The Rest of Your Story 31: The End (and the beginning)

* Last post of our 21-day challenge!

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me. We've shared, learned, prayed, and grown together.

On this final day, I simply want to pray for your story...

Lord,

Thank You being the Author of our lives.

And thank You for the woman who is reading these words.

I imagine her, leaning toward a computer screen or peering into a cell phone.

I wish I could be there with her, to wrap my arms around her in a hug of celebration and declare, "We did it!"

I'm so glad that You are there...

in each moment, every word of her story.

You know what is happening now,

 both the happy and the hard.

So I pray You will surround her with all she needs.

Write every line of her life with love, sweet Jesus.

Hold her close to You when she aches,

give her joy that overflows when she is happy.

In every scene, every moment be near to her heart.

And bless her story, Lord.

Bless all who share it with her too.

We have just begun to see all You have in store.

We wait with anticipation to see what You will do...

and we surrender our stories to You.

Amen.

And now I've got a some fun surprises for you as a little "thank you"!

First, I hope all of you have thought about your Story Statements. I kept trying to think of another formula to add to the one we did. But I really think it's just about you and Jesus having a conversation to see what else might need to be said.

And after you do, I've got a surprise for you! I asked my friend Mandy, who is fabulous and creative (and is allowed to use a hot glue gun, unlike me), if she would design bookmarks for all of us so we can remember this journey. She will personalize one with your Story Statement.

Here's mine...

(front & back)

  

So go see Mandy and find out more!

*Barbara Viney is the winner of this giveaway!

Also, this series was focused on our present and future. Many of you asked how to record your pasts so that your story could be a legacy for your children.

I shared your desire with our friends at Thomas Nelson. They're releasing a new book called Reflections from a Mother's Heart: Your Life Story in Your Words.

Y'all it has not even in stores yet! But because they think a lot of you, I have a copy to give you! Just leave a comment before midnight on Friday to enter. They're also providing a giveaway on (in)courage today!

Will you help me show our appreciation by visiting their new site, Blessing and Truth?

And speaking of giveaways, I'll announce the winner of the $50 gift certificate to DaySpring and (in)courage tomorrow when we kick off our next series, OUT of INsecurity! (We've done a lot of giveaways lately. Hope you don't mind--I just love sharing!)

We began this challenge with one word and I'm going to end it with the same...

Woo-hoo!

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QUESTION: What's one thing you'll take with you from this challenge?

Leave me a comment! (your comment gives you an entry for Reflections from a Mother's Heart!)

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Comments

[Loni]

I found you just a day ago, but have been reading through your past blog posts and am excited to learn from you! It's been on my heart to write since I was a little girl, and I put pieces together here and there, along with my blogging and personal journaling. God has used you to continue more - with the desires of my heart to write for Him. Yes, He's written many stories on my heart and in my life that need to be shared!

The book sounds wonderful. As a book reviewer, I'd also love to share it with my readers! :)

[Kristen@Moms Sharpening Moms]

This series has encouraged me to use my love of words to pen more than my stories and thoughts, but also my goals my dreams. Silly as it is, I haven't invested much time in this until this series.

Thank you, sweet Holley!

[Miriam Jacob]

Hope is the beautiful gift I will take with me from this challenge. Praise God.

[Becky]

Dear Holley,

One thing that I'm taking with me is my Story Statement. I remember thinking, when I came up with it that day, "Wow. That seems so important." Thank you for helping me understand that. And thank you for this series. I've discovered a lot about myself -- skills, strengths and so much more.

Blessings!

[Jeanine]

One thing I'll take with me from this series is that no matter what happens to me or my family, there is someone else going through something similar and God will carry us through. We have His hope.Thank you Holley. You certainly know your story statement and you do it well. God bless you and please know how good this series has been for me.

[Natalie]

Dear Holley,

Well done...This has given me inspiration by reading, sharing and spending more time with our Author. Thank you for the thoughtful gifts that God has blessed you with.

In appreciation,

[Alana]

I think what I will take away from this series is just how important it is to be intentional in everything I do!

[Maura]

Holley, thank you so much for leading us on this journey. We are all blessed by GOD through you, your honesty, your encouragement. GOD Bless You!!!!

For me, the most profound truth from this journey is that GOD is right here, every second of every day, with me. He is ALWAYS there. Even when I am staying home and doing laundry and baking bread; even when my day is quiet and I don't really connect with anyone; even when my prayer time seems empty and I cannot hear His voice; even when I faulter and fail; even when I forget Him. He is in the middle of every moment. I am never alone. I am loved beyond my wildest imagination. WOW!!!!!

[Tracy]

One thing I will take with me from this challenge is looking at my strengths and how I can use them for the Lord. THANKS!

[Tammy Luccioni]

What will I take away from this challenge? Fresh wind in my sails to keep me moving toward my eternal purpose....Thank You Holley for walking beside me on this leg of my journey.