The Purpose Driven Life

Today's devotion was written by Kyung Kwon.  Kyung is a dedicated and passionate disciple of Christ who calls Absecon UMC her spiritual home.  But she has had other homes before.  Each one of them made impacts on her, and those experiences of God have strengthened her faith.  Kyung has been an active member of this local church, but also an active member of the United Methodist Church beyond this local church.  I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy her devotion!

Reverend Dave


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Aging seems to crawl upon us silently. In the last chapter of our life, it is the time for us, radiant elders, to wrap up everything gracefully. We should organize, prepare and enjoy the final phase of our precious life. However, even at this age we can still become frustrated and saddened whenever some unfortunate incident occurs to one of us quite unexpectedly. That is why I am so grateful to God for guiding my life faithfully and continuously with His steadfast love and grace which allows me to truly enjoy this final chapter of my life despite what comes my way.

When I reflect on my life, there is a special purpose driven by God. I would like to share my story with you, my fellow brothers and sisters. I have been living in the United States for more than five decades. That is two thirds of my life since 1968. We planned to return to Korea after my husband completed his medical training so that we could pursue our careers. However at that time, the U.S. government needed more trained foreign medical doctors and we decided to stay longer in this country after consulting with our parents in Korea.  As an aspiring journalist, I could have had a bright future and successful career in Korea.  However, deciding to stay in America totally changed my life and I lost my identity. Being a good wife and mother, doing house work and taking care of two toddler aged daughters seemed meaningless to me. I asked myself, “Who am I?”, “Is this all there is to being a married woman?” I was searching for answers to my meaning in life but felt lost. It was a painful and confusing time for me. I had many sleepless nights, questioned my future life and was constantly in fear about the future.

After my husband completed his medical training in New York in August 1974, we settled down in Margate in southern New Jersey where my husband opened his medical practice as a pediatrician. We joined the Korean U.M.C. in Vineland as founding members on November 1, 1974. Then, through a Bible study led by the pastor I learned about God, the creator and sovereign of the universe.  I immersed myself in this new life taking Bible classes on the Old & New Testament, and opening up my heart and mind to God. Most of all, I was touched so much by God’s undeniable everlasting love and grace. It was a blessing because all my questions and confusion had guided me back to God. I accepted Jesus as my Redeemer and I was baptized.
 
I am very grateful to have an eternal life as a gift from God. Jesus has the power to transform us. My faith has been renewed and stronger with the practice of my relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study and quiet time. He is the one who has always provided me with wisdom and mentors.  He equipped me with the proper tools including the basic and advanced lay servant courses I have been blessed to take. I just needed to follow and obey Him.  For thirty years I was a member of the Korean U.M.C. of Southern New Jersey. I attended the Annual Conference of GNJ as a lay member to the Annual Conference for 15 years.  I have also served at the Women’s and the Committee of the Congregational Development of GNJ and continually I have been blessed to serve on the committees of the Cape Atlantic district. I can say with assurance that the more I serve, the more I am touched by His love and grace, and the more devoted Christian I become.

As a journalist in Korea I could have had a very successful life with fame but I hesitate to say whether I could have become a Christian.  I do not doubt that God’s plan for my life is always better than my plan through my journey of faith. We see an ever-faithful God in action ― a faithful God whose character never changes. I am confident in His presence in my life at all times, even when I cannot see it. And knowing this, I can trust in Him whenever I am afraid. God loves me. God knows what is going on in my life. God is always faithful and I can trust in His Goodness in whatever He chooses to do!  What a blessed life of peace and joy that I have been given!

- Kyung Sook Kwon

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