Thank you for sharing a bit more about yourself in the comments from last Thursday. I am so enjoying going through the comments and getting to know you all a little better. What a joy.
This weekend, besides reading your comments, I also had the honor to speak at an event hosted by some fantastic women in Iowa. Holly and I were trying to decide what people from Iowa are called… Iowanians? Iowonians? Iowans?
In the end, we just decided to call them nice. I loved hanging out with these women, many of whom are married to real farmers! Like they live amongst cattle and fields and have to drive 45 minutes to the nearest Walmart. And nearly 400 of my precious Iowa friends showed up on Saturday. Amazing.
Here is the team that hosted the “Rise and Shine” Women’s conference:
At the end of my first session on Saturday I challenged the women to ask God who needed to hear their story. I’m more convinced than ever people don’t care to hear about our Jesus these days until they meet the reality of Jesus in our lives.
Don’t skim past that last sentence too quickly. Our history with Jesus is our best salvation message.
If you look at the word ‘history,’ it’s interesting to break it in half and see the words, “His story.” That’s the thing this world is dying to hear. People can debate and argue theology all day long but they can’t argue what Jesus has done personally in our lives. Truth lived out is the best sermon.
And we’ve all got people in our lives who need us to take the time to share.
I was profoundly reminded of this a couple of weeks ago when I spoke at a Pregnancy Care Center dinner in Florida. At the end of the night, the center’s director asked a board member to come forward and close the evening in prayer. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw this board member was a guy I’d known in high school.
Well, let me clarify that. I knew who he was. He didn’t have a clue who I was.
He had been in the uber popular crowd- star athlete who dated the beautiful girls. I was one of those girls in high school who was easy to miss. I felt sort of invisible back then. And judging by the blank look on his face when I made the connection we’d graduated the same year, my assessment was pretty accurate.
He apologized profusely for his wild behavior in high school and acknowledged that he could have been voted, “Least likely to grow up to be a pastor.” I agreed. But then again, I wasn’t exactly on the fast track toward ministry back then either.
After we chatted for a few minutes, he got a very serious look on his face. Then he said something I won’t soon forget.
“You know what is really odd, Lysa? All those years of high school and college, I was a very visible person. I had lots of friends. Then I got a college scholarship to play basketball at a major university and there were even more people who knew me. But no one- no peer, no girlfriend, no teacher, no coach, no professor, no fan- no one- not one person ever told me about Jesus. All those years, all those people, and not one time did someone try to tell me the truth. Finally when I was 21 years old, someone took that chance to tell me and it radically changed my life.”
His statement startled me. And I hope it startles me the rest of my life.
No one is beyond the reach of truth.
Not the wispy, invisible girl who thinks of herself as nothing more than a little background noise. And not the star athlete revered by thousands.
Everyone deserves to hear about Jesus sooner rather than later.
And we must never assume that surely someone else would do a much better job than we would.
That’s what I shared with my Iowa friends this weekend. And that’s what I really felt I was supposed to share with you this morning.
Who is in your sphere of influence that needs to hear a bit of your HIS-story this week? Don’t let Satan whisper that this message is meant for other people. It’s not. If you read this, it’s meant for you sweet sister.
And don’t fret trying to figure out how to arrange the perfect situation to connect with that person that came to mind. Just tell Jesus you are willing. He’s very capable of handling all the details. Our job is obedience. God’s job is results.
Love this post, Lysa! Thanks for sharing this story with us on Saturday as well! I’m so incredibly thankful that the women at Rise & Shine heard the message of Jesus proclaimed to them loud and clear this weekend!! I appreciate the Truth you spoke so directly to our hearts. I pray that all of those seeds that were planted will be nourished to bear fruit to glorify God…and that those same women will boldly share their story (HIS story) with others!
I really appreciated you taking the time to talk to me throughout your time here. You have encouraged me so many times…through your blog, books, CDs, etc. I had even heard you speak a couple of different times before, but nothing beat meeting you face to face and realizing that you are the “real deal.” Appreciat you!!
Oh, and living amongst cattle and fields and 45 minutes from Wal-Mart really isn’t as bad as it sounds…hee hee…when you know you’re in the center of God’s will. BUT, I do miss the mall somedays!
((hugs))
Lysa-
This post was so excellent. You have a chance to meet many people through your ministry. Then you see an old acquaintance and make that connection with Jesus. This is so cool! It really does inspire me never to give up! Blessings!
Lysa,
I have been wondering what my mission field is here in Bogota’ Colombia is. Last year God revealed my “mission” the day after I landed, however contrast that with this year, I get up each morning and go to work as a high school teacher. I know God called me here for 2 years but I cannot see God’s vision for me this year.
In addition to teaching at the American school here I have also been teaching English speaking Colombian teachers. I taught a 5 week course on curriculum and instruction. At the conclusion a couple of their comments were:, “Jill, when I grow up to be a real teacher I want to be just like you’; ‘Jill, this class was amazing and I learned so much from you and how you modeled great instruction’; “Jill, you changed my life and the life of students in Colombia.”
I was profoundly humbled by their thoughts, however, I have struggled to believe that perhaps this is my “mission field”, changing the lives of teachers and instruction in Colombia. I guess I have a difficult time reconciling that last year I was sharing about Jesus love the entire year and, yet because this class was about helping teachers.. not telling them about Christ… that it does not “qualify” as mission work.
A friend shared with me last night that one never knows how my job of teaching teachers could speak to their hearts about the love of Christ. She believes that this class was indeed a mission field, I tend to disagree. However, until God calls me to more “direct” opportunities to share the Gospel I will continue to be obedient and allow God to plan the seeds for His results.
Awesome!
hi Lysa!
I am VERY excited to see you this coming weekend at the conference! Love and many blessings to you and prayers for your safe travel!
Lysa thanks for this helpful reminder. In fact, I just emailed my colleague with your post copied in as she is constantly reminding me (and others who work with us) that we need to share OUR story and His interaction with us. We work with refugee Muslim women in London, England and its constantly challenging when the language is so limiting but somehow this is the way they DO seem to understand and ‘get it’, that Jesus has the power to heal (a particular area that seems to resonate).
Be blessed to be a blessing Lysa! x
Thanks Lysa that was a very good word. I needed to be reminded of that. I will not forget it. You know I was just on the phone with my boss and she asked me to go work with someone tomorrow and I didn’t want to. But then I read your blog and I thought maybe God is asking me to go. And what if I refused and that person needed me tomorrow to tell her something about Jesus. And it was God’s plan for me to go. So thanks again.
Hi Lysa, so good as usual. I have what is probably a silly question for mature christians, i am only new. What and how do you suggest Jesus is brought up in conversation, without say my children rolling their eyes and telling me not to be so gody., or scaring my old and new friends by saying the wrong thing.
I would love to be an encouragement to those around me.
Susanxx
Enjoyed this post and couldn’t agree more. Each of us has a story and there are people in our lives who need to hear it. I recently blogged about this as well. I’ve never cared for the word “witnessing”. It sounds so scary. But, simply sharing with people where I used to be, what God did and where I am now is easy(because it’s my story) and it helps people to realize that they are not alone in whatever they might be struggling with. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the encouragement to share. I feel like I never know what to say, how to present my Jesus in a way that is loving and shows the hope that I carry in my heart because of Him. I think I need to sit down and write my story so that I can organize my thoughts and can give a cohesive testimony. Thanks again.
I have someone in mind who has been told but by people who were a little less gracious maybe than they should have been. I can relate, I’ve been not so gracious at times too… But this person is searching in the wrong places now. So I’ll be praying and trusting the Lord to open the way and enable me to express the Lord’s heart.
Lysa,
Your willingness to share “His” story through your testimoney this past Saturday in Cedar Falls, at the Rise & Shine Retreat touched my heart in a profound way. God has been calling me to say Yes and not be afraid. To let loose of the shame & guilt that I have stuffed and carried for years. I also want to give praise to the whole Rise & Shine Team, musicians, volunteers and the women who prayed for you & me and all the women who participated and arrived at the retreat. What a blessing you are and a fine example of being obedient unto our Lord.
Lysa again thank you- you are such an encouragement & blessing to me. How much pressure does this take off- how much do we just need to be willing- speak to people, take a minute, be available & not so preoccupied or rushed but “be”- let the rest be up to God and His will & timing – wonderful!!!
Have a great week sweet sister,
In His grace,
C
Lysa, I learned about you from my niece Lindsey Smith. She is certainly a blessing to our family and we love having her in Birmingham. I have enjoyed reading your blog and following the Proverbs 31 ministry. Many blessings to you, Marilyn
WONDERFUL!!!!! I’m sharing some of this on my FB wall.
I attended the Rise and Shine event in Cedar Falls on Saturday morning. What a beautiful day and an awesome speaker. I was so blessed and challenged by it. We have such an awesome God. Thank you. Thank you
My husband’s grandfather was just rececntly diagnosed with end-stage cancer. He was not walked his life with Jesus, and I desperately want to see good come from this bad sitiuation…for his life to be changed by a relationship with Christ. I needed to hear this…please pray that God prepares his heart to hear my “history”!!
God Bless…
I was an invisible girl too! All that not withstanding, I needed the reminder to share the gospel. I am taking a field trip with my school tomorrow and have 7 teens in my car for about 3 hours total travel time. I hope the opportunity comes up for me to share the world of Christ with them!
You know, I find that I am a much better writer than speaker, and it is for the reason you state above about connecting people with His Story in my life through my little corner of the web wide world. I find it more natural to speak about who I am through this and offer His Story in my story, all with HIS GRACE woven through each of them. I am thankful to use my story to serve others, thank you for a reminder of the blessing and necessity of this. Bless you!
Just an FYI, we are Iowans.
But we’ll take whatever you want to call us as long as you don’t mix up two states. Like, Idahowa. Or Ohiowa. I’ve lived here my whole life, love it to pieces and have heard lots of different names. I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed your time in our state!
In Him,
An Iowan
Oh, and I cannot wait for “Made to Crave”. It seems as if this book might be written for me! So many struggles and I have been convicted to find my all in Him and not replace it with other things. Learning to listen to Him about sharing my faith in Him and learning to crave Him are huge in my life right now. Thank you for your blessing!
Lysa ~ You had mentioned the Illowa event that you spoke at some years back, at the Rise & Shine Retreat this last weekend — I was there and heard you speak at the Illowa Christian Women’s Conference!! My mom & I went together that day. Besides the Rise and Shine being an incredibly wonder-full day, I knew I wanted to come back again this year because I had heard you at Illowa! Which, I do agree, was confusing :-] — I’m an Iowan, and Illinois is a wonderful state too, but I was thinking, “Illo-what?” That, too, was a great day to listen to you, and I was just so blessed to hear you again this last Saturday. Thank you with all my heart for sharing your message ~ your words blessed my ears, heart, and mind, and thank you, Rise & Shine team, for bringing Lysa here! I’m going to work to be more than a good Bible study girl — your book is speaking to me, and I’m underlining like crazy… Big, bold blessings! Thank you!! ~ Janelle
Thank you for sharing the Word with us at Rise & Shine on Saturday! I’ve been praying portion prayers all week & today I’ve been clinging to thankfulness in spite of my husband’s three week absence due to work. Truly blessed by your timely message.