Good morning to all - it's been a while...
Our Wyld Life/Young Life camp training this year included some thoughts on how to share the gospel with teenagers. Ellie shared how there's the step-by-step way to talk about Sin, Need, Jesus, the Cross, Redemption. This is not wrong, but life is never that clean. This seems to paint the picture: you're healed once you get to the last step! But life more real than that. AND we are in no position to be able to fully explain HOW or WHY Jesus heals, why His cross cleanses us from sin?! So, we talked, instead, about sharing OUR part of the story - the story we know. We who have chosen to follow Jesus have each been touched by His healing hand. We don't know how exactly, but when we let Him into our life, our life has improved, we feel more purpose, the hard stuff doesn't seem as hard anymore. Maybe He has even healed you in a bigger way.
So, I am refreshed in telling my part of the story. Yes, I want to try to understand the how and why of Jesus, but I don't think that any of us ever will, fully. In thinking this this morning, I was reading Psalm 40 and thought, "hey, this is my story!"
Psalm 40:
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in God."
When I took a "break" from graduate school at Michigan, I felt my decision blessed by God. I waited patiently for Him to show up, to show me where I was to go next, to see what opportunities lay ahead for me. He heard my cry. He blessed me with people through the opportunities I had to explore and learn about myself - at Trail West, Wilderness, finishing up my Masters' at Michigan, returning to Iowa City. He set my feet upon a rock, showing me He was in this whole process, in my story. He had a hand in bringing me home to Iowa City (against my will initially) to get to know my parents, especially my mom, better, before my mom passed away. He drew me up from this pit of destruction, too, as I slowly and reluctantly let Him into my pain. He put a new song in my mouth - somehow I found joy after/in the midst of tragedy - celebrating my Dad's new-found life in God and our family's bond, learning how to live again.
The last part is where I shy away, or at least don't like to dwell on. Many will see and fear and will put their trust in the Lord. Many will see MY STORY!? Yes, this is obvious I guess... Life is out there and people will see it. I think fear might mean more "respect" or "awe", instead of "afraid" - I don't know... But it is crazy/amazing/cool to think that because of MY story, of how God has worked in MY life, that people will come to put their trust in the Lord. !?
And I wonder if I am doing anything that is inhibiting God from using my story. Do I share my story? Do I keep it to myself? Am I forward about God's role in my story? Do I claim my own victory? Am I afraid or shy or feel self-centered for sharing my story with others?
I pray for opportunities to share my story of the gospel - the Good News - God working in my life - with others. Maybe this isn't testimony-style - in one fell swoop, bam! But, maybe it's more subtle, a bit hear and there, a reassuring smile or hug to someone who feels similar pain; a club talk where I share how a passage from Scripture has been important in my life; or this blog(?).
Something to think about today - what is your story? What's God's role in that? How will you share it with others?
Enjoy your summer Sunday!
Katie
