Watch God Do Amazing Things

The children of Israel watched from afar as the Levitical priests carried the ark of the covenant. Just as God instructed, the priests entered the waters. Just as God promised, the waters stopped flowing as soon as their feet came in contact with the Jordan River as it overflowed its banks.

One day prior, Joshua gathered the people and told them to get ready.

"Consecrate yourselves (set yourself apart for God's glory). Stand back and watch God do amazing things!)

The people did what God commanded. They gathered 12 stones--boulders--from the riverbed and made a remembrance monument on the banks. They built this remembrance so the children would one day wonder at that pile of large rocks.

How did it get there?

Why?

Those questions opened the door for parents and grandparents to tell the children of the amazing way God protected and cared for them as they walked in the wilderness.

Remembering is important.

I have a picture in my mind of our daughter, Hannah, just a few weeks old. She is snuggled up in a baby swing, sleeping soundly. I stood and watched her and thought "I will remember this moment and this beautiful little girl always."

The last time I hugged my sweet "Big Grandpa" as we called him, the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart and I knew I would not see him again this side of heaven. I vividly remember that hug.

I enjoy remembering sweet moments in time.

The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference at Ridgecrest in North Carolina just wrapped up 2017. What a privilege to get to attend.

The worship was very special. As I sang along with my writing-family, I began to remember what weighed me down a year ago. And the year before that. And the year before that.

There are reasons to remember the not so sweet moments.

We all have concerns that weave their way into our thoughts. I really have no need to list any, because you are listing your own write now.

So go ahead, and just for 30 seconds or so, list them.

One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi . . .

Times Up.

Now think back to this time last year. And the year before that. And the year before that.

Can you remember what weighed on you? The best part of remembering is recalling the ways God worked. Now, this is your queue to praise God for His faithfulness in your life. Notice, I didn't say God did everything your way. God is wise and just and powerful and merciful and loving.

When we trust God to be God. . .when we choose to rely on Him through faith. . .we can know that no matter what, NO MATTER WHAT, God works in all things to bring good to those who love Him.

As I worshipped at Blue Ridge, I counted the ways God worked and provided in the past year.

The God of Joshua hasn't changed.

He is my God.

And today, I choose obedience.

And I'm watching, because He will do amazing things.

Memorial Day and The Raindrops on Your Old Tin Hat

Those who know me, know I make a habit of Red Friday posts on social media. I've done this for several years and will continue as long as Facebook exists.

I look for quotes and stories, Bible verses and personal thoughts to draw our attention to the ones who lay it all on the line so we can freely and safely go to the grocery store, send our kids to school and worship without fear.

This past Friday, I felt especially heavy hearted as I looked for the proper post for the day. Thinking of Memorial Day just a few days away. . . I couldn't help but think of the Mom's who are without their warriors this year.

I came across an old poem, The Raindrops on Your Old Tin Hat, and the story of its author.

John Hunter Wickersham, born in 1890, joined the army and by the year 1918 he served as a Second Lieutenant in the 353rd Infantry Regiment in France during WW1.

September 11, 1918, just prior to taking part in battle, Wickersham wrote a letter to his mother. The letter contained a poem he wrote while thinking of her.

The next day, John Hunter Wickersham was seriously injured in battle. He pressed on and led his platoon until he fell later September 12 and died. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1919.


Second Lieutenant Wickersham's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Advancing with his platoon during the St. Mihiel offensive, he was severely wounded in 4 places by the bursting of a high-explosive shell. Before receiving any aid for himself he dressed the wounds of his orderly, who was wounded at the same time. He then ordered and accompanied the further advance of his platoon, although weakened by the loss of blood. His right hand and arm being disabled by wounds, he continued to fire his revolver with his left hand until, exhausted by loss of blood, he fell and died from his wounds before aid could be administered.

Here is the poem he wrote the day before he died:

The Raindrops on Your Old Tin Hat

The mist hangs low and quiet on a ragged line of hills.
There’s a whispering of wind across the flat.
You’d be feeling kind of lonesome if it wasn’t for one thing
The patter of the raindrops on your old tin hat.

An’ you just can’t help a-figuring sitting there alone
About this war and hero stuff and that.
And you wonder if they haven’t sort of got things twisted up,
While the rain keeps up its patter on your old tin hat.

When you stop off with the outfit to do your little bit,
You’re simply doing what you’re s’posed to do –
And you don’t take time to figure what you gain or lose –
It’s the spirit of the game that brings you through.

But back at home she’s waiting, writing cheerful little notes,
And every night she offers up a prayer,
And just keeps on a-hoping that her soldier boy is safe –
The Mother of the boy who’s over there.

And fellows, she’s the hero of the great big ugly war,
And her prayer is on the wind across the flat,
And don’t you reckon it’s her tears, and not the rain,
That’s keeping up the patter on your old tin hat?

Second Lieutenant Wickersham was 28 years old.

This Memorial Day weekend I offer prayers of thanksgiving for the heroes who gave their lives for our freedom. I pray for the families who must display the tri-folded American flag and long to hold the one they love.

I will go to the church picnic and enjoy time with family and friends.

But I will not forget what this special day is meant to be.

And I will not forget the men and women whose blood makes American freedom possible.

God bless America.

Passion

Passion.

Passion for retelling the stories.

The Samaritan woman.

The pools of Bethesda.

"Stretch out your hand."

The healing of Jairus' daughter.

Passion.

40 days in the wilderness.

A centurion's faith.

A man born blind.

"Lazarus! Come forth!"

Passion.

Lord, I believe. . . help my unbelief!

The feeding of 5,000.

The four good friends.

"Let not your heart be troubled. . . "

Passion.

Passion for telling the children about a life-changing, eternity-binding, love-you-forever Jesus.

Passion for opportunity to reach, teach, and love children who have only heard the name of Jesus used in a curse.

Passion for the biggest opportunity, brought right to our doorstep.

And, passionate prayer for able-bodied people to rise to the occasion and say "YES, Lord, YES!"

Jesus.

Passion for Jesus.

I'm so glad someone told me.

Babylon is Watching

Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank.

The Old Testament story is well-told in children's Sunday School classes. We read how King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. The king put the word out to look for the best looking young men and bring them back to Babylon. These near-perfect men would train for 3 years in preparation to serve in the kings court.

Daniel and 2 of his friends were in the group of young men taken to Babylon.

We quickly learn that, although he knew he couldn't change his address, Daniel made the decision to be faithful to God. Daniel was bold enough to ask the chief official for permission to stay away from the kings unhealthy food. After some back and forth, the official agreed to a 10 day testing.  

These boys were in a foreign land that worshipped foreign gods. They did not have their parents or family members nearby for support. All they brought with them was the truths God had planted deep in their hearts.

Imagine, if you can, the fear that must have gripped them in this cold and pagan world.

The Bible says God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the eyes of the official. This is the only way Daniel and his friends were awarded 10 days of clean eating.

At the end of 10 days the official clearly saw Daniel and his friends were healthier and looked better than the others. He continued to give them the vegetables they requested.

As believers, you and I step into Babylon every time we walk out the door or turn the television on. Goodness, we carry Babylon with us everywhere we take our cell phones.

Each time we find ourselves in Babylon, we have a choice to make. We can be determined to be faithful to God or we can look like we belong in Babylon. This is real-life stuff. We can laugh at the same jokes, stab our co-workers in the back, watch the same movies, hang out in the same bar on Friday nights, and use the same language- that would be Babylon.

Or

We can allow what we learn from our own private Bible study time as well as what we learn when we get together on Sundays to change us and make us Christ-like. We can ask God to plant His words deep in our hearts. We can remain undefiled in Babylon.

You know, they didn't sneak over for a taste of the kings rich food even one time. They were too determined to be faithful.

Daniel and his friends remained true to God and the result was obvious to onlookers.

Babylon is watching.

Could it be, as we are faithful, someone in Babylon might decide they are tired of living a sick, tired life?

Babylon is watching.

Watching with curious eyes when we face life's challenges.

Babylon is watching.

Watching when our hearts break, expecting us to turn from our faithful God and enter into Babylon.

Not every battle we fight is for our own good and growth. Some battles are for the people of Babylon.

Babylon is watching.

You know, at the end of the training years, he interviewed all of the men for his court. The king found no one equal to Daniel and his friends. In fact, the king found them to be 10 times better than any other servant in his kingdom.

The rest of the story is full of amazing ways God used these young men to be salt and light in Babylon.

God hasn't changed.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the one who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8