Last year my wife chose a word to live by for her year. The word was promise and we witnessed throughout the year challenges and blessings of God's promises. This year I decided I would learn from her and choose a word for 2013. The church where I preach is living by the word: Illuminate. I will be living by that word too, with what I preach and the journey we take together as a congregation. However, I wanted a word for me too. I wanted a word that would expand my spiritual growth and push me to do some things I have never done before. I chose the word: Story!
I want to live my story. I want to live God's story. I want to share those stories. I'm working on some other projects this year outside of my work duties. I'm realizing just 22 days into the year that there will be challenges thinking through this idea of story. One of the first things that I'm realizing is that My Story is a bit of Mystery. It is a mystery to those around me (even though I think I'm an open book) and it is a mystery to me too. Until I chose to think through my story, I didn't realize how much emotion, thoughts, realizations, and passions of my life that I haven't even tapped into yet. I have realized how the people closest to me (some that have known me all my life) have never heard me express how my past has shaped me emotionally and what I want for my future.
Two Things
1. I need to engage in God's story in deep and passionate ways. Not just reading his story, although that is one of my goals for this year, but also meditating on the heart of God and listening to what His people say and hearing their heart as well. God's story begins with God, meaning before the world began, and hasn't ended yet. A helpful book that I'm reading right now regarding the idea of Jesus' entire story being the gospel is, "The King Jesus Gospel" by Scot McKnight. I've already read Blake Mycoskie's story, the founder of TOMS, where he shares his personal journey and story. I hope to gain from the stories of others and see how these stores connect to God and in turn connect to me.
2. I need to engage in my personal story with a deeper focus on how this story has affected me, my family, and how I treat others. I need to allow for my story to be influenced by God's story. I desire for my story to help others connect to God and His story. And I desire that by sharing my story, it be a catalyst for others to share their stories and engage in God's story.
As I go through 2013, I know that God will challenge the story I'm writing with my life and he will expand my story. While the story of my past will not change, I pray that I find new revelations about what it means and how it can further impact my existence with my church, my family, and most importantly My God!
I want to live my story. I want to live God's story. I want to share those stories. I'm working on some other projects this year outside of my work duties. I'm realizing just 22 days into the year that there will be challenges thinking through this idea of story. One of the first things that I'm realizing is that My Story is a bit of Mystery. It is a mystery to those around me (even though I think I'm an open book) and it is a mystery to me too. Until I chose to think through my story, I didn't realize how much emotion, thoughts, realizations, and passions of my life that I haven't even tapped into yet. I have realized how the people closest to me (some that have known me all my life) have never heard me express how my past has shaped me emotionally and what I want for my future.
Two Things
1. I need to engage in God's story in deep and passionate ways. Not just reading his story, although that is one of my goals for this year, but also meditating on the heart of God and listening to what His people say and hearing their heart as well. God's story begins with God, meaning before the world began, and hasn't ended yet. A helpful book that I'm reading right now regarding the idea of Jesus' entire story being the gospel is, "The King Jesus Gospel" by Scot McKnight. I've already read Blake Mycoskie's story, the founder of TOMS, where he shares his personal journey and story. I hope to gain from the stories of others and see how these stores connect to God and in turn connect to me.
2. I need to engage in my personal story with a deeper focus on how this story has affected me, my family, and how I treat others. I need to allow for my story to be influenced by God's story. I desire for my story to help others connect to God and His story. And I desire that by sharing my story, it be a catalyst for others to share their stories and engage in God's story.
As I go through 2013, I know that God will challenge the story I'm writing with my life and he will expand my story. While the story of my past will not change, I pray that I find new revelations about what it means and how it can further impact my existence with my church, my family, and most importantly My God!
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