During the past few weeks I have been reminded of how different and yet how alike each of us are. I have had the opportunity to meet with a few old friends and make a few new ones. In each conversation I am reminded that we all have a story to tell. Our lives are filled with with moments that when captured are full of potential.
I spent a week with a dear friend, Jimmy Usher. Jimmy is more than a friend he is more like my spiritual father. He helps to bring balance into my life. Jimmy is a storyteller and a master at putting just the right words together. Jimmy is currently writing the story of Charlie Smith's life. Charlie started Heart to Honduras and was a very interesting and challenging man. To listen to Jimmy tell stories of Charlie's life puts you right there as if you were sitting with Charlie. When you lose yourself in the life of a story you know that you are in the presence of a great storyteller.
This reminds me that Jesus was a great story teller. He had a way of taking the normal everyday object and using it to show you things about your life that you never knew. He could stoop down in the dirt and with his finger just write and let a lady, who others found despicable, feel as if her life was of value. That is what I love about Jesus, He wants us to know that we are of value. He wants us to know that our life and our story matter. That to tell our story helps to bring healing into our lives and let's others see how our lives can be redeemed.
God is not into the manufacturing business, He is in the masterpiece profession. The Bible tells us that we are "fearful and wonderfully made", and that we are "His workmanship (His poem, novel)". Each story or life is handcrafted and when we let Him, God shapes and forms and makes us into someone we never thought we could be. God has given each of us an opportunity to live out our story and in days to come to tell our story so that others will see where we were and where we are now. And as others see where we are we can tell them that we heard the Great Story and we let our story join His Story and the rest is history.
It has been said, "How fearful and wonderful are man's terrible and glorious capacities and possibilites...It is said that every man's life contains sufficient material for a great novel." May others read your story and find it filled with chapters of grace and mercy.
4 comments:
I am often amazed at the story that He is writing with my life. So much better than I could have imagined. God is so Good!
These are lyrics from Tobby Mac's "Stories" (Down to the Bottom). Great song and even better message.
Keep on writing your song.
We’ve been down to the bottom
Stories we got ‘em, when we hit rock bottom
If you been there put your hands in the air
To let the lost know that someone cares
Cause we’ve been down to the bottom
Stories we’ve got ‘em, when we hit rock bottom
If you been there put your hands in the air
And let somebody know that the Most High cares
I never knew that it would feel like this
When the two that raised you up and call it quits
Nobody told me ‘bout the emptiness
When the place you call home is closed for business
I push the pain down, I gotta “get by”
Always knowin’ in my heart that it ain’t gonna fly
Rock bottom’s never felt so near before
And if pain is God’s megaphone it’s loud and clear
So hold me now father, human love ain’t enough
I’ve failed and been failed by the people I love
But your faithful arms they surround me
And any other soul who has to sail those seas
Of a broken family
Been so many times that I’ve been close to rock bottom
Tryin’ to look for answers but nobody’s got’em
Like the time my mother looked me in the eye
Tryin’ not to cry, tellin’ me the cancer might cause her to die
How can this be, I thought that God loved me?
So why would he try to take my mother from me?
And as I cry myself to sleep at night, holding on my pillow tight
He spoke to me and said that everything gonna be alright
So I tried to fight all the pain that it caused
Try to move on and I try to stay strong
So put your hands up, hey, if y’all are feelin’ me
And put your hands up for everyone to see
So put your hands up, we all a family
So put your hands up, in unity, in unity
I’ve been there too
When everything falls apart and the best you can do is
Get through each day wonderin’ will this never end?
Is it always going to be this way?
And the greatest lie you’ve ever been told is that
You’re the only one to ever walk on this road
And that you’ll never see the light of dawn, so we came together to say
Hold on
Cause we’ve been there and found our way home
I promise you that you’re not on your own
One day this will pass, God will see us all through
God will see us all through, God will see us all pass through
I am reading this article second time today, you have to be more careful with content leakers. If I will fount it again I will send you a link
Pastor Ed,
wanted to track you down and let you know that Susan and I have welcomed a new addition. We call him Brad. He is now a year old. I can't believe it has been so long since you pronounced us man and wife! We simply must make out way back to etown some Sunday.
Hope everything is going well for you
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