always be ready to share your story

no way. 

i'm not a public speaker.

everyone has already heard my story.

what if no one comes.

what if only four people come & out of the four people, three of them don't know who i am & so they get up and leave when i start to share.

what if i use poor grammar

or god forbid, start to cry.

what if the one person that stays to listen to me share decides she likes me better behind my blog than in real life.

these were my immediate thoughts months ago when sibi called & asked me to join her for The Pearl Event.

no way.

thank you moses for the "i can't do it Lord, inspiration" right?

days later i was out running. trying to train for the half marathon i signed up for months ago.

that same half in which i am significantly behind.

& i felt the Lord reminding me

that i should always be ready to tell my story

to tell where my hope is from

to tell the good things the Lord has done for me

{Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to 

give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 peter 3.15}

i called sibi, in tears ( me not her )

& said

of course i'll do it.

even if only one person wants to hear what i share

that i'll share what the Lord has done for me

with her.
i'll share what the Lord can & will do in her too.
that He loves her & is carrying her in His hand,
no matter the current chapter she's in
within her own story.

that my soul magnifies Him

& He has done great things for me.

it's easy for us to think that our story is insignificant

or that we can't effectively communicate our story.

that we should keep private things private.

that people will think, heaven forbid, that we're weird

or obnoxious.

but i want to encourage you 

that first of all...those are all lies.

those are lies that will hit you right where you're most vulnerable.

& if you listen to them, believe them

then he wins. 

the enemy wins.

the one who wants to kill your dreams

steal your hope

destroy your relationships with others & relationship with Him.

so whether it's with your neighbor

or your children.

whether it's with a sunday school class

or through your blog & your tweets....

share your story.

the one He is writing in you.

if one person is listening, or thousands

boldly proclaim the hope you have!

incidentally, turns out more than four ladies will be there in two weeks
( truth be told, it's almost sold out)

& if only one person came to hear me share

i will give reason for my hope...
while completely out of my comfort zone
hopefully not with poor grammar

i will share the reason for my hope!
& if you're coming,
i can't wait to hear your own story!!!!

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, 

words may be given me so that I will 

fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel"

ephesians 6.19