Sarah Barry’s 2019 New Year’s Key Verse Testimony

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

My 2018 Key Verse was Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd. I lack nothing …. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me….”

2019 I chose Proverbs 3:5-6 as my new year key verse, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

This verse reminds me that there are many things in the world to trust. People, money, past success, future plans, but God’s word says ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’. To trust him means to obey him, to submit to him. He gives the promise that he will make my paths straight. In this corrupt and crooked world, many people lose direction and follow the worldview that is the most popular at the time. I also easily lose direction. Prov 3:12 says that the Lord disciplines those he loves. Lord, help me to accept hard or painful things as expressions of your love and give me a thankful heart.

Three years ago, my brother Tom passed away. Last year my sister-in-law passed away. The whole family misses them. And many of our missionary coworkers have gone to be with the Lord in heaven. But our Good Shepherd Jesus takes my hand in this life and will lead me across the river to himself. God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the dark valley, I will fear no evil…for he is with me.’ So I want to trust him with all of my heart and not depend on my own understanding. As I do this, I remember that God’s “word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Ps 119:105). God gave us the Bible to be a lamp for our feet and a light for our paths. I pray that God will help me to meditate on his word and acknowledge him in all my ways.

In 2018 a significant event in my family occurred. Kate, one of my nieces, is a missionary nurse. She went to the Congo to serve in a Christian Hospital. She made decision to be an incarnational missionary and live as a Congolese. After much prayer and trip home to talk with her parents, she and Orcxance married. He is Congolese.

I was working with college students at University Mississippi when God called me to be a missionary to Korea 1955. When I went to Korea, Korea was totally devastated by 45 years Japanese occupation and Korean war. Young people lost direction and hope and vision. I taught Bible in English and Korean. God worked in young people’s hearts through the Bible. God used Dr Samuel Lee as a Bible teacher and shepherd and we worked together. UBF was born. I have learned far more than I could give or teach. I learned that I should not be anxious about anything. God says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” He promised he will make my paths straight.  I pray that God may help me to acknowledge him in all my ways.

These days I thank God for the privilege living with God’s people here in Chicago. We were able to welcome many guests and have many Bible studies- online in groups, face to face. I am grateful to God for Pastor Ron Ward’s and Pastor Kevin‘s Bible centered messages. Msn Anna Yang is a good manager, good cook, and good Bible Teacher. She has a worldwide ministry including her grandchildren. Dr. Mark Yang is a Bible scholar and Shepherd. Msn Monica Barry teaches Bible to many children. She takes care of many people through Facebook and Daily Bread. North Park Fellowship is led by Msn Caleb and Sarah Son Kim. I and our household thank God for sending Claudia to be a part of our family. She is a personal caregiver and a top student at North Park University. Grace So of Russia is a leader in the NPU UBF. She shares common life in our house. I am thankful for HBF and Sam Toh’s faithful Bible teaching. I am thankful for the Bible study material making team. I pray for the General Director Moses Yoon.  I am very thankful that I can walk. Lord, give me a thankful heart. Amen!