On the way to Mom’s house, I heard someone on the radio talking about building an altar of stones/remembrance. She encouraged the audience to share with others, what the Lord has done and doing in our lives. Psalm 105:1b tells us to, “Make known His deeds among the peoples!”
On the way home, I began to ponder God’s goodness and faithfulness towards me. So, this is what really happened. I love saying, “This is what really happened. As soon as I got home, I ran into the kitchen, grabbed a piece of paper and pen and just started writing at the counter.
Joshua 4:20-24 says, 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.”
My dear friend Pat, who has gone home to be with the Lord, shared her “stones”. Pat was a precious, beautiful woman of God. The first time I heard her testimony of what the Lord was doing in her life, I was in tears. Oh, my goodness, what a story, I’m laughing as I’m typing. She started out saying, “I never thought I would go anywhere, I’m a wife, and a mother of nine children.” She would share some of the places the Lord had sent her. She always came back to the fact, I’m a wife and a mother of nine children. She still couldn’t believe all the Lord had done in her life. She was still in awe of how He took her all over the world, without her spending not one cooper penny. After all, she would say, I’m a wife and a mother of nine children. She said, “The Lord would move on the hearts of His people, and they poured into the works of His hands through her.” She gave the Lord all the glory and honor due Him.
I began to think, hmm, if God did it for her, why couldn’t He do it for me, I’m called to the works of His hands as well. Then I remembered His Word in Romans 2:11, For there is no partiality with God. I couldn’t wait to speak with her after the meeting. She prayed I would believe God for all I needed as I traveled for Him, peace, grace, strength, wisdom, and finances. Believe God, I did, and still believe Him. I tell people, if the Lord has called you to something, He will provide all you need to carry out His will.
Now I will share my stones with you. You may or may not know, I’ve been called by God to the Nations. By the grace of God, I will continue to go. In a few months, I’ll be leaving for the Philippines with a wonderful group of Missionaries. (This post is after the fact, I’ve returned, more to come)
Preparation for this trip has been like no other. There was a lot of monetary changes, due dates, tremendous, unheard of increases in airfare. I must admit, a few times I asked the Lord, “Did you really call me to this trip?” I knew He had, but it’s been a battle, the battle is the Lord’s, not mine. I just trust Him and be obedient. A lot of prayer had gone forth, my faith had been tested.
A few months ago, I was sitting in the living room praying about the trip. Pouring my heart out to the Lord, I said, “You know what I have in the bank and You know what I need to be in the bank. You’ve called me to the Nations, and I will go. I believe You will make a way, because You are the Way! You’ve never failed me yet; I will trust You all the way to glory.” Not even an hour had passed, someone dropped off some papers in a folder so I could handle some business on her behalf. There was an envelope in the folder with my name on it, an unexpected blessing. I just began to cry and pour my heart out in thanksgiving to the continued faithfulness of God. As the weeks went by, the monies began to pour in. I will continue to speak of all His wonders.
I praise the Lord; I have found favor with God and man. What He did for Pat, He has done for me over the years. I will continue to remember the works of His hands. Selah!