Publish Your Story…
Many years ago I attended a week-long Decision Magazine School of Christian Writing course in Calgary, Alberta. Several leading Christian writers and editors presented and interacted with the attendees. It was great to eat and chat with such respected authors as Roger C Palms, Leslie K Tarr, Maxine Hancock and others, as well as with other attendees who, like myself, felt the tug of the Spirit to pick up pen and write to God’s glory.
The conference had taken as its theme Psalm 68:11, which in King James reads “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” The intent of course was a play on the King James phrase “publish it,” a word much suited to a conference of Christian writers.
But the Hebrew term bâśar means much more than to publish by print.. in fact print publishing would not exist until the mid 15th century! Rather, the term meant more generally “to bear news,” “to announce,” to bring “glad tidings of great joy.” The “Gospel” means the “Good News” and when anyone tells of what Christ has done for them they are telling a very personal account of the “Good News” enacting itself in their life. They become part of that “great company of those that publish it.”
This past Sunday at our church that company of publishers grew a bit more as folk stood up to give testimony to how the Lord has worked in their individual stories. These stories join with the countless stories of others around the world, and through ages past… they become part of the great “cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) of saints testifying to the faithfulness and goodness of our great King. Hear John describe it…
“…a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’” (Rev. 7:9-12).
Do you feel that “tug of the Spirit?” Go ahead, share your stories in every way you can… Indeed… “It is a good thing to give thanks go the Lord.” (Ps. 92:1).
More tomorrow…
This testimony service was not livestreamed, but past livestreams can be viewed at the Lincoln Baptist Church website. A comprehensive list of links to past blogs of mine can be found here.
thebrokenrunner 