Independence Day: Celebrating Truth and Freedom
As we celebrate Independence Day, I’m reminded of how we can experience true freedom—embracing the truth. (more…)
It’s Always Something!
Retirement days never get boring here in the gray zone—always a new problem, pain, or predicament to test your patience. It’s always something!
Patience
Did I say “patience”? If you haven’t pulled that “fruit of the Spirit” out of your treasured promise box lately, you might want to take it off the shelf and dust it before you graduate to the gray zone. Just saying… (more…)
Storm Closets
But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open. (Matthew 6:6 Amplified)
I spent a few days at my daughter’s home helping with the kiddos and the housework when she gave birth to her fifth child. One day, we decided to clean out her downstairs closet, (more…)
Every Photo Tells a Story
Every photo tells a story! Have you ever discovered an old family picture and wished that you knew the story behind it?
The following questions about some of your photos might help you discover an important family story that you can share with the next generation. (more…)
Telling Our Faith Stories
What stories do you remember from your childhood? Who were your family storytellers? Have you written any of your family or faith stories down?
Family stories. I can still recall many of the stories I’ve heard through the years at our family gatherings. I hear some of our best family stories when I attend a family reunion, wedding, holiday get-together, or even a funeral.
Faith stories. In my family, we often focus on our faith stories, since we live in the Bible Belt. Many of our family storytellers are no longer around to remind us of the “good old days.” And when one of our loved ones leave this world to go on to their eternal home, we often communicate our faith through our stories about them and about heaven. Sharing our faith stories during the difficult moments of life can be just the encourage we need at that time.
Motivation. As a writer, I often try to jot down some of these special memories to write about later. But even though I am a writer, I know how difficult, if not impossible, recording my faith and family stories can be at times. And I’ve discovered that I need some powerful motivation most of the time.
Psalm 102:18 explains the purpose for not only “telling” our stories, but “writing” down our faith stories, so the next generation will praise the Lord.
What a challenge!
Write down for the coming generation what the LORD has done, so that people not yet born will praise him. (Psalm 102:18 GNT).
You might not get the opportunity to tell the next generation your faith stories face-to-face. But what if you could encourage someone’s faith in the future by the words you write today?
I hope you’ll take a moment right now and jot down your memories of just one faith or family story. You may even consider recording your stories in a special journal to have on hand for notes the next time you go to a family get-together.
Remember, when you tell the stories that matter most, lives change and hearts heal.
What stories can you tell to the next generation?
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