What are your Joshua Stones?

 Today is a good day for remembering and reflecting...

When I was a kid walking along our lane or the gravel road by our house, my gaze would gravitate to my feet and the countless stones on the ground.  I would pick up the most interesting ones and they would be part of "my collection."  I think most of us have had a similar experience at one time or another.

Today I am not collecting real stones (however, you could do that), but I am considering those Joshua stones in my life.  The thought is based on the Scripture below from Joshua 4.  God asked the Israelites to do this, and He gives His rationale clearly:  let this be a mark of who I AM, and what I can do in your life.

Joshua 4

New International Version (NIV)

4 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, ² “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, ³ 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.”

⁴ So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, ⁵ 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, ⁶ to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ⁷ 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.”
⁸ So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. ⁹ Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been^[a] in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.

We, too, need these reminders of who God is and what He has done in our lives.  I am considering my Joshua Stones today:

• My parents and family:  farm life, 14 brothers and sisters, mom who was "religious" and dad who "talked to God at home"
• My baptism (I grew up Lutheran but was not baptized as an infant.  I was baptized in seventh grade after nagging my parents.)
•  Giving a message to the senior citizens at the nursing home when I was in high school (Our Sunday school went there once a month to provide a church service, the person who was scheduled didn't show up so I filled in.)
• Meeting my amazing husband while in college
• Meeting his parents who loved the Lord and are a huge part of my walk with the Lord (May Janice be blessed for being a prayer warrior.)
• Being blessed with two beautiful girls
• Accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior
• Being blessed with two more children 

 Those are the biggies.  There are so many "pebbles" along the way and I am not meaning to diminish any of them here.  There are just too many to mention.  Because, quite simply, God has been with me every step of the way.  God provided the Israelites manna each day: each morsel could be considered a pebble.  God has sent countless people into my life to guide me.  God has given me opportunities beyond belief, and thankfully He has let His prescence be known in the good times and the bad.

Today as I walk and take a look at various stones in the path, I also take note of the Joshua Stones and the pebbles that show me without a doubt that God is exactly who He says He is:  The great I AM! 

The Worth of a Child...

     Children are blessed gifts from God (Psalm 127:3), and I have no question of their priceless worth.  On the news we have seen reports of the beautiful Miss Utah fumbling on a question asked of her.  (I have sputtered for words more times than I can count.)  Last night I attended my son's baseball game, and he was struck out during his first at bat.  As he went to sit down, I saw him scanning the stands for me.  What did I do? Smile at him.  I gave him a nod and a thumbs up to let him know it was okay.  I knew that he would have another time at bat, and he needed to shake it off.  The next time he did get a base hit.

     My point? Let's get back to the worth of a child.  I don't know anything about Miss Utah, but I do know that her worth can not be measured by one response, and I wish her the best in the future.

     "The Strength of a Man" is a fabulous poem that honors the men in our lives, and the situations above lead me to write the following in the same style:

The Worth of a Child

The worth of a child is not projected on a scoreboard, 

but projected on the faces of those enjoying his or her company.

The worth of a child is not seen in numerous first place trophies,

but in making that decision to put God Almighty first in his  or her life.

The worth of a child is not seen in the power of a pitch,

but in the power and the patience of his or her prayer.

The worth of a child is not gauged by an applause-filled trip around the bases,

but in the humble and graceful steps of a life lived for Jesus.

The worth of a child is not seen in a worn-out baseball glove, 

but in the withered and worn-out pages in his or her Bible.

 

Finally, the worth of a child is not measured by a set of batting stats, 

but it is mercifully measured by a Heavenly Father 

who is filled with love for His marvelous creation.

So, go out and play ball, take part and enjoy the spirit of the competition.

Please, just do not measure your child's worth by his/her trip around the bases.

Psalm 127:3

New International Version (NIV)

³ Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.  ~~biblegateway.com

Measured Words

Okay, I already have a confession to make.

God nudged me to do this last year, and I "got busy" and didn't respond to the nudge.  (It seems easier to confess it if I write nudge instead of called.)

Anyway, so yesterday when I was during a thorough cleaning of my desk, I came across last year's opening to the blog.  Yes, I did get that far before I "got too busy" to complete the mission.

So, I renamed the blog to last year's title, because I believe that is what I was nudged, called to do.

Measured Words

Why a title like that?

One reason is simply that I am going to write according to God's leading--my words will be measured and guided by the Spirit.

We have all followed a recipe and know the importance of measuring to get just the right flavor or taste.  I pray that each day God provides me with wisdom, patience, and grace to combine the words in such a way that they make a thoughtful dish that the reader can savor.  I hope these words are received as if you were looking at a delicious family meal or potluck where you are getting morsels of great food and enjoying them even more because you didn't labor preparing them.  I pray these measured words will provide you with morsels to consider and hopefully, savor as we all strive for that deeper relationship with Almighty God.

I am a language arts teacher and I love words, OR I love words and because of that I am a language arts teacher.  Whichever the case, I pray my words, no matter how measured, will be of some value to you.

Father's Day    

I originally wrote this post on Father's Day in 2013; 

I decided to repost with a few pictures from the album I created for Kevin. 

The album was created in 2003, so just a year after our youngest, Drew, was born.

This day brings with it mixed emotions for me.  I am married to a wonderful man who is an amazing father to our four children.  So, when my focus is on him on this day, I just feel sweetly blessed and forever grateful for his love.  

My own father passed away when I was in college, and the pain of that loss still, still after more than twenty years, lingers in my heart.  My husband's father, one of the most precious men ever, has also passed away, and the void of that loss will never be filled.  Thus, my mixed emotions.

Today I am choosing to honor the past, and yet celebrate the present.  Ladies, please, bring out the best in your men.  You see how wonderful they are, make sure you point that out to your children who might be missing it or not be appreciating their dads.  

I can not look into my dad's eyes today and tell him how he was my everything, how he was my foundation growing up, but I can help my children see that in their father.  I won't miss that opportunity.

On that note, I close to get back to my family, but I want to share this wonderful poem by Jacqueline Marie Griffiths that I came across years ago.  I made a photo album for my husband out of its simple and yet engaging words.  I hope it inspires you to appreciate the man in your world.


The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It's seen in the width of his arms that circle you..

The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It's in the gentle words he whispers...

The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good a buddy he is with his kids...

The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It's in how respected he is at home...

The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender he touches...

The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his Heart, that lies within his chest...

The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved.
It's in can he be true to one woman...

The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens he can carry...


 © July 15, 1999
Jacqueline Marie Griffiths

In my photo album, I included the following lines written by me:

 The strength of a man isn't in the quality of his car,
It's in the quality of his character.

The strength of a man isn't in the power of his muscles,
It's in the power of his prayer.

The strength of a man isn't in the growth of his income,
It's in the growth of his children.

The strength of a man is seen...in your smile.

This is the website for poem:  http://www.sapphyr.net/women/strengthofman.htm

Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers out there!

Enjoy the day!

A Pleasing Aroma?

I have to admit that I am not sure about this.  I am taking a risk as God is taking a risk on me.

I am feeling compelled to serve the Lord in this manner, and I pray that I am worthy of the call.

TO BEGIN:

II Corinthians 2:14
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." 

I first reflected on this verse years ago as the speaker gave us a sensory picture:

You are in a department store.  You are walking past the cosmetics and perfumes just as someone sprays a tester of perfume.  You are accosted by the aroma as it bombards you.  This scent will leave a powerful impact on you in the future (whether you like it or not)! 

We can be such a scent.  We can come on strong and powerful or we can be that lovely aroma that lingers on the light breeze.  The leading of the Spirit can guide and control the scent we leave upon those around us.

As I embark on this adventure with you, I pray that with God's leading, my words will be that lovely, light aroma that lingers with you throughout your day lifting your spirits. 



I must also begin with a DISCLAIMER, for the sake of all involved...

I am human. I am a sinner. I am doing the best I can with what I have.  Finally, in the words of one of my college professors as she began our class, when in doubt "...assume good intentions."