We can’t tell what we don’t know. So it is incumbent on us to spend time with God learning about the stories. Some of my favorite ‘abiding’ times are in singing hymns and gospel songs that tell the story. Just the other day at a worship service, we sang, "I Love to Tell the Story." It is one of my all time favorites because it shares out so much of what it means to have a personal relationship with God. Listen to these lines: I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story because I know ‘tis true, it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do. I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love. The second verse talks about loving to tell the story because it did so much for me, and that is just the reason I tell it now to thee. The third verse says that each time I tell it, it is more wonderfully sweet. Or the last verse says, I love to tell the story for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song, twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

That song pulls together so much of what I believe and love to share as it does satisfy my longings as nothing else can do. There are few things I like to do better than to tell Jesus stories to those who have not heard them before or do not understand them well. And I find it true that each time I tell them, they are more wonderfully sweet. The more I hear the story or tell the story, the more I want to know. So I love that sweet old song with its old fashioned words that sing a new, new song each time.

That song reminds me of "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus." I sang it as a child and my mind still creates images that are so compelling. That first verse goes, "Tell me the stories of Jesus I like to hear, things I would ask him to tell me, if he were here. Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, stories of Jesus tell them to me." Haven’t you seen scenes in your mind as someone told you the stories???? I treasure those imagined scenes of my mind.

Then there is the worshipful message to me in, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story; this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story; this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. The words and the melody make this so personal to me. I just wish everyone could know the abiding love I know is mine when I sing this song.

I could go on and on; I’ve wondered just how many hymns are my favorites. I love to go through they hymnal singing. And this brings me back to the challenge I feel God has been calling to me. "Joanne, go out and tell the story." There are so many ways I could do that and I have to remind myself of times that I have missed, but…. God has provided some very special ways for me to share out my faith by telling the story. For instance, so often as I am thinking about our grandchildren out in California, now young ladies, a scripture will come to mind that I just know I have to share with them. It has opened a strong bond between us and the girls know that their grandparents may be far away, but that these grandparents love them not just in fun ways, but in the most significant way, through God and the stories of our faith.

With the precious grandchildren that live with us, we talk about being centered around God and the joy he brings into our lives and they love the stories of Jesus and they, too, have learned to love some of the old hymns that tell the old, old stories. They still love the songs they learned in SONshine Kids.

Through a God coincidence, I have had another opportunity and real joy added to my life with the Hymn Sings at the Friendship Center. I had shared with Marie Kopp, the Friendship Center Choir Director that I would love to lead a community hymn-sing at the Center. She checked it out and we have already held two events. These have been such joyous, spiritual moments in time with as many as 12 different denominations attending. It gives me a chance to share scripture, prayers, and stories. They have asked for more and so we are planning to hold them regularly.

Have you felt that nudge of God calling you to find ways to share the story? God gives us unique opportunities to share out our faith and tell the story. Listen to him and he will tell you who and how he wants you to share! Great is His Faithfulness! How I pray that we keep growing in our faithfulness to him!