...which we have heard,

which we have seen

          with our eyes,

which we looked upon

and have touched

          with our hands

concerning the word of life...

              1 John 1. 1

(When we are on the witness stand

         in a court of law,

we are expected to tell the truth.

When we are before others

        in the court of life,

we are also obligated

       to tell the truth

    about what we have experienced.

This is not just our story,

but our testimony

--the evidence or proof

    of our experience,

    an open declaration--

as a witness before others

     and as God is our witness.

This is what God is

          doing in my life,

this is who God is,

this is how I know Him.

Am I open with others

about my relationship with Him?

Revealing that which we have seen

and heard and looked upon,

touched and been touched.)

O LORD,

What we are experiencing

is not just our story,

but Your story in us.

You walk with us

          in our struggles,

You bring Your strength

      to our heart and bones.

You bring the triumph

and Your glory,

no matter what happens.

You don't need our successes

and blue ribbons

and achievements

     to bring glory to You.

Give us the courage

  to testify openly before others

what You are doing

             in our lives.

What people know about us

   is based in what they see

   and what we talk about.

Help us to seize opportunities

   to tell Your story in us.

We never know who is listening.

We never know

        how You are using us.

More than we can fathom.