God, I’m Yours; What’s Next For Me?

Thanks from Kelli

Journal entry by Kelli Walker – Jul 10, 2014

“For you, Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 16:8–9

Dear friends and family,

I’ve been reading Psalm 116 daily. I don’t ever want to take the miracle of my life for granted. I’m just so thankful for the Lord’s grace and mercy and that He heard the prayers of His people interceding on my behalf!! I also want to acknowledge and thank the donor and their family, without whose gift I wouldn’t have survived.”…

The Lord is so, so good, and He intends this event in my/our lives to be for good as well. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving many lives.“ Genesis 50:20. I trust in His promise and pray that the Lord will make available windows of opportunity to share my story so that He may be glorified.

Love to you all in Christ, 

Kelli

Before I knew Jesus, my sister gave me a Fire Bible – Global Study Edition. But similar to other Bibles I possessed, it gathered dust on my nightstand. I hate to admit it, but I hadn’t opened and read a Bible for myself in any significant way until 2014. 

Yes, I’d been through Sunday school, catechism, and confirmation classes, but I guess I wasn’t ready to receive Christ. Maybe it happens for some people that way, but I don’t think the path of our spiritual lives can be assigned. Because it’s only through the Holy Spirit that faith and repentance are initiated. It’s all a gift; it’s all Holy Spirit inspired. Ephesians 2:8-9  2 Timothy 2:25 

I’d read scripture readings included in Sunday bulletins, but I’d never with intention opened a Bible to know what it said. I’d also never attended a Bible study before. Since I didn’t know much about my Bible, I knew there was a scripture somewhere that said “all things work for good” but had no clue where it was. So while writing the journal entry above, I did what any twenty-first-century person who desires knowledge would do; I googled it. And much to my embarrassment until recently, I realized that I’d meant to quote Romans 8:28. “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“ 

Quickly, I discovered a Psalm that resonated so well it would become my anthem, Psalm 116. One line – verse 12 with its explanation stood out to me.  “How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?” Other versions say, what can I offer, render, or give back. And here is what the Fire Bible study note said: “116:12 How can I repay? Those who are truly grateful for experiencing spiritual salvation from the Lord will express it by their love (v. 1), loyalty (v. 2), right living (v. 9), thanksgiving, and a firm commitment to obey God. (v. 14)”

This was my plan. I didn’t know how this was going to happen but I made a decision to let God be God and step out of His role in my life. Now, I wanted to know this God who made way for me when there was no way and kindled a fire with a thirst to learn more about Him. John 4:13-14  

I wanted to get to know Him. So I opened up my Fire Bible, sat at the feet of Jesus to learn, and scheduled my believer’s baptism. Luke 10:38-42 – NIV

But my journal entry – a mistake?? Humm, we’ll see what He’s up to. I don’t believe in chance or luck. I believe God is at work in every single detail. Everything, even my mess up’s He’s going to use. Never in a million years would I have dreamed I’d be writing this to you seven-plus years later, but God knew.