On the Importance of Sharing Stories

The second of three posts on "Go back and report...what you hear and see."

Memory Verse
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:9

Reflection
The time on my car clock read 12:56 pm. Just four minutes until I was supposed to pick up my daughter from preschool.  On the short drive I spent my thoughts unpacking my morning to figure out how the time had crept up on me.  I slid into a parking spot and reached my daughter's classroom just three minutes after 1 pm.  Not too bad, but I told myself I would do better the next day. 

As I loaded my daughter and her baby sister back in the car, I noticed an acquaintance parked next to me.  We exchanged greetings, and she shared her daughter had been offered a seat in a specific kindergarten program.  As a result she now felt torn between two options and unsure of what to do.  As she was telling her story, I immediately thought of another friend whose family had been in a similar situation several years before.  They had several options for the husband's employment and were confused about what God was doing; what could the choices mean?  In the end, they discovered through the discerning process that God is at work in our individual lives but also in the life of the community around us.  Just because options are present, it doesn't mean that we must walk through that door.  Sometimes God is doing something completely different.

As my acquaintance finished speaking, I shared this story with her.  The reaction on her face made it clear that the experience of my friends encouraged her in her own decision-making process.  We went on to talk for another 25 minutes in the parking lot about how God works in our lives and the world around us.  We finally climbed into our cars, waved good-bye and went our separate ways.  As I drove home, I couldn't help but think God had bigger plans for my day than merely me being on time to pick up my daughter from preschool.

Questions to Consider

1. Do you have space in your life to slow down to be in the moment of what is happening?  The conversation I had with the woman stretched close to an unplanned half hour, but the time was so encouraging to both of us.  Of even greater importance, I was reminded of how God’s ways are greater than my ways.  He is greater than schedules and plans.
   

2. Are you willing to share stories with others when God presents opportunities?
   

Action Steps

1. One thing I have found valuable is praying that God would ordain the day; that He would orchestrate it in the way He wants.  As the day progresses, I think it is important to believe that in the midst of random events (like running late to pick up a child), God is at work.  Try this for yourself in the week ahead.
   

2. Connected to the above thought, for a week each evening, take inventory of the opportunities God has created for you to share stories of what He is doing.  I think the events and opportunities will amaze us. 
   

What Am I Hearing and Seeing?

The first of three posts on "Go back and report...what you hear and see."

Key Scripture Passage
Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”  Matthew 11:4-5 NIV

Reflection

People who are willing to report what they hear and see can have tremendous impact in our world.  Check out these inspiring stories of folks in Cambodia, the Congo, Mexico, the Middle East, and right here in the United States if you're not convinced.

So what are you reporting to others of what you are hearing and seeing about the kingdom of heaven on earth?  Do you realize that by simply being willing to report what you are hearing and seeing, you may be able to allow your friends to experience a bit more of heaven on earth?

We started this blog with Jesus' command to "Go and make disciples."  Despite the king commanding me to do it, I find that really hard to do, so I rarely do it (and I am trying to do it more).  Now the king is encouraging me to simply "go back and report...what we hear and see."  Surely that is easy enough to do, and yet again, it seems like I rarely even do that.

When I ask myself why I rarely do it, I come down to either I am not seeing much of the kingdom of heaven on earth, or I refuse to put my pride and ego aside to tell others about it.  It's definitely not the first - I get to see God do amazing things in the lives of people all over the world.  It is much more the latter, and so now I am trying to be much more intentional about simply reporting to others what I am hearing and seeing.

Are there potential repercussions?  Yes, but in general nowhere near the life-threatening risks faced by those featured in the inspiring stories I referenced at the beginning of this post.  And the king who told me to report what I hear and see actually has all authority on earth subject to Him.  Hmmmm - now that should make me a bit bolder, shouldn't it?!

No one can question what you hear and see.  If you get in the game of extending the kingdom of heaven to earth through your actions, you will have plenty to report to others.  And as you humbly report it, just watch how God will extend more of His kingdom to your listeners, and you as well.

Questions to Consider

What have you seen and heard of the kingdom of heaven being extended to earth?  Are you reporting it to others? 

Action Steps for the Week

Identify just one example of how you have seen the kingdom of heaven being extended to earth and tell 2-3 people about it this week.