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A Quiver of God-Designed Stories: Wrestling with The Three Minute Testimony — 12 Comments

  1. I didn’t have one of those big change testimonies either, and I used to feel like you did–that it wasn’t very exciting. But I also, like you, grew to appreciate those little by little stories of change that came as I knew God better through the years. They aren’t as action-packed as a dramatic 3-minute testimony, but they still add up just the same. 🙂

    • I like how you say that – these little by little stories add up just the same! So many people need to realize that and share their little by littles to encourage them not to give up, to hold on. Blessings to you today, Lisa, as you write with God your story!

  2. Maryleigh, this truly is powerful. I, too, was raised in the church. We’d hear the amazing testimonies of varied ones and I always felt like God hadn’t done much in my life. As the years have passed, I have come to realize the faithfulness of our God and the testimony I have is that He was faithful every day of my life. He never left me but has journeyed with me, hovering, protecting, guiding, and loving me every single day. It really isn’t so much my story or my testimony, it is His story, His testimony and He is writing it every day in each one of our lives. Thank you for this precious reminder to see the testimony of our Savior in others, for each testimony is unique. Keep sharing your stories for He is yet writing in all of our lives! You are such a blessing!

    • There are certain blog posts that are hard to hit the post button on – this is one of them. God gave it to me and He said to release it. I think one of the common threads in stories like ours is that we never gave up – and we never let go – and that, in itself, is such an important testimony. We have such a good! Good Father, Joanne. Thank you for your encouragement to keep sharing His stories. Until He tells me to put the pen down, I will. Bless you, my long-time writing friend!

  3. This is so helpful, Maryleigh! I think many of us struggled with having a non-Wow! testimony of conversion, but you get to the heart of the matter because our conversion is just as Wow! in the heart of the matter. Three-minute testimonies have always been a struggle for me, but I appreciate the “pull a story out of the quiver” for a sensitive testimony at the moment it is needed. God gives life, and His life will flow through our testimonies too. Thank you for articulating this, Maryleigh, it is reassuring and freeing at the same time.

    • Lisa, it was liberating for me, too. There are some books I hate to put down because I want the chapters to continue. May our quivers be like that kind of book, stuffed full when we’re 100 of stories of how God grew us into His image – and may we use those stories to encourage others that what God has done for us, He will do for them! Shalom, Lisa – and thank you for your encouragement!

  4. I think for those who were saved very young, they are still changed from darkness to light. Their early experience is wonderfully preventive, saving them from the heartache of a lot of wrong things they could have gotten into. Yet I have known some that way who didn’t seem to realize that pride and self-righteousness were just as big a sins (maybe even worse) than what we think of the really bad stuff dramatic conversion stories are made of. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength and to love others as ourselves. So the greatest sins would be failing those two commandments–and we all do, much of the time. Yet He lovingly pursues us. We’re all a work in progress, continually coming to know and understand God better and better, til we finally see Him. And that’s exciting!

    • I agree – giving my life to Christ, I believe, changed the trajectory of my life; He set a hedge about it. He knew the ways I was broken even then – and had already planned for my restoration. It was a slow growing thing. I am so glad He never stops pursuing us!

  5. I love hearing people’s testimonies and I don’t think a single one is boring. I love how God works differently in each person’s life and while all testimonies may not be dramatic there is a beauty in the stories of quiet faithfulness too.

    • I agree – there is no boring testimony, though they all don’t quite fit the three-minute format pattern. The stories of quiet faithfulness stir my heart also!

  6. “As we grow into adulthood, we need to take that faith of a child and press in to learn fully who He is” Yes and Amen. I love hearing others testimonies.But I couldn’t tell mine in 3 minutes either.
    Thank you bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.

    • I bet you could tell one of the lifetime of stories about how He has grown, shaped and helped you grow into the person you are today. Thanks so much stopping by today, Paula~!

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