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I love stories

Baptism services and Grad Night are my favorite events every year because we get to hear a plethora of stories, back-to-back-to-back. These stories leave me refreshed and encouraged because 9 times out of 10, I'm questioning, doubting, and wondering if it's worth living my life for God's glory (not my own).

This first year out of school has not been any different.

90% of the time, I questioned why I was still in Michigan, why I was working in Detroit, why I spent so much time serving the church, and why I rarely had free time to myself. Of course the simple answer to why was: because God called me to do this. But that's all I had--a mere conviction, a promise that "as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are (God's) ways higher than (my) ways and (God's) thoughts than (my) thoughts" (Isa 55:9). I never planned or desired my life after college to be the way it looks now--if I had it my way, I'd be in downtown Chicago, working for a CPG company as a brand manager, enjoying the HMCC_CHI community without making the personal sacrifices. But I didn't pursue that path because I felt like God's will was different. I made my decisions based on faith, trying to be sure of what I hoped for and certain of what I did not see (Heb 11:1).


I don't like using words I don't mean (or sometimes without even knowing what they mean). For years I said things like "awww I'm so blessed!" or "man what a blessing", assuming it would be an appropriate filler to express my thankfulness at times. Pseth mentioned a few months ago that a blessing (in original context) refers to when a PROMISE is made true or fulfilled.

So.. what is a promise I banked on?
God's plan for my life is better than any plan I could come up with on my own.
(Isaiah 55:9, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 16:23-25)
How was this promise fulfilled?
I'm sure there are many jobs, friendships, and communities outside of MI I could have been very happy with. But what's special here is that I have the privilege of serving as a shepherd for fifteen college students in a mini-church--a church whose mission I can personally testify to--the mission of transforming lost people into Christ's disciples who will then transform the world.

You can call me naive if you'd like, but there has been nothing more EXCITING, JOYFUL, EXHILARATING, and AWESOME in my life than experiencing the power of God myself, OR witnessing someone else experience it. The story God has been writing in Ginny's life has been an absolutely awe-astounding one. My super-abridged summary of key chapters in her life:
  • Came to MI three years ago as an international student from Taiwan with little exposure to Christianity
  • Took a Social Entrepreneurship class at UM in Fall 2010 which transformed her life (dropped pre-med career track)
  • Started coming out to Life Group in January (and surprisingly kept coming every week, thanks to the commitment she saw in other believers around her)
  • Signed-up for the Global Access International Student Retreat upon her own initiative--left confidently believing God had a plan for her life (creepily involving Jaeson Ma's prophecy about UM being a hub for social entrepreneurship)
  • Began seeing her need for Jesus this past month as she attended churchwide gatherings and read the Bible on her own
Ginny made the personal commitment to accept Jesus as her Lord & Savior this weekend (!), and I can't believe I got to celebrate by welcoming her into the family of God.

More than just her salvation, her story has been an incredible affirmation of the promise God gave ME a year ago--the promise that His plan for me to live, work, and invest in Michigan supersedes any grandiose plan I devised on my own. TYL for using Ginny to fulfill a promise in my life that I questioned and doubted--surely BLESSED are those who trust in you!

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