Your Shine

My Testimony: Ordinary Girl

You are probably expecting some epic tale about my conversion is the midst of a war zone or how I saw a vision of Jesus, or even just that one clear moment of realisation.
I'm afraid you're not going to get that from me.
That is one of the most important lessons I've learnt over the years: God uses ordinary people.

I grew up in a Christian family, attended church every week and all the organisations that came with it. For as long as I can remember I've 'believed in God' and tried to 'be good,' but for years it didn't really spread much beyond Sunday.

Over time, I realised what it meant to be a Christian, and decided I wanted to be part of that. I drew closer to Jesus, and did my best to shine for him.
Still, I continued to wander from God, not in huge ways, but in thoughts, deeds and attitudes each day. Yet I would always come back.

Then, when I was around 11, I came up with what I guess was really the beginning of #ProjectShine. I started an organisation, the creatively named 'Peace,' in my bedroom. I would make verse cards, prayer books and give the the occasional 'talk' when I could drag my younger siblings into listening.
I loved doing it, and it really strengthened my faith, but soon it faded away. Something about it didn't feel right: what was the point in talking if no one would really listen? I wanted to do more, but I thought I was too young. I hadn't properly read the verse in 1 Timothy 4 verse 12: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

It was that same verse, years later, which squashed my final doubt about starting #ProjectShine. I thought I couldn't be good enough: after all, I'm just a young girl from a family in a small town in a tiny country in a great big world. A Bible reading session left me with no more excuses to try. God uses ordinary people, so why not me?

So I started #ProjectShine, and waited, and prayed, and waited. Followers came, one by one, and the reads numbers ticked up. But still, in the back of my mind, something was missing.

Until last Sunday. We had a guest speaker at church, a gentleman from the charity Open Doors (I'll be posting more about that soon).

All that needs to be said, here and now, is this: I learnt that God uses ordinary people to help others in terrible situations.

So that's what we're going to do.

Who knows who could be reading this account? Maybe someone who doesn't own a Bible, or had never heard about Jesus, or who just needs comfort could click on #ProjectShine and it could be the seed of something bigger. Wattpad can reach people all over the world.

Even if we don't know what the future holds, we know who holds the future. "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

So where is ProjectShine going to go? I don't know, but He does. It is in his hands.

I could write so much more, but just know that it's not over. I learn something new everyday.

So where am I going to go? I don't know, but He does. I am in his hands, and so are you. Where is He going to lead you?

God bless.