Shortly after Jesus’ departure from earth, Peter got after it. And by that I mean he started being about the Father’s business.
Every. Single. Moment.
Now, if you know the Bible at all you know that Peter going around proclaiming the risen Christ did not land very well with the rulers, the elders of the people, the teachers of the law and many others.
But he did it anyway. All of the disciples did it anyway.
But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:19-20
Over the last seven plus years since our story came out, we’ve talked about it with just about anyone who will listen. Now, we don’t go up to people, introduce ourselves and then spew all over them.
But close.
We don’t do this to get attention. We don’t open our hearts for others to the see the immense pain we walked through to get a pat on the back. We don’t lay everything on the line and risk relationships so that we can get a book deal.
We do it because we can’t help but do it. Just like Peter and John, we can’t help but speak about what God has done in our lives. It’s remarkable. It’s miraculous. It’s life-giving. And it’s full of hope.
So why on earth would we not share it?
Don’t be afraid to share your story. This girl, this girl and this girl did.
One of the reasons we often endure heaps and heaps of pain is so that the glory of God will be revealed in our lives.
Oftentimes your pain is what brings life to another.
Be blessed dear.
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Thanks for the reminder that our "junk" is actually a treasure that can really show people God's grace.
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Very encouraging post!
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I enjoyed the post. I don't have much of a story to tell but I enjoy others who do. Doylene
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Dear, dear Cindy:
I have no idea what you were referring to in the following reference: "We don't do this to get attention. We don't open our hearts for others to the see the immense pain we walked through to get a pat on the back. We don't lay everything on the line and risk relationships so that we can get a book deal.
We do it because we can't help but do it. Just like Peter and John, we can't help but speak about what God has done in our lives. It's remarkable. It's miraculous. It's life-giving. And it's full of hope.
So why on earth would we not share it?
Don't be afraid to share your story. This girl, this girl and this girl did.
One of the reasons we often endure heaps and heaps of pain is so that the glory of God will be revealed in our lives.
Oftentimes your pain is what brings life to another."
OH MY GOSH!!!!!!! HOW RIGHT YOU ARE!!!! WE HAVE A STORY TO TELL TO THE NATIONS THAT WILL TURN THEIR HEART TO THE LORD (THAT'S A SONG)…..AND WHY WOULDN'T WE ANT TO TELL IT….WHAT NOT TELL THE TRUTH? wHY NOT TELL OF THE ONLY VARIABLE IN A SITUATION THAT HAS WORKED, IS WORKING AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS….WE (ALL WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED EXCRUSHIATING PAIN)KNOW THAT WE KNOW THE "REAL" TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE GOD HAS MADE IN OUR LIVES. I COULD ON FOREVER, LITERALLY OF THINGS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH MAN AND ONLY POSSIBLE WITH GOD..THE TOTAL UNEXPLANABLE!!! PEOPLE ARE IN AWE…THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN IT…THEIR JAWS ARE DROPPED AND THEY ARE SPEACHLESS!!! YOU ARE MORE THAN RIGHT…MY PAIN HAS BROUGHT LIFE TO ANOTHER…..HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS….BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN MY STORIES AND THEREFORE…BELIEVE….BELIEVE THAT GOD REALLY IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS…AND IT (MY PAIN) HAS ONLY BROUGHT THEM HOPE…HOPE AS I TELL THEM THAT 'GOD IS NO REPECTOR OF PERSONS" AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME HE WILL DO FOR YOU "IF" YOU ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND BELIEVE.
OH MY, OPEN ALL OUR EYES TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF WHO YOU ARE! THE INTIMACY THAT NOT ONE OF US HAS EXPERIENCED ANYWHERE ELSE BY ANYONE ELSE IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!!!
CINDY…DID I MEET YOU WITH ELAINE BATEMAN AT THE CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT? [email protected] is my email.
Mary Jo
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