WHEN

 

Linking up with Kate

 

That’s the writing prompt.

It turned my mind to a couple of things that have been running through my head anyway.

I thought about the beginning verses in Joshua 4. I studied this passage a few years ago, in the Bible study, Believing God. I was inspired with the idea of touchstones and stones of remembrance. There are a lot of times in life when I remember when.

I find myself saying, “Remember when?”

Some “whens” stand out more significantly than others.

I have mementos and many things I love in my home and in my home decor that are “stones of remembrance” and speak of a when.

Some speak of people I love, some of times past, some of special events, some of things overcome or endured.

A trail of “whens”.

I thought about this post I read this week and how it brought tears to my eyes because, though the experience is totally different from my life experiences, I relate to the feelings and emotions and the love I have for God and the desire to be where He wants me, when He wants me, and I often find it hard to grasp that He could make much of anything from the mess I present Him.

And it found pulling out a stack of remembrances that mean a great deal to me.

I stacked my Bible studies and I thanked God. For though, I far from retain all the lessons from His Word and I find myself constantly in need of grace, I bow my head at the greatness of His power and the sustaining love that never runs dry.

The emotions ran through my heart as I remember years and days gone by. Tears and smiles and thankfulness all mingled together. Most days I feel like a mess. I think that maybe “when” I get it together better, “when” I become more patient, “when” kindness overcomes selfishness, “when” joy surges strong.

WHEN.

The list is long in either direction.

Looking back or looking forward.

Yet, Jesus. Sweet, sweet Jesus.

He has it covered.

When He said, “It is finished.” And bowed His head. And died, FOR ME.

Right then.

He didn’t tell me to wait to come when ___________.

He made the way!

When on the third day, he rose again!

When He ascended to His Father, and He is there interceding on my behalf.

It is simple. Yet, I try to make it hard.

And the older I get, the less I feel like I have anything figured out or any kind of advice for anyone. The less I’m sure I know. But this one thing I do know. Even though, I can’t grasp it completely either, with my human mind.

Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

And this stack of Bible studies, they mean a whole, whole lot to me. Some of the worst times and some best times and a lot of upheaval run through the years these pages were completed in. So many things happened and happening that I never imagined or really thought I’d see in my lifetime.

They represent a lot of whens.

I’ve always liked the look of a stack of books and as I read Beth’s post and her history and saw the picture of the stack of studies and homework that God worked through her, I loved the idea of the visual reminder the stack made.

I thanked God for His Word and teachers of His Word.

I stacked my studies and I took some photos. There aren’t words to express the meaning and it probably doesn’t even make sense to many people.

It matters to me. I will not forget when God opened doors in my life and when I read about a Bible study book in a blog post, written by the sister to a friend of my sister, and decided to order one.

There are times when I hug my Bible to me and I simply thank God.

Joshua 4:1-7

 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,  “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”

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.”