Tell Your Story

People may not want to hear what you’ve got to say, but they NEED to hear what you’ve got to say … so tell your story. God didn’t see you through your defiant and disobedient years for you to remain in “the wilderness” ! No ! He saved you and brought you OUT of it so you could tell others about HIM and HIS ability to create a NEW man, or a NEW woman out of an imperfect “you”. He’s supplied you the “material”, from all your experiences … so whachoo gonna do with it ? Are you just gonna keep it to yourself ? And please don’t use them tired ol lines invented by Satan …” I wouldn’t know where to start” … “ I can’t write / talk like you” … “Nobody cares about my experiences” … “ I can’t put into words how I feel “ … that’s a spirit of fear born of the devil ! God’s not given you / us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and self discipline ( 2 Timothy 1:7 ) ! Just think about a time in your life that God used to refine you, to shape you or to encourage another. Recall those moments when you were at your weakest, and God made himself evident, to get you through it. How he sent the perfect song or devotional or friend’s text to inspire or encourage you, at just the right time. Remember the way he used his creation to remind you that he was near … and TELL SOMEONE ! A witness ain’t giving a third-party explanation about what happened … they’re giving first-hand knowledge because they were there ! They personally experienced it, saw it or heard it … and even if it happened 30, 40 or 65 years ago, God wants it retold ! It may just be the message someone else needs to hear at that particular moment. God may’ve orchestrated the event or allowed it to happen, because he knew he’d use it to mature a certain somebody in their faith-walk, years later. We don’t haveta know every little plan God’s got, we just need to be available at the drop of the hat. Don’t get outta here and take all them stories and testimonials with you. Share em ! Some of us write better than we talk. Some of us talk better than we write. How it happens dont matter as much as makin sure it DOES happen. Here’s one that i remember … Back when we was kids, our house wasn’t much to look at. It was old and cold during the winter, due to little or no insulation. I can remember eatin mayonnaise sandwiches because there wasn’t any bologna ( say it like it is…”baloney” ). We didn’t have a snack cabinet or any change to spend at the store down the road…that would’ve been a luxury. It wasn’t for lack of two parents not workin…it was just that my daddy spent what he’d make on “him” and his gambling addiction … which left my mama’s paycheck to go towards lights, water, groceries and clothes. Not the perfect storybook childhood, but it’s what i was dealt. My mama not only provided my physical needs, she did what she could to see to my spiritual needs. Even though I’d’ve rather roamed the woods and made my own adventures, she made me go to church … and if “my age” kids were doing it, she made me do it, too. No activity was inconsequential in her thinkin. She made the trips back and forth from home to church a little more inviting by lettin me drive. Even though i was young and short, i could work the clutch and gas on our VW bug like a pro ( well…in my book ) , all the while , lookin through the steering wheel to navigate us safely there or back ( i had to trade out with my brother ). She didn’t HAVE to let us drive, but she knew it was not only an incentive that made church-going desirable, it made a lasting memory that would benefit me for years to come. Whether she really thought about it like i did or not, i learned about the love of a godly parent and the love and provision of a God who was there for me. See ? Even if i didn’t know everything I’d come to know about our Savior, she saw to it that i was where i needed to be to hear about him. It reminds me of that ol boy that was paralyzed and unable to get in front of the Healer, Jesus Himself…so four friends loaded him on a gurney, climbed on top of the house and tore a hole in the roof to lower him in front of Jesus ( Mark 2:1-12 ). Jesus not only healed him but also forgave the man’s sins ! The faith of the friends impressed Jesus to take action on behalf of the paralytic. I like to think He saw the faith of my mama and took pity on me…healing me from “myself” and forgiving my sins…so i could tell someone else about Him. I can also attest to the fact that although my daddy was lacking in his “father” responsibilities, my Father in heaven has never disappointed me, embarrassed me or let me down ! He’s proved time and time again that He can be trusted ! His cabinet, frig and table is always stocked and He’s generous with his resources ! My Lord is my Shepherd, i shall not want. His love surrounds me and i can count on Him to be there at all times ! He knows my stubborn ways and my shortcomings, and He loves me just like i am ! I’m His and He’s mine ! I’m blessed and highly favored by the Creator of everything i see as well as the things i don’t see ( Luke 1:28; Hebrews 11:3 ). I came to know a Good Father through a Good Mama…and I’m eternally grateful…He knew I’d need one just like her ! I’m gonna talk about Him as long as i can … yall can read my ramblings or not. I just hope yall will come to know Him personally, too … and tell others how He’s taken care of you and increased your faith ! Tell your stories and promote Him every chance you get ! He’s SO worth it !!