I am really excited about the upcoming TFC concert on April 27th. This session we will be performing at the Grantham Church in Mechanicsburg, PA at 7pm. We have a great group of ladies joining us this time around as well! Of the 36 singers, 17 are new to group. Seeing the growth and the breadth of our mission in Central PA is a wonderful blessing both to those who sing as part of the group, and for those who attend our concerts.
My Scars, His Story is the title of this next concert. A few years back, I found myself working through a pretty challenging time and, for some reason, I decided to take my turn at decorative calligraphy. In looking online for different ideas to spark my creativity, I came across this quote. I took out my fancy markers and tried my hand at making something beautiful out of it. I tried a few different times and the final product looked okay. I tucked it away in my sketchpad and didn't return to it again. But that phrase kept coming back to me: My Scars, His Story.
What does this mean? Even since announcing this as our next concert title, I have wrestled back and forth with the intention of this phrase, so much so that I almost changed it. "This isn't about you, Rachel, it's about Me," I kept hearing in my mind. We all have a story to tell, the good and bad that has crept into our lives at unexpected times, but what is the point of it all? I've also wrestled with, does the Lord cause the scars or allow the scars, or are they there just because there is evil in the world? But then I go back to that phrase again: My Scars, HIS Story.
Recently, I read a book by Lysa Terkeurst entitled, It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, and in it she made it clear that she would be telling her story, not that of someone else. Someone else may have had part in causing the scars that existed and caused her to write this book, but it was her story to tell. Similarly, she did not tell someone else's story in this book. Why do I say all of this? Because, the point is, it's not our story to tell. We may have scars, but those scars are not the point of the story either. For believers, the point of this thing called life is to live such that Christ is glorified. Scars will fashion themselves on us in different ways, never to leave. But what will we say about those scars when someone sees them? For me, my scars tell of rejection and reconciliation. Hurt happened, but through it the Lord was glorified through the reconciliation that came as part of those scars. Sin happens. The question is, what will we do with it? Will we allow the scar to rest with no purpose on the surface of our skin? Or will we use it to tell the story Christ?
Romans 8:5-6 says, "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind goberned by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."
Interestingly enough, when I went back to find this quote, My Scars, His Story, I couldn't find it anywhere. Perhaps it was just what I needed in that moment. I pray that you find something here that you might need as well. Please consider joining us on April 27th, as we further explore this, the greatest of stories ever told.
