Like a warm hug from a long distance friend. That is what it felt like when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw my daughter contently looking at a book. She can’t read. She probably doesn’t understand the theme of the book, however, she is engaged. The pictures are telling her something. A story she can “read”, understand.

As I watched her with a soft, tender heart I was reminded of something God has been showing me lately. A story. A story is being written in each of us. Our heavenly Father is the Author and He is writing a story in each life. These stories are worth sharing, repeating. These stories are not just for us to hold tight and cling too. My story, your story, is worth sharing. Engaging the heart of another.

Yes, pain may be involved in your story. It may not be all neat and pretty. That is okay. That is okay because in the pain, the imperfection God’s theme of redemption is displayed. God’s love and power shine through.

I used to shy away from the parts of Jesus’ story where He suffered. I didn’t like reading about His pain and agony. In doing this I was missing the blessing. Missing the blessing of redemption and victory. By skipping over the pain Jesus endured I was leaving out the power of God. Through pain, beauty is magnified.

If I did not have pain in my life I would not see the beauty. If Jesus did not suffer, you and I would not have the hope of salvation. We would not have a relationship with our Creator. We would not have the Comforter in our hearts. We would not have victory over sin.

Yes, God is writing a story. Repeat it. Tell it. Don’t lock the pain. Share the beauty. Let redemption win.

Take some time today to read Jesus’ story. Remember.

John Chapter 19 and 20

Resurrection   Luke 24:1-7 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb,taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” ESV

Salvation and Holy Spirit   Luke 24:46-49 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” ESV

Ephesians 1:7  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace NKJV