I was studying and writing last week when I noticed a verse in Psalm 105:7 that caught my attention. It's a verse you are probably familiar with, but what struck me is that the verse is an exhortation for you (and I) to publish and broadcast! You may not see it like that, but let me give you a little more background. Here is the verse: "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe” (Psalm 107:2).
Do you have a story? I know you do, for God has done great things for you just as He has for me. That is what's known as your testimony and you are to tell it. One way is to do so in church, but in today's modern church services, where is there time to testify? That means you (and I) must find other ways to tell God's story, or your story in God. That is where publishing, social media and the like come in. If you know me, you know I don't often use social media for personal things, but I use it every day to 'publish' what God is showing me and what I am learning. I do my best every day to tell my story. What about you?
After I noticed Psalm 107:2, I did a little more research and found two interesting things in Scripture that go along with that verse from Psalms. One is in Deuteronomy 31:19: “Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them." God instructed Moses to write a song and teach it to Israel. I had never seen that before. The nature of the song was to remind Israel of God's faithfulness in a day when they would go astray, but I had never noticed that God commanded Moses to be creative and write music. Do you have any music in you that needs to be written? That is another way of telling your story.
The second verse I found in my study was in Joshua 18:4: Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me." I had never noticed before that God commanded the spies who were sent out to submit their report of what they saw in the Promised Land in writing. Their story was not what God had done but what God was going to do when they entered the Land He was giving them. Part of your story is your faith vision of what is yet to come.
So there you have three reasons to publish, write and create: 1) to tell your story of what God has done for you; 2) to remind you and others of God's faithfulness; 3) to report what you see pertaining to God's purpose and plan for you that is yet to be. If any of this speaks to you, I want to remind you that i am part of a Writer's and Creativity Workshop next Friday and Saturday here in Pittsburgh. If you need a spark to stimulate your creativity and help understanding what it takes to "tell your story," then this workshop is for you. It's free and would be worth traveling to Pittsburgh to be a part of it. I am attaching the flier for your information. Just let me know you are coming and we'll make or leave a place for you.
If you can't come, then I urge you to download the rest of my study that I did last week when I saw the three verses above. I have some notes attached to a few of them, but I trust you can the verses for your own study. If you add to the list, please pass your insights along to me. In other words, tell me your story of how God used my story to help you tell yours. Have a blessed week!
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KENYA UPDATE: As usual, there are two Kenya updates for you to review this week, one of which shows pictures of a young child who just received his hearing aids through the help of a Kenya donor! You can access his story here. Once you read and see what a difference you can make, I urge you to contribute today through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.
PURPOSE SEMINAR: My last purpose seminar for this year here in Pittsburgh is Saturday, November 1 from noon to 4:30. It's free but you have to register, so please let me know if you plan to attend.
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