What's Your Story

And they defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.. Revelation 12:11 New Living Translation

Good Morning Girlfriends:

Still dark outside, my sister and I climbed aboard the bus to find seats that we could quietly settle in and maybe close our eyes, as the journey would be many hours till we would reach our destination. Closing our eyes did not happen right away, where there was a low rumble of chatter going on from the other women who was on the bus ride with us. The leader of the bus group had everyone's attention explaining the rules of the bus, all the what to do's and not to do's as we were headed down the dark highway. Digging out my program sheet of all the speakers that was going to be at the "Women's Conference," told a little about each ladies story.

After several stops to stretch our legs and bathroom breaks, the bus driver was driving around the huge hotel, as each lady lined up to exit the but with suitcases in hand, to be registered inside and to find our rooms, only to get back on the bus to drive to the center where it was all taking place. There was so much excitement running through me, not knowing what to expect as turned the corner to what was a massive building right in front of us. Inside the doors was like nothing I'd ever seen before, the masses of women were everywhere, moms and daughters, friends and more friends searching for the auditorium as each one searched for their seat number.

As the group of ladies appeared on the platform, they welcomed everyone for coming to the conference, as they introduced themselves. Over the course of the evening each one had shared a little portion of their story, but it wasn't until the next day their special guest was introduced as she opened up to tell her incredible story. She began by telling us that she had grown up in church, she was involved in youth group and this is where she had met her husband that she was going to marry. This lady explained that there were three brothers who looked very much alike, but it was the middle brother that she had her eyes fixed on and spoke out under her breath, "That is the one I'm going to marry." She continued that they had became very close, getting to know each other well over their last few years of high school, they decided to marry after graduation.

It really was quite a beautiful love story, as she continued to share her story of how good he was to her and that she was the one that could be a 'little bit cranky" at times, but he loved her through it all. She shared that she asked him one day, how come he at any time been upset with her because of her outbursts at times, and his reply was, "I never want you to know pain only love." All of the women were pulled into her story, she then told us that she was a Christian singer, singing in different places, when her husband decided that he would quit his job and become her manager as they went out on the road so that she could sing wherever the Lord took them.

They had been travelling and she had been singing for many years, there were no children at this point when they decided to take a long deserved vacation, to go back to the place where they had spent their honeymoon, "The Bermuda Triangle." She shared that her husband was very athletic, he was an avid diver and swimmer after having much practice he wanted to try deep sea diving to have as a memory from their short vacation. Sitting on the side of the diving spot, she watched her husband dive in after he had checked all of his gear, she waited for him to return. Minutes had went by, he did not come up, she thought maybe it hadn't been that long as she continued to wait. Looking around at other people, she knew too much time had gone by and he should have come up but he didn't. As she screamed other diver's came and went into the spot where he was and that is where they found him, his legged wrapped up in vines that held him under.

This was not the ending to her story that I was expecting, there was not a dry eye in the place that I could see as tears filled my eyes. Girlfriends, our story does not always turn out the way that we think it will, sometimes things will happen in order for our greater purpose in life will come about. That is exactly what this lady continued to share as it had been about two years prior to her husbands death, that she was sharing their story. Her husband had given her the love that she so needed, she had the training to stay strong through situations, they learned together that God was always with them as they had grown together in Him. At the end of her time of sharing, she let us know that sometimes we just need to take a moment and just breathe, that it is okay to take some time out and just breathe. God helped her through her pain of losing her husband, she shared that she took time out for herself until she felt strong enough to get back out on the road and do what she was called to and that was sing.

Girlfriends, whatever your story is today, tell it, get it out, share it with others as it not only is a testimony for others to hear, that is when a great healing will take place within you. It is telling the devil that you are not defeated, you are still standing and it is he who is defeated because he could not take you down. He may have knocked you down for a bit or knocked you off kilter, but when you rise back to your feet, that is what is important. You are telling him that you will not be defeated (2 Cor. 4:8-10), you have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Whatever your story is, share it, speak it, get it out, you will never know how many lives you are going to touch and change, as others will see that, they too can come through whatever it is they are facing. God is so good, He is the same God yesterday, today and forever more, Amen? (Hebrews 13:8)

Let's Pray,

Father God, I praise You and I thank You for all of the difficult situations that You have brought me through. Lord the praise belongs to You. Lord, I lift up that one to you today who has come through a mighty trial, that they would begin to share their story with others in order for a deeper healing to take place within them. Lord, I lift up that person who is still in a trial, Lord let them feel Your peace and love surround them right now in Jesus name, so that they know they too will come through with a mighty testimony that will bring glory to Your name, in the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Be blessed dear ones and pass the blessings on as you pass this message on, I thank you for what God is doing in and through each and every one of us.