shareyourstorynow.org

The Power of Praying With My Husband

I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

[Jeremiah 10:23 NIV]

Abby, our program manager, writes:

Recently my husband and I were looking through some old journals that we each had when we were courting, and we started to tell each other what we were feeling at those exact moments and how badly we wanted to get married.

It felt like our wedding day would never come! Now looking back it makes both of us laugh, but at that time it was extremely frustrating.

I remember how much we prayed over our marriage and all the steps we had to take soon after (moving, buying a home, etc). It was probably the craziest time we have ever been through, but some how it all went smoothly and without a hitch.

The one thing we both agreed on that helped tremendously was prayer and diving head first into His Word. We sought His face and His will through it all.

We didn’t want to take a step without knowing that He wanted us to.

Now two years later we still make time every day, even if it is just 10 minutes here and there, to pray and read the Bible together. If he travels, or if I travel, we call each other and pray together.

Even with the bumps on the road, we know that God will guide us down that road and then some.

Story posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 and is filed under Team Corner, Bible, Your Stories, Prayer. | 2 Comments »

Abby's Interviewing Artists This Week

Hey there, it’s Abby, manager of ShareYourStoryNow.org. I’m in Nashville, TN, at the annual Gospel Music Association (GMA) event.

The team and I are here to interview Christian music artists (lucky us, I know!), such as Casting Crowns, Rebecca St. James, Natalie Grant, Superchick, Salvador and Jaci Velasquez. We’ll be publishing the interviews on the site soon!

While I’m here interviewing artists and taking in the whole GMA event, I’ll post comments on this page about my experiences and interactions. I’ll give you the inside scoop!

Also, feel free to respond to my comments by posting a comment or question below.

Blessings from Nashville,
Abby

Story posted on Saturday, April 19th, 2008 and is filed under Bible, Your Stories, ABS Stories. | 7 Comments »

Finding My Identity, Growing In Self-Esteem

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

[Psalm 139:13-14 NIV]

Abby, our program manager, writes:

The other night I caught myself cleaning the house, and during one of my many breaks, a song by Ginny Owens came on called “True Story.” It’s one of my favorites, but I hardly ever really listened to the lyrics.

The chorus melted my heart. I must admit, it made me say “Oh wow.”

You see my imperfections
Still You say I’m a masterpiece
A marvelous reflection
The image of Yourself in me
You paint with strokes of grace
Undoing my disguise
You say beauty lies in the true story

She nailed it right on! God sees all my imperfections: my stubborn mind, my doubting heart, my constant learning soul. Through it all, He sees His reflection.

He takes every label that I have placed on myself and slowly but surely He peels them apart till they are no more.

As a young child I dealt with self-esteem issues. Daughter of parents who were immigrants, I didn’t speak fluent English until the age of 11, my hair was a frizz ball and my clothes were often hand-me-downs.

In my parents attempt to have me in the best schools possible, I was always in schools where little girls had the latest brand-name clothing, had perfect smooth hair and could speak more than English, but also French.

As I grew older and was finally able to tame my wild hair, learn English to the point it became my first language and had a part time job where I was able to buy some clothes for school … I learned that I was never the daughter of immigrants, but the daughter of a mighty King.

It took me a bit to accept that. Geesh, I still deal with it today! It’s something that on a daily basis I have to remind myself of … that I have a God who loves every curl on my head, and then some. Amazing isn’t it?

Story posted on Friday, April 4th, 2008 and is filed under Team Corner, God's Love, Praise, Your Stories, Struggles. | 5 Comments »

We're Celebrating Jesus This Easter

We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

[Acts 10: 39-41 NIV]

Abby, our program manager, writes:

For the past week or so I’ve been studying Acts 10: 39-41. Given that Easter is this Sunday, I seem to realize more and more how incredible of a sacrifice our Lord and Savior made for all of us … even someone like me.

As I grow older I notice how much every holiday, including Easter, often gets thrown into the masses with chocolates, candy, egg hunts, wicker baskets and, oddly enough, a rabbit.

All of them have their significance, but for me and for my family, we take this time to recognize that Jesus in all His glory was able to rise from the dead on the third day. Not something you see every day!

These verses (Acts 10: 39-41) really get to my core, mainly because they note how not all of the people of Jerusalem saw Jesus rise up, but only those who believed and “ate and drank with him.” It made me ask the following questions to myself: “How often do you eat and drink with your Lord?” “Do you take in your daily bread?” “Are you seeing Him resurrect in your life today?”

Everything within me rejoices that I have a Lord who is still alive today and is willing and able to resurrect broken homes, relationships, financial burdens and even more than I can imagine.

Story posted on Monday, March 17th, 2008 and is filed under Team Corner, Praise, Your Stories, Verses, Grace. | 2 Comments »

I Must Praise God

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

[Psalm 34:1-3 NIV]

Abby, our program manager, writes:

Ever have one of those days when nothing is going right? When just by getting out of bed you wish you could crawl right back in?

Today was one of those mornings when it took everything within me to get out of bed. In my head the stream of excuses started to flow: “I didn’t get enough sleep”; “Just 5 more minutes”; “It can’t be 6:30 already!”

I finally opened my eyes and just started to pray, thanking the Lord for such an amazing day. I continued to praise Him through my shower and while eating breakfast. I put my iPod on and heard some worship songs on my train ride in.

On the train, people were pushing every which way, and then the train was delayed. Several people kept grunting, and by the time we got to my stop, I was pushed out of the train before I could walk out. By the time I got to work, I was trying my best to forget the ride in.

I sat at my desk and read my morning devotional. I was not only wide awake by now, but knew God had a word for me.

As I read Psalm 34, I had to remember that in all things I must praise God. Of course a bad commute into work isn’t the end of the world, but at times these little instances can end up ruining my day.

Keeping my eyes set on Him tends to be my biggest challenge, because when I see the slew of emails come in and the phone calls, the requests, the deadlines, the reports that are due … it can become challenging at times. But I know within myself that the God who allowed me to wake up this morning will give me wisdom to carry out my day.

Story posted on Friday, February 15th, 2008 and is filed under Team Corner, Praise, Your Stories, Verses, Struggles. | 3 Comments »

Finding Treasures in Darkness [3:27]

Chris Thyberg, Associate Executive Director for American Bible Society, shares how sometimes God only gives us certain “treasures” when we are in the middle of “darkness”. He uses the example of his brother’s suicide and how while he grieved for a year, God revealed himself in a way he never could have done before.

Story posted on Thursday, January 24th, 2008 and is filed under Your Videos, Bible, ABS Stories, Suicide, Christian Families. | No Comments »

How to Live Through Bible [2:46]

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

[Psalm 27:10 NIV]

Emilio Reyes, Vice President for Hispanic Ministries at American Bible Society, shares how after immigrating to the United States, he was given a Bible. He was encouraged to read it daily, and through it he learned how to raise a family and treat his wife.

Story posted on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 and is filed under Your Videos, God's Love, Bible, ABS Stories, Christian Families. | No Comments »

Trust God to Be My Father

Pat Walker, Senior Manager for Scripture Grants at American Bible Society, shares how she struggled with depression after her father died. She was reminded to trust in God, that He would be her father.

Story posted on Friday, January 18th, 2008 and is filed under Your Videos, Sadness, Hope, ABS Stories, Struggles. | 1 Comment »

God Knows Our Plans [0:56]

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

[Jeremiah 29:11 NIV]

Esmond Brown, Customer Care Assistant at American Bible Society, shares how God knows the plans he has for us. It’s an important reminder to anyone who is unsure what they want to do in life. Esmond says, “If I follow Him today, I’ll be right in the center of His will tomorrow.”

Story posted on Thursday, January 17th, 2008 and is filed under Hope, Your Videos, Bible, ABS Stories, Verses, Struggles. | No Comments »

Dial 911 for God’s Protection [0:48]

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

[Psalm 91:1]

Enid Almanzar, Program Manager for La Biblia Es Mi Guia at American Bible Society, shares how Psalm 91:1 is like dialing 911 for God’s protection.

Story posted on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 and is filed under God's Love, Your Videos, Bible, ABS Stories, God's Sovereignty, Struggles, Most Popular Stories. | 3 Comments »