Stories.

We all like to hear them. We all like to tell them as well. We start reading to children even before they are able to speak themselves because we know that stories draw us in. They help to form relationships. I love when Sophia wants to sit in my lap & have me read a story to her. We laugh at the story & pictures. We discuss what is happening with the various characters. She will share her thoughts with me. We are snuggled, usually under a blanket, enjoying the bond that is forming.

Each of us has a story. We start our story from the time we are born & continue “writing” it until the day we pass from this earth. Our story is unique to each of us. No one quite has the same story since life, for each of us, takes its own twists & turns. At some point in our story, God enters our life & it now takes on the form of a “testimony”.

Testimony, as defined by dictionary.com, is “the statement or declaration of a witness under oath or affirmation, usually in court”.  Even further, it is “evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof”.

So here is the wonderful thing about our story – it is the telling of the FACT that God is not only IN out lives but that He is at work in our lives. It is all the proof that is needed. No one can take that away from any of us. As we mull over our stories in our minds, we have proof that God is with us, within us & working in our lives.

Scripture tells us this, in the very words of Jesus Himself:

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

(Matthew 10:32-33 NIV)

Think on this – as we each share our testimony here (acknowledging His work in our lives), Jesus is acknowledging us before the Father. He is standing before the Father stating, giving testimony, “This is who Joanne Viola {put your name here} is!”

May that fall on you as it did on me this morning. May we realize that our stories do matter. Each story is significant because our lives are important to Him. Is it any wonder that Fanny Crosby penned the words & music to the old hymn, “Blessed Assurance” – – –

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Today may we remember that our stories are being told before the throne of God.

I joined in at Tell His Story and Thoughtful Thursday Blog Hop