Monday, October 14, 2013

Why Tell Stories





    The other day I was sitting with my almost 4 year old niece and nephew. I was trying to comfort one of them after they got hurt and so I began to tell them stories. I began to recall memories of when their dad (my brother) and I were little. I told them of the time he accidentally closed a door on my foot and about the games we used to play. It comforted them and it made them laugh. As I think about this sweet encounter with two of my favorite little ones, I am almost brought to tears. Good tears, happy tears; because this is what I love about stories. This is why I desire to capture what memories I can through photos and journals. This is why I want to help others record their stories.
       
     Someday I will get to sit with my kids and tell them about falling in love with their father. I love the idea of getting to share what the Lord has done in my life for generations to come. I want His love to flow through everything I do and I want to be a reminder of the faithfulness of the Lord. This is what memory-keeping does. This is story-telling. There is so much power in our stories.
       
    We have a responsibility to generations to come. We have a responsibility to ourselves. If we don't find ways to share our stories, we leave pages out of the greater story that God desires to tell. The Lord desires for us to pass down stories of His faithfulness. We are to tell others about who He is and I believe that the greatest way of doing this is by recording what He has done. I want to leave my story for my children and my grandchildren to read.
       
     I cherish the moments I get to sit with my niece and nephew and tell them of the greatness of the Lord. This is my desire; this is my passion.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Sharing my passion for our stories

 
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” – Ephesians 2:10

      The beautiful thing about life is that there is always a story to tell. In every person, in every movement, in every day; there is a story. And it is a beautiful one. It is a masterpiece. For it is written with the thoughtful hands of a Creator worthy of all our praise. Every line of every story is woven through the Potter's hands, knitted together with careful attention. Your life is a story – and it is chosen for you. My passion is story-telling. My passion is going deep into the story and bringing Glory to the Writer. I want to discover my story. I want to unlock the hidden pages of an epic masterpiece. I want to partner with you to discover your story. Because God chose you to be apart of a story only you can tell. And He is inviting you and I to join Him in showing the world His love and desire for redemption and relationship.

     Our stories are beautiful but that does not mean they would be easy to read. Your story may even be too painful for you to go back and even think about trying to tell. There are some things we would all rather just forget. Believe me, I understand that. But the Lord wants to bring even the darkest parts of our life into the light. He wants to take our brokenness and restore it – to restore us – into something beautiful. It is in our brokenness, in our weakness, that He wants to use us. It is there that we get to live and move in His strength.

     My encouragement for you is to spend time in prayer. Spend time in relationship with your Creator and ask Him to reveal your story. He is the true Author. Remember, you were made in the image of the Creator. You are His masterpiece. He invites you along; to create, to inspire, to reveal His love. Life is story. In every person, in every memory, in every trial, in every day; there is a story. And my dear friend, it is beautiful.