Ever since I was old enough I have volunteered for the Children's Ministry at my church. Looking at where God has opened doors for me I truly believe that he has given me a energetic, loving nature so that I can serve. Something I have learned in the past year is that God has given me these skills to glorify Him. The opportunities I have been given have taught me how to be a leader. How to use my excitement to worship to enable kids around me to enjoy Jesus as I do. I am very in love with just doing motions and moving as I praise God for all He has done in my life. Sometimes I get crazy but I really delight in using this passion I have to come out in my singing and dancing!
This passion for God started in Des Plaines, IL in a Christ-centered home. I feel very blessed to have been raised me up in my faith by my family. I really cannot tell you the exact day that I gave my life to Christ. I was about 3 years old and was in Awana Cubbies. I knew that Jesus died for me and if I prayed that prayer then I would be saved. I would be able to live with Him in Heaven someday! Growing up in my church, which has transformed into my second home, was just like second nature to me. I felt like by 5th grade that I knew every Bible story and could answer any question.
It wasn't until 6th grade that I really made my faith my own. I went away to Winter Camp in Wisconsin with the church and really started to understand what God's presence was like. I remember sitting after our Saturday session just praying and wondering if I had ever accepted Jesus into my heart. Feeling like I had been going through the motions of an average Christian, I never really thought of myself as someone that needed to talk about it with someone or had any questions.
I'll never forget this weekend because I realized that it is okay to have questions. I was able to talk with a leader and she told me that she could see Jesus' love pouring out of me. She made me realize that as I serve at church or share with my friends the hope of Jesus Christ, it is evident that He is inside me. I have always loved the saying; "They will know we are Christians by our love."
From this point on I made it a conscious effort to place God in control of my life, even when I had questions or didn't understand. I started trusting God to be my guide.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend onyour own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
-Proverbs 3:5-6
