I have not written for a couple of weeks because I was out of the country. I had the opportunity to visit Nicaragua again and returned last Sunday. I went to attend an event at the National Theater in Managua for my dad. They wanted to honor him as a Nicaraguan composer and for his contributions to the country’s music. I sang two songs with my sister and my niece sang another song that my dad had written. The orchestra did a phenomenal job and they also had a quartet that played his music with such flavor and rhythm it was hard to stay sitting down. At the end of the event, many guests stood up and started dancing. I was one of them. It was an unforgettable event and I’m blessed to have been there for my dad. My mom worked very hard coordinating the whole event and people really enjoyed it.
I was also able to work with Opportunity International for two days and worked in their main office in Granada with their accountant. In the evenings, I spoke to the leaders of Young Life and the club that gathers at OI’s back yard. It was awesome talking with the young adults and I encouraged them to go to school, get their education, and to never leave Jesus. I also spoke to a group of women entrepreneurs about discovering their own gifts and each other’s so they can help each other in times of need. I encouraged them to not give up if their first business doesn’t work out. This particular group of micro business owners received loans of about $150 to raise pigs. The problem is that during the dry season in Nicaragua, there is no water and pigs drink LOTS of water. I told them to think about the future and plan ahead. Maybe they can do other types of businesses for the next cycle.
I feel so blessed and privileged to be able to use all my gifts for God and to glorify Him. I have never had the opportunity to use my Spanish in the workplace and now the Lord is giving me that chance. I learned a lot of new accounting terms in Spanish that I only knew in English and that is great for me.
Today, I want to share a devotional from my book Devotions for Working Women that encourages us to share our stories with others. We all have a testimony of what the Lord has done in our lives and we must share it with others to inspire them and encourage them to do the same. Enjoy!
Cultivate a Thankful Heart by Sharing what the Lord Has Done
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Mark 5:19 (NLT)
But Jesus said, “No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”
Jesus performed a miracle in a man’s life by casting out many evil spirits. The man immediately wanted to leave his town and go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home instead and tell his family and friends about everything the Lord had done for him.
We all have a personal story or testimony to tell others about God’s mercy and what He has done for us. It is important to keep this in remembrance and share it with others. This is the best way to win someone to the Lord. By sharing, we also record His deeds for us in our hearts and cultivate a thankful heart.
Having Jesus in our lives is a gift we must share with others. The best place to start sharing is with our own family and friends because they know us well and can see the changes in our lives more clearly than strangers. In the workplace we must be careful because there will be people that will not want us to share anything about our relationship with the Lord. However, God will give us opportunities to share at the appropriate moments and with people who need to hear our story. We can share our life story in a way that is personal, yet non-intrusive to others.
Therefore, don’t be afraid to share what the Lord has done for you in your life. Do it as a gesture of gratitude toward God. It is the least you can do in return for all He’s done for you.