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Thank you, Julie (Posted Sep 06 2005) George Nyako - Friend from Real World, Squash partner Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. Dear Julie, Your goal was not to leave a mark, that we may nod, and say Julie did that, or Julie made that, or Julie had that. Your goal was just to be as close to God as you could possibly be, and love Him ... with all your heart and all your strength. And as a side-effect, we were blessed, by the love, and joy, and laughter, and fun, and care, that naturally flowed, from God, through you, to us. The void you've left is irreplaceably huge, but the memories are just as irreplaceably good, and that's why the tears flow freely still, because we'll miss that hippety-hop step, and we'll miss that rambunctious laugh, and we'll miss those candid talks, that always steered us closer to God. Thanks for teaching me how to walk with God. - Ring, ring ... - "Yello?" - "George, I'm cranky, let's play!" Such began most hangouts with Julie. Except that a "cranky" Julie was 10 times more cheerful than my most cheerful mood. Her energy was amazing! To "play" with Julie was to regress to your preschool days of carefree fun, and let your inner child out. My initial perception of Julie as a fragile person vanished the first time we played squash. It didn't matter that I was faster, bigger, stronger ... I never stood a chance. To "play" with Julie was to understand that the rules of the game could change faster than the score ... until it was fun ... until she won. I had to score 3 times to register 1 point. =) Inexorably, our conversation would turn to God ... and one favorite topic was purpose ... finding God's purpose for our lives. In most of our discussions, I was the "logical" one ... and Julie was always about heart and faith. There are many things that she said that I now understand clearer. Life is not about what we accomplish for ourselves, or even for God, but how close we can get to Him. God can raise stones to do His work if He has to. "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, ***I never knew you****; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matt. 7:22-23) If our purpose was to accomplish great things for Him, then He would not have called Julie home just when she was ready to start her work. There is work to be done for God, but the purpose is really an opportunity for us to get close to Him, and deepen our relationship with Him. Julie taught me that my goal should be to get to the point of absolute surrender to God ... the point of complete obedience and submission. This is how Jesus led His life, as he repeated many times: "The Son can do nothing of Himself..." (John 5:19) "I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."(John 6:38) "My teaching is not Mine" (John 7:16) "I do nothing of Myself "(John 8:28 KJV) "I have not come of Myself but He sent Me." (John 8:42 KJV) "I seek not Mine own glory" (John 8:50 KJV) "The words that I say, I speak not from Myself "(John 14:10 KJV) Christ found joy and peace in complete surrender to and dependence on the Father. He lost nothing by giving up everything for the Father. "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name." (Phil. 2:8,9) Julie eventually quit her job and left her comfortable life here to follow her calling to be a missionary in the Philippines. On 16th August, Julie sent the following text message to my phone: "Nite G faith opens doors dont be disillusioned" Nite Julie, I will miss you . Thank you for teaching me how to walk with God.
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