Two thousand years ago, Mary went looking for Jesus. Instead she found an angel who gave her an important job - to tell those closest to Him that Christ had risen as He said, and that He would meet His disciples in Galilee as he told them, but they did not believe. After calling them to a higher place of faith in who he was and how steadfast He was to his word, Jesus gave the eleven a responsibility that we as believers carry even today - He said to them, Go into all the world and preach/publish the good news to everyone. Anyone who believes and baptized will be saved. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and they will be healed. Shortly after Jesus ascended, and scripture says that the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. How many times have we all been like the apostles? How often do we know what Jesus says - we know who He is, and we still find it hard to trust him when we need Him most? When our hearts are hardened and our faith is shaken, Jesus - our shepherd and faithful friend is there asking us as he asked the disciples, do you remember?
In these moments, we are given a choice, an opportunity even to choose to partner with heaven over our circumstances and lock eyes with the One who even the winds and the waves obey. Every story in this book is a heavenly response to a “do you remember” moment, and we are more sure than ever that Jesus is who He says He is - that He is good and steadfast. Our inheritance is the good news that when we step out on a limb, He is there - always willing and able to keep us from falling. Our king has yet to fail us and He never will. We overcome by the power of our testimony. This is the gospel. These are our stories.