Every once in a while, pretty often actually because I am blessed, I get a reminder of why I do what I do. This past weekend was no exception. I spoke at two different places, sharing about this creative life I get to live by God’s grace. In the first I got to do a luncheon presentation to a group of writers in Northeast PA who call themselves the Odd Duck Society. The message was God and the Creative Process, based on an upcoming manifesto/book I’m writing. It was a really great time that I really enjoyed.
Then yesterday I got the opportunity to do A Night AMOK in the morning, opening a series of revival meetings for St. Thomas Independent Church of the Brethren in Mt. Pleasant Mills, PA. It was the first time I ever presented A Night AMOK as part of a morning worship service. At the end of the presentation, the pastor joined me in an altar call, asking people who wanted to come to Jesus or dedicate their lives to Jesus to raise their hands and pretty many hands went up. It was awesome.
Why do I share this? Am I being boastful? I pray that’s not the case. No, on the way home I started to think about my life and how far God has brought me and how blessed I am. I started to try to wrap my head around how all the things in my life have led to this point. I get to go out and paint pictures and tell my story and the story of the One who changed my story. I started to realize that were it not for some very hard times, I would not have that story and maybe God really is to be praised in EVERYTHING. I recognized that I get to encourage people in their gifts and talents and that I never could have arrived at that place without the times when I really needed encouragement. Then I had the realization that thanks to all these things, God may very well have allowed me to be a small part in someone else’s testimony, that He may have allowed me to help someone come a step closer to realizing their own God-given vision and maybe even help someone find his or her way to THE Way to eternal life. And then something else hit me. I get the privilege of doing all this and people see fit to bless me for it. I am blessed.
How could I ever want to do anything else? Be encouraged, your life matters to God and you matter to God. The things you go through build the story of your life and it is a story worth telling. Tell your story. God is good and faithful and no matter how much you trust in Him, He still has the power to do more than you can imagine. Prepare to be amazed.
Thanks to Brenda Hendricks for setting this up and to God for making it happen.
