
What have I been called to?
00:44:23.16\00:44:26.09
Simply this: a life of
service, a life of sacrifice
00:44:26.13\00:44:30.70
for the sake of Christ.
00:44:30.73\00:44:32.07
Wherever God sends me,
with whomever God places me
00:44:32.10\00:44:36.07
in ministry with,
and for however long.
00:44:36.10\00:44:38.47
A quote that has really
encouraged me as I have been
00:44:38.51\00:44:42.88
journeying, is in
Desire of Ages, Page 250.
00:44:42.91\00:44:46.11
There is no limit to
the usefulness of one,
00:44:46.15\00:44:49.45
who putting self aside, makes
room for the working of the
00:44:49.48\00:44:52.82
Holy Spirit, and lives a
life wholly consecrated to God.
00:44:52.85\00:44:57.86
God has called me to
taking personal ownership to the
00:44:57.89\00:45:02.76
message of Christ our
righteousness, and personal
00:45:02.80\00:45:06.40
responsibility to
serving God, and the work that
00:45:06.43\00:45:09.94
He has set before me.
00:45:09.97\00:45:11.37
And He continues to
give me this as my call.
00:45:11.41\00:45:15.54
Also recognizing where there
is a need, what I am called to.
00:45:15.58\00:45:19.65
Friends, we are called to
recognize the needs of others.
00:45:19.68\00:45:23.52
He's also called me to serve
in the local church community,
00:45:23.55\00:45:28.19
in the local church,
in the community, at home.
00:45:28.22\00:45:31.16
One of the issues
that I struggled with,
00:45:31.19\00:45:32.99
like I mentioned, when I was
a little child, was I had these
00:45:33.03\00:45:36.60
two identities;
there were two Vera's.
00:45:36.63\00:45:39.23
I praise the Lord that He
has given me the victory in this
00:45:39.27\00:45:42.44
area in my life where I see
everybody the same: my parents,
00:45:42.47\00:45:47.28
my siblings, everybody.
00:45:47.31\00:45:49.18
They're the same to me.
00:45:49.21\00:45:50.88
They're brothers
and sisters in Jesus.
00:45:50.91\00:45:53.01
And I thank the Lord that
each one of us can have that
00:45:53.05\00:45:56.48
experience as well.
00:45:56.52\00:45:57.92
One of the things that I want
to leave before I finish sharing
00:45:57.95\00:46:05.63
my testimony is the reason
I accept the call is because
00:46:05.66\00:46:12.10
Jesus is my
Creator and Redeemer.
00:46:12.13\00:46:14.90
The reason God chooses me is
because of the infinite price
00:46:14.94\00:46:19.77
He has paid on my life.
00:46:19.81\00:46:21.14
There's a video that I watched
last year, and actually was
00:46:21.18\00:46:25.45
featured last year at
GYC called, Am I Worth Really
00:46:25.48\00:46:28.68
Something? And I encourage
you; go to YouTube and watch it.
00:46:28.72\00:46:31.15
It's really powerful!
00:46:31.19\00:46:32.52
And even share it
with your friends.
00:46:32.55\00:46:34.82
Recognizing our worth, friends,
is key to accepting the call
00:46:34.86\00:46:39.43
that God has for our lives;
recognizing the value that He
00:46:39.46\00:46:43.26
has placed upon you.
00:46:43.30\00:46:44.97
As I have experienced this,
friends, it has given me such
00:46:45.00\00:46:50.11
joy to know that I am accepted
by the God of the Universe;
00:46:50.14\00:46:54.88
that because of the price
that He has paid for my life,
00:46:54.91\00:46:58.88
there is
infinite value to my life,
00:46:58.91\00:47:01.88
but to every
single individual's life.
00:47:01.92\00:47:04.29
What about their faithfulness?
00:47:04.32\00:47:06.96
When I think about
faithfulness is the verse that I
00:47:06.99\00:47:10.29
shared at the beginning.
00:47:10.33\00:47:11.66
It is because of the
righteousness of Jesus that I
00:47:11.69\00:47:15.33
am able to be faithful.
00:47:15.36\00:47:17.00
God's faithfulness is the one
and only thing that can keep us
00:47:17.03\00:47:23.30
in the call, and can enable
us to experience the power
00:47:23.34\00:47:28.04
of the value
that we have in Him.
00:47:28.08\00:47:30.35
We are faithful
because God remains faithful,
00:47:30.38\00:47:34.58
and God calls us
as well to endure.
00:47:34.62\00:47:37.25
There's this promise in 2
Timothy 2:10 where it says,
00:47:37.29\00:47:41.09
Therefore I endure all
things for the elect's sakes,
00:47:41.12\00:47:45.59
that they may also
obtain the salvation which is in
00:47:45.63\00:47:49.86
Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
00:47:49.90\00:47:52.30
One quote that has
really encouraged me from
00:47:52.33\00:47:56.37
Christ's Object Lessons,
Page 363, But when we give
00:47:56.40\00:48:00.71
ourselves wholly to God, and in
our work follow His directions,
00:48:00.74\00:48:05.48
He makes Himself responsible
for its accomplishment.
00:48:05.51\00:48:09.18
He would not have us
conjuncture as to the success
00:48:09.22\00:48:12.92
of our earnest endeavors.
00:48:12.95\00:48:14.86
Throughout my couple of
years of working as a nurse,
00:48:14.89\00:48:19.03
I decided one summer that
I would take off and go into
00:48:19.06\00:48:22.80
full time
colportering for three months.
00:48:22.83\00:48:25.20
And, friends, I'm so thankful
that when we make the decision
00:48:25.23\00:48:29.54
to follow the call that God
gives to us, God gives us the
00:48:29.57\00:48:33.54
success in our
daily experiences.
00:48:33.58\00:48:36.14
And many times we may
not think of it the way...
00:48:36.18\00:48:38.45
We may have ideas of
what success looks like,
00:48:38.48\00:48:41.68
but when God has
asked us to do something,
00:48:41.72\00:48:44.62
like the quote says, He makes
Himself responsible for it.
00:48:44.65\00:48:47.96
And I've experienced
that throughout the years.
00:48:47.99\00:48:50.49
So for the last several years
every summer I take off from
00:48:50.53\00:48:53.83
work, and I go do
mission work, doing canvassing,
00:48:53.86\00:48:58.07
and right now I'm in the Spokane
area with a little church plant
00:48:58.10\00:49:01.37
doing medical missionary work.
00:49:01.40\00:49:03.27
The testimony of a life lived
is to be a present continuous,
00:49:03.30\00:49:08.21
not one just of the
past of what God has done,
00:49:08.24\00:49:11.15
but what through the power of
the Holy Spirit continues to do,
00:49:11.18\00:49:14.98
and will do by faith.
00:49:15.02\00:49:16.42
As I grasp on to the
righteousness of Jesus by faith,
00:49:16.45\00:49:20.96
we each can have a
story of God's power
00:49:20.99\00:49:27.60
working in our lives.
00:49:27.63\00:49:28.96
The question that remains,
when the Son of man shall come,
00:49:29.00\00:49:34.67
will He find faith?
00:49:34.70\00:49:36.17
Will I, Vera, remain
called, chosen, and faithful?
00:49:36.20\00:49:40.34
To what account will my life be?
00:49:40.38\00:49:43.48
As a song will be sung here
shortly, the question that I
00:49:43.51\00:49:48.78
have for you and I...
00:49:48.82\00:49:50.22
I don't know what your personal
life story is, and I praise God
00:49:50.25\00:49:53.29
that one day I'll get to hear
your stories as well in eternity
00:49:53.32\00:49:56.83
of how God has called
you, how He has chosen you,
00:49:56.86\00:50:00.30
and how you have chosen to
remain faithful to the Lamb.
00:50:00.33\00:50:03.67
But I pray that this promise
in Revelation 17:14 that says,
00:50:03.70\00:50:12.07
These shall make
war with the Lamb...
00:50:12.11\00:50:14.51
And the war with the
Lamb is found in Isaiah 42:9,
00:50:14.54\00:50:18.91
where we make war
with the Word of God.
00:50:18.95\00:50:22.88
Will we follow the Lamb?
00:50:22.92\00:50:25.65
Will we allow Him to
be our King of Kings,
00:50:25.69\00:50:29.12
and Lord of Lords?
00:50:29.16\00:50:30.49
Will my life, will your
life be as dew from the Lord?
00:50:30.53\00:50:36.03
I pray that as this song
is sung, Find Us Faithful,
00:50:36.06\00:50:40.14
that you may
personally choose to be called,
00:50:40.17\00:50:44.34
to be chosen, and
to remain faithful.
00:50:44.37\00:50:47.18
We're pilgrims on the
journey of the narrow road.
00:51:05.73\00:51:13.13
And those who've gone
before us line the way;
00:51:13.17\00:51:20.11
cheering on the
faithful, encouraging the weary,
00:51:20.14\00:51:27.18
their lives a stirring testament
of God's sustaining grace.
00:51:27.22\00:51:35.66
Surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses,
00:51:35.69\00:51:42.56
let us run the race
not only for the prize,
00:51:42.60\00:51:49.80
but as those
who've gone before us,
00:51:49.84\00:51:53.34
let us leave to those behind
us the heritage of faithfulness
00:51:53.38\00:52:00.55
passed on through Godly lives.
00:52:00.58\00:52:05.42
Oh may all who come
behind us find us faithful.
00:52:05.45\00:52:12.89
May the fire of our
devotion light their way.
00:52:12.93\00:52:19.67
May the footprints that we
leave lead them to believe,
00:52:19.70\00:52:26.81
and the lives we
live inspire them to obey.
00:52:26.84\00:52:33.25
Oh may all who come
behind us find us faithful.
00:52:33.28\00:52:41.39
After all our hopes and
dreams have come and gone,
00:52:45.36\00:52:51.73
and our children sift
through all we've left behind,
00:52:51.77\00:52:58.74
may the clues that they
discover, and the memories they
00:52:58.77\00:53:05.11
uncover become the
light that leads them,
00:53:05.15\00:53:10.15
to the road we each must find.
00:53:10.19\00:53:15.09
Oh may all who come
behind us find us faithful.
00:53:15.12\00:53:22.63
May the fire of our
devotion light their way.
00:53:22.66\00:53:29.54
May the footprints that we
leave lead them to believe,
00:53:29.57\00:53:36.71
and the lives we
live inspire them to obey.
00:53:36.75\00:53:44.12
Oh may all who come
behind us find us faithful.
00:53:46.62\00:53:54.13
May the fire of our
devotion light their way.
00:53:54.16\00:54:01.10
May the footprints that we
leave lead them to believe,
00:54:01.14\00:54:07.94
and the life we live
inspire them to obey.
00:54:07.98\00:54:14.38
Oh may all who come
behind us find us faithful.
00:54:14.42\00:54:23.39
Oh may all who come behind
us find us faithful, faithful.
00:54:25.93\00:54:52.29
Amen! You may be
listening on the internet,
00:54:52.32\00:54:57.79
or you're here at GYC.
00:54:57.83\00:54:59.86
My appeal, no, actually not
my appeal, God's appeal to you
00:54:59.89\00:55:05.33
and me is, Do I accept the call
because I believe that God is my
00:55:05.37\00:55:11.27
personal Creator,
and personal Redeemer?
00:55:11.31\00:55:14.08
Do I accept that you and I
are chosen by an Infinite God
00:55:14.11\00:55:19.85
because of the
infinite price He has paid?
00:55:19.88\00:55:23.15
Do I accept to be faithful,
because God is faithful,
00:55:23.18\00:55:28.46
because He
cannot deny in Himself.
00:55:28.49\00:55:31.93
If this is your desire,
please join me as we pray.
00:55:31.96\00:55:36.73
Loving Father, I thank
You that You are faithful.
00:55:39.47\00:55:45.07
I thank You that Your
righteousness is like the great
00:55:45.11\00:55:50.61
mountains, as the Psalmist said.
00:55:50.65\00:55:53.45
Father I thank You that You
choose us because of the value
00:55:53.48\00:55:59.05
that You have put on us.
00:55:59.09\00:56:02.06
In Isaiah it says, because
You are honored, because You are
00:56:02.09\00:56:07.00
precious,
because I have loved You.
00:56:07.03\00:56:10.00
Father I plead and I ask in this
last time of Earth's history,
00:56:10.03\00:56:15.94
that all of us may accept
this call to follow the Lamb,
00:56:15.97\00:56:21.41
to be called, to be
chosen, and to be faithful.
00:56:21.44\00:56:25.65
Thank You, Precious Jesus that
it is through Your righteousness
00:56:25.68\00:56:30.52
that we can
experience Your power,
00:56:30.55\00:56:32.72
and Your grace in our lives.
00:56:32.75\00:56:35.02
We commit
ourselves into Your hands.
00:56:35.06\00:56:37.59
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
00:56:37.63\00:56:40.43