This song is brilliant. When we first hear the song, it sounds like a kid asking for something. Well, maybe PRAYING for something. As we continue to listen, we begin to realize the kid’s request is remarkable because in the request he begins to ANSWER his own prayer. Finally, when we sing the song for ourselves, we become the kid doing the asking (the song is written in first person — “tell ME”). At some point, it dawns on us that not only is this OUR prayer, too, but also WE have been given the joy, privilege and charge to be an answer to this prayer. Brilliant! Give it a sing-along listen, then let’s talk about being an answer to someone’s prayer.

Stories of Jesus

Of course the four Gospels are rich with stories about Jesus. We can begin reading anywhere in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and we find gold quickly. Scan this list and see how many you recognize:

• Gabriel and the Virgin Mary – The Angel by the Altar
• The Nativity – The Manger of Bethlehem
• The Magi – The Star and the Wise Men
• Jesus in Nazareth – The Boy in his Father’s House
• John the Baptist – The Prophet in the Wilderness
• Jesus at Galilee – Jesus in the Desert, and beside the River
• Water into Wine – The Water Jars at the Wedding Feast
• Jacob’s Well – The Stranger at the Well
• Jesus at Cana – The Story of a Boy in Capernaum and a Riot
• Jesus Heals the Sick – A Net Full of Fishes
• Jesus and the Leper – The Leper and the Man Let Down through the Roof
• Jesus and the Pharisees – The Cripple at the Pool and the Withered Hand
• Sermon on the Mount – The Twelve Disciples and the Sermon on the Mount
• Jesus and the Centurion – The Captain’s Servant, the Widow’s Son, and a Sinner
• Parables of Jesus – Some Stories Jesus told by the Sea
• Legion – “Peace, Be Still”
• Daughter of Jairus – The Little Girl Who Was Raised to Life
• Salome – A Dancing Girl and What Was Given to Her
• Feeding the Five Thousand – The Feast beside the Sea and What Followed It
• Loaves and Fishes – The Answer to a Mother’s Prayer
• The Prophecies of Jesus – The Glory of Jesus on the Mountain
• Seventy Times Seven – The Little Child in the Arms of Jesus
• Son of Man – At the Feast of Tabernacles
• Jesus and the Blind Beggar – The Man with Clay on His Face
• Good Samaritan – The Good Shepherd and the Good Samaritan
• Lazarus – Lazarus Raised to Life
• Jesus preaches to the Multitudes – Some Parables in Perea
• Parables of Jesus – The Poor Rich Man and the Rich Poor Man
• Blind Bartimeus – Jesus at Jericho
• Judas – Palm Sunday
• Jesus and the Money Changers – The Last Visit of Jesus to the Temple
• Jesus at the Mount of Olives – The Parables on the Mount of Olives
• The Last Supper – The Last Supper
• Garden of Gethsemane – The Olive Orchard and the High Priests Hall
• Pontius Pilate – The Crown of Thorns
• The Crucifixion – The Darkest Day of All the World
• Resurrection of Jesus – The Brightest Day of All the World
• Doubting Thomas – The Stranger on the Shore

This list came from a tidy online “Stories of Jesus” web site: http://www.learningscriptures.info/bible-stories-new-testament/ . There you will find each of these told as stories along with links to read the Bible texts they came from. I have not scoured every page, but it looks like a rich place to visit.

Acts 29 and counting

I’ve heard the days we live in called “Acts 29” because Jesus — as head of his body which is the church — is actively working like he did in the Book of Acts chapters 1 through 28. For two thousand years and counting, new stories are made every day all over the world.

For more “Acts 29” stories, I’ll mention a couple of books that are fascinating, inspiring reads. “The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic” by Michael Medved is a page-turner on God’s involvement in American history. Another, “DREAMS AND VISIONS: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World?” by Tom Doyle brings readers to tears as they read first-hand accounts of appearances Jesus is making TODAY to save people in parts of the world that are “impossible” for missionaries to reach.

The Book of Revelation tells us Jesus will be completing more stories in days yet ahead. We can read there for stories yet to come.

So many stories could be told, it is a good thing we will have the time supplied by the rest of “everlasting life” for us to learn them!

Being an answer to prayer

Our song asks for someone to tell the stories of Jesus. Just the ideas mentioned above show we have a lot to share and we are confident more stories are being made every day. It is our joy and privilege to be active participants in some of those new stories of Jesus!

How wonderful it is to be an answer to someone’s prayer, “Tell me the stories of Jesus!”

God bless you lots!
Dale R.

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Download this song sheet

LYRICS: Tell Me The Stories Of Jesus
Text: William Henry Parker, 1885
Tune: Frederic Arthur Challinor, 1903

1. Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here;
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

2. First let me hear how the children stood round His knee,
And I shall fancy His blessing resting on me;
Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
All in the love light of Jesus’ face.

3. Show me that scene in the garden, of bitter pain.
Show me the cross where my Savior for me was slain.
Raised by the Father, returning is he;
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

What are your favorite stories of Jesus?

Please share them below. Thanks!

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