August 26, 2022
There is no doubt that I am an over-sharer. I live my life on the transparent side. There is a reason. Over 30 years ago, I requested of the Lord that no painful thing in my life would be for nothing or go wasted. I am here today because certain people, as my husband would put it, would not “shut their hole.” I am here today because in 1935 two men wouldn’t shut up about what and Who helped them to overcome alcoholism, going on to develop the 12 Steps and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. I am here today because a chaplain in a hospital blew through my resistance and gave me a fresh revelation of Jesus’ love for me. I am here today standing strong because of the many testimonies people aired publicly. I am bold today, because of the dirt others allowed me to see that informed me I am not alone or terminally unique. I am here because of the unapologetic preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
I am sure that there are people who are bothered by me, that have such personal knowledge of my life that they are offended or disbelieving. I decided to not worry so much about that. My kids are not friends with me on FB and probably have blocked me. My sharing personal things is never to shame or embarrass anyone. Maybe some people think my honesty makes me a navel-gazing wallower, or that I am an attention seeker….they can go ahead and think that. Maybe there’s a smidge of truth because I did once want to be a singer in a band! –LOL! But mostly I just want it all to matter and to make a difference. And I want to keep my own sanity! When I share real life, for every twenty people that cringe or roll their eyes, there is one who is inspired or encouraged. I love that!!! I want everyone to know it’s okay to cry in church. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to have days when you’re not okay, and it doesn’t make you weak or faithless, or mean you are a hypocrite. I want to encourage everyone with a hard story--TELL your story so that others may benefit. The picture I have in my head is of being in a boat, and all around me are people drowning, clawing and grasping, choking for air. I am reaching out to any who will take my hand. If you know Jesus and have a story--even if it's a work in progress--you are in the boat and have a life-saving, sanity-saving message!
Some of my best work has been during times when I was personally very sad. It reminds me that it’s not about me, it’s about Jesus in me.
"You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." (2 Cor 3:2-3)