One of my friends from back home, Keziah, wrote a guest blog for me. She is currently writing a book and explains a little bit about it in the section below. I hope this blesses you! Keziah, thank you for always being an amazing friend and inspiration. I know God will take you far. Love you!
My Women of Faith is a personal journal for myself. I chose to document the lives of some of my closest friends, and women whose faith I admire dearly. I understand that although I love my God, and have his word to encourage me, there are real life women whose testimonies I can follow based off of their faith.
Dear Kez,
There really is no way of telling where you are in your life as you read this newsletter. Perhaps you are still in university working towards your bachelors, or perhaps you are married with kids and juggling the difficult responsibilities of adulthood. Or perhaps you are older now, working and perfecting a ministry and allowing the Lord to continue to change you, even at such an old age.
Whatever the case, I would like to use today’s chapter to encourage your faith. Regardless of how much we know, there is always room to learn more. Today I would like to share with you about your dear friend Jackie.
You met Jackie years before she began attending your church. She was in a conversation with Pearl Castro at youth camp, cracking her usual jokes. You should have been 14 then. And as you did everything in your power to contain the laughter, with Jackie in the room, that is just not possible.
She was kind from the start, vibrant and full of life. Anyone who knows her would agree that when she walks in the room, joy comes with her.
Well, this lovely lady became one of your dearest friends. You had the privilege of really getting to know her and a relationship was established. As you got closer to her, you discovered the beautiful calling that edged in her heart. Her desire to serve and reach this world.
It is interesting because everyone at the core I feel, should have this desire. It is the Christian right and Christian calling to share the good news. However, there is a variance in how we share the good news. Some do it locally, and others expand their calling to the degree of the apostles of Jesus.
We call them missionaries. Even saying the word sounds intimidating. What do you mean you have a desire to leave the comfort of your home and the closeness of your family to reach parts of the world some people have no idea exist? Well this was the exact desire that lived in Jackie’s heart. I still remember the process it took for her to leave her job and the stress to fund a trip to see the world. It was this experience and journey that I want to talk about.
See we all believe we have faith. We say, “I am a Christian” but what does that mean? Based off of what terms? Some say they are Christian simply because they believe in a God, others because they attend church on a monthly or weekly basis. Others argue they are Christian because they read and pray.
My understanding however, is that a Christian is simply a doer. Doer of what? Well, doer of what we believe in. There is action connected to a faith filled Christian.
James teaches us that faith and works walk hand in hand. If I read but never act on what it says, or visibly present my beliefs, it is dead.
This is why I chose Jackie as one of my women of faith. She acted on her faith. She visibly told the world, I am a Christian, and I want others to know about Jesus Christ, and not only am I going to do everything in my power to fulfill my calling, but I am going to sacrifice even the dearest things in order to pursue this calling.
See Jackie, is an astounding employee, sister, aunt and friend. For her to have left all those she impacts on a daily basis was difficult.
You had just started to really have a relationship with her when she decided to start the journey to leave and follow the World Race, “11 months and 11 countries” she said. You held your breath, not realizing how afraid you were for her, but her smile gave you peace because you understood that God was with her.
See she always trusted God to see her through the process. There were so many obstacles prior to her leaving but she was firm. She jumped over the hurdles and was never looked back.
There were times even you doubted, and wondered, can she really do this? But what about finances? What about her family? Her job? I laugh as I write, because as a friend you worried more for her then she did for herself. she understood that if God had placed this calling in her life, he would make the means for her to achieve it.
She truly laid her obstacles at his feet, and it seemed that God would carry her through the process. I was astounded as to he she never backed away, or second guessed the journey. There were times, I felt perhaps this is a sign from God, perhaps it is too dangerous. But she remained.
She Kez, in life you cannot have wavering faith. You have to understand that regardless of what comes your way, you must remain. Remain… a very simple but powerful word. To remain sometimes means to resist. Resisting your own doubts, fears and worries and reaching out to God to carry you through the most difficult situations.
As I mentioned earlier, I do not know where you are in life or what is currently the difficult situation in your life, but if you could stand firm like Jackie, like her you would see God is faithful. Even now, she is not fully funded, but she is already miles and miles away. She does not fear, because she trusts in her God. I don’t doubt now he will see her through it.
If there is one thing I learned from this woman is trust in God. Don’t let anyone try to discourage you or deposit doubt in your mind. Understand that when God has placed something in your heart, he will see you through it even when it seems there is no way it can happen.
What I have also learned from her is act. Act on it Kez. Don’t be afraid to stand and walk out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid of what people will say, just do it. Be bold like Jackie. Be brave like Jackie. Perhaps you may not reach the world like she is, but step out. Challenge yourself to be brave enough to trust in the living God to see you through every situation.
7 months are left for her to return and I miss her so much at this moment. But I see her enjoying the miracles of God. I am so proud of her, and I will always admire her for overcoming her fear.
You can do this also, at whatever stage in your life your in. You can overcome the fears of your world. Just step out.
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” James 2:14
