Growing up, I was blessed to have Christian parents, whowere faithful to demonstrate the biblical principles that they taught to me andmy older sister. From the moment I wasborn, I was surrounded by members of the body of Christ, who consistently sharedabout and demonstrated Christ’s love and care for me. Nonetheless, I did not comprehend thisunconditional love or the character of God. I did not fear God as a result. Instead, I molded myself according to the external standards of what anobedient Chinese girl should be in order to please the people around me, togain the attention I craved, and to escape the punishment I dreaded. This act,though not purposeful, was natural to a young sinful girl like me, who had notyet understood the meaning of Jesus’ death.
At the age of 6, my father moved our family from Hong Kongto Southern California, where I continued toplay the perfect girl within our new church family. Two of my new friends from this church invitedme to a Bible club for children called Awana. Each week, I listened to Bible stories and memorized as many Bibleverses as my little brain would allow. Afterentering the third grade, I was moved to another class, where applications ofBible stories were deeper and more thought-provoking. It was during one of these lessons that Godused the speaker at Awana to open my eyes to my sin and my need for a Savior. I did not fully comprehend the beautiful andrich significance of Jesus’ sinless life, death, and resurrection at the time. However, the Lord did allow my elementaryreasoning to conclude that I was wicked and needed to submit to Jesus who tookmy punishment on the cross so that I may go to heaven to be with a holy God. I repented of my sins that night and thankedJesus for His sacrifice. When my fathercame to pick me up, I realized that I now had a new reason to obey my parents and to please others; it was not to win their approval or to dodge disciplinebut to please my Savior.
Over the years, God continued to shower His abundant graceupon my life as He developed my knowledge of His Word and His character throughSunday services, church retreats, and Bible studies. To my regret, though, I became toocomfortable with and too prideful of my standing before my HeavenlyFather. As a result, I found myselfliving a double life during middle school. At church, I served on worship team and was one of the top students atBible study; at school, I participated in inappropriate language and idolizedmy popularity. In His sovereign mercy,the Lord saved me from upholding this hypocritical behavior when I was 13 by presentingme with a life-changing trial. Afterseveral medical tests, doctors diagnosed me with Lupus, an autoimmunedisease. This placed new limits andpains in my life. In my pride, Iresponded with anger towards God. It wasnot until a year later, through the reading of Scripture and the encouragementand support of family and friends, that my heart was softened. I came to learn to be more grateful forthings that I used to take for granted and, more importantly, to depend solelyon the Lord and not on myself. Lupus,then, persisted to be one of God’s main ways to develop my perseverance andcharacter from 8thgrade onward.
It was also around this time that the Lord brought faithfulmen from The Master’s Seminary to pastor and to intern at my church. These men taught the Word in a way that I hadrarely heard it taught before. Thisclear exposition of Scripture and my recently humbled spirit allowed me to havea renewed love and passion for Jesus Christ. By the end of high school, the Lord transformed my desire to make Himthe biggest part of my life to adesire to make Him every part of mylife. I recognized the importance ofhaving a Biblical worldview and of assessing each decision and issue throughthe grid of Scripture. God, in Hiswisdom, then, redirected my academic plans. He replaced my long-time hopes of going to Universityof California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a newfound longing tostudy on a Christ-centered campus. He answeredmy prayers as I was accepted to The Master’s College. Praise be to God for the timing of all things,for TMC quickly became my main spiritual home and place of spiritualrefreshment. My three years there were filled with some of the sweetest times of fellowship and growth as God placed in me a deeper love for unbelievers, a more intense appreciation for the body of Christ.
I praise my Heavenly Father for His omnipotent hand over allthe circumstances and people He has brought into my life. Every trial and blessing was to lead me to acloser walk with Him. Because of Hisgift of salvation, which I cannot earn through my own works but was providedthrough the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, I can look forward to the hopeof eternity in Heaven with Him. Until then, the Lord is faithful to continue todevelop my love for His Word, prayer, and service in His kingdom. He teaches, encourages, disciplines, andforgives me daily as I seek to live a life worthy of His calling.
At the age of 6, my father moved our family from Hong Kongto Southern California, where I continued toplay the perfect girl within our new church family. Two of my new friends from this church invitedme to a Bible club for children called Awana. Each week, I listened to Bible stories and memorized as many Bibleverses as my little brain would allow. Afterentering the third grade, I was moved to another class, where applications ofBible stories were deeper and more thought-provoking. It was during one of these lessons that Godused the speaker at Awana to open my eyes to my sin and my need for a Savior. I did not fully comprehend the beautiful andrich significance of Jesus’ sinless life, death, and resurrection at the time. However, the Lord did allow my elementaryreasoning to conclude that I was wicked and needed to submit to Jesus who tookmy punishment on the cross so that I may go to heaven to be with a holy God. I repented of my sins that night and thankedJesus for His sacrifice. When my fathercame to pick me up, I realized that I now had a new reason to obey my parents and to please others; it was not to win their approval or to dodge disciplinebut to please my Savior.
Over the years, God continued to shower His abundant graceupon my life as He developed my knowledge of His Word and His character throughSunday services, church retreats, and Bible studies. To my regret, though, I became toocomfortable with and too prideful of my standing before my HeavenlyFather. As a result, I found myselfliving a double life during middle school. At church, I served on worship team and was one of the top students atBible study; at school, I participated in inappropriate language and idolizedmy popularity. In His sovereign mercy,the Lord saved me from upholding this hypocritical behavior when I was 13 by presentingme with a life-changing trial. Afterseveral medical tests, doctors diagnosed me with Lupus, an autoimmunedisease. This placed new limits andpains in my life. In my pride, Iresponded with anger towards God. It wasnot until a year later, through the reading of Scripture and the encouragementand support of family and friends, that my heart was softened. I came to learn to be more grateful forthings that I used to take for granted and, more importantly, to depend solelyon the Lord and not on myself. Lupus,then, persisted to be one of God’s main ways to develop my perseverance andcharacter from 8thgrade onward.
It was also around this time that the Lord brought faithfulmen from The Master’s Seminary to pastor and to intern at my church. These men taught the Word in a way that I hadrarely heard it taught before. Thisclear exposition of Scripture and my recently humbled spirit allowed me to havea renewed love and passion for Jesus Christ. By the end of high school, the Lord transformed my desire to make Himthe biggest part of my life to adesire to make Him every part of mylife. I recognized the importance ofhaving a Biblical worldview and of assessing each decision and issue throughthe grid of Scripture. God, in Hiswisdom, then, redirected my academic plans. He replaced my long-time hopes of going to Universityof California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a newfound longing tostudy on a Christ-centered campus. He answeredmy prayers as I was accepted to The Master’s College. Praise be to God for the timing of all things,for TMC quickly became my main spiritual home and place of spiritualrefreshment. My three years there were filled with some of the sweetest times of fellowship and growth as God placed in me a deeper love for unbelievers, a more intense appreciation for the body of Christ.
I praise my Heavenly Father for His omnipotent hand over allthe circumstances and people He has brought into my life. Every trial and blessing was to lead me to acloser walk with Him. Because of Hisgift of salvation, which I cannot earn through my own works but was providedthrough the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, I can look forward to the hopeof eternity in Heaven with Him. Until then, the Lord is faithful to continue todevelop my love for His Word, prayer, and service in His kingdom. He teaches, encourages, disciplines, andforgives me daily as I seek to live a life worthy of His calling.