Participants:
Series Code: 15GYC
Program Code: 15GYC000010A
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00:33 Good afternoon GYC!
00:35 Is there sunshine in your soul today? Amen! 00:40 How many of you saw the sun shining through 00:42 the convention windows? 00:43 Wasn't that beautiful? 00:45 What a reminder of the beauty that the Son of Righteousness 00:51 permeates and warms every sinew and chamber of our hearts. Amen? 00:57 You know, in the book of Acts you see Saul 01:00 on his way to Damascus. 01:02 And as he's on his way to Damascus to persecute 01:05 God's people, this light just enshrouds him and blinds him. 01:11 And it is in that moment that he has a definite, 01:15 and personal encounter with his Savior. 01:19 You know, Vera Onkoba is a personal friend of mine; 01:22 a very close friend of mine, and she often refers to her 01:27 testimony as her Damascus experience. 01:31 Something that I have treasured of our friendship is that 01:35 it reminds me of heaven, because we are constantly sharing 01:39 the manna that God is feeding us with from His Word. 01:42 And you look at our text messages and they're really 01:46 long, because we often are sharing what God has taught 01:50 us in our devotions. 01:52 And its been a friendship that I treasure, because in the life of 01:56 Vera, she reflects the righteousness of Jesus. 02:00 And it is her desire this afternoon that the scales that 02:05 have been on our eyes; those scales of fear, 02:08 those scales of doubt of God, she longs that this afternoon 02:13 those scales would fall, and that you would see Jesus for who 02:19 He is: your personal Savior. 02:22 And so after this song you will hear Vera sharing her testimony 02:28 of who God has been to her. 02:36 Isn't it a wonderful privilege to be able to lean on the 02:39 everlasting arms of Jesus? 02:41 We want to invite you to join us in singing, 02:44 Leaning On the Everlasting Arms. 02:46 Fellowshipping in Christ, please stand with us. 04:59 Happy Sabbath! That's a weak Happy Sabbath. 05:03 Happy Sabbath! Happy Sabbath! 05:05 Praise the Lord! Let us pray. 05:09 Loving Father, we come before Your presence this afternoon 05:14 to Your throne of grace. 05:16 We thank You that it is a place of refuge. 05:19 Father, as I share what You have done in my life, 05:23 I humbly ask that not I, but Christ be seen, be heard, 05:29 be known, is my humble prayer in the loving and precious name 05:34 of my Savior, and my Redeemer, Jesus. Amen. 05:39 You may be seated. 05:41 I want to humbly thank God for this opportunity He has given me 05:48 to share what God has done in my life; to share of His glory, 05:54 His praises, His faithfulness, and goodness to me, a sinner. 06:00 I can only share my testimony as it centers around the most 06:05 sacred book in the world, and throughout all the 06:09 ceaseless ages of eternity. 06:11 And so before I start my story, I would like us to turn to 06:15 a couple verses that I consider personally as anchor verses 06:19 in my life; the first of which is Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 61:10. 06:28 And this is the verse that actually God grabbed my 06:32 attention as I began my intense personal journey. 06:37 The Word of God says, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, 06:41 my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with 06:47 the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with a robe of 06:51 righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, 06:55 and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels. 06:59 The second verse is Isaiah 43:3, 4. 07:04 Again, this is an anchor verse in my life that God has revealed 07:09 to me more and more that has value. 07:12 Isaiah 43:3, 4. For I the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, 07:19 thy Savior: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, 07:22 Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 07:25 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, 07:30 and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, 07:35 and people for thy life. 07:37 And the last verse of many others, but this is another 07:41 third anchor verse for me is 2 Peter 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1. 07:55 Once I get there! Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of 08:03 Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith 08:08 with us through the righteousness of God 08:12 and our Savior Jesus Christ. 08:14 By trade I am a nurse, but really I am a follower 08:19 and disciple of Jesus Christ. 08:21 And I want to thank Him for the experiences 08:23 that He has given me. 08:25 When I was a little girl I remember thinking to myself, 08:28 I want to be a missionary when I grow up. 08:31 I want to give my life for the sake of the gospel. 08:34 Little did I know how God would shape and curve my life 08:39 to where I am today. 08:40 I'll share a testimony with you of a recent experience 08:45 that I had in the hospital. 08:46 While I was taking care of this gentleman, he was 93 years old, 08:49 very sharp intellectually. 08:52 He had actually just retired at the age of 92. 08:55 He was a full time businessman. 08:57 But he decided that he needed to slow down so that he can also 09:00 focus more on the ministry that God had called him to, 09:03 which is praying for people. 09:05 And so this day that I was taking care of him, 09:09 unfortunately, he had suffered from a mild stroke, 09:13 and a decision needed to be made; would it be worth it to 09:18 have a surgical procedure to help clear the clot that had 09:22 developed in one of his arteries on his neck, 09:25 or would it be just to let him be, 09:29 and then whatever happens happens? 09:31 And so this was... I entered his room, and we're talking 09:36 about the plan of care. 09:37 And a man of God, I was so grateful that he trusted and 09:42 believed that God would do what is right for him. 09:46 And I rejoiced with him, and I said, Praise the Lord! 09:49 You believe in the God of heaven who is able to answer prayers. 09:52 And right before the end of my shift, I did not know whether I 09:57 would take care of him the next day, so I'm so grateful that 10:01 God gives us opportunities all the time to share with people 10:06 a word of hope in due season. 10:08 And so I told him, I have a promise for you. 10:10 And he said, What is that? 10:13 And I turned to the book of Isaiah. 10:16 You'll find out that Isaiah is my favorite book in the Bible. 10:19 In Isaiah 46:4, and I gave him this promise: And even to your 10:24 old old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; 10:28 I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, 10:32 and will deliver you. 10:33 And so I said goodnight to him. 10:35 I left. I didn't know what the next day would bring. 10:38 The next day comes; I am given him as my patient. 10:41 And of which I was very thankful for, and honored to be able to 10:45 take care of a 94 year old. 10:48 And while I was taking care of him that day, 10:50 the surgeon of the family was leaning toward doing the 10:54 surgical procedure, so... But the surgeon needed to explain 10:57 to him exactly what would be done, and the outcomes, 11:01 or side effects of the surgery, or the complications rather. 11:05 And so while we are discussing, and I'm standing there in the 11:08 room silently listening to what the surgeon is telling him, 11:11 he explains the procedure and then explains the complications, 11:16 as well as the benefits of having the procedure. 11:19 And then the family is all silent. 11:23 You can hear a pin drop in the room. 11:26 And I'm standing there looking a him, and just silently praying 11:29 that God would give the family the right understanding 11:33 of what they needed to do. 11:35 And I was not expecting this, but the patient turns around 11:39 and looks at me, and he says, Vera, 11:40 what do you think I should do? 11:43 And my eyes, and my jaw just dropped almost to the ground 11:49 thinking, he's just asking me after the surgeon has 11:55 explained to him what he should do, and the family has not 11:58 decided what they are going to do. 12:00 And at that moment I prayed. 12:02 I sent a quick prayer up to heaven and I said, Father, 12:05 give me wisdom to know what to tell this man. 12:07 He's 94 years old. I have not even lived to be that long. 12:10 What wisdom do I have? 12:12 And he says, Yes, please share. 12:16 What do you think I should do? 12:19 And God gave me these words to him. 12:21 I told him, I said, Sir, you're a man of God. 12:25 You're a man of prayer. 12:26 I can tell you've walked with God for a long time. 12:29 I believe that by praying God will give you the answer. 12:33 And, sure enough, by the grace of God, they made a decision. 12:38 They decided that they were going to do 12:39 the surgical procedure. 12:41 And by God's grace, this man is a living miracle, 12:44 because the procedure that he had done at his age, 12:47 and some of the complications, he would not have survived. 12:49 Now why do I share this testimony? 12:51 It is because when I thought that I wanted to be a missionary 12:55 somewhere in the world, I did not know how God 12:58 was going to do this. 12:59 Well, my story really starts a hundred years ago where two 13:04 missionaries, both from North America, decided that they were 13:08 going to leave everything and come to Africa. 13:11 And my grandfather, from my Mom's side, he was working in a 13:16 tea farm, and he hears a knock on the door. 13:20 He opens the door. There's a colporteur and Bible worker 13:24 standing at his door asking him, Do you know 13:26 about the Bible Sabbath? 13:28 Well, my grandfather happened to be reading a Bible 13:31 at that time in his life. 13:33 And he said, No, I don't know about the Sabbath, 13:35 but I've heard of it, and I don't know how to keep the 13:39 Sabbath, and I don't know what to do. 13:41 And so this colporteur began sharing with him. 13:44 Soon enough my grandfather worked for a tea farmer, 13:48 and he decided that he was going to keep his Sabbath 13:51 the very first time the next week. 13:53 And so he said, Can I please have my Sabbath off? 13:56 Well the tea farmer, who was the owner of this tea farm, 14:01 said, No, there's no way that you can keep 14:03 the Sabbath and work here. 14:05 So my grandfather, from my mother's side, decided that he 14:09 was going to quit working. 14:10 And, sure enough, the next week came, the Sabbath came, 14:14 and he did not show up to work. 14:15 And that was the end of his career, as far as working 14:19 for this tea farmer, only to work for the greatest person 14:22 in the universe, which is God. 14:24 And so he became a full time minister of the gospel, 14:28 although he never went to a Bible college, 14:31 or anything like that. 14:32 And he started working with his people. 14:35 They're the Kolan geen people: teaching them, 14:38 preaching the gospel. 14:40 Then my dad's father, which I'll share later on a little bit more 14:44 about this man that I met here in America, 14:48 he, as well, was... he planted fruits. 14:51 And this missionary from America in the early 1900's decided 14:57 that he was going to leave everything and come to Africa, 15:00 and so went to my grandfather to buy fruit. 15:04 And it was at that time that they developed a relationship. 15:08 And the missionary started sharing with my grandfather 15:10 about the health message, and things about healthful living. 15:14 And then the door was open. 15:16 And in six months this missionary learned fluently 15:20 the Kisii language, and was able to communicate very well 15:24 with my grandfather, and many other people 15:26 in the home village. 15:27 The commitment both grandfathers made to raise their families 15:31 to believe the teachings of the Bible as Seventh-day Adventists 15:36 has greatly impacted me, and my siblings, and my parents. 15:40 And so my grandparents raised our parents, and then my dad 15:44 and my mom come into the picture. 15:46 They also met, and got married, and have five children. 15:51 I am two of five. And it was their decision as well that 15:56 they would choose to remain faithful 15:59 to the teachings of the Scriptures. 16:01 My grandmother, my dad's mother, was very influential 16:07 as well in my life. 16:08 I remember at a very young age she'd wake up very early 16:12 in the morning, and because I have my name, 16:15 which is Morah in Kisii, she would wake me up. 16:20 And she'd say, Vera, Vera, wake up! 16:22 And she'd always... She had arthritis on her back, 16:25 and she always wanted me to rub her back with some lotion. 16:28 And I used to get so frustrated thinking, Lord, 16:31 why does she wake me up? 16:32 There's two other sisters, and out of the two 16:35 she's always waking me up. 16:36 But God knew that I needed to see that example of a woman who 16:41 prayed, because later on God would encourage me to experience 16:46 Him through a journey of prayer as well, 16:48 and love to spend time with God in prayer. 16:51 I would like, at this time, to take a moment to really thank 16:56 missionaries who have chosen to give their life to service. 17:01 You have no idea how greatly impacted the lives of many are. 17:06 I am a witness as a result of many of the 17:09 sacrifices of missionaries. 17:11 I am indebted to the call that now I myself see myself as a 17:17 missionary here to America, the great America. 17:20 To the colporteurs and Bible workers, I really praise God 17:24 that this work, though it is hard, 17:27 there's a song that I learned one summer where it says that 17:31 even if it is hard, heaven is cheap enough. 17:34 It's worth the effort. 17:35 So as life is going on in Kenya growing up, learning more about 17:41 Jesus, at home my parents had made the decision that morning 17:45 and evening prayer time was very important. 17:48 So every morning we would have morning worship, 17:51 and in the evening we would have evening worship. 17:53 No matter how late it was, no matter how early it was, 17:56 my parents really made that a point. 17:59 And their reason why is they always told us that before you 18:03 go out there in the world, we need to bind you 18:07 to the altar of prayer. 18:09 And they would always encourage us that throughout the day 18:12 it was this atmosphere of keeping prayer as part of our 18:16 lives that would keep us faithful, and would enable us 18:19 to be encouraged with whatever trials 18:21 and challenges that we'd face. 18:23 And so I remember thinking, Wow, Lord! 18:26 You know, one time my brother, actually it happened to him, 18:30 he... We were going to be late to school. 18:33 But again, because my parents had pledged that morning and 18:36 evening prayer was something that they would choose to 18:39 carry out in our home, we would end up being late. 18:42 And my brother pleaded, and he'd say, daddy, daddy, 18:45 but we're going to be late for class. 18:47 And my dad said, Well, if you had woken up at the time I woke 18:51 you up, then you would not be late, and we'd still be 18:53 able to have family worship. 18:55 And sure enough, we got late, and we got punished in school, 18:59 but we learned that morning prayer is 19:02 something very important. 19:04 We also learned in childhood the love and character of God. 19:08 And I really want to encourage parents that something that was 19:12 so beautiful that my parents did was they just simply showed us 19:16 the practical truths about the gospel. 19:20 At home they lived the life that they lived, and in public they 19:23 also lived the life they did. 19:25 It was a consistent reflection of the love of Jesus. 19:29 I'm not saying in any way that my parents are perfect parents, 19:32 but what I do love is they constantly pointed us to the 19:36 character of the loving God that we serve. 19:39 They also encouraged us that if we wanted to spend eternity with 19:44 Jesus, that we would have to forsake our sins. 19:49 And I remember as a little girl thinking that, Wow, if I do not 19:55 see the face of Jesus, it is because my sins will have 20:00 kept me away from Him. 20:02 And that was something that was so important, because I remember 20:05 one evening, particularly, running into my room 20:09 and pleading with God, and asking Him to please 20:13 give me victory over sin. 20:15 Though I was a child, I did not understand the deep theological 20:19 complexities of the science of salvation, but I did know 20:25 something, that when I did something wrong it was sin, 20:28 but when I did something good, it was the right thing. 20:32 And so I remember thinking, Wow, Father, please change my 20:37 heart, change my heart. 20:38 And at this time I'd just like to be a little 20:41 transparent with you. 20:42 I remember as a little girl I struggled with pride, 20:45 and not because there was anything special about me, 20:48 but I do know that we all have different tendencies. 20:52 And that was an issue that I struggled with deeply. 20:55 And I'd ask the Lord every night to please give me 20:59 victory over pride. 21:00 One of the things that the Lord really did was revealing to me, 21:06 as my parents would read stories to us from Uncle Arthur, 21:09 was the story about the two Caroline's. 21:11 Some of you may be familiar. 21:12 But this little girl, she had one personality at home, 21:16 and then at school she had another personality. 21:19 And I remember while my parents would read that story, 21:22 I'd think, Wow, Father, that is me! 21:25 I am one way this way, and then one way this way. 21:29 And I'd constantly be asking God to give me the victory 21:33 over this experience; to change my heart. 21:37 I remember how I struggled so much with disobedience. 21:41 My parents would tell me one thing, because I was so strong 21:43 willed, and I'd always reason with my dad or my mom, 21:46 and say, Well, why do I have to do it that way? 21:49 There's a different way of doing it. 21:51 And, friends, it's so beautiful to know that even as a little 21:56 child, God is willing to give us victory over these little things 22:00 that we struggle with. 22:02 And as we grow older, if we've not learned to overcome them, 22:06 they become deeper, and deeper roots that we struggle with. 22:10 But I thank God that my parents persistently, 22:13 consistently shared with us how Jesus is able to save. 22:18 Jesus is able to give us the victory. 22:20 And so they'd always point us back to the Scriptures. 22:23 They'd always pray with us about the struggles that we had. 22:27 And so throughout the years growing up in Kenya, 22:30 such a carefree life, you know, happy. 22:34 It was wonderful growing there, until there was a war in the 22:39 Middle East, which shaped and curved events 22:42 in the African Continent. 22:43 It is the Gulf War. 22:45 And I remember that time my dad was working, 22:48 and things were pretty peaceful for the most part 22:51 in the country of Africa, I mean country of Kenya, 22:54 until that war happened. 22:56 And we do not realize how interconnected the world is. 23:00 We are so connected, and one event in one country 23:03 can actually shape and impact the lives of people 23:06 in a different country. 23:08 And that's what happened to us. 23:09 It was at that time that the economy of Kenya started going 23:12 downhill, and soon the word on the news was they were going 23:16 to start laying off people who were much older. 23:18 Well, my dad wasn't that old. 23:19 We were all little kids. 23:21 And so they started laying off individuals like him, 23:25 and he was in his late 30's. 23:27 And so my mom turns around and says, Well, 23:31 you need to find a job. 23:33 You need to find something that we can maintain as a family. 23:36 And the last thing that my dad ever thought 23:38 was coming to America. 23:40 And interestingly enough, at that time around the Gulf War 23:44 many of the baby boomers were retiring, and were starting to 23:49 see an increase in need for occupational therapy, 23:53 rehabilitation services. 23:55 My dad, by trade, was an occupational therapist. 23:57 And so the opportunity came for him to have this job in America. 24:02 While he comes here, and we remain in Kenya 24:06 for a couple of years. 24:07 And we're praying, asking the Lord to open the doors for us 24:11 as a family to come and be with my dad. 24:13 By God's grace the Lord opened up doors, 24:17 and we were able to come. 24:18 And at the time when we came to America I was 14 years old. 24:21 And it's such an interesting time period to come 24:25 when you're a teenager. 24:26 But I want us to turn to a chapter in the Bible, 24:30 in Acts 17:26 that really, later on, God would help us understand 24:36 even how, and why He would bring us here to this country. 24:39 Acts 17:26, 27. And hath made of one blood all nations 24:47 of all men for to dwell on the face of the earth, 24:50 and hath determined the times before appointed, 24:54 and the bounds of their habitation. 24:56 And this is the reason why: That they should seek the Lord, 25:02 if haply they might feel after him, and find him, 25:06 though he be not far from us. 25:09 I do believe with all my heart God uses migration so that 25:13 He can shift events in our lives to seek after Him. 25:17 It was when we came here to America, and the changes that 25:21 happened, that God would open the door for me to really 25:24 begin to grow in Him. 25:26 When we came here I, like I said, I was a teenager. 25:30 I went to an Adventist Academy. 25:32 And it was such a blessed time, because though it was very 25:36 foreign, going to school with girls and guys in one school, 25:41 that was totally different. 25:42 Because in the British system usually it's girls 25:44 alone, and guys alone. 25:46 And so I was not used to that kind of interaction. 25:48 But I praise God for the school that I went to in 25:51 Clap Valley Academy, in Nebraska; 25:54 very humble people, very loving. 25:56 And so I quickly adapted to the American culture. 26:00 And throughout the years there I had very influential teachers 26:05 who guided me into loving God more. 26:08 But during my senior year, I remember it was at that time, 26:12 for whatever reason, my dad wanted me to play the piano. 26:15 And so, I was like alright, but I really wanted 26:17 to play the guitar. 26:18 And I was like, fine, I'll do this, Daddy, you know. 26:22 And so I started playing the piano, and I'm practicing, 26:25 but I decided I was like, because I really liked being 26:28 outdoors, and I really was very adventurous growing up, 26:32 and played a lot of soccer, I decided that I wanted 26:35 to play basketball, so I joined the basketball team. 26:38 Which was good. It was good exercise, but at this point 26:42 I want to say something friends, I believe with all my heart 26:45 that sports, to some extent, cultivates a spirit 26:51 of self-glorification. 26:53 And innocent as sometimes they are, there is a spirit of 26:58 competition that the enemy can capitalize on, and that's really 27:01 where a shift in my walk with God started. 27:05 I joined the basketball team, and then school was going well, 27:09 I was having a good time growing in Christ, but something was 27:14 also happening in my heart. 27:16 I was becoming very... again. 27:18 The issue that I struggled with as a child, pride, was becoming, 27:22 was starting to come back again. 27:24 And because of natural abilities that God has given me, 27:29 but placed in the wrong place they're not good, 27:32 very determined, and very, the ability to push through 27:36 and get things done. 27:38 I became a good basketball player, and by my senior year 27:41 when I was graduating, I decided that, Hey, since I was able to 27:46 join the basketball team, I think when I go to college 27:48 I want to play basketball. 27:50 And I decided that I wanted to stay at home, 27:53 so I'd go to a public college. 27:55 And, which I did, but I decided as well that I was going to 28:00 trial for the college basketball varsity team. 28:05 And that's something that's unheard of. 28:07 Usually they go, coaches go and recruit 28:09 students to play for them. 28:11 But I walked in, I told the coach, 28:13 I want to play for your team. 28:15 And he asked me how I did in high school. 28:18 And I mean it was an Adventist school, so it wasn't really 28:21 a top notch school that you would say. 28:24 But he saw something, and so he was like, Sure, come on in. 28:29 And so he opened the doors for me to start 28:31 playing with the team. 28:33 And at that time I was averaging about 3 to 5 hours a day 28:40 practicing, training, working out, and it was super intense. 28:44 And when I say intense, it really is, because we would wake 28:49 up at five in the morning, and do our run for about 28:51 one and a half hours, and then in the gym for another 28:54 one and a half hours, and then scrimmage in the afternoon, 28:57 and then we'd work out in the evening before the day was done. 29:01 And I'd begun to see a little spiral. 29:04 My life was beginning to start, I would say... 29:06 My parents had advised me, Vera, you really should end 29:09 the playing basketball. 29:11 And I was like, Well, they're going to give me the Sabbath's 29:13 off, and I can be able to go to church. 29:16 You know, and they reasoned with me, but again, some of the 29:19 issues that I had struggled with in childhood came up again. 29:23 And I was like, No, it's going to be okay. 29:25 I'm going to have a good time. 29:26 I'll be able to witness. 29:28 People will get to hear about Jesus. 29:30 And, praise God, people did get to know about the Sabbath. 29:34 But self-exultation and pride were again arising in my heart. 29:39 And when the Sabbath would come, because basketball season is 29:42 usually during the winter time; the sun sets. 29:44 And so I was like, Well, I'll be able to go out and play after 29:48 Sabbath, or watch the team. 29:49 So the coach decided, actually since I'd walked in, 29:52 that I would red shirt. 29:53 And what red shirt means is you sit on the bench for a year, 29:57 and then the next year you play. 29:59 And I was, I was fine with that. 30:02 But, you know, something was also happening 30:04 with my devotional life. 30:05 It was spiraling. I had started compromising. 30:07 I was like, Oh yeah, my parents have morning and evening 30:10 worship, so that's my devotional time. 30:12 And, you know, it's not a big deal. 30:15 We'll, we'll... Lord You're with me. 30:17 And it was a slippery slope just like 30:21 Pastor Mark Finley shared earlier on. 30:24 And I thank the Lord that in the midst of this whole experience 30:30 my teammates were like super excited that I was on the team. 30:33 And they'd always be excited that I would still come to the 30:36 basketball games after sundown. 30:38 Because I didn't go on Friday, but on Sabbath, 30:41 after the sunset, I used to go and join them during the games. 30:45 And then something happened one day during scrimmage. 30:48 I was playing with the team, and I go up to reach for the 30:53 ball, and the next thing I land on the ground. 30:56 I have a total knee injury, which would end up putting me 31:01 throughout the entire season out of practice. 31:03 Well, God used that experience, and I thank Him now. 31:07 I really thank Him. 31:08 Every day I'm reminded by the scar of the power of God 31:12 to deliver me from this spiraling life event. 31:17 And it was at that time that I started spending 31:19 time with the Lord. 31:20 And I was thinking, Wow, where is my life going? 31:23 Here I am, I can't play; I can't do anything. 31:25 I can barely walk to school. 31:27 But God was using this experience to turn 31:31 my heart back to Him again. 31:33 And, friends, I was so excited, because it was at this time that 31:38 the Lord opened my eyes to see that I can start doing other 31:42 things with such passion for Him. 31:44 And so I started. I got more involved at the local church. 31:47 We started having very early morning prayer in the morning, 31:51 and in the evening with church members, praying for missing 31:54 church members to come back. 31:55 We started seeing sick people being healed as we were praying. 31:58 A lot of missing members started coming back. 32:01 There was more unity. 32:02 And as the Lord began opening my eyes to this experience, 32:06 I started returning my heart to Him. 32:08 Fast forwarding: my Senior year in college. 32:11 So I'm not playing basketball anymore, 32:14 and I'm back busy in school studying to be a nurse. 32:19 And my Senior year in college the reality hits: 32:22 soon I'll be done. Soon there'll be a job. 32:25 Then what next? And I thank God for this question that the 32:30 Holy Spirit put in my heart during my Senior year. 32:33 It started with a question, Why am I a Seventh-day Adventist? 32:38 Why do I believe what I believe in? 32:40 Does it really matter? 32:41 Am I an Adventist just because this is the only message 32:45 I have heard from birth? 32:47 Or is truth, as revealed in the Bible, upon which a Seventh-day 32:51 Adventist believes relevant and practical 32:54 in today's world for me? 32:55 Can I trust the expressed Word of the Living God 32:59 of heaven and earth as the only truth? 33:02 Why am I called to be an Adventist? 33:04 Lightening flashes like across into my mind, 33:09 and the verse comes, What shall a man gain if he... 33:14 What is a man advantaged if he gain the whole 33:17 world and lose himself, or be cast away? 33:20 As I'm musing upon these thoughts, as a little girl I had 33:25 seen a book called, Christ Our Righteousness, 33:28 in my dad's library, and I was always fascinated 33:30 by the word righteousness. 33:32 And I thought, What is this big, big, big word that nobody 33:35 could really explain it to me when I was little? 33:37 But that seed had been planted. 33:39 And the Lord takes me back, and then I remember my Senior 33:43 year in High School. 33:44 We were doing Bible class, and we were using the book by 33:47 Mark Finley called, Revelation Speaks, as our study guide. 33:50 And I gotta name the class. 33:52 It was a Bible study, so it was a simple thing, but I did not 33:57 take advantage, when I was in High School, to absorb the truth 34:02 that it was personal. 34:03 But God works in miraculous ways, 34:05 because He brought me full circle. 34:07 So I pick up that book Mark Finley wrote, Revelation Speaks, 34:12 and then I realized the beauty of Christ Our Righteousness 34:16 through the book of Revelation. 34:18 I start studying the sanctuary message; start realizing the 34:22 beauty of the character of God. 34:25 And then as this journey continues, I'd spend hours. 34:30 So the hours that I was spending playing basketball, 34:33 I would spend with God in the Word. 34:36 I closed all my school books. 34:37 I was like, forget the school books! 34:39 Well, not literally, but I did to some extent, because as I 34:44 started spending more time in the Word, 34:46 all of a sudden when I was in class, my mind was just so sharp 34:51 I could remember everything that the teacher said. 34:54 When we took exams, I really didn't study for exams my Senior 34:57 year, because the Word of God became so meaningful to me 35:02 that I preferred studying it. 35:04 And I did study a little bit the other books. 35:07 But what I'm trying to share with this was God enabled me 35:11 to see the beauty of seeking first His kingdom, 35:14 and His Righteousness. 35:16 At this time I would like to share a quote, 35:21 which should come up on the screen, that was really powerful 35:25 as I was discovering the beauty of Christ's Righteousness. 35:30 In Southern Watchman, June 11, 1903, this is what the word of 35:36 the pen of inspiration says: Holiness is constant agreement 35:41 with God. Amen? This is such a beautiful quote to read, 35:46 because then I began to realize when I agree with God, 35:50 as I'm walking with God in my journey, 35:53 this is what holiness is. 35:55 It's just, Can two walk together except they be agreed? 35:59 So the Bible became more meaningful to me as I discovered 36:02 that when God says this, Yes, I will follow! 36:05 When He says that, I will go there. 36:07 When He says, Don't do this, I don't do it, because I am 36:10 agreeing with the mind of God. 36:13 It was at that point that I made the decision that I wanted to be 36:19 a follower of Jesus Christ. 36:22 The scales began to drop from my eyes, and I began to see more 36:26 clearly the beauty of the work that Christ does on my behalf. 36:31 I believe that comprehending the righteousness of Jesus 36:36 is the root to accepting the call to follow the Lamb of God, 36:41 the reason why I choose to follow the Lamb, 36:46 and the motivation to remain faithful to Him. 36:49 Influenced by the writings and teachings of Paul, I pleaded for 36:53 an experience like that of Paul, where he would go around 36:56 encouraging the churches. 36:57 And I thank the Lord that He would give me this 37:00 experience later on. 37:01 And, friends, as I was journeying with God, 37:04 and discovering the beauty of Christ's Righteousness, 37:07 through the sanctuary message, I remember realizing also that 37:11 God loves for us to come to Him with the struggles that we have. 37:16 I don't have time to go through all of the Bible verses, 37:20 but you can write them down: Psalm 37:23, 24. 37:24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: 37:27 and he delighteth in his way. 37:29 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord 37:33 upholdeth him by his hand. 37:35 Micah 7:7-9, Micah 7:18, 19, and then Psalm 130:3, 4. 37:44 If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, 37:47 O Lord, who shall stand? 37:49 But there is forgiveness with thee, 37:52 that thou mayest be feared. 37:53 Recognizing the Righteousness of Christ gave me the 37:58 strength every single time. 37:59 And even to this day, when I struggle with things that are 38:03 tempting in my life, to know that the Righteousness of Jesus 38:07 is able, and capable of giving me the victory. 38:11 I praise the Lord for that. 38:13 In a quote, Testimonies of the Church, Volume 7, it says that: 38:18 If you make a mistake turn your defeat into victory. 38:22 The lessons that God sends will always, if well learned, 38:27 bring help in due time. 38:29 Put your trust in God. 38:31 Pray much, and believe; trusting, hoping, believing 38:35 holding fast the hand of Infinite power, you will be more 38:40 than conquerors. Amen? 38:42 So I graduated from nursing school. 38:44 I start working. I decided that what I really loved doing was 38:49 working in the Intensive Care Unit. 38:51 And it was quite an intense experience to say the least, 38:54 because I worked in a Trauma Center where we got all the 38:58 trauma's that you can imagine. 39:00 But it was also in that place that God really helped me 39:03 understand my dependence upon Him to really minister to people 39:08 who are in very traumatic situations. 39:10 And I want to encourage you, friends, that, you know, 39:14 it is sometimes when you're in places where you think that 39:18 you are not capable of doing something, how God is able to 39:22 take our weaknesses. 39:24 And I did not think I was adequate enough to take this 39:27 work as an Intensive Care Unit nurse, but it was in that place 39:32 that God helped me realize the power of making right decisions. 39:36 Because many times in life we do things that causes, 39:41 like in the hospital, when you come there: traumatic 39:44 experiences, and choices, and decisions that people make. 39:47 And, so, God uses experience to help me understand also the 39:50 value of making right choices. 39:53 One of the things that I really have learned as I take care of 39:56 patients, is the value of prayer. 39:58 And, you know, when you see somebody almost dying, 40:03 there is no better time to be able to witness to them about a 40:07 God who is close to them. 40:09 One particular instance: I got a call from the floor that 40:13 they told me, Vera, you're going to be getting this really 40:15 critical patient who's going to need emergency intervention. 40:18 And I said a prayer like, God, give me the wisdom to know how 40:23 I will take care of this patient. 40:24 And when the patient comes in, not only am I taking care of the 40:29 patient, but I'm also dealing with family. 40:31 They're very emotional, and stressed out, 40:34 and very concerned, and rightfully so as well. 40:36 But the Lord has been giving me all this wisdom throughout the 40:40 years, as I've been learning, not only about Him, but the work 40:44 that He desires to do in their lives. 40:46 And I remember just pleading with God to help me minister 40:50 to the whole family. 40:51 As I took care of them, they became very closely attached, 40:55 to the point when a decision needed to be made; 40:57 what they needed to do with their father. 40:59 I was not working that day, but they called me at home, 41:04 and they said, Vera, we want you to tell us 41:07 what to do with our dad. 41:08 And I thought to myself, Father, they talked to the doctors, 41:12 and they are calling me at home. 41:13 This is breaching the confidentiality of working in 41:18 the hospital, and being away from the hospital. 41:20 But I thank the Lord because it was when they finally decided 41:24 that they would let go of their father. 41:25 I was there that day to take care of their father. 41:29 And I remember just letting them know, and encouraging them that 41:33 there is heaven awaiting them, and that soon one day there'll 41:38 be no more pain and sorrow. 41:39 And so I take out my phone, and I play for them a song by 41:42 Jennifer LaMountain, No More Night. 41:45 And as they were listening to that song, and as the patient 41:48 was listening to that song, he died listening to the promise 41:53 that there's coming a day where there will be no more night. 41:56 Fast forwarding in my life, as I was praying about being a 42:01 missionary when I was a child, I didn't know that God would 42:04 allow me to be a missionary as a nurse, 42:06 but not only as a nurse, but to live a life that is consistent 42:09 of full time ministry. 42:11 I had moved to Arizona, where my brother was at that time. 42:15 And a call came for me to help out with literature work 42:20 in the Arizona Conference. 42:22 And so I decided that I am going to go ahead and do this. 42:26 And the point that I want to bring out about the blessing 42:29 of pain and trials in the midst of accepting the call. 42:33 When I accepted the call to do full time ministry 42:36 with the Arizona Conference, and at the same time be working 42:39 full time, it was not long after that that I got diagnosed 42:44 with a brain tumor. 42:45 And I remember thinking to myself, Father, I know what 42:50 this looks like, because I've taken care of 42:52 patients who've come. 42:53 They're normal one day, and the next day 42:55 their life just changes. 42:56 And my life just passed by in front of me; 43:00 this tumor could grow, and these different things 43:03 just racing in my mind. 43:05 And again the Word of God is our only firm foundation, friends. 43:10 Because there's a promise in Psalm 31:15 where it says that 43:14 the psalmist cries out and he says, My time, 43:18 my life is in your hands. 43:20 And it was at that moment that I made the decision that even 43:23 though I had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, 43:25 which was inoperable, and which could continue to grow, 43:29 and which could cause me to be blind as well as deaf, 43:33 if the tumor continued to grow, that I was like, Lord, 43:37 it's all in Your hands. I am Yours. 43:39 And I realized that as I committed my life to God, 43:44 the peace that He gave me. 43:46 And I still have the tumor, and I still deal with some 43:50 of the side effects. 43:51 But I thank God that He gives me the strength, and the grace; 43:54 when I am weak then He is strong. 43:56 The key lesson, that I have learned two things: 43:59 God does not afflict. 44:01 In Job 37:23 it is very clear in the great controversy that 44:07 God does not afflict, and that it is also through prayer that 44:12 God has strengthened my experience, because every time 44:16 when I'm so overwhelmed, I come to Him through prayer, 44:19 because I can talk to Him, and I can express my heart to Him. 44:23 What have I been called to? 44:26 Simply this: a life of service, a life of sacrifice 44:30 for the sake of Christ. 44:32 Wherever God sends me, with whomever God places me 44:36 in ministry with, and for however long. 44:38 A quote that has really encouraged me as I have been 44:42 journeying, is in Desire of Ages, Page 250. 44:46 There is no limit to the usefulness of one, 44:49 who putting self aside, makes room for the working of the 44:52 Holy Spirit, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God. 44:57 God has called me to taking personal ownership to the 45:02 message of Christ our righteousness, and personal 45:06 responsibility to serving God, and the work that 45:09 He has set before me. 45:11 And He continues to give me this as my call. 45:15 Also recognizing where there is a need, what I am called to. 45:19 Friends, we are called to recognize the needs of others. 45:23 He's also called me to serve in the local church community, 45:28 in the local church, in the community, at home. 45:31 One of the issues that I struggled with, 45:33 like I mentioned, when I was a little child, was I had these 45:36 two identities; there were two Vera's. 45:39 I praise the Lord that He has given me the victory in this 45:42 area in my life where I see everybody the same: my parents, 45:47 my siblings, everybody. 45:49 They're the same to me. 45:50 They're brothers and sisters in Jesus. 45:53 And I thank the Lord that each one of us can have that 45:56 experience as well. 45:57 One of the things that I want to leave before I finish sharing 46:05 my testimony is the reason I accept the call is because 46:12 Jesus is my Creator and Redeemer. 46:14 The reason God chooses me is because of the infinite price 46:19 He has paid on my life. 46:21 There's a video that I watched last year, and actually was 46:25 featured last year at GYC called, Am I Worth Really 46:28 Something? And I encourage you; go to YouTube and watch it. 46:31 It's really powerful! 46:32 And even share it with your friends. 46:34 Recognizing our worth, friends, is key to accepting the call 46:39 that God has for our lives; recognizing the value that He 46:43 has placed upon you. 46:45 As I have experienced this, friends, it has given me such 46:50 joy to know that I am accepted by the God of the Universe; 46:54 that because of the price that He has paid for my life, 46:58 there is infinite value to my life, 47:01 but to every single individual's life. 47:04 What about their faithfulness? 47:06 When I think about faithfulness is the verse that I 47:10 shared at the beginning. 47:11 It is because of the righteousness of Jesus that I 47:15 am able to be faithful. 47:17 God's faithfulness is the one and only thing that can keep us 47:23 in the call, and can enable us to experience the power 47:28 of the value that we have in Him. 47:30 We are faithful because God remains faithful, 47:34 and God calls us as well to endure. 47:37 There's this promise in 2 Timothy 2:10 where it says, 47:41 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, 47:45 that they may also obtain the salvation which is in 47:49 Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 47:52 One quote that has really encouraged me from 47:56 Christ's Object Lessons, Page 363, But when we give 48:00 ourselves wholly to God, and in our work follow His directions, 48:05 He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment. 48:09 He would not have us conjuncture as to the success 48:12 of our earnest endeavors. 48:14 Throughout my couple of years of working as a nurse, 48:19 I decided one summer that I would take off and go into 48:22 full time colportering for three months. 48:25 And, friends, I'm so thankful that when we make the decision 48:29 to follow the call that God gives to us, God gives us the 48:33 success in our daily experiences. 48:36 And many times we may not think of it the way... 48:38 We may have ideas of what success looks like, 48:41 but when God has asked us to do something, 48:44 like the quote says, He makes Himself responsible for it. 48:47 And I've experienced that throughout the years. 48:50 So for the last several years every summer I take off from 48:53 work, and I go do mission work, doing canvassing, 48:58 and right now I'm in the Spokane area with a little church plant 49:01 doing medical missionary work. 49:03 The testimony of a life lived is to be a present continuous, 49:08 not one just of the past of what God has done, 49:11 but what through the power of the Holy Spirit continues to do, 49:15 and will do by faith. 49:16 As I grasp on to the righteousness of Jesus by faith, 49:20 we each can have a story of God's power 49:27 working in our lives. 49:29 The question that remains, when the Son of man shall come, 49:34 will He find faith? 49:36 Will I, Vera, remain called, chosen, and faithful? 49:40 To what account will my life be? 49:43 As a song will be sung here shortly, the question that I 49:48 have for you and I... 49:50 I don't know what your personal life story is, and I praise God 49:53 that one day I'll get to hear your stories as well in eternity 49:56 of how God has called you, how He has chosen you, 50:00 and how you have chosen to remain faithful to the Lamb. 50:03 But I pray that this promise in Revelation 17:14 that says, 50:12 These shall make war with the Lamb... 50:14 And the war with the Lamb is found in Isaiah 42:9, 50:18 where we make war with the Word of God. 50:22 Will we follow the Lamb? 50:25 Will we allow Him to be our King of Kings, 50:29 and Lord of Lords? 50:30 Will my life, will your life be as dew from the Lord? 50:36 I pray that as this song is sung, Find Us Faithful, 50:40 that you may personally choose to be called, 50:44 to be chosen, and to remain faithful. 51:05 We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road. 51:13 And those who've gone before us line the way; 51:20 cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary, 51:27 their lives a stirring testament of God's sustaining grace. 51:35 Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 51:42 let us run the race not only for the prize, 51:49 but as those who've gone before us, 51:53 let us leave to those behind us the heritage of faithfulness 52:00 passed on through Godly lives. 52:05 Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. 52:12 May the fire of our devotion light their way. 52:19 May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe, 52:26 and the lives we live inspire them to obey. 52:33 Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. 52:45 After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone, 52:51 and our children sift through all we've left behind, 52:58 may the clues that they discover, and the memories they 53:05 uncover become the light that leads them, 53:10 to the road we each must find. 53:15 Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. 53:22 May the fire of our devotion light their way. 53:29 May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe, 53:36 and the lives we live inspire them to obey. 53:46 Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. 53:54 May the fire of our devotion light their way. 54:01 May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe, 54:07 and the life we live inspire them to obey. 54:14 Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. 54:25 Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful, faithful. 54:52 Amen! You may be listening on the internet, 54:57 or you're here at GYC. 54:59 My appeal, no, actually not my appeal, God's appeal to you 55:05 and me is, Do I accept the call because I believe that God is my 55:11 personal Creator, and personal Redeemer? 55:14 Do I accept that you and I are chosen by an Infinite God 55:19 because of the infinite price He has paid? 55:23 Do I accept to be faithful, because God is faithful, 55:28 because He cannot deny in Himself. 55:31 If this is your desire, please join me as we pray. 55:39 Loving Father, I thank You that You are faithful. 55:45 I thank You that Your righteousness is like the great 55:50 mountains, as the Psalmist said. 55:53 Father I thank You that You choose us because of the value 55:59 that You have put on us. 56:02 In Isaiah it says, because You are honored, because You are 56:07 precious, because I have loved You. 56:10 Father I plead and I ask in this last time of Earth's history, 56:15 that all of us may accept this call to follow the Lamb, 56:21 to be called, to be chosen, and to be faithful. 56:25 Thank You, Precious Jesus that it is through Your righteousness 56:30 that we can experience Your power, 56:32 and Your grace in our lives. 56:35 We commit ourselves into Your hands. 56:37 In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. |
Revised 2016-08-11