"So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."
(Joshua 4:4-7)
The Israelites needed memory joggers. God would perform a Major Miracle like parting the Red Sea for them, but then they’d start complaining about the food, worrying about the Canaanites, playing around with demons disguised as gods, running wild in the streets. They were afraid that their God wasn’t big enough, strong enough, consistent enough, or loving enough to take care of them adequately. Mini-Miracles, such as daily provision in the desert, weren’t enough for them. They wanted the big showy stuff all the time. Like too many of us, they were excitement addicts.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m an Israelite. The day-to-day stuff is hard for me. I want God to fix it NOW. But He has showed me that He’s going to do it “little by little” so that faith may increase. It doesn’t matter how much I moan and groan about it, it’s going to be in His time, not mine. Sometimes it drives me absolutely crazy that 1,000 years are like a day to him. I can’t wait until time no longer exists. Until then, it’s going to be “one day at a time, Sweet Jesus.”
I’m going to need a lot of memory joggers on this journey. I need to go back and pick up some souvenirs to remind me of the Major Miracles on days when the Mini-Miracles don’t seem like enough. It’s evidently going to be a long trip, and I have a short memory. There may be days ahead when I’m squeezing stones like my life depends on it. In a way, it does.
...more later...
The Israelites needed memory joggers. God would perform a Major Miracle like parting the Red Sea for them, but then they’d start complaining about the food, worrying about the Canaanites, playing around with demons disguised as gods, running wild in the streets. They were afraid that their God wasn’t big enough, strong enough, consistent enough, or loving enough to take care of them adequately. Mini-Miracles, such as daily provision in the desert, weren’t enough for them. They wanted the big showy stuff all the time. Like too many of us, they were excitement addicts.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m an Israelite. The day-to-day stuff is hard for me. I want God to fix it NOW. But He has showed me that He’s going to do it “little by little” so that faith may increase. It doesn’t matter how much I moan and groan about it, it’s going to be in His time, not mine. Sometimes it drives me absolutely crazy that 1,000 years are like a day to him. I can’t wait until time no longer exists. Until then, it’s going to be “one day at a time, Sweet Jesus.”
I’m going to need a lot of memory joggers on this journey. I need to go back and pick up some souvenirs to remind me of the Major Miracles on days when the Mini-Miracles don’t seem like enough. It’s evidently going to be a long trip, and I have a short memory. There may be days ahead when I’m squeezing stones like my life depends on it. In a way, it does.
...more later...
8 comments:
I am one of the many whom you do not know, but who has been praying faithfully for Katherine. It is rare for even a few hours to go by without my eye catching sight of the blue ribbon that is attached to my purse as a reminder to pray for her.
Since I began reading your blog weeks ago, I have added you and your precious heart to my hourly Katherine-prayers.
As you grasp for stones, reminders of the major miracles, remember that more people are praying for you and Katherine than you could ever know...there are many stones around you that you may never see.
I pray for peace over your heart and Katherine's mind...
I've gone long enough without posting a comment. At first I felt as though I didn't have the words to express how hard I was praying for Katherine. But now I see that it really doesn't matter if I can't express it correctly...you just need to know how Katherine and her struggle has affected others. (Even those like me...across the country and have never met you.) I heard about Katherine from a friend of mine. We lived in Montgomery a few years ago. Since the beginning...Katherine has touched my heart so strongly. I feel such compassion for her and your entire family. I think of her throughout the day and each time lift her up to our heavenly Father. As grim as it all seems, somehow I've always had the faith that Katherine was going to be ok. And not just ok...but completely whole again. As hard as this is to understand...I truly feel that Katherine has been chosen by God to fulfil a perfect plan. She is a shining example of a faithful Christian. As special as she is...I see that she has learned a lot from you. I have a little boy and a little girl & I pray that I can be such an example as you. Katherine is going to be so proud of you. You are exactly what God intended a mother to be. And when you have bad days and you just want to scream...don't feel guilty. You are entitled to those feelings. Those are the days when you let God comfort you and remind you that He is right here with you and Katherine. He's not leaving...no matter what. Before I close, I wanted you to know that this ordeal has not only prompted me to pray for Katherine but has also stirred many things within my own Christian walk. I thank you so much for sharing this journey with us. Please never ever forget that we're praying for you EVERYDAY and no matter how much time goes by...I will NEVER stop. I have complete faith that Katherine will be healed and this is such a testimony to the Glory of God and His faithfulness. Katherine will have a lifetime to share this with the world!! What a tremendous blessing she has received!!
I just have to stand in agreement with both of these notes you received tonight......I too pray daily for Katherine. It amazes me that she just pops into my mind at different times of the day or evening and I just begin to pray. I have believed all along that she will be whole again and stand with you and the entire family that God is doing this in HIS time. He is teaching us much through all of this............He is saying "Be still and know that I am God"........He is in control!! Praise You Jesus!! I look forward to the day when I can travel wherever I need to go to hear Katherine in person give this testimony. You are an amazing family and although I don't know you, I feel as though I do. You are blessing thousands of people all over the world with your stand of Faith and honesty.....
joining you all in the prayer of the drain in Kat's brain doing its own natural thing.Asking...our Lord to do that perfect healing work.
I believe the Lord is saying "I am hearing a choir of intercession arise from all sides of the earth for Katherine and this is bringing Me great pleasure right now."
I am also one who you do not know, but am so deeply moved but all that has been going on. I can't even begin to explain the wailing that rises up within me everytime I think of or pray for Katherine. I, like many others who have posted, have an unshakable confidence in knowing that this is only the beginning for Katherine. I whole-heartedly believe God is confirming that He is going to do an amazing and miraculous work in His precious daughter. A natural response from a Christian or on-looker would be to ask, "Why?" But God sees the full picture and His ways are higher than ours. It seems as though Katherine's whole life has been a shining example of Christ's love and because His spirit is living inside of her, He is wooing her in ways we can not see or comprehend. Delight in knowing that God is right there with you, He is in the middle of this storm and He is using this for good, even now, by allowing you to witness a miracle everyday. He who began a good work, will continue until it is finally finished. Wholeness and restoration are on the horizon - for what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Since God did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give Katherine and her family everything else? God keeps His promises and He knows the plan He has for Katherine and for you, a plan not to harm, but to give hope and a future. As hard as this situation is to endure, keep running for the prize because everything that has happened has been ordained and orchestrated by God. He doesn't just happen to put people in the right place at the right time, He divinely orders the steps of those He loves. I pray that He would envelop you in His strong arms of love. Remember the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are saved.
I have two song suggestions that I believe will be very encouraging to you. The first is 'Hero' by Kirk Franklin - the song opens with testimonials of miraculous works that the Lord did in 3 less than dire situations.
The second is "Held" by Natalie Grant with lyrics such as the following, "This is what it means, to be held, how it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive. This is what it means to be loved and to know, that the promise was, when everything fell, we'd be held."
May God bless you exceedingly beyond anything you could've ever imagined with a peace that passes all understanding. He is faithful to the faithful.
Courtney
Boston, MA
from reading this tonight, I've learned that I'm an Israelite as well... it's so easy to forget about the positives and focus on the negatives. I'm realizing that I need to be more thankful for the situation I'm in and that I too have memorial stones of what God's done and is doing in my life... I personally am very thankful for your blog, as I truly believe God is speaking through you. Before all of this happened, I was going through a time of doubting and questioning - but after seeing all of the ways He has answered prayers and performed these miracles, how could I not believe? I look forward to seeing Katherine's continued progress, and like the others, I believe that she will make a full-recovery.
Kim: You are such an inspiration to me. Your Faith, even in the low times, is amazing. It is evident that you are clinging to the Word and the One who can and will get ya'll through all of this. Faith IS rising among His people because of how ya'll are handling this trial.................
THe BLessings will outlast the sufferings. The prayers of many will carry the stones on the days you cannot.
Thank you for your authenticity.....sharing your true heart.........what a gift to all of us. You all are "more than conquerers"...........
Love you and continue to lift ya'll up in prayer-Angel
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