Be an Influence

Two lessons that I have learned this week are about St. Basil and about the Crusades. I've learned that St Basil the Great of Cappadocia originally planned to be a lawyer, but because of his sister's influence of monastic life, he became a monk and founded monasteries. I also learned about the crusades and it was interesting to learn what it was about. Their goal was to take Jerusalem, the Holy Land away from the Muslims. In the end, they failed, and the crusade has done no good, it only killed a lot of people. Because of the crusade, the trade increased, and kings gained more power. The knowledge of Muslim culture spread throughout Europe. And because of the crusade, relations between Christians and Jews increasingly strained.  But still, God had a purpose for why that happened. God was not finished with them yet.

Just like St. Basil, I originally planned to take another course, I planned to take up nursing. But because of my sister's influence of being a BTCian, I wanted to become a BTCian too. God has worked in ways I could not perceive at that time, that I was really not able to take up the nursing course. I only realized now that the reason why nursing was discouraged at that time was not only because nurses are very many, but because God wants me to be in BTC and be trained for the ministry He plans to use me. And now, I am graduating as a BTCian and I don't ever regret choosing BTC than nursing.  And I know that God is not finished with me yet. This is just the start of the journey with Him in the ministry He has assigned to me. Now that my preparation years is almost done, I'm truly thankful for God's faithfulness and working in my life. Truly, without Him, I would have nothing else to thank about. It was all by His grace and by His power I was able to endure.

So I have learned that whatever may come in my life, and no matter how strong the trials and temptations are in my life, I won't give up. For I know that God is with me and He won't give up on me also. I will trust and depend on Him on whatever circumstances I will face. I will also use the lessons and trainings that I have learned from BTC in the ministry that He has entrusted to me. I'll apply the knowledge of the Word of God to grow more in Him. Aim also to shine the light that is within me and be able to influence others to shine their light also.