stories

i felt so good tonight at dinner.

and not just because i was at olive garden - the home of unlimited salad and breadsticks.

and not just because my meal was paid for by someone other than myself.

no, i felt incredible because someone shared with me their story. Their story was an example of God's intervention and His transformative action in life. Through narrative, i saw God's provision in the life of a sister, and it puts me in a place of awe. He alone is to receive glory for the growth and change she has experienced in just one year - in her own words, she has gone from living in her car to being in a position to buy a house. Not that financial status is equal to God's intervention... but in the past year, she has been brought into the family of God. she has experienced love as brothers and sisters met her needs: physical, financial, emotional, etc. The body of Christ is a beautiful thing when it realizes its mission and truly loves people.
and that body GROWS when it loves.

if you haven't heard someone's story, you should ask. You might be surprised by the experiences they have, and the wisdom they've been bottling up waiting for you to ask that first question...