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Wednesday, October 5, 2005

"Remembering God's Faithfulness"

"What do these stones mean?" (Joshua 4:21).

Last evening our neighbors baled the stubble that remained in the corn field across from us into huge bales of fodder. (Several weeks ago they harvested the corn.) This fodder will be used as bedding for the animals and is not edible.

Ester on bale with our petsBrooksyne suggested that we walk over and get a photo of one of the large bales with Ester along with our family pets, Roxie and Dottie. Our pets weren't too thrilled about it though, particularly with the loud tractor noise in the background!

This caused me to recall where we were nearly 30 years ago. Right after we married I assumed the pastorate of a small country church about 20 miles from Springfield, Missouri. Those were sure wonderful days as we established the foundation of our marriage and ministry.

To supplement our meager income from the church I assisted the local farmers in field work, including putting up hay. These were the smaller bales that were pitched up on a farm wagon from the field and then taken to the barn and stored. Sometimes we did thousands of bales at a time and I came home bone weary in the early morning hours to my young wife.  We look back on this time as so formative and now we can communicate with Ester God's faithfulness during this phase of our lives.

As I study God's Word I notice how connected the people of God were with their past and how God instituted reminders for them.  As I observe contemporary man I am struck by how little many know about the past and how little interest they have in it.

Here's the setting of the daily text.  Under Joshua's leadership the Israelites had crossed the Jordan and come into the Promised Land.  The crossing itself was another miraculous intervention from God, as He parted the waters as He'd done 40 years earlier at the Red Sea. Joshua set up twelve stones as a memorial. He anticipated that future generations would ask about this stone memorial; "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?'" 

He instructed the Israelites to answer the question by recounting the story of God's wonderful deliverance that had just taken place.  "He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that they might always fear the LORD your God" (Joshua 4:24).

There are several other memorials in the Book of Joshua and they often involve stones.  In fact, immediately prior to his death, Joshua set up a stone as a witness in regard to his powerful challenge to the people in making the daily choice to serve God.  (Joshua 24:27)

What about your life today?  Do you recall certain events that remind you of God's faithfulness?  Have you emphasized them to your children?  Perhaps we all need to set up some stones!

He's been faithful, faithful to me.
Looking back, His love and mercy I see.
Though in my heart I have questions,
Even failed to believe,
Yet He's been faithful, faithful to me.

In my moments of fear, Thru ev'ry pain, ev'ry tear,
There's a God who's been faithful to me.
And when my strength was all gone,
When my heart had no song,
Still in love, He's proved faithful to me.

When my heart looked away,
The many times I could not pray.
Still my God, He was faithful to me.
The days I spent so selfishly,
Reaching out for what pleased me.
Even then God was faithful to me.  *


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer – Lord, I marvel at the trace of Your hand in my life.  If I were to speak of the "stones" of deliverance the first and most important stone would be the moment You changed my darkness into light.  You took away my panic and replaced it with peace.  Lord, You took the uncertainties of my life and gave me a purpose for living.  I am so grateful for the "stone" of salvation that is the starting point for the path of stones I've laid.  I've experienced Your deliverance, provision and faithfulness every step along life's pilgrim journey. Step by step, Lord, walk with me on this straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal.



Here's all of Joshua 4 that records the events described in today's encouragement.



* "He's Been Faithful" Cymbala, Carol © 1989 Word Music (ASCAP) (a div. of Word, Inc.) CCLI License No. 200530
Here's an audio of this song I found on the same church site I referenced yesterday. It is from a live worship service at the Willingdon Church in British Columbia, Canada. This was a song our church choir in New England excelled at and I still recall the blessing of hearing the heartfelt praises of the redeemed sing this song.
 
Here is an extensive list of worship songs they recorded in this church during their worship services.

I commend this and other churches for placing ministry content up on the web!  In doing so this church is extending their ministry far beyond the geographical area they are in.


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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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