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Serena'sYour beauty... should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3: 3-4) 04/08/2009 Testimony (Austin Chinese Church New Member's Class)We were required to send a copy of personal testimony to Pastor Gaylord at the new member's class. This gave me a chance to review my spiritual journey over the past few years. I'm actually not new to ACC at all; my close connection with ACC has started ever since I got Austin in 2003. Now I'd like to officially become a member of ACC. After all, this is where my root is. July 1st, 2009 This March I had my seventh anniversary of baptism. “Seven” is a perfect number in the Bible, so I think this anniversary was extraordinarily special to me. Seven years ago (in 2002), I was baptized in Taipei, Taiwan, and officially became a Christian. Seven years later (in 2009), I finished my Ph.D. in UT Austin and got a teaching job in a high school. When I looked back upon the past seven years, from a baby Christian to a Christ-centered Christian, I just want to thank and praise God unceasingly.In November, 2001, my purse was stolen and I lost a huge amount of money. Before that I had been accumulating a lot of negative emotions in my life, so the “purse event” was like a trigger – I didn’t know how to handle those unpeaceful emotions anymore. A college friend invited me to the small group he was attending. I liked those people and the atmosphere in the small group, so I stayed. A few months later (in March, 2002), I decided to get baptized. Later on I realized that the “purse event” was actually a guised blessing from God, as He used this event to lead me into His kingdom. I came to Austin for graduate school in July, 2003. Ever since I was a new student in UT, I joined the Mandarin-speaking student fellowship – ACCCF (Austin Chinese Campus Christian Fellowship), where I was tremendously nurtured in my spiritual life. I was so blessed to know those very wise elders in ACCCF and to be taken good care of by them. ACCCF is a very evangelical group; we have many seekers with us. Even though I was still a new Christian at that time, I was asked if I was willing to be a co-worker. So I learned how to serve and gradually understood the meaning of doing ministry. My faith was deepened through studying God’s Word and serving with other brothers and sisters in Christ in the Fellowship. In December 2006, I attended the Urbana conference in St. Louise. That was another great impact on me. I was in the International Student Track of the conference and heard a lot of messages concerning cross-cultural missions. God led me to the international student Sunday school class at Hyde Park Baptist Church in early 2007. There I met a very gracious American couple who devotedly served in the church and international students. God also used me to support that group, as there were also many seekers. In May 2009, I finally finished my study at graduate school. It had been a process of relying on God: taking classes, preparing for the qualifying exam, dissertation writing, passing the final oral defense, and countless meetings/discussions with supervisors and revision afterwards. Had I not relied on God, I absolutely wouldn’t be able to achieve it. My life journey continues, and a new life chapter is about to start. Getting a teaching job in Austin is another grace from God. God also led me back to Austin Chinese Church, where my root is. May God help me to be a good teacher, and always be a good testimony for Him. One day when it’s about the time for me to leave the world, I hope people will remember me as a person who loves God and loves people. 21/05/2009 Counting God's BlessingsPraise the Lord: For giving me this faith in Christ, which is my
strongest foundation. This list can keep going on and on…. Always
remember to count God’s blessings… 12/05/2009 Learning through SinglenessAbout relationship… I just feel so thankful that God grants me peace in this regard this year. I’ve never been having such 前所未有的平安. If I can choose, I’d still choose to get married and have my own family, because I hope to experience God’s wonder in marriage (as He is the one who sets up marriage…), and to have someone serve the Lord together. But if marriage is not God’s plan for me, I pray that He would give me peace and contentment, until the day I’m about to leave the world, I wouldn’t be feeling sorry for my life because I’ve never got married. Here is what I recently shared with a friend who is struggling with her singleness: “I feel I've learned a lot through singleness. If I were not single for so many years, I wouldn't have been such understanding (and maybe compassionate) when I see people who have passed their socially-appropriate-getting-married age and are still single. I wouldn't have got a chance to learn to count God's blessings – focusing on what God has given me rather than on what He hasn't given me (or isn't going to give me). I wouldn't have been seriously contemplating the meaning of marriage to me and why I want to get married if I can choose. I've also learned to take relationship issues easy, to keep a positive mind, to arrange my life well, and to take good care of myself in every aspect. I keep myself open, while I do treasure, value, and enjoy my single life now.” : )
11/05/2009 "Mary Did You Know"A great song not only on Christmas, but also on Mother's Day... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFPHIK9ann8 09/03/2009 7th AnniversaryToday (March 8th) is the seventh anniversary of my baptism. It’s like another birthday of mine, and is even more meaningful than my physical birthday. “Seven” is a perfect number in the Bible, so I think this anniversary is extraordinarily special to me. Lately I’m particularly grateful for God’s leading in my job hunting. Right now I’m facing a critical transition – from a student to a young professional. I’m approaching the end of my student life (finally!) and am about to launch a new life chapter. I feel God really favors me and is opening the door for me along the way – the process of successfully transferring my teacher certification from Taiwan to Texas teacher certification last year, and the perfect timing of a job interview this February so I was able to catch up the working visa application deadline (April 1st) and got enough time for my attorney to file my documents to the relevant government department. This is completely out of my expectation and makes me feel like God is performing a miracle on me. God’s provisions are beyond what we ask and imagine. Now I’m praying for the result of visa application… I’d like to share a Bible verse which pops up in my head again and again recently: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:7-8). This passage is originally talking about love of money and exhorting people not to fall into the temptation. But I think we can make an extension and apply it to other aspects of our desires. God has given me so much, and I feel very content. I ask for no more at this moment. : ) |
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