Confidence Marathon

【KRC Family Story Writing Workshop】Appreciate Taiwan’s masterpieces

Compared with intense and exciting ball games or sprints, marathons seem particularly strenuous, hard,... and lonely. Preaching the gospel to your family is like a marathon of faith. It is hard, difficult, painful, hurtful, and lonely.

Gospel Relay

Coming from a family with traditional folk beliefs, burning incense, offering sacrifices, and offering incense... are all very familiar to me. When I was in college, I joined a fellowship by chance, and then I got to know the most important partner in life—Jesus Christ. From then on, I began to participate in this "gospel relay."

From being saved to being baptized is like a man and a woman going from sweet love to marriage. When I was baptized in my senior year of college, I became the first Christian in my family. My relationship with Jesus was no different from that of other people. From the time we met to the time we fell in love, we didn’t involve my family. We were just informed, and they didn’t respond much. They didn’t even attend the wedding on the day of the wedding. "After marriage", we "couple" lived a happy life together forever. We went out for "dates" on holidays and asked our family if they were willing to go with us, but we often got "next time", "next time" and nothing. The endless "next time".

▲The author changed his original routine of getting up late and took his nieces Jiajia and Mimi to Sunday school, opening the door to the gospel for his brother.

Even more surprising than winning the Lotto

This seemingly non-existent relationship finally changed on Mother's Day 2014. This invitation received an unexpected response, which also changed our family's acceptance of this "son-in-law."

Ever since my mother agreed to attend the Mother's Day special event, I have been more surprised than winning the "Lotto" and I have been looking forward to this day day and night. On the day of the special meeting, I woke up very early, freshened up, and knocked on my mother’s door. Pretending to be nonchalant, I asked, “Are you going today?” My mother actually replied, “Where? Oh, by the way, today was supposed to be I want to go to church with you, but I may have to take care of my grandson at home, so I can’t do anything about it today.” Then… I heard another reply that I would repeat even in my dreams, “We’ll go together next time when we have time.”

On the surface, I answered "Okay" nonchalantly, but the sadness in my heart surged like waves in the ocean. I couldn't help but complain, "Lord Jesus, why is this happening again?" I was so sad that I couldn't help myself, and felt that my heart was being torn apart again. But I don’t know where the strength came from to support me, I no longer fell into such difficult emotions, and comforted myself that “God has his own timetable.” Just before I went out, my mother stopped me and told me that she had remembered wrongly. My brother only went out in the afternoon and he could still go out with me in the morning.

▲Su Qiuxiang works hard to preach the gospel to her family, both young and old. It is like a marathon of faith. Although it is painful and lonely, a price must be paid, but in the end it will bring beautiful results.

long, wide, deep love

My mother’s tears never stopped from the worship service until the end. I knew that the Lord Jesus was personally working, and my “partner” personally served this “mother-in-law”. Jesus was deeply attracted by His long, wide, high and deep love. Holding mother. On the bus home after the meeting, my mother took the initiative to express to me that she agreed with the church’s teachings and that they were far more useful than ordinary temple rituals. Thank the Lord that I can say such words from my mother who is a committee member of the temple. I can only give all the glory to God!

After this experience, I boldly extended an invitation to bring our two three-year-old nieces to the children’s Sunday school. It's impossible for me, a sleeper, to get up early, not to mention taking the bus and subway with my two three-year-old children, which took nearly an hour and a half to get to church. After finally arriving at the church, I fed a pair of little nieces breakfast at the door of the classroom. I kept telling Jesus in my heart: "I am so tired, sleepy, and hungry. I am going to give up. I will wait until I learn how to drive them..."

After Sunday worship, I have to join a small group. I have to get my niece to attend two Sunday school classes. Going to two classes in a row is quite a challenge! However, when I went to pick them up, my little nieces happily shared their paintings and trophies, and suddenly... it was all worth it.

Thank you Lord Jesus for once again attracting the children you love and enjoying your love while playing. Their fathers also have the reason and opportunity to enter the church. If it were not for your personal actions, all this would not be possible. occur.

Run to the finish line

In the process of going to church together, my relationship with my family became more united because of my walk with the Lord, and my heart became closer because I felt the love of God. Preaching the gospel to my family, especially the elders, seemed very powerless for a young man. , it’s so heavy, not to mention in a family that worships idols so much that there are even servant girls in the family worshiping idols. But Jesus, thank you for being the best gospel relay master. When I didn’t understand anything, you handed over the baton of inheritance to me. Although in the process, I was so helpless that I wanted to throw down the baton, but Your hands have never let go, allowing me to be brave enough to invite you and put in your energy and time. You are the best coach and the best player. The best thing is that Heavenly Father has given us the most excellent teaching manual - the Bible, which is full of comfort, encouragement, teaching and discipline. A Meng's treasure bag is even more powerful.

▲The Lord Jesus is the best coach and the best player. Heavenly Father has given us the most excellent teaching manual, the Bible, so that those who believe in the Lord can change their lives and be filled with joy. The picture shows the author Su Qiuxiang taking a photo with her mother and niece. It turns out that inheritance has nothing to do with age or ability, but simply a willing heart. Jesus said:"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)I don’t know how long this faith marathon is, but the Lord Jesus has promised that I can rest in Him and run with God to reach the finish line. Dear Lord Jesus, I am willing to hold hands with You, heart to heart, stick after stick, and pass Your gospel stick to the hands of everyone in the family, helping Heavenly Father to "pull out" every animal He loves. Little Lamb, from family members to relatives, the voices of worship, praise, and singing echoed, never ending.