The Funny Farm

Lysa TerKeurst 

“I am the way and the truth and the life…”John 14:6 (NIV)

          Devotion:

There once was a little girl...
with a battered heart.

She was told by the first love of her life...
that she was unwanted.
Her Daddy's silence made her cry. His words made her broken.
Then one day she was given an old typewriter...
and when she placed her fingers on the dusty keys, her heart settled.
Words came from her fingertips that her lips couldn't produce.

Her poems cryptically told of hidden abuse.
Tears often smeared her little girl masterpieces.

Years passed... her fingers stilled, her heart grew cold, her lips cursed God.

But there were other people busy at their keyboards... pouring out inspired messages.
Messages that would one day reach her - in deep places - places long ago hidden away. Messages that told her she didn't have to be a child of a broken parent. She could be a child of God. She was wanted.

She is me.

Jesus used their key strokes to produce words, messages, books, and Bible studies – their words unlocked me, released me, held me, exposed me, and helped put me together again.

And then my fingers found their way back... and dared to strike a key or two or ten thousand. Letters became words. Words became chapters. Chapters became books. And somehow others were unlocked, held, exposed and helped.

Every one of us has words inside that were never meant to just rumble about, hidden away. They are meant to be shared. Given. Released. Spoken. Written.

But somehow, Satan has deceived us by making us think we are not good enough, smart enough, educated enough, or eloquent enough to be able to share the reality of what Jesus has done in our lives.  In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  He goes on to instruct us to let our light shine. 

 But we don’t have to do it in our strength.  For right at the point we dare to say, “There’s no way,” Jesus steps in and calls Himself--- "The Way."

And your story is the best thing you have to share “the Way” with the world.

 Dear Lord, thank you for weaving a story of redemption throughout my life.  Give me the honesty to live it in such a way that honors you and the courage to share it in such a way that blesses others.  Today, as you scan the earth looking to strengthen hearts fully committed to you, I raise my hand high and say, “choose me, I am willing.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Related Resources:

Click here for Lysa’s Blog- She is doing a Q & A about She Speaks today. 

Who Holds the Key to Your Heart? by Lysa TerKeurst

 For the Write Reason, General Editor Marybeth Whalen

 Application Steps: 

Prayerfully consider attending the Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference held in North Carolina, June 20-22, 2008.  It helps women more effectively tell their story in both the written and spoken form.  It’s also designed to encourage and train you to become a speaker, a writer, and a more effective women’s ministry leader.  For more information click here to go to the She Speaks website.

 Ask God who might be blessed by hearing your story.

 Reflections: 

Read through the verses below.  Spend some time praying through each verse while asking God to reveal to you, how He wants you to use your story.  Don’t let Satan try and tell you that your story is not powerful enough.  Also, don’t let Satan deceive you into thinking your story is too shameful.  Your story is the exact thing that when surrendered to God can be your most powerful witnessing tool.

 Power Verses:

1 Corinthians 1:5, “For in him you have been enriched in every way- in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.” (NIV)

 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (NIV)

 Matthew 4:14, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (NIV)

Proverbs 31 Ministries www.Proverbs31.org

Lysa TerKeurst 

“I am the way and the truth and the life…”John 14:6 (NIV)

          Devotion:

There once was a little girl...
with a battered heart.

She was told by the first love of her life...
that she was unwanted.
Her Daddy's silence made her cry. His words made her broken.
Then one day she was given an old typewriter...
and when she placed her fingers on the dusty keys, her heart settled.
Words came from her fingertips that her lips couldn't produce.

Her poems cryptically told of hidden abuse.
Tears often smeared her little girl masterpieces.

Years passed... her fingers stilled, her heart grew cold, her lips cursed God.

But there were other people busy at their keyboards... pouring out inspired messages.
Messages that would one day reach her - in deep places - places long ago hidden away. Messages that told her she didn't have to be a child of a broken parent. She could be a child of God. She was wanted.

She is me.

Jesus used their key strokes to produce words, messages, books, and Bible studies – their words unlocked me, released me, held me, exposed me, and helped put me together again.

And then my fingers found their way back... and dared to strike a key or two or ten thousand. Letters became words. Words became chapters. Chapters became books. And somehow others were unlocked, held, exposed and helped.

Every one of us has words inside that were never meant to just rumble about, hidden away. They are meant to be shared. Given. Released. Spoken. Written.

But somehow, Satan has deceived us by making us think we are not good enough, smart enough, educated enough, or eloquent enough to be able to share the reality of what Jesus has done in our lives.  In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  He goes on to instruct us to let our light shine. 

 But we don’t have to do it in our strength.  For right at the point we dare to say, “There’s no way,” Jesus steps in and calls Himself--- "The Way."

And your story is the best thing you have to share “the Way” with the world.

 Dear Lord, thank you for weaving a story of redemption throughout my life.  Give me the honesty to live it in such a way that honors you and the courage to share it in such a way that blesses others.  Today, as you scan the earth looking to strengthen hearts fully committed to you, I raise my hand high and say, “choose me, I am willing.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Related Resources:

Click here for Lysa’s Blog- She is doing a Q & A about She Speaks today. 

Who Holds the Key to Your Heart? by Lysa TerKeurst

 For the Write Reason, General Editor Marybeth Whalen

 Application Steps: 

Prayerfully consider attending the Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference held in North Carolina, June 20-22, 2008.  It helps women more effectively tell their story in both the written and spoken form.  It’s also designed to encourage and train you to become a speaker, a writer, and a more effective women’s ministry leader.  For more information click here to go to the She Speaks website.

 Ask God who might be blessed by hearing your story.

 Reflections: 

Read through the verses below.  Spend some time praying through each verse while asking God to reveal to you, how He wants you to use your story.  Don’t let Satan try and tell you that your story is not powerful enough.  Also, don’t let Satan deceive you into thinking your story is too shameful.  Your story is the exact thing that when surrendered to God can be your most powerful witnessing tool.

 Power Verses:

1 Corinthians 1:5, “For in him you have been enriched in every way- in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.” (NIV)

 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (NIV)

 Matthew 4:14, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (NIV)

Proverbs 31 Ministries www.Proverbs31.org