|
Home
Page
Click here
for
more testimonies
NEEDHIM
|
|
Lord,
make me
A
Magnet for Christ
by: Jennifer
Young
Pathways Music,
Leading Others To Christ Through Song
My parents raised me knowing the
love of Jesus and that He died for me on the cross. Although I have believed
in God since I was a young child, I did not make a personal confession
of faith until I was fourteen. I came to know the Lord at a Young Life
Camp in Asheville, NC during an impressionable time in my life. After our
group meeting, the speaker asked everyone to find a special spot outside
and spend some personal time with God. In those thirty minutes of solitude,
I told the Lord that I wanted to accept Jesus as my Savior. From that moment
on, I began my personal journey with God and decided that my ultimate goal
in life was to lead others to Him. Since I appreciated the non-threatening
way I learned how to become a Christian, I made a commitment that I would
witness to others by establishing relationships with people to first build
trust. Then after I have built confidence by leading with a positive lifestyle,
I ask God to help me share my faith.
Of course, committing to Christian values
does not always warrant a perfect life or an easy road. In high school,
things were pretty tough for me because I did not give in to the typical
peer pressures of adolescence. Because of my faith, I was persecuted quite
often. For instance, one afternoon my drill team friends challenged my
beliefs by making, what I believed to be, poor choices related to alcohol.
Because of my faith and belief in taking the honest approach, I made the
decision to tell the truth about the incident that resulted in me becoming
an outcast at my school. For two years, I was chastised about the event;
however, time healed the wounds. More recently, I learned of the pressure
associated with corporate America as I quickly became consumed with the
busyness of work and desire for worldly pleasures. With God’s guidance,
I followed my heart to pursue a music ministry where I now feel centered
and at peace. While both of these instances were difficult to overcome,
I began to gain insight on how Jesus must have felt when he was heavily
persecuted, carrying the burdens of the world, on the way to the cross.
My circumstances definitely left me with the sensitivity in loving those
who are difficult to love or individuals that are not accepted by society.
God has taught me to have a deeper understanding of what it means to love
without condition.
In the last few years, I have grown up incredibly
fast as I met and married the love of my life, Jason Young. I never knew
what being selfless was about until I entered into our marriage. I also
discovered the power of having a Christian marriage and the difference
it can make when times get tough. When we said, "I do" three years ago,
we committed to make it last forever. I delight in knowing God will carry
us through our life and serve as our guide in raising our own family.
As I grow the music ministry, I pray that
the Lord will use me as an instrument of His peace in singing praises to
His name. I aspire to never be ashamed of sharing my faith and to grow
so close to Him that I cannot help but attract others to God. In effect,
I want to be a magnet for Christ.
Jennifer
|
