What is He Accomplishing Through Me? (18)

I love it when a project comes together.  When you sweat, toil, the fruit of your labor is sweet; the feeling is just grand.  I remember all the hard work I put into our backyard.  Well, it really wasn't a “yard” 7 years ago.  It was more a glorified wood chip garden with a slope.  It had two paths, marked out by a darker, cedar-colored wood chip variety that led to a flat of dirt.  The only thing exotic about it were a few exotic perennials, ordered to sprout each year somewhere in the middle of the wood chips.  With a 1 year old, we looked at each other and said, “Something has got to be done.” 

Over the course of the next few years, and a whole lot of planning and sweat, we now have a backyard.  Small as it is, it is covered with fresh, green grass, perennials that sprout in several corners, periwinkle ground cover that springs from the corner of a brick patio, and level ground to run on.  It is a beautiful little piece of God’s heaven back there, a great place to relax with friends and play with the kids.

How good it feels to accomplish something after laboring many hours over it.  Yet when I read Romans 15, I wonder if I have spent too much time on it.  Paul has left everything, completely attempting to die to himself and his desires, and preaches.  He feels accomplished by what God is doing using him.  But his preaching isn’t in the easy, comfortable areas.  In fact, he intentionally tries not to preach in areas he or anyone else has already been to.  His ambition is to preach the gospel where it has not been heard, to meet people who have never heard the good news.

It’s not that gardening and yard work is wrong.  I guess what hits me is his passion to reach others who haven’t heard about Christ.  In my yard work, I love to work on that which is mine and beautify that which God has given me, bringing it to its fullest potential, but how often it is that I seek that than seeking the lost.  How often it is that I stay within the confines of my property, rarely going out to meet other neighbors – except for the ones I already know – and sharing His good news.

Paul is excited by the work he is doing, the harvest he is reaping, but most of all, it isn’t about his work.  He’s not boasting about what God is doing in him, making him better or greater, priding in the miraculous works Christ has allowed him to do.  Rather, Paul is excited for the work that is happening through him.  Paul understands that it isn’t about him and it never will be about him.  He knows he is a tool in the master’s tool belt and he feels honored to be used in His service, to be held in the master’s hand.

I pray that every time I grab a rake, a shovel, the cultivator, the edger, I will ask myself, “Have I submitted myself to him today, to be used by Him, just as this tool 'submits' to my authority?"

¹⁴ I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. ¹⁵ I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me ¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷ Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— ¹⁹ by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. ²⁰ It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. ²¹ Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,
   and those who have not heard will understand.”

²² This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Romans 15:14-22

18 days!

Remembering – 19

I would wake up a little later than usual, although most Mondays I’d be off to school already and the weather was less predictable.  For some reason, though, this day was usually a warm sunny day.  It was a surprise to find Dad making oatmeal or pancakes.  This Monday was different. 

There would be more flowers in the house and a few of the garden tools would be out.  We wouldn’t be doing work outside in the yard, though.  We were going to work in a yard, per se, but our clothes didn’t indicate it.  We were actually going to do this work elsewhere.  This Monday was different.

Mom and Dad were always in their busy routine.  Mom would be getting ready for a busy “bussing-the-children-to-school” and choir teaching day while Dad would’ve had his lunch packed with an assortment of fruit and sandwiches along with a fresh, hot thermos filled with coffee and honey for his truck run.  This was not case today.  It was quieter; well to us, at least, it seemed that way.  This Monday was different.

This Monday we would all get in the family van and drive to Greenwood Memorial Cemetery.  Don’t be surprised if the drive was more somber than on other days.  When we arrived, we quietly walked out of the van and began walking softly.  I would look down at graves of people, mostly children that I never knew, but their gravestones were still familiar nonetheless. 

Mom and Dad would begin working while we kids usually watched.  We wanted to help and sometimes we did, but this was a moment they spent together, working together, and they shared with us how reverent it is to remember a lost loved one. With garden shovels and garbage bags, they would meticulously clean the gravestones, first my brother’s, Caleb.  After they were done, you found a perfectly edged gravestone with new colors from the flowers planted tastefully around it.  This they did a few more times: my Pop Pop (Llewellyn Fletcher), a World War II veteran, my grandmother Iris Fletcher, and my other grandmother Martha Wilson. 

Once they finished cleaning the stones, we usually walked them back in reverse, observing our lost grandparents/parents first.  Interestingly, it wasn’t until after my Pop Pop’s passing that I found out of his service.  He never spoke about it to me, at least that I can remember.  He was always so peaceful and joyful.  My grandma Iris I remember vividly.  She was always joyful and filled with the Spirit.  Her joy at times was overwhelming - but wouldn't any little boy think that - but I am so thankful for her love for the Father.  She lived as though she could literally see angels about us.  My grandma Martha was tender.  There isn’t much I remember of her since she passed relatively early, but her smile is still in my mind.

Lastly, we walked back to see Caleb’s stone, or at least Mom and Dad did.  We would soon follow them there, but our eyes were already set on them.  Mom and Dad were holding hands, both faces set on the stone, and then tears would follow.  There weren’t many times Mom would cry, but over Caleb it was often.  We remained still wherever we were, worried that movement would disturb them, even if we were yards away.  I would fight back tears and quickly rub them away if they ever tried to drip.

Who do you remember?  Do memories of loved ones flood you as they do me?  These images are falling on me as I speak, enough for me to easily write chapters.

On Memorial Day, I feel honored to be able to remember our loved ones.  I am humbled by the men and women who fought for me to be able to remember them.  But not only to remember them but to be thankful for them, for what they gave me.  Freedom.  And not only did they fight for my freedom, they fought for others to have it as well.  They bound up the brokenhearted, proclaimed freedom for the captives and released the prisoners from darkness (Isaiah 61:1b).  But the lasting image in my mind comes from the gravesite.  Just a few yards from my brother’s stone sat a large statue.  Jesus was sitting with children.  Here I can see Caleb jumping into Jesus' lap.  And then I see Jesus' death on the cross.  Not to die for the sake of a good story, but to die to give us freedom. He released us from the darkness.  He has set me free.  I am no longer captive.  On this day, I remember salvation and joyfully celebrate the liberty he gave to me and to those before me so that I can see them again.  Because of this, I will walk in freedom because your love is unfailing and promises are trustworthy.

⁴¹ May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, 

   your salvation according to your promise; 

⁴² then I will answer the one who taunts me, 

   for I trust in your word. 

⁴³ Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, 

   for I have put my hope in your laws. 

⁴⁴ I will always obey your law, 

   for ever and ever. 

⁴⁵ I will walk about in freedom, 

   for I have sought out your precepts. 

⁴⁶ I will speak of your statutes before kings 

   and will not be put to shame, 

⁴⁷ for I delight in your commands 

   because I love them. 

⁴⁸ I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, 

   and I meditate on your decrees.

Psalm 119:41-48

19 days!

Is God Really There? (20)

It is a beautiful Sunday morning in west Michigan.  The sun is bright, the grass is green - and freshly manicured too - the flowers are vibrant, the high will be in the 80’s; all I can see is God’s awesome creation about me.  I especially love how the sun shines through the windows to welcome the dawn of a new and great day.  So why have I opened up my Bible to read Job?  I surely know the story and the calamities that met him, but today is a great, grand day.  Why in the world would I read about him again especially when the day is so bright, warm, and welcoming?

Nonetheless, I read and as I getting to part where God tells Satan “all he has is yours, but on the man himself do not lay a finger,” my wife walks in from her night-shift at the hospital.  She tells me that early this morning, a person went the wrong way on the expressway and ran head-on into other vehicle.  Three people were killed instantly and three others are in critical condition.  [deep breath]  Wow.  Unbelievable. 

I am reminded at how fragile life is and how many times death comes our way.  Just a month and a half ago, a dad and his baby died in a house fire, leaving a wife and two girls behind.  The dad was even a youth pastor.  Almost a week ago, tornados leveled Joplin in southwestern Missouri, leaving an enormous death toll.  Despite my faith in God and that he works in all things, is it wrong to ask, “Are you really here?”

Call it coincidence – I won’t – that I was reading Job.  It’s pretty plain and simple.  After Satan tells God where he has been, roaming throughout the earth, God offers him Job, a man upright and faithful to God.  Satan snatches up the offer and can’t wait to bring ruin to his life.  Most of all, Satan can’t wait to prove God wrong in Job, that Job will curse God when he is done with him.  Soon after, Job receives four messages, each right after the other.  The first three messengers tell him how all their family’s livestock (wealth) was either killed or snatched up from him.  However, the last messenger gives the gravest of news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” (v. 18b, 19)  Does this remind you of anything?

Job’s response is utterly human and yet not human.  Although he tears off his robe and shaves his head, he falls to the ground in worship.  Despite the horrible news, he knows God is not only in control and present in this disaster, but that this disaster will ultimately be for God’s glory.

Read Job 1 for yourself and ask yourself if you would respond in the same way.

¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

 ¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

 ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

 ¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. 

Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

   “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, 

   and naked I will depart.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; 

   may the name of the LORD be praised.”

 ²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 1:13-22

20 days!

Wisdom Is Calling: “Find Me.” (21)

Do you like a great adventure story?  I sure do.  How many times have I watched the Indiana Jones series?  It’s too numerous to count.  Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) may seem like a meager archeology professor, however his mind is always running in overdrive to solve legendary finds and lost treasures.  But he’s not the only one.  There’s always a villain or two who want to get there before he does or, at least, wants Dr. Jones to do most of the leg work only to snatch up the find right at the opportune time. 

In the stories, we know he has captured some decent artifacts – which have increased his credibility in the archeological community – but the stories we are entertained by are the truly mysterious and valuable:  the lost Ark, the Holy Grail, a crystal skull.  The more valuable the item comes greater risk and greater reward.  It is probably easy to argue that none of us have had a similar journey, not that we should compare ourselves to a fictional character, but I doubt we watched just to be entertained.  I believe there’s a lot more to this: we long for our own grand quest and discovery.

How many times have you heard someone say “experiences help to define you as a person.”  Do you believe it’s true?  I think many times  we agree with someone or something when it sounds like it’s true or has little nuggets of truth.  For example, without experiences it’s hard to know how you would react to a situation.  I can agree that experiences help you understand more things about yourself - that I'm selfish and make a lot of mistakes - but I struggle with the underpinnings of the statement: experiences will help define your personhood, a unique person who will have a unique way of doing things that shouldn’t be hindered from doing them.  Maybe I've read too much into it, but I feel surrounded by a world that charges us to find our diversity – not that being different is bad – but encouraging diversity as the end of the means.  In other words, we should try to be different.  And from this, we should revel in understanding our world the way we see it and encourage others to trust their human eyes over anything else.  In my opinion, this gives birth to creating our own value structure and our own personal wisdom set.

If you read Proverbs 8, though, what a contrast to the instructions the world encourages us to follow.  “My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness” (v. 7).  “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold” (v. 10). “Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power” (v. 14).  “To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind” (v .4).   Do you see what I’m seeing and hearing what I’m hearing?  There is but one wisdom.  But that’s not the end of it.  “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began (v. 22, 23).”  This wisdom, the one and only wisdom, was created by God and present before the heavens and earth were formed.  Human wisdom – that is wisdom apart from God – will seem like it's sound, but it is not.  It has not stood before the creation of the world, it is broken, and it will fail you. 

If you didn’t know it already, you are an Indiana Jones and your quest is epic:  You are on a quest to find His wisdom.  But if you start looking for it where He is not, don’t expect good results.  His instructions are clear but many are the enemy’s traps to ensnare us.  Keep your eyes focused on Him and you will find His wisdom.  “Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death” (v. 33-36).

¹ Does not wisdom call out? 

   Does not understanding raise her voice? 

² On the heights along the way, 

   where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 

³ beside the gates leading into the city, 

   at the entrances, she cries aloud: 

⁴ “To you, O men, I call out; 

   I raise my voice to all mankind. 

⁵ You who are simple, gain prudence; 

   you who are foolish, gain understanding. 

⁶ Listen, for I have worthy things to say; 

   I open my lips to speak what is right. 

⁷ My mouth speaks what is true, 

   for my lips detest wickedness. 

⁸ All the words of my mouth are just; 

   none of them is crooked or perverse. 

⁹ To the discerning all of them are right; 

   they are faultless to those who have knowledge. 

¹⁰ Choose my instruction instead of silver, 

   knowledge rather than choice gold, 

¹¹ for wisdom is more precious than rubies, 

   and nothing you desire can compare with her.

 ¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; 

   I possess knowledge and discretion. 

¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil; 

   I hate pride and arrogance, 

   evil behavior and perverse speech. 

¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine; 

   I have understanding and power. 

¹⁵ By me kings reign 

   and rulers make laws that are just; 

¹⁶ by me princes govern, 

   and all nobles who rule on earth.

¹⁷ I love those who love me, 

   and those who seek me find me. 

¹⁸ With me are riches and honor, 

   enduring wealth and prosperity. 

¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold; 

   what I yield surpasses choice silver. 

²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness, 

   along the paths of justice, 

21 bestowing wealth on those who love me 

   and making their treasuries full.

 ²² “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,

   before his deeds of old; 

²³ I was appointed from eternity, 

   from the beginning, before the world began. 

²⁴ When there were no oceans, I was given birth, 

   when there were no springs abounding with water; 

²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place, 

   before the hills, I was given birth, 

²⁶ before he made the earth or its fields 

   or any of the dust of the world. 

²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place, 

   when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 

²⁸ when he established the clouds above 

   and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, 

²⁹ when he gave the sea its boundary 

   so the waters would not overstep his command, 

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. 

 ³⁰ Then I was the craftsman at his side. 

I was filled with delight day after day, 

   rejoicing always in his presence, 

³¹ rejoicing in his whole world 

   and delighting in mankind.

 ³² “Now then, my sons, listen to me; 

   blessed are those who keep my ways. 

³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise; 

   do not ignore it. 

³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me, 

   watching daily at my doors, 

   waiting at my doorway. 

³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life 

   and receives favor from the LORD. 

³⁶ But whoever fails to find me harms himself; 

   all who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 8

21 days!

Identity (22)

The Saint.  Have you seen that show or the movie? Roger Moore/Val Kilmer play an orphan boy who refused to go by the name a priest gave him and rather chooses his own name, Simon the Templar after the Saint of magic.  He grows up, however, hiding his true identify using the names of past Catholic saints because Simon becomes a master of thievery and disguise.  He can elude his pursuers with a craft unlike many others.  “24”.  Now that was a great series.  Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is a man on a mission to the save the world.  His innate ability to infiltrate and disrupt the enemy made viewers sit on the edge of their seats nearly every episode.  The action, suspense, and unknown kept our eyes glued.

Both Simon and Jack had great skills of deceiving others; one a thief, the other a counter-terrorist agent.  Their titles imply deception and coercion.  But do you have to be a master thief or government agent to be deceptive?  I’m going to go out on a limb and say, no.  Sure, these men had their job to do and their success depended on their deception, but how often have I deceived others of my identity with no other purpose but to squelch my personal fear?

In the days of John the Baptist, people were flocking to his teachings.  A man whose clothing needed much work and his diet even more, people were spiritually parched and wanting, thirsty for living water.  His teachings were fresh, delivered with power and hope.  Those around him were so moved by the messages that they thought to themselves could this be the Messiah?

Reading John 1, John is confronted by the Jewish leaders asking him who he was.  John freely admits that he isn’t the Messiah.  For the sake of argument, if John was the Messiah, would it be difficult to deny it?  Jesus didn’t proclaim himself – nor did he deny it – until standing before Pilate.  The Jewish leaders could have perceived John as trying to avoid them because if he would have proclaimed himself as the Messiah, he surely would have been charged by the leaders as a fraud and plots to kill him would have soon followed, not that plots didn’t develop despite his denial.

No, John’s answer is frank and with no deception.  He is neither Elijah nor the Prophet. “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

John feared no one except he had a healthy, reverent fear of the Father.  He was called to prepare the way for the Messiah and he followed through until his death.  What have you been called to?  Do you fear others more than the Father?  I pray my actions and answers will result from a confident faith and only a healthy fear of the Lord.

 ¹⁹ Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. ²⁰ He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

 ²¹ They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

   He said, “I am not.”

   “Are you the Prophet?”

   He answered, “No.”

 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

 ²³ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

 ²⁴ Now the Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵ questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

 ²⁶ “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.²⁷ He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

 ²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John 1:19-28

22 days!

Confidence (23)

When you think of confidence, what comes to mind?  Do you think boldness, ability to stand, ready for success and tempered for failure?  With confidence, you can bounce back from a situation and conquer again.  It doesn’t set you back and, if anything, you are ready to try again, this time even harder, and to succeed.

There are two things on earth that I really love and, of those things, I feel sure-footed and confident.  Can you guess what they are?  People and numbers.  Yes, kind of odd, huh?  I love spending time with people, telling stories, laughing, getting ideas across, and creating ideas and memories with others.  I also love taking numbers and find everything that can be inferred from them.  Finding numbers, using statistical method, employing spreadsheets; you don’t believe me?  A co-worker of mine has a handmade candy dispenser crafted out of oak.  By pulling out a wooden slide, it dispenses M&Ms into your hand, provided you remember to put your hand under the chute to catch them.  I’m still having problems with that.  When I pulled it out the first time, I thought this is so cool.  Hold on.  1, 2, 3…8 M&Ms. I immediately put out a sticky note with instructions and asked – I suppose mandated – others to write down how many M&Ms were dispensed each time.  Once I had 30 data points, I pie-charted and performed a linear graph of the results.

Ok, so that’s strange, but you already knew I was weird.

I say this to share that despite all the confidence in the world I might have with people and numbers, so many times I still find myself withdrawing, lacking confidence.  It isn’t in spending time with people or crunching numbers.  It is my confidence that I’m really saved. 

You see I believe I am forgiven, but there are times I question how that could be.  I am not confident in His forgiveness.  Despite my mountaintop experiences of closeness and devotion, I fail every day.  How could a God forgive me when I mess up again and again, and even in the things I just asked forgiveness for?  Reading Hebrews 10, I’m reminded of the countless animal sacrifices performed to redeem the sins of Israel, temporarily that is.  They asked for forgiveness, and then failed God.  Then they would ask again, and then failed again.  Interesting.  That’s just like me. 

The biggest difference now is this time Christ has given the ultimate sacrifice, paid in full.  I now have a new life, the curtain torn, that I can draw near to Him with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith in my salvation.  Walk with confidence because His promises are true and faithful.  It is His character.  May I take on His character too.

By the way, here were the results:

Dispense count: 1, 0 (0%); 2, 2 (7%); 3, 0 (0%); 4, 1 (3%), 5, 3 (10%); 6, 2 (7%); 7, 5 (17%); 8, 13 (43%); 9, 4 (13%). Mean, 7; Median, 8; Mode, 8. regression, y = x - 1.6667

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵ Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:19-25

23 days!

Heaven’s Souvenir (24)

I have a thing for travelling.  We’ve travelled out west each year to see our family – driven twice, flown thrice – driven to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina, and all the states in between.  I guess my parents are to blame for this “curse”.  Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, we would drive as far north as Victoria Island and British Columbia and as far south as Hemet, CA.  We had so much fun in my childhood years that I couldn’t wait to create those kind of memories with my own family.

The best part of any trip is being able to take home a souvenir.  Do you remember the last time you bought something from a gift shop on your travel excursion?  How did you respond when you bought it?  Were you like me the last time where I was more concerned about not being ripped off by the price than how special the actual item could be to remember the trip by?  If you have children, it’s vastly different to the way your children respond at the opportunity of taking it home.  Their eyes glow at the thought of taking something home.  When they put their hands on a potential find, they imagine it’s there’s and immediately identify it as theirs.  Oh my! This could be mine!  Sure the item cost a few pennies to make and even though they might perceive its cheap quality, they don’t care.  It is special and it means more to them because all the memories they make today will be remembered the moment they put their hands back on it years later.

Do you remember when Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”? (Matthew 19:14)  I’ve always focused on the innocence of children when this passage comes up, but now in the context of a child’s reaction to a souvenir, this opens up a new dimension for me.  Read Joshua chapters 3 and 4; you will find an amazing story similar to Moses parting the Red Sea.  Joshua commands the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to walk into the middle of the Jordan river.  As soon as their feet touched the water’s edge, the river backed up as far as to the next town, the rest of the riverbed downstream went dry, and the thousands of Israelites crossed over to the other side.

I don’t know about you, but I think I’d faint at the sight of that.  More importantly, though, I don’t think I’d ever want to forget about it.  Neither did God want them to forget.  That’s why Joshua had twelve men, one from each of the twelve tribes, each grab a large stone from the riverbed – while the priests still stood in the middle of the river carrying the Ark of the Covenant – and called them to create a memorial.  They were charged to tell their descendants, whenever they asked what those stones meant, of the miraculous work God did before them.

Do you remember a marvelous work God has done before you?  I surely can count many both large and small.  How have you remembered His work?  When God performs something amazing in your life and especially before your very eyes, listen carefully for His voice.  He might ask you to grab a souvenir from His gift shop to remember Him by.

¹⁹ On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. ²⁰ And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. ²¹ He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ²² tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ ²³ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

Joshua 4:19-24

24 days!