And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.
{Joshua 4:5-7}
My dad’s sermon tonight covered Joshua 3-4 where the Lord led the children of Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They had to trust the Lord on both sides of the Jordan, keeping their eyes on the ark of the covenant (which was a picture of Christ).
God told the children of Israel to set up stones so they would remember what He had done for them. We’re so apt to forget how He’s worked. One way to strengthen your faith is to look back at all God has brought you through.
I consider this list of gifts my pebbles of remembrance. He is faithful!
1659. breakfast at the barrel at the crack of dawn with shanna
1660. early to work, finishing big projects, and learning new skills
1661. the whiff of the peanut butter factory on the way home from piano–sweet smell of my childhood
1662. a low bloodsugar. “hi, i’m sarah. it’s been a while.”
1663. flute duets in evening sunglow
1664. wrapped in God’s love–the One who pursues me!
1665. starting new things. eating ugly frogs first.
1666. a memphian and cheddar broccoli soup with tea from mcalister’s with sweet Bible study girls
1667. flee–follow. He ALWAYS gives direction. [oh to always follow without hesitation…]
1668. God is HOLY. I am a wretched scumbag of a sinner. Thankful He reveals areas I need to work on.
1669. sweet sweet fellowship with like-minded believers.
1670. being reminded that even on days that feel ordinary, an extraordinary God lives in me.
1671. the boss whistling to rap (shai linne)
1672. starjazz with will & stinky tissue paper from target
1673. not stopping at sketch gas stations
1674. funnies with LCA percussion girls. haha! i love them.
1675. my kids’ class sub calling to let me know how encouraged she was by the lesson
1676. beautiful sounds from LCA & amazing music by TCIE. what a performance!
1677. “if you ate that parfait, you’d probably have type 10 diabetes” -suesue
1678. menchie’s with erin. always a fan.
1679. a kid telling me, “it’s just your support. you’re always here and that means a lot.” –so sweet…that makes every minute worth it
1680. pink!
1681. an unexpected blessing
1682. a new job within a job again.
1683. be still AND know
1684. being swarmed with hugs
1685. a free afternoon and spontaneous starbucks with kerry
1686. lunch from the giftbox
1687. revolving doors–endless entertainment
1688. a student saying thank you and meaning it
1689. finishing another big project!!!!
1690. coral silk
1691. realizing how small the world really is
1692. lunch at the lunchbox
1693. making a new spring-y salad
1694. “in the basement” productions. haha!
1695. good reports for others
1696. lifeway clearance aisle and building cars at menchie’s
1697. sleeping 10 hours. ahhh…
1698. if you give the church secretary a free saturday…you end up with a new header and all sorts of new facebook graphics
1699. chili and a movie with shanna on a cold, rainy saturday (and mom making us homemade chocolate chip cookies!)
...with Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips of course.
1700. hugs from smyrna
1701. a yummy cheap lunch from chili’s with my ate
1702. the Lord is faithful. remember. {joshua 3-4}
1703. my salvation doesn’t rest in how well i play “saved, saved, saved” –hallelujah!
Since reading One Thousand Gifts, I started my own journal of grace-gifts God blesses me with every day. I will spare listing all of them here, but I will try to share some of my favorites every Monday.
Sarah Caroline 