I just spent the most glorious 24 hour period alongside a group of beautiful women with open hearts and stories to tell.
Hard stories. Scary stories. Sad stories.
Stories in which I could see the mighty thread of God woven throughout every tear, every disappointment, and every loss.
Stories that show the world just how good He really is – if you have an open heart and eyes to see.
Stories that have more power than you can even imagine.
It’s through our stories, sweet friends, we see the evidence of a merciful and gracious God that freely forgives and transforms.
The “I once was lost but now I’m found” stories can change lives because they offer hope to the hopeless, faith to the faithless, and love to the love-less.
The greatest of these, of course, being the last. Love.
As I wrote last week, sometimes we make it more complicated than it needs to be, don’t we?
It really comes down to these two things: love God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself. Telling our stories is one way we can love our neighbors.
By mixing vulnerability, humility, mistakes, laughter and tears, we partner with God to tell His story through us. When we share our own brokenness, it gives the listener permission to exhale. To not feel so alone. To believe there’s hope.
Our story is about us but it’s not about us. It’s part of a far bigger story that began more than 2,000 years ago.
The first three chapters of Kristen Welch’s book Rhinestone Jesus
When King David was anointed as the next king to follow Saul, fifteen years passed before he was even crowned.
Why so long?
Because David had a whole lot more of living to do before he was mature enough to wear that crown. It took fifteen years of preparation to be ready to actually do what God called him to do.
Jesus was born a Savior but he didn’t perform his first miracle until the age of 33. He needed to prepare for His ministry while having complete trust in God’s timing.
So I love to hear stories from the beginning because we can see God’s fingerprints all over the twists and turns that make a life – twists and turns that prepare us for a greater later.
Rhinestone Jesus
Admitting she was “that girl” who carried her Bible around to match her glistening pin in high school, she loved Jesus and she wanted others to love Him as well.
She then went to Bible college and met her husband, Terrell. After they were married, they struggled with fertility while Terrell was an associate pastor and Kristen was the children’s ministry leader in a church far away from home.
Eventually, Kristen became pregnant and gave birth to their first child – a daughter. Two years later, a son was born.
Soon after, Terrell confessed to his addiction to pornography.
And that was when God started to turn something broken into something beautiful.
So for this week . . . Please comment on one of the following questions:
The most significant way that I was impatient was when I was in high school. I had a crush on this one boy. He wasn’t interested in me. I didn’t grow up in a praying family, but I prayed that one day he would be my boyfriend. Time passed and I wondered why God wasn’t giving me my request. As high school was finishing up, I realized that I wanted to move on with my life, whatever God had planned, and just be done with high school and all the drama that entails. I think getting to that point opened my heart up enough to look outside of my narrow vision and noticed the sweet boy that kept trying so hard to capture my attention…which is now my hubby. :) I actually wrote a poem, a requirement for English class, that ended up being about my perfect man. I was just searching my heart for what I really wanted. Turns out I described my hubby, even down to hair and eye color. Haha! We weren’t even together at the time. The moment my hubby proposed, I knew all of those unanswered prayers were because God had some WAAAAAAAY better I store for me. (One of my favorite songs at the time was Unaswered Prayers by Garth Brooks.
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
Deuteronomy 32:4
Love that song, Stephanie. I have a few of my own unanswered prayers that I now see were actually answered – by Him saying “not this time, dear.” What a sweet, sweet story Stephanie. Thank you for sharing it!
ThIs is so very eye opening!!! God is not done shaping me and I am not near mature enough. When does one know when they are ready to share their story? He keeps adding more and more “material” as Shonda Pierce would say.
Ah, love that Chonda Pierce. Bless her heart. I think God nudges us to share bits of our story here and there then the entire version when He knows you are ready. He’ll put opportunity in your path! However, I think it’s super powerful to write your story out from the beginning – even if no one ever reads it. You’ll be amazed at the many places you’ll see God’s hand! If you want to talk further about this, Teelier, let me know! Thanks for reading and commenting!
I just really love this book. Like at the beginning of Kristen’s journey, I too, am an introverted, stay-at-home mom and I keep wondering how God will use me in the days, weeks, years to come. Some much of the days right now are on survival and I pray for peace each morning to be content right where I am at. Reading Kristen’s journey into a big “yes” for God is exciting to see how He used an ordinary mom to accomplish great things for His Kingdom. And clearly – it had to be through a mother’s heart to accomplish this big goal. Looking forward to reading more!
I love that you can relate so well to Kristen, Jess! Yes, I agree that it is so inspiring to see how God has so powerfully used “just” a mom. And yes, our mama hearts are just so powerful, aren’t they? Thank you for reading and commenting, Jess!
I think I am still waiting for God to show up in my life. I was raised in the church but like most kids colored during the sermon and when I was too old to color I tuned out. I have tried to understand the bible through Sunday school and bible school but I get so confused and only focused on the “main” stories. The ones that everyone knows. My husband is a born again Christian after 52 years of stubborness. This is an interesting issue with my family and his family. That is why I am here. To grow in my faith and to know when God is calling on me or trying to work through me. My mother always was very strong in her faith. I have learned that I was raised on a huge amount of faith. I am young too. Only a mere 31 so patience is not a quality I have mastered yet.
Sarah, I so appreciate your honesty. I can so relate to coloring on the bulletins and zoning out during the sermons! Good for you for investigating who He really is…We all have to have a moment when we make our faith our own – when we analyze why we believe what we believe and begin a personal relationship with Jesus. I know the Bible can be intimidating at first but keep at it! Also, pray that God will help you to understand what you’re reading. When I first started, I purchased a Life Application Study Bible (great notes at the bottom of the scriptures – I thought it was really helpful as a new believer) and get this… a friend suggested I purchase a kid’s Bible. I have to admit…It did help me. Be patient with yourself and LOOK for God – because He’s all over the place. And I can confidently say…He’s already shown-up quite a bit in your life. If you ever want to talk more about this, Sarah, please email me at ncsnapp@gmail.com. So thankful you are joining us!
I grew up in the church as well. My usual church world was turned upside down when we moved from Texas to North Carolina. Two things happened. One I experienced “good Christian people” look down on my mother and treat her poorly because she was divorced. I didn’t understand this. What happened to loving your neighbor? As a teenager I really didn’t pray much other than during church or saying grace before a meal. But I found myself asking God why – I would talk to Him asking him questions. I learned later in life that was indeed prayer since prayer is simply a conversation with God. My problem was I was not patient enough to wait for the other half of that conversation. To listen to what God had to say to me.
Then later I decided that at that time I was going to church for the wrong reasons. I was using it as a social time only and not a time for finding Jesus and listening to what He and His wonderful Father had to say to me.
I stopped going to church.
I didn’t seek out a church again for many years until I found myself divorced with two young children, one a brand new infant. I needed help and guidance. After visiting several I finally found my home church. Now years later I feel like a lot of my prayers are being answered. Like I mentioned on the FB page, last year my ex-husband and I remarried. With God’s love, mercy, grace and forgiveness we reconciled. Our family is now back together again.
There are still some unanswered prayers that I am trying to be patient for. I’m learning.
Jessica, you have such a powerful testimony. I love hearing how Jesus has led you to reconciliation with your husband and your family is now knit back together. Victory! I hear what you’re saying on the judgment thing – it’s hard. My husband and I are both divorced (we both had short first marriages) and we’ve encountered judgment as well. However, I realized, after a lot of prayer and learning about Jesus, that this is judgment from the church – the church that is disabled by the flesh. This is not Jesus – He would not treat someone who’s been divorced with contempt. Yet, unfortunately, sometimes His people do…but that’s also between the one judging and God. You’re really not involved in that equation though if feels like you are! So thankful you are a part of this study, Jessica!!
In the words of Bon Jovi (c’mon, who else is a fan?) “In my rear view mirror, my life is getting clearer”. I’m able to seeing where His loving care has been present in my life only just recently when I started to open my eyes in a different way. I didn’t know it at the time, but when I reflected back to how those twists and turns that brought me to certain stages in my life, I can see how they formed me and my faith journey. Getting through adversity… difficult personal and relationship realizations… big mistakes… tough times…big decisions. But I know my life is still going… I haven’t “arrived” anywhere yet. There is more to come. More growing. It’s only just over a couple of years now that i’ve been able be recognize Providence. I had a theme song when I started my reawakened spiritual journey- Steven Curtis Chapman – Do Everything. The message in this song is a recurring theme in the first 3 chapters we read in this book. I love the song still and I sing it to my kids when I need the reminder just as much as when they do! If you don’t know it, maybe take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVTeIMursb8. I’m continuing to strive to be more intentional with my relationship with Jesus. With the busyness of life, I know it’s the best I can do right now!
Yes, it’s amazing to see how many times He’s shown up when you really reflect on your story isn’t it, Rachael? (And I was a HUGE Bon Jovi fan once upon a time so I love your reference! The Steven Curtis Chapman song is one of our favorites – our kids LOVE that video.) Here’s the thing: we won’t ever arrive until we get to heaven. However, God will still use people who are works in progress! If He waited for us to arrive or have it all together before He could use it, He wouldn’t have anyone to call upon!!! :) I love that you’re striving to be more intentional about your relationship with Jesus – that will only bear good fruit. It’s a journey – a beautiful and sometimes hard journey – but a beyond worth-it journey…So thankful you are joining us, Rachael!