Story Time

photo by: garten-gg via Pixabay

I used to wonder why I remembered most events in my life. And it seemed as if in great detail. Or why would I remember other’s events or stories? Or how I could recall a profound statement years later. In the past, I would say, “Oh well.” But as I started writing, I realized I tapped into those memories to introduce a topic or illustrate a point. Like I am about to do now.

Today, I recognize it is the way I am wired. I recall those “stories” in living color, and I would dare say, with accuracy. I know others tend to “twist” or “change” some details of an event or conversation, usually to make themselves look better. As difficult as it may be, I do my best to remember the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me, God. I do this because I strive to be honest in my heart about facts and myself. Therefore, I am not tempted to “edit” the story.

God knew someday I would use how He wired me to write. Usually, I will see or hear something, triggering a memory of an event, statement, or story. Shortly after that, a spiritual value will come to mind. I pray over it to see if it is something God wants me to share in a blog. If so, I have to write it down immediately or risk forgetting it. You should see how many “Post-It” notes I have pinned to a corkboard on the wall beside my desk. I am a Storyteller. One of my favorite stories to tell is, Jesus’. From his supernatural birth to unselfish death and between the start and finish of his life, is love.

So, how has God wired you? What gifts, talents, or skills has He placed inside of you that He hopes you will give back to use for his glory? Don’t think for a minute that you aren’t good enough. If you place it in his hands, He will bless and multiply it. The Holy Spirit will hover over it, and God will say, “It is good.”

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11 (NIV)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, Jer. 1:5 (NIV)

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Pt. 4:10 (NIV)

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

Be the You He Knew

20160529_132228Jer 1:4 This is what GOD said:
Jer 1:5 “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations– that’s what I had in mind for you.”

Most of the time it is ourselves that hinder ourselves.  For some reason we tend to believe what others have spent a time speaking into us, whether true or not.  Peter J Daniels wrote a book* where he told his 2nd grade teacher she was wrong about him.  While I was reading it I kept thinking I sure hope this woman is already dead, because this would embarrass her to death.  The point of the book is this; don’t let others tell you who you are, or what you will become.

Empty yourself, of everything you know isn’t true.  Be the person who God is constantly reminding you, you are.  The person He has made you to be.  He whispers it in your soul.  It may sound like you for God isn’t going to use words that are not in your vocabulary.  He’s not going to speak to you in Russian if you don’t know the language, and if it is something that is positive, loving, uplifting and lines up with God’s word then it can’t be the devil speaking that inside you.  Why doesn’t God use his own voice to speak to you?  Well, for one, it would probably scare you, and two, you are not Moses standing barefoot next to a burning bush.

The best way to hear God is one, learn His voice.  That means invite him to speak to you, and pray that when he does you will know it is him.  Secondly get in a habit of getting quiet.  For me that is sometimes when I am in the car.  I turn off the music, which at times bothers me, because I enjoy singing.  I’m good at it.  No, really I am.  On more than one occasion people at a stop light will roll up their window because they just can’t take the awesomeness any longer.  Know the kind of things God would speak to you.  You do this by reading His word, you know the “Bible”.

Yes there are times God will speak to you through another person, but you will know when that is happening because it will feel very familiar.  Why is that?  Because most likely His Spirit has been whispering similar words to you for a while.  Mothers, fathers, teachers, friends, please be careful of the words you speak into someone else, especially a child, for they just might be listening.

* ” Miss Phillips, You Were Wrong: A Formula to Handle Rejection” Hardcover – 1989

Just Who Do You Think You Are?

Distorted 2I was part of a group of people once that was setting out to accomplish a certain task.  We had several meetings before we left so we could get to know each other and to have a clear understanding of what our goal was and what it was not.  Everything went great, with no hints of a future issue until we got to our destination.  We no more hit the ground when one individual became someone they didn’t reveal beforehand.  The next thing we started realizing is this one individual had their own agenda and goals.  Worse yet, as they went about to achieve their goals they hurt others on the team by being rude, condescending, and hurtful.  I wanted to ask them, “Just who do you think you are?”

Consider Psalms 69:5:  God, you know every sin I’ve committed; My life’s a wide-open book before you.

God knows who you are better than you know yourself.  Wouldn’t it be better to be your true self at all times then?  To be an open book in front of everyone?  So anyone who meets you sees the real you no matter what setting you are in?  Perhaps that individual in the group was thinking, if I show who I really am I may not be allowed to go on this trip.  I don’t honestly know what they were thinking, and in spite of them, the main goals set by the team were met, but there were souls wounded in the process, and the worst part of that is it was from friendly fire.

I have recently heard from an old friend.  In the process of catching up I told them they could ask me anything.  I told them, “My life is an open book where God’s the author.”  I went on to say that the chapters I tried to write are messy.

Be open with people.  Be honest.  Be who you are.  You won’t be all smooth and polished, for no one is perfect yet, but at least others who encounter you will know what they are getting into when they get to know you.  That you too, like them, are a work in progress.  Last night in a conversation with a friend where we were talking about how imperfect we are at times he asked, “Why do you think God continues to love us and put up with us?”  I thought for a minute and replied, “Because He must think we are worth it.”  He knows who we are, but He keeps His focus on who we can be in Him.