Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Tell Your Story

"Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it." (Habakkuk 2:2, NIV)

"You cannot not tell your story!" -church sign

Bam! Right between the eyes! Don't you just love when God speaks to you so clearly? I was driving down a busy road last week, feeling discouraged because I didn't feel that the messages for this blog were as rich as God was making them to me. I sent up a prayer asking if I heard His calling correctly or if I should just let it go. I knew what He had laid on my heart and that my sole purpose was to always give others hope. As I passed by a small church, I caught the message on its sign that read, "You cannot not tell your story!" Do you think God knows what we need?!

"Yes!" I told God, "I hear You loud and clear." Our sole purpose in life is to share our testimony. Our trials and tribulations are not for us, but for God's glory and hope for His children. I may not get to write and publish a bestselling novel, but I can and must share my story with others somehow, someway.

Those who know me well know that I am pretty much a loner. I love people and enjoy being around them, but I also need a lot of quiet time to renew. I spent twenty-four years in the retail industry where you are required to be "on" all day with a day lasting eight to twelve hours. That takes a lot of energy and honestly, the grace of God. Now that I am no longer in the industry, I still find that I need a lot of quiet time, but this time is now spent in the Lord's Presence. I can tell you that this has been the sweetest time of my life. Even though I am waiting for the Lord to make His plans clear for my calling, I have the pleasure of drawing near to Him and He drawing near to me.

Bruce Wilkinson, the author of The Dream Giver, calls this time of restoration and transformation Sanctuary. It's a place where God washes away the residue from our time in the Wasteland where we have struggled in our journey and worn ourselves out. God restores us and ambushes us with His Presence. We get to soak in all that He is and all that He has for us. We get Him. What a Gift! In this Gift I have found blessings, love like I have never known and joy for the first time in my life. My Lord is teaching me that every day of my life is preparation for His call.

"You cannot not tell your story," is the confirmation I need. I have to step out of my comfort zone, reach out to others and allow them to reach out to me. I have to write. I have to speak. I have to tell my story so that others may know the goodness of the Lord. The world has to know His love. The world has to know His joy. The world just has to know Him.

You, too have to tell your story. You may not think that you have much to share or say, but your purpose on this earth is to give someone hope. At one point in my life, I went through a deep, dark depression, but my friend Mary Ellen helped me through. When the dark time had passed I told her that I owed her so much for helping me. She said I didn't owe her anything. I just had to turn around and help the next woman along.

I encourage you to take time today to extend a hand to someone, even if it takes you away from what is most important in your life. Your moment of selflessness may be the Jesus someone finally gets to see. You may be their hope for the day. You may even save their life. We are not our own and have been commanded by Jesus to be witnesses to Him.

Sweet Jesus, help us to take our eyes off ourselves as people who are not worthy or qualified to help. Move us to will and to do for Your good pleasure. May You receive all the glory, honor and praise. In Your sweet holy Name. Amen.

2 comments:

gInGeRpIg said...

Hi Monica,

you don't know me. I just happened to chance upon your blog a few weeks ago but then again, nothing happens by chance in God, right? :>

I am 25 years old, living in Singapore. It is a small island state in Southeast Asia. I, too, like you, am a daughter of the Living God. And how marvellous that is, isn't it?

Anyway, you said here that "I didn't feel that the messages for this blog were as rich as God was making them to me.". Let me tell you this: you are wrong, my dear sister.

Cos your blog has been a HUGE encouragement to me. I don't know how to say or explain this. I have been faithfully reading your blog everyday. And the amazing thing is, everyday, when I read your blog, it is as if I was the one writing it cos what you wrote is exactly what I am going through. Everyday. What are the chances of that? Only in our Daddy King is that possible.

You mentioned in this entry that "Your moment of selflessness may be the Jesus someone finally gets to see." So, my dear sister, this is my moment of selflessness. I shall not just receive God's word from you but let me, in His lovely name, tell you, don't give up telling your story cos it gives others life. Do it not for anyone else but for your Daddy God and His children.

Right. Don't misunderstand!
I am not taking your blog literally as the gosepel truth! I am not worshipping you or anything. I am reading and mediating on God's word. I LOVE His word. ANd most of all, I love my Daddy God. Just know that your blog is indeed rich and so, don't give it up.

In His love,
Jing Er

I have a blog too. But I don't think it is as rich as yours. Just a place for me to talk about what God has done in my life. You can read it if you are free... :>

http://jinger-gingerpig.blogspot.com/

Monica said...

Dear Jing Er;

Bless you for sending a comment! I sent up a prayer this morning asking God to open doors and hearts wherever He saw fit for this blog. Never would I have expected Him to reach across the world. We serve a Mighty God Who will do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think!

I encourage you to continue telling your story. Let the world know what God is doing in your life. I promise I will continue to do the same.

Be blessed my new friend!

Monica