"For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing,
he deceives himself." Galatians 6:3
Meet Johanna. She is an intern this summer with DiscipleMakers, working right alongside me in the Finance Department. This internship is one of my favorite parts of the year as we get to share the vision of our ministry and the necessity of laborers in our Headquarters office.
Johanna is a rising junior at Lafayette College studying Chemical Engineering. She loves baking and the color purple!
To get to know Johanna a bit more, read her story below!
Knowing the Lord and that salvation comes from Jesus was nothing new to me when I came to Lafayette College. Christian community was actually the defining factor of my choice to go there! But even so, the Lord still was not finished with the work He was to do in me to make me more like Christ.
I grew up in the church with two very loving, godly parents. I accepted the Lord when I was seven after hearing a sermon on the parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18. I was struck by how the Shepherd loved & cared so deeply for that one sheep, that he chose to leave the 99 others he had! I needed that savior who would have that much compassion on me when I got lost or strayed. Praise God that this parable leads us right to Christ who fulfills longing! After this, I continued on in the faith, but the Lord began revealing some deep sin in my life of perfectionism and pride.
Following all the rules. Doing the right thing. Achieving much. That's what my life was about. In everything I did, my motivation was to be perfect - whether as a daughter, Christian, or student. Each one of these things is a worthy thing to seek after diligently and excellently, but quickly these good intentions became idols. I found myself defending the good aspects of my idols, however I kept sinning over and over again by placing this path to perfection above God.
I was blinded by my sneaky sin, and it wasn't until eleventh grade when the Lord revealed the depth of my heart. I began to see the immense amount of time that I was spending on academics in comparison to God. I had become so distracted by the allure of perfection, that I had wander far away from the comfort of my Savior, just as the lost sheep did. When I shifted my attention away from myself and turned to the Lord I saw a shift in my faith. God led me to Galatians 6:3 (see above). I remembered my incredible need for Christ, my savior, and how He is the one that makes me perfect before the Lord. Without Him, I am nothing.
As I then went off to college with this new hope and confidence in the Lord, I specifically chose Lafayette over other schools because of the Christian fellowship they have. As I got involved with DiscipleMakers, I found mentors and teachers who continuously challenge me as I grow in my faith. This has been such a sweet blessing from the Lord. These friendships have provided much accountability when I'm tempted to seek perfection and boost my own pride as I work hard in my academics. They gently share words of truth to remind me that I have a deep need for Christ, and that it is only by His work that I can succeed. I continually pray for the Lord to work in my life and thank Him for all that He has done for me and allowed me to accomplish. These struggles may follow me through my whole life, but I praise God for the rich community of believers that daily point me to Christ.
All of the summer interns of 2019!
I've missed you!
And I'd love to see you! I'll be back home in the Boyertown, Reading, and Allentown areas from August 3rd through 15th. If you'd like to catch up, give me a call or text (610-401-7441). I'll be reaching out to many of you, too!
Summer Fun!
I've loved going to the State College Spikes baseball games this summer! The other week I went with some students & friends!
Prayers & Praises
Praise God for his work in Johanna's heart! As she finished up her internship, pray that she would have a great vision for Kingdom work in whatever career path she chooses.
Pray for the students who are currently at home for the summer. Pray that they would continue to rest well to feel prepared for another busy school year. Pray for the freshmen coming to college that the Lord would soften their hearts and "turn their eyes from worthless things" (Psalm 119:37).
Pray for me as things continue to get busy as we end this summer and start the fall semester. Pray that I would not easily feel overwhelmed by the work to do, and that I would always run to the Lord first, relying on His strength alone to sustain me.
Thank you, dear friends, for your partnership in the gospel!
Your support - whether prayer, financial, or other - is greatly appreciated and makes it possible for us to continue reaching the next generation for Christ!
