As I listened to a friend tell me her story, my heart was stirred. She said that the way we share Jesus is by sharing our story. THAT is what touches hearts. THAT is the way we connect with people.
Am I willing to share my story? Am I willing to let Him use it to touch lives? Even the ugly parts that I wish had never happened? How can I wish for things to be different when He so clearly used it to teach me love, His unending forgiveness, the depths of His heart for me, His ability to redeem. That nothing is wasted! How He keeps pursuing me even when I run the other way. That He desperately longs after my heart!
After all, it's not MY story, it's HIS! And He is good at writing stories! He likes surprise endings.
I wonder, if my story was in the Bible, how would it read? How would yours?
It doesn't matter what your story is: God wants to use it. And He will. If you let Him.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Today...
...is Thanksgiving. So much I have to be thankful for and, yet, this year there is a hint of sadness. It is the first Thanksgiving without my Dad. I miss him. I wish he was here. Our family seemed so small - Ann, Mom and I. We had lots of food - turkey, mashed potatoes and the whole bit. It was delicious but we will have leftovers for days to come. Not all bad!
I have found that you don't have to have a big crowd to have fun. A thankful heart goes a long ways. I am so glad for my sister. She has helped and encouraged me through many a hard time. She has a generous heart and likes to share from her garden. She likes her chickens and cats and one day dreams of having a dog. She takes good care of Mom, who is heading towards 88. One day last week found her with Mom in the ER at an unearthly morning hour. It was discovered the cause of excruciating back pain to be a broken rib. How and when and where is a mystery yet unsolved.
And Mom, my dear little Mommy! Such a brave soul! She has lost much this past year and yet she continues on. I love her and I am glad for every day that she is still with us.
I am glad I live so close to Mom and Ann. I can drive from my house to theirs and never get out in the cold and rain. It was lovely to spend the day with them and lovely to come home to my own little house tonight, safe and warm from the rain/ice/cold outside.
And then there was the fly:
And to that fly
That fly said I
Prepare to die
Fly, oh, fly!
(Sorry for that side note, but a fly in November really is TOO MUCH!)
Oh, yes! Here is a picture of some of the fun we had today!
God is good! I just can't quit without bragging on Him a bit! When I think of this last year... all I can say is, "Wow! Wow! Wow! He is amazing! The better I know Him, the more I love Him. And the better I know Him the more I realize that He really is for ME! He never forces His love on me. He never asks for my love but it is His delight when I turn to Him.
He has turned my darkness into light. He is the joy of my life. He has come to set the captives free. I've experienced it for myself and had the incredible privilege of seeing Him do it for others. Some of the best times in my life have been when the enemy is exposed and God wins! YES!!!
I have found that you don't have to have a big crowd to have fun. A thankful heart goes a long ways. I am so glad for my sister. She has helped and encouraged me through many a hard time. She has a generous heart and likes to share from her garden. She likes her chickens and cats and one day dreams of having a dog. She takes good care of Mom, who is heading towards 88. One day last week found her with Mom in the ER at an unearthly morning hour. It was discovered the cause of excruciating back pain to be a broken rib. How and when and where is a mystery yet unsolved.
And Mom, my dear little Mommy! Such a brave soul! She has lost much this past year and yet she continues on. I love her and I am glad for every day that she is still with us.
I am glad I live so close to Mom and Ann. I can drive from my house to theirs and never get out in the cold and rain. It was lovely to spend the day with them and lovely to come home to my own little house tonight, safe and warm from the rain/ice/cold outside.
And then there was the fly:
And to that fly
That fly said I
Prepare to die
Fly, oh, fly!
(Sorry for that side note, but a fly in November really is TOO MUCH!)
Oh, yes! Here is a picture of some of the fun we had today!
God is good! I just can't quit without bragging on Him a bit! When I think of this last year... all I can say is, "Wow! Wow! Wow! He is amazing! The better I know Him, the more I love Him. And the better I know Him the more I realize that He really is for ME! He never forces His love on me. He never asks for my love but it is His delight when I turn to Him.
He has turned my darkness into light. He is the joy of my life. He has come to set the captives free. I've experienced it for myself and had the incredible privilege of seeing Him do it for others. Some of the best times in my life have been when the enemy is exposed and God wins! YES!!!
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