What's Your Story? Why It Matters.

“However, Jesus … said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.’” –Mark 5:19 (NKJV)

We all have a story to tell, some even more than one. I know I do. And I know you do too. The question is, do you share it?

One of the online support groups I follow on Facebook runs a very simple ad on its pages. All it says is “What’s your story?” It invites group members to share their experiences with rheumatoid arthritis. At a 12-step meeting I attend, members are likewise encouraged to share their “hope, strength and experience” in dealing with their specific personal struggles. In church, I've heard people get up and give their “testimony” of how Jesus Christ changed their lives. In some venues, stories are shared frequently, while in others they are only shared now and then. But whenever and wherever, in whichever context they are shared, there is one thing they all have in common: every story is unique.

As I have had multiple requests for my story lately, I've had to give thought to the question of “why share?” In hearing the stories of others, the answer has become abundantly clear. Your purpose is to share what’s happened uniquely to you, because God knows there is someone out there who needs to hear your story. Someone else’s story won’t do. Only yours.

If you don’t believe me, just look at the track record of the best-selling book series Chicken Soup for the Soul: a collection of stories from ordinary people who have chosen to share something about their lives, which has gone on to inspire millions of readers. If you pick up one of the books, you’ll probably find yourself as I have, casually reading through the stories, thinking “Well, this is nice…” and then suddenly, you stumble across one that stops you dead in your tracks. “Wow! Her situation was just like mine!” And when you hear how everything worked out, suddenly you have hope. Or you’re inspired to do more. Or you now feel confident that you can put your situation in God’s hands and it will all be OK. You didn’t need all the stories in that book. You needed just that one.

The dilemma we often find ourselves in is that we don’t know which story we need to hear. We may need to hear one story at a particular point in our lives, whereas a different story is what we need at another time. That’s why one story is not enough. If your story isn't fully embraced now, keep telling it. There will come a time when, in the midst of all the other stories, your story will shine through to the soul of the one who needs it, right at that very moment.

Jesus, who many times chose to teach through stories (aka “parables”), knew this truth. In one Bible passage, He said “The kingdom of God is like…” and then used three different ways to describe it. He knew that one analogy wouldn't do it for everyone; that each of us “hear” from our own personal perspective and so we have different sources for inspiration or understanding. Likewise, as He went around healing the lives of those He touched, He would encourage the people He healed to share their stories with others. “Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you,” Jesus said in Mark 5:19. His purpose was to bring glory to the Father, and He knew that the people’s personal experiences were the greatest testimony of God’s love for them.

My mother, who has been in acute care in the hospital for almost a month now, has many stories she could tell of God’s power in her life. Some she has shared publicly, while others – the more personal, private ones – she has shared with just a few. Two of her most powerful stories are related to her health. Over 30 years ago, with less than a 5% chance of survival, she battled lung cancer and not only survived, but went on to become a competitive ballroom dancer with just one lung. Her story as an "overcomer" has inspired many who needed to know that all things were possible with God.

Today, recently diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, which comes with an uncertain future, her story is different, but just as impactful. My mother’s message today is of the peace and joy she has found in Christ, despite her circumstances. She has truly learned what it means to “let go and let God.” She knows that this is one health battle that she may not in fact overcome physically, but her spirit is being renewed and refreshed every day by the power of the Holy Spirit, so much so that she can’t help but share her story with others – even the nurses attending to her. There in that hospital bed, she is making a difference.

As I said before, we all have a story to tell, some even more than one. I know I do. And I know you do too. The question once again is, do you share it?

No matter if you are still struggling or if you have claimed victory over a challenge in your life, God can use you to make a positive impact in someone’s life today. Pray about the stories of His power and presence in your life and how, or when, or with whom you can share them. If you feel inclined, please feel free to share them here!

What's Your Story? Why It Matters originally appeared on Spring Sight blog, by Linda W. Perkins.  Get even more encouragement by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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Pass the Frozen Peas, Please!

“Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” – Psalm 119:50

No doubt about it, major surgery is hard on your body. The one blessing, however, is that when you’re “under the knife,” you’re also under general anesthesia. Not so with the recovery, however. While you may not feel any pain during the operation, there’s plenty of it to go around afterwards. And with joint surgery, we’re talking weeks and even months of opportunity for severe discomfort and pain, as the physical therapy process begins rebuilding functionality of not only the joint itself, but the muscles and tendons around it. It isn't just a hard recovery; it is a HARD recovery. One that requires the help of something that can be counted on day and night, to help ease the pain and keep the recovery process going, even if it’s just One. Minute. At. A. Time.

Thus began my relationship with frozen peas. Laugh as you will, but there is no better friend these days than my trusty bag of tiny, round, icy, green vegetables. There’s a saying “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Uh, no, they don’t. Not without frozen peas, anyway.

Every day this past week, since I got clearance to “move” my shoulder, I have had the joy (NOT) of performing various exercises at home to try and regain my range of motion. In one, I roll a giant blue ball across my bed, listening to my biceps tendon and muscles around my rotator cuff crackle as they stretch further and further. Painful, yes, but all things considered, it’s fairly easy peasy (pardon the pun). The real killer is using a pulley to force my arm out and (theoretically) above my head. The first time I used it, I wept so loudly that my husband raced in to find out what was happening to me. Even using motivational music – “Anything’s Possible” being my favorite – to keep me going, I almost always find myself in excruciating pain, as my arm creaks centimeter by centimeter towards the ceiling, or as it makes its way back down again. Let’s pause here for a moment. OUCH! OK, thanks … just thinking about it was making my arm hurt.

So anyway, when I am done with these torturous activities each day, the only way, and I mean the ONLY way I can get my shoulder to stop hurting is to place a large bag of frozen peas on it. No amount of Tylenol will do, nor even prescription painkillers. Peas are it. Period. While Jimmy Buffet may be dreaming of a frozen concoction from Margaritaville, I have my own frozen contraption from the land of the Jolly Green Giant that “helps me hold on.” As the cold envelopes my aching joint and inflamed tendons, I can relax, even enjoy my day for a few minutes, as my body becomes oblivious to the pain and strain that has been inflicted upon it.

The benefits aren't just for my shoulder either. When I woke up in the middle of the night last night, unable to walk because my knee had decided to lock up and it hurt to put even the tiniest amount of weight on it, I could think of no other solution: peas. Hopping across my kitchen to the freezer, I pulled out my bag of trusty little friends, and 20 minutes later, my knee felt as good as new. Physically speaking, I can literally say that frozen peas are acting as my lifesaver – or at the very least, my peacekeeper – these days.

Unfortunately, there are many instances in our lives in which having a physical “helper” is not enough. I may love my peas, and they do wonders for my aching joints, but they do nothing for my soul. When my heart is crying out for relief from emotional pain - caused by a hurtful word, loneliness, or a longing from somewhere deep inside – I need something powerful, beyond myself, to keep me holding on. I need comfort…love…hope. I need the power of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus called “The Comforter.” He is only a whisper away, but just as I have to reach into the freezer and grab hold of my bag of frozen peas to apply its relief to my body, I am the one who must reach out to God and take hold of His hand when I am hurting. It is not enough for Him to be there. I must listen for His presence. I must read and apply His word. Then, only then, can I find lasting relief to the pain in my soul. Enough for the moment. Enough for today. Enough for life.

What kind of pain are you struggling with today? Physical, spiritual, or both? Are you relying on just physical helpers to “help you hold on” or are you trusting God as well?

               

Pass the Frozen Peas, Please! originally appeared on Spring Sight blog, by Linda W. Perkins.  Get even more encouragement by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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How Aware Are You?

"The Lord your God is in your midst..." - Zephaniah 3:17

Being laid up has a way of making me pause for thought. After all, just how many taped TV shows can one watch? It's been just over a week since my shoulder surgery and after lots of TV, a couple of movies and a novel under my belt, I finally decided I needed to write - even if it's with my left hand, using my cell phone keyboard! Yes, this will probably be the shortest post on my blog. :-)

I got the news yesterday that the damage to my shoulder wasn't just due to an injury, but rather by my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well. And just as I'm waiting to heal from this surgery, my other shoulder (along with other joints) hurts also, signaling that my disease isn't finished with me yet. Clearly, RA is a journey, not a destination.

The good news is that God isn't finished with me yet, either. He is at work in me, just as He is in you. I was sad to see someone on one of my RA support group boards expressing dismay over his "disgusting" life. Yes, RA is disgusting, but our lives don't have to be. I am reminded of that each time I meet an amazing, interesting person and then subsequently learn that they also have RA or another debilitating autoimmune disease. The pictures of my RA support group board members tell that story too. Their posts may tell of pain and struggle, but their photos show joy and laughter with loved ones. Our bodies may be in pain, but our souls don't need to be. The abundant life - one found as we walk hand in hand with our Creator - is like a rose: there may be sharp, painful thorns on the stem, but also attached to that same stem is a beautiful flower, soft and coloful, with a sweet scent that lingers in the air. No matter what our circumstances, through Him we can find joy, hope, peace...love.

March is Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month. If you don't have an autoimmune disorder, find someone who does and give them a hug. They are likely to be suffering silently, as these diseases are often "invisible" to others until they are in the latter stages. If you do have one of these diseases, know you are not alone. Some of the best support groups are on Facebook and there are some other great blogs. I would be remiss if I didn't include links to a few I am especially grateful for, who have shared my Spring Sight blog with their readers: Rheumatoid Arthritis Information (on Facebook) and Living with RA (blog). I especially like Living with RA's recent article on "comparing our scars."

During this special month, I hope you will join me in being more aware; not just of Autoimmune Disease, but of God. Exactly where He is leading me, I do not know, but I trust Him enough to follow. No matter where I am or what I face, when I pay attention, I can feel His presence. I am aware of His love. Are you?

How Aware Are You? originally appeared on Spring Sight blog, by Linda W. Perkins.  Get even more encouragement by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Subscribe to Spring Sight by Email Your privacy is very important. Your email address will not be shared with any 3rd parties. 

F.E.A.R. and Fire Walking

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

One of the most poignant images that remains in my mind from my childhood years in Asia is that of a scene from an Indian temple: thin, dark skinned men dressed only in loin cloths, walking barefoot across a bed of hot coals. Looking straight ahead, barely even blinking, they kept their focus on their destination, rather than on the scorching fire under their feet. How they made it across without third degree burns, I have yet to understand, but somehow they did.

Today, some 40 years later, I opened up my Bible and happened across the story of Peter, whom Jesus called out of his fishing boat in the midst of a storm and, much to the amazement of the other disciples (and even himself!), found himself walking on water. Unlike the fire walkers I witnessed as a child, Peter quite didn't make it to his destination, though. Why? Midway to Jesus, he lost his focus and succumbed to something we all struggle with: F.E.A.R.

One of the best definitions I know of this deadly emotion is “False Evidence Appearing Real.” How often do we face situations with dread, not because of how bad they really are, but of what we fear they may be? And despite statistics that tell us at least 80-90 percent of what we worry about never happens, we worry anyway.

The source of our dread varies. Sometimes, it’s based on our past. “I've been hurt before…what if I get hurt again?” is a common response to emotional pain and can prevent us from giving ourselves fully to a new relationship, even of the best kind. We build a wall of isolation around ourselves, and then wonder why we’re lonely. Or perhaps we've lost a job or two, and let our failures define us, never again daring to pursue something we were once passionate about, for fear that we will be rejected one more time. Maybe we've given up trying to lose weight, quit smoking, or quit that addiction that is keeping us in bondage, all because we haven’t succeeded yet. We get so wrapped up in the False Evidence Appearing Real – that our past is our future – that we can’t move forward. Not when we’re bound in F.E.A.R, anyway.

Other times, the F.E.A.R. isn't based upon our own experiences, but rather what we hear about those of others. A lot of racial tensions could be avoided if we didn't let the experiences of a few influence how we perceive many. Rather than leaving it at “he did…” we let our emotions tell us “they will…” Yes, False Evidence Appearing Real. When we see members of our family succumb over and over again to the same illness, we often assume that will be our fate. Or perhaps we hear stories of people who have the same disease we already have, and the wheels start turning in our heads. We cry out, as if we are already experiencing the pain of a future not realized yet, “Oh my gosh…will that happen to me?” F.E.A.R. at work again.

Regardless of the source of our fear, there is one reality that is always forgotten in the midst: God is with us. There is hardly a chapter in the Bible that doesn’t contain the reassurance that He will not leave or forsake us. He not only tells us that it’s foolish to worry, but as in today’s verse from Deuteronomy, He actually commands us not to fear. Perhaps He repeats it often, because He knows we are so prone to it. 

Fear reflects a lack of faith, as Jesus points out to Peter in that water-walking lesson. As long as Peter walked in faith – believing in the power and presence of God, keeping his eyes on Jesus – he walked across that stormy sea. What caused him to start sinking was all that “stinking thinking” as he looked around and focused instead on his circumstances, his emotions, and perhaps even what the other disciples in the boat were thinking: the False Evidence Appearing Real. What happened next is what God does every time with all of us. Jesus reached out His hand to Peter, catching him as he fell, and asked the obvious, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Why did you doubt you could do something you've never done? Did you doubt I would give you the power? Did you doubt I would keep you safe, every step of the way, no matter how big the waves crashing around you? Why, after all you've seen me do in your life and for others, did you doubt my love?

Tomorrow morning, I will undergo surgery for the first time in my life. For those who have been through multiple surgeries, it probably doesn't seem like a big deal. After all, it’s on my shoulder, not any of my vital organs. I wish knowing that is all it took to keep me out of F.E.A.R. but I’m not immune to that four-letter word. Normally confident in my ability to get through and rise above just about any situation in life, I lay in my husband’s arms last night and whispered in the dark, “I’m terrified.” Taking from my own past of bad reactions to medications, to a close relative’s near-death experience with anesthesia, I had let my mind go into full “worst case scenario” mode, brimming over with False Evidence Appearing Real. There was only one thing that could calm my anxiety: the key fact that my husband gently reminded me of - that when I go into the operating room, God will be there. He will never leave nor forsake me. Yes, I hear Him whispering to me now in His still small voice, “Oh, my child, why did you doubt? Do not be afraid or terrified, for I, the Lord your God, who loves you beyond measure, goes with you!”

What do you do when you encounter fear? Are you able to recognize it as False Evidence Appearing Real? Can you push it aside in order to focus on the One who is leading you to something better, if only you will trust Him, step by step, to get you to the other side of what you’re facing?

For more encouragement through song, listen to Chris Tomlin's song "Faithful."

F.E.A.R. and Fire Walking originally appeared on Spring Sight blog, by Linda W. Perkins.  Get even more encouragement by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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