Growing up in a small town of Lancaster County, PA I was always aware of the love Jesus had for me. Ever summer I attended Christian camps, expanding my knowledge and relationship with Him. It was here, when I was a teenager, that I completely gave my life over to Him, praying that He would use me. It says in the scriptures, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). From there my relationship with Him has stemmed and continues to grow.
God has always played a role in my life due to heart-felt Christian parents, family members and friends, but as I continued to grow older I began to realize a void in my relationship with Him. It was at that point that God and I agreed I would not be satisfied with myself unless I allowed Him to continually place logs on my fire of desire for Him in my life. Since then it has been a welcomed daily privilege to have a personal relationship with Him; “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’” (Luke 9:23).
After receiving my teaching degree at Messiah College in Grantham, PA I quickly noticed my desire to serve Him in a greater capacity. Ironically having been to Germany throughout high school and college I had never thought of accepting a career there; however, I always say, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” After graduating God knew the spiritual growth I would have at Oxford Bible Chapel in Oxford, PA; He knew the maturing I would have while teaching two and three year olds at the local YMCA, but most of all He knew the need for my heart and His at Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany as the middle school mathematics teacher. To look back on God’s guidance of my life and His protection over me is nothing less than powerful. To see how God has made a purpose for every event in my life has caused me to love Him even more, and has caused my fire for Him to grow stronger.
It is my hope and passion to continue in prayer as He guides my paths, glorifying Him in all that I do and say. Ephesians 2:8 states, “For grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” It is in times such as these that I truly feel blessed to have the knowledge of our Lord, being able to speak of my pure, unending love for Him in my life.
