Proclaiming His Works With Our Words

Proclaiming His Works with Our Words

I will live to tell what the LORD has done.

Psalm 118:17

I love reading the Budget. The articles of the scribes often contain humor, joy, a bit of snarkiness, and personal interest. I also love books written by the Amish, including Amish Boyhood Echoes by Andy Yoder. Why would an Amishman choose to write his story? Here are some thoughts:

From the beautiful Iowa sunrise to its equally gorgeous set, our hands and minds were busy. After the moon had risen we would oft times still be outside working and conjuring up excitement. It seemed as if the darkness was a stimulant to an active brain. Maybe it was the slow clanking of the windmill in the soft breeze, or the flopping of hog-feeder lids. Maybe it was the lowing of cows in the pasture or the barking of neighboring dogs planning their nightly adventures. Maybe it was simply the harvest moon and wonderful youth. Whatever it may have been that inspired us, it was still God’s protecting hand which kept our adventures within bounds.

I got the idea of writing my story while I was still a child. Dad told us so very many stories, but he didn’t want to write them. He said his Dad used to tell a lot of stories, but didn’t want to write them either. They would both say, “We like to tell them, but if you want them written, you do the writing.”. . . One story reminded me of another, and soon the family thought we should make a book out of them.

If you were going to write a book of stories, what would you include? Which stories of faithfulness do you need to pass on to the next generation? Isaiah 38:19 says, “The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness” (NIV).

Consider writing down, or recording, your stories for your children, family, or friends. Write from your heart. God is worthy of getting the glory for what He’s done in your life, and your children or other young people need to hear stories that will inspire their own faith walks.

Dear heavenly Father, Your faithfulness overwhelms me. Help me to be faithful in sharing all You’ve done!