Everyone has a story to tell

One year as I was driving to Newport News for our annual trip for Thanksgiving with some of my family; our daughter Allie was riding with me.

As we turned to go the back way on back roads which eventually led us to the James River Bridge...we were passing some old farms, with lots of land, and a dirt road leading back to the farm house, barns and equipment.  We also drove past houses which looked like shacks, when children playing outside, dogs running around them..and a few chickens next to an old car resting on sider blocks.

I said to Allie, "Just think Allie, there's a story behind every door we pass".  She nodded her head and kept watching the scenery as we passed by.

This is where I first thought about the simple truth that everyone has a story to tell.

Since the Creation and life was born. God gave Adam and Eve a garden; the Garden of Eden.  God told them "Feed and tend this Garden"  It was theirs, they owned it and from then on Man is responsible for all of God's Creation.

So everything that was created has it's own story to tell.  Whether it be the fish in the seas or the beast in the field...even the trees that grow....they all have their story to tell.  It's a story of life.

Much of life isn't good.  The raw side of life is where things are "used".  From the times of slavery to the many wars...shame spread like a whirlwind....tearing apart lives and leaving little hope.

That's where God decided to save his Creation.  Just as a person might salvage an old car; work on it for years.  Replace the motor, the seats...a good paint job...and finally starts it up and drives down Main Street...everybody watches and can't believe that old car has been perfectly restored.

That man had to work a long time to salvage that old car.

God started right away to restore all living things.  There was a groan where all creation groaned to be delivered from the down-ward fall...to hope that someone could help them, heal them, make them like new again.

So there was a man from Nazareth; born of a virgin...named Mary.  A normal boy who over time found Himself on a mission so great, that only His loving Father could fill Jesus with the Father's pure love.  That love gave Jesus the strength to call twelve disciples, who walked with Him for over three years.  They were common men.  Most of them fishermen....common like most of us.  If Jesus could train the twelve, He would leave them with the mission of continuing His mission.

His story is the Greatest Story ever told.  After Jesus's death on a cross, placed in a tomb for three days...but that love of His Father was the only power that could break the power of death and Jesus was raised out from the grave....and some of the women first knew about this...and they had a great story to tell His disciples.  At first they didn't believe.  But Jesus Himself came to them and showed them His hands and feet "Come here Phillip, thrust your hand in my side, see my hands and my feet" and Phillip said, "My Lord and my God".

This is the story of the Risen Christ.  This story has been told to million of people all over the world.  In this story there is Life to the believing soul.

It's a story anyone of you can tell.  "Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead...then you too can be salvaged"

Yes, everyone has a story to tell.  That means you, and you...all of us.  So tell your own story, it's yours, you are important, and you are loved.