At Christmastime I was given the honor of speaking at a dinner for the ladies in our church. The theme was "Your Story". I've had some people, who were unable to attend, ask if they could have a copy of what I talked about so I thought I would post it here on my blog (yes, I'm resurrecting my blog yet AGAIN! LOL!) So here it is (you'll have to excuse the punctuation - I wrote this thinking I would be the only one reading it and everyone else would just be hearing it)....
Stories...they can be our own, a favorite book, a classic movie...they make us laugh, they make us cry, they make us feel. A story is defined as "an account or recital of an event, or a series of events, either true or fictitious". Some stories we know so well, we just need to hear the first few words and we immediately recognize it. For example, who can tell me the names of these stories:
I am Sam. I am Sam. Sam I am - 1
Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy - 2
Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were - 3
Call me Ishmael - 4
Every who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot. - 5
Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? - 6
1. Green Eggs and Ham ; 2. The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe ; 3. Gone with the wind; 4. Moby Dick ; 5. How the Grinch stole Christmas; 6. It's a wonderful life.
Stories are made up of a beginning, a middle and an end. We each have a story as well. How did yours begin? Maybe you think it starts something like this...Ben and Suzie met in college and married as soon as they graduated. By the time they were both 25 they were expecting their first child.
Or perhaps you think your story starts with...Beth looked at Tim and said, what are we going to do? We're only 16 and we're having a baby.
Or maybe for you, you think it starts something like - We are so excited to announce the birth of our daughter, Grace. Born today at 9:38 am.
The truth of the matter is, your story and mine all started in the same way. Psalms 139:13-16 says: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be"
God's hand was there with intention when you were formed in your mother's womb. Your creation was not missed or overlooked or an after thought or an accident. God was there. He already saw you as a complete, whole, living and breathing person with a life full of challenges, triumphs, laughter, pain, sorrow and joy...before your body was even formed....before the sperm and the egg introduced themselves to each other - He was there!
Stories are brought to life by an author - just like Dr. Suess wrote Green eggs and ham and how the Grinch stole Christmas and Peter Van Doren Stern wrote it's a wonderful life - God is the author of our story. Remember, verse 16 said - All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. He is our author. He gave us life and he ordains our days.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. What that means is that our stories are not so different from each other. We have gone thru or are going thru or will go thru very similar things. The details may be different but the overall content is very much the same. Just like our lives are more similar than different, we can look at people in the bible and see that they are just like us too. God wrote their stories just like he wrote ours.
I want to talk about a few special women in the bible. Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great men in there that we can relate to and we can learn from but I want to focus on some of the women. We women need to stick together after all! We often times pull away from each other or hide our true selves from each other out of insecurity or envy or jealousy. That shouldn't be the case and it really shouldn't be the case amongst women who are believers. We should come alongside each other - we should help and support and encourage each other - we need to share our stories so that we can see we are not alone - that what we are going thru is not unique but that someone else has been there and they made it thru and so will we.
In Luke, chapter 1 we read about Mary. A young, Jewish girl, probably about 12 or 13 years old, recently engaged to be married. An angel, Gabriel, visits her one night and changes her life forever. In Luke 1 verse 34 Mary questions Gabriel "how will this be?" She didn't understand how she could conceive a child as she was still a virgin. It's ok when we question God's purpose and leading in our life. He expects it and He understands it. Now we may not get the answers we want or answers that we fully understand but questioning doesn't make us a lessor Christian or weak in our faith - it makes us human.
In verse 38 Mary says "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said". Mary accepted the story that God had written for her. He had a special purpose for her life and she may not have understood it but she loved Him and trusted Him. Mary was young, uneducated, poor, a female and unwed. What an unlikely candidate for a most important and glorious calling. Who would expect someone like her to fulfill such an eternal purpose - to be the mother of the Savior of the world. God did. He knew her heart and he knew her obedience and he loved her. He created her specifically for this purpose and she trusted Him and let Him fulfill the story He had written for her life. No matter the cost to her, embarrassment, humiliation, the risk of losing her fiance and the sorrow that she would face later on with the loss of her firstborn son. She knew, believed in and trusted her author. Luke 1 verse 46 says "And Mary said, my soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..." When we are walking in God's purpose and story for our life, we can rejoice and praise Him no matter our circumstances.
Dueteronomy 31:6 says "be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you nor forsake you." Isaiah 41:10 says "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" In fact, there are many places in the bible where God promises to always be with us and to never leave us. Mary believed that. She trusted that God would be with her whatever she faced and we can trust that too. Mary believed that she needed to be exactly where God wanted her to be...that her purpose in life was to obey him.
I believe, that she had a balance of joy and sorrow in her life. That the joy and love Jesus brought to her as her son and knowing she was right in the middle of where God wanted her to be, balanced the suffering she faced as the mother of the Messiah. When we walk in God's purpose for our life - we are exactly where we belong and we know and feel and trust that it is worth it.
Let's move on to Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist. In Luke chapter 1 we read about Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah. Verses 6-7 says "both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years." The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah and tells him that Elizabeth will bear a son and that they shall name him John and that he, according to verse 17, will "make ready a people prepared for the Lord".
Zechariah questions Gabriel and says in verse 18 "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years". Now, we don't know exactly how old Elizabeth was but it is clear that according to what Zechariah thought, she was to old. So to him, what Gabriel said seemed impossible. In this case, God struck Zechariah mute for his lack of faith and questioning. Like I said before, questioning God is ok - I don't know why he struck Zechariah mute, maybe he needed some time to be silent and stop listening to his own voice and logic and start listening to God's voice - I don't know - I know God doesn't strike everyone mute for questioning Him otherwise, I wouldn't be standing up here able to speak to you today! :) But maybe more of us should go mute, so to speak. Maybe, when we are faced with a chapter in our story that we don't understand, we should quiet the voice of doubt and insecurity, and instead listen for the voice of God and put our faith in Him. I do know that God uses our circumstances to grow us and stretch us and strengthen us and to show that with Him, nothing is impossible. It may seem impossible by mans standards, such as being beyond child bearing years but as it says in Luke 1:37 "For nothing is impossible with God"
We don't know if Elizabeth doubted what the Lord had promised but we do know that when she conceived, she knew exactly who had blessed her with a child. In verse 25 she says "The Lord has done this for me". Elizabeth was living the story God had written for her. It didn't make sense according to her own logic but it made sense according to God's.
Rahab is the next woman in the bible that I'd like to talk about. Her story can be found in Joshua chapters 2-6. Rahab was a prostitute. That puts it pretty black and white. She was not a woman of high standing in the community or of any standing for that matter. She was not respected or thought highly of. Nope, according to man's standards, she was nothing. She was used up, disposable. She was at the bottom of society's barrel. But God had a different story in mind.
The Israelites had failed to enter the promised land and had wasted 40 years. The first generation lacked the faith and courage to walk in the story and purpose God had for them but God was giving the next generation a second chance and he used Rahab, a nothing of a woman, a prostitute to help bring His promise to fulfillment.
Joshua sent a couple of spies into Jericho to scout things out. They went to Rahab's house. Now you might ask - why would they go to the home of a prostitute? Doesn't really seem like the place two guys, scouting out the land that God had promised to their people, should go. Well her home was built into the city wall which could mean a quick escape route for them if they needed it. Also, the home of a prostitute was somewhat of an inn or hotel, so they could potentially blend in with other travelers and strangers to the area. They might have also thought they could find out some information there. Someone who is considered to be the dregs of a community may be more willing to divulge information than someone who cared about what others thought of them.
As the story goes, Rahab hid the spies and helped them get out of the city because as it says in Joshua 2:8-11 she had heard of them and that the Lord had given the land to them and that their Lord was God in heaven and on the earth below. She bargained with the spies to keep her family safe when the Israelites attacked the city. They agreed and told her to hang a scarlet cord in her window and they would spare anyone in her home.
God used a most unlikely person to fulfill his promise. He didn't choose a pastor's wife, or the wife of the local mayor, or someone who was highly esteemed, no he chose a prostitute. Rahab had a willing heart, she believed the Lord was who He said He was and she trusted him to write her story even though it seemed to make no sense at all. She and her family and in fact the entire town were at risk of being wiped out and destroyed. And yet, because she believed that God was who He said He was, she chose the impossible, risky route. She walked boldly in God's purpose and plan for her life.
Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the Faith Hall of Fame. Verses 1-2 says "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for..." The chapter goes on to talk about Noah and Abraham, Isaac and Moses and the list goes on - ordinary people of great faith who did amazing things and there in verse 31 is our prostitute Rahab. A woman of illrepute - looked down upon and thought of as nothing - commended for her great faith! For her willingness to trust the Lord and let Him write the story of her life.
So what can we learn from Mary, Elizabeth and Rahab? Mary was an ordinary girl. She was young, uneducated and poor and yet she had a heart of obedience and love for her Lord. It doesn't matter our circumstances, our age, our financial situation or how much education we have - those things matter to the world and society but they don't matter to God.
Elizabeth was old according to the world standards. Bearing children was highly esteemed in that time and she was useless in that area. God didn't care. He still fulfilled his purpose in her. It doesn't matter how old we are. God still has a purpose for us. Society may put us out to pasture but God never does.
Rahab was a prostitute. Her sin was out there for all to see. She was considered the bottom of her society and yet because she believed and put her faith in God she was used in a mighty way to help the Israelites and to eventually be a part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Matthew chapter 1 lists the ancestoral line of Jesus and in verse 5 there is Rahab. Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. Check out the rest of the chapter for the entire lineage.
Rahab the prostitute made the list. She’s part of Jesus’ family tree.
It doesn't matter what we have done in the past. It doesn't matter the choices we have made or the sins we have committed - God has written a story for us and he is waiting to edit it for us. Romans 3:22-24 says This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. We have all sinned. We have all made choices that were not God's best for us. We have all fallen short. But God is there, just waiting for us to grab ahold of his grace and mercy and forgiveness....just waiting for us to give him back the pen and let him take over our story again.
Just like The Grinch who stole Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life were written for generations to read and enjoy - our story is being written for others to read. We may feel ordinary and like nothing special but our life and story will impact the world. It may be the global world or it may be the world in our own community and family but we will have an impact. Remember back to the opening line I read a few minutes ago from It's a Wonderful Life "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives" Our lives touch others. Our lives make an impact on those around us. Mary, Elizabeth and Rahab were ordinary women. Going about their every day lives. They had hopes and dreams. They made good choices and they made some really bad ones. Ultimately they each made the choice to let God be the author, editor and publisher of their story. Their lives directly impacted those around them and their stories were shared to impact generations to come. They were just one person. One woman. And their lives changed the world.
You may be thinking well yeah - that was back then... in bible times....of course their life impacted the world... but remember they were ordinary people in their day. They weren't anything special and in fact one was a prostitute - the lowest of the low. But God took their willingness and used it mightily and he can use our willingness too. Acts 17:26 says From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. Mary, Elizabeth and Rahab were appointed a time in history to live and a community to be members of and a family to impact. Just like you and me. God appointed this time for us to live and the communities for us to be members of and the families we were meant to impact. There have been many women thru out history that have allowed God to write their story and some have impacted their family, some have made a difference in their community and some have even changed the world.
We've all heard of Corrie Ten Boom - an ordinary Dutch girl who along with her parents and siblings, at great risk of their own lives, hid Jews from the Nazi's during the Holocaust. Or what about Mother Teresa - a simple girl from Albania who followed God's calling to the country and people of India. Or Joyce Meyer. Born in St Louis Missouri, went on to marry her first husband shortly after her senior year in high school and eventually started stealing payroll checks from her employer. Driving to work one morning in 1976 she heard God call her name...from that point on she let God write her story and she has gone on to be one of the most influential women in modern day Christianity.
What about my mom, Veneta. She came from a difficult upbringing that could have easily made her bitter towards God but thru a neighbor girl and her family she was shown a side of the Lord that forever changed her life and she chose to let God write her story - not her circumstances, not her upbringing, not her station in life but God wrote her story. She went on to marry my Dad, have four children (of which I am the youngest and they saved the best for last) and raise that family with Christ at the center of their home. She and my Dad just celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.
Now, you might ask why did I put my Mom in the same category as Corrie Ten Boom, Mother Teresa and Joyce Meyers. They seem to be important and influential and world changing women. Well, my Mom changed my world forever. Her example of love and Godliness and serving with a willing heart and perseverence impacted my world and the world of my siblings. I'm sure many of you know women who have changed your life in a positive way. Their name may not be in headlines or on the evening news but their life and their sharing of it has made a profound difference to you.
God wants to take what we have written - the choices we have made - the chapters we have added and edit our future. He is waiting for us, like Mary, Elizabeth and Rahab, and Corrie and Teresa and Joyce and Veneta to say here you go Lord - I'm giving the pen back to you. I want the story that you have written for me. Take my circumstances, my sin, my age, my intelligence, my standing in life and fulfill the story you have for me. Jeremiah 29:11 says 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. It may be that we are meant to change the world or maybe we're going to change the course of our family...whatever it is, He knows the plans. He knows the best story. We can take control of the pen and come up with our own story but he knows the BEST story! We need to give up control and let God be the author, editor and publisher of our life.
If you don't know the Lord, He is waiting to introduce himself. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The same Jesus Christ that fulfilled his purpose in Mary, Elizabeth and Rahab, Corrie, Teresa, Joyce and Veneta is the same one that is waiting to fulfill his story and purpose in us. The promises he had for them are the same promises he has for us. He knows you, inside and out and He is excited to show you what he has written on the pages of your life book. Open your heart to him, ask him to come in and to take over your life. Let him lead you and guide you. You will be amazed at the new chapters he unveils and at how freeing it is to give up the pen and to put your trust in Him.
