April 15, 2010
Wow! Looks like I will be writing for several days on these chapters.
We have long felt that we need to do something to honor God and commemorate what God has done in our lives and the fulfillment of His promises that He so miraculously gave us through Jane. (Her Name was Jane)
We need to remember!
God often used stones as a means for remembrance. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River they were to pick up stones from the river bed. (Joshua 4) The rocks were to remind them and their children what God had done. Now here in Deuteronomy 27, Moses is telling them that soon you will be crossing the Jordan. (Soon this storm in our lives will be over.) And, when they cross over they are to build an altar of stone they have collected from the fields and cover it with plaster. They are to use the altar for burnt offerings and fellowship offerings and "eat them and rejoice before the LORD your God." Then, write clearly the words of these teachings on the stone.
That's it! That's it! Now I know what we are to do! For the last several years my husband and I have mentioned different times that we'd like to build an outdoor stone fireplace. That we would mortar it ourselves, maybe build a small pavilion over it, etc. We've talked about where it could be done how we would do it, etc. It never got any farther than a couple of "what if" conversations. Then, as I was reading Deuteronomy 27:1–8, I immediately know—that's it! That is what we are supposed to do. We are to gather stones, we are to build an altar of praise to our God. Can you imagine? I can't wait! All of us will gather, from the oldest grandparent to the youngest grandchild. We will gather stones and we will take those stones we have gathered and mortar them together to build our altar of praise. We will work together and talk about what God has done. We will gather together in the coming years and remember. We will talk about it with our children and grandchildren.
We will remember!
The ideas are flying through my head, but I don't want to do anything that is just my idea. So, time will be taken. What is it You want us to do God? How do You want it done? We want this altar of praise to honor You and You alone. Show us how to incorporate Your commands. Show us what You want us to do. Our hands are open to You.
Our family has went through this time together, and we will build this altar of praise—together. Joshua 24:15 - "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Can't wait to see what God is going to do and how He is going to do it. Blessed be the name of the LORD!
Addendum: 11/4/13 ~ "All of us will gather..." A lot has changed in the three and one half years since I first wrote that. Dad is gone. My husband's parents are no longer capable of participating. So, that just leaves Mom, but in NO way do I mean "just" Mom. Mom of all people fully understands what all we have been through and the events surrounding this storm. I so hope she will still be alive and well when this is over so she can participate in the gathering of stones. I want Mom to live long enough to be able to witness the Hand of God as HE saves us "from the hands of the wicked." But if for some reason she still isn't with us, I am okay with that. She has already experienced and witnessed the Hand of God working in our lives, and that is enough.
Addendum #2: 5/6/16 ~ We finally realized "the storm" didn't have to be over to build the shelter. Faith is believing before seeing. So the work has begun. The timber peg construction of our Praise Shelter is completed. The fireplace to commemorate the altar is finished; the stones have been gathered and engraved with the promises God gave us through Jane's lips; the plank has been engraved with the words—Praise Shelter Est. 2016. We still need to finish laying the brick and cobblestone floor and stain the wood. We are so grateful. We WILL remember. Thank you LORD. We will celebrate YOUR faithfulness and guidance on this journey.
Addendum #3: 8/22/18 ~ Picture of the Praise Shelter and video of the completed cobblestone path.
Wow! Looks like I will be writing for several days on these chapters.
We have long felt that we need to do something to honor God and commemorate what God has done in our lives and the fulfillment of His promises that He so miraculously gave us through Jane. (Her Name was Jane)
We need to remember!
God often used stones as a means for remembrance. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River they were to pick up stones from the river bed. (Joshua 4) The rocks were to remind them and their children what God had done. Now here in Deuteronomy 27, Moses is telling them that soon you will be crossing the Jordan. (Soon this storm in our lives will be over.) And, when they cross over they are to build an altar of stone they have collected from the fields and cover it with plaster. They are to use the altar for burnt offerings and fellowship offerings and "eat them and rejoice before the LORD your God." Then, write clearly the words of these teachings on the stone.
That's it! That's it! Now I know what we are to do! For the last several years my husband and I have mentioned different times that we'd like to build an outdoor stone fireplace. That we would mortar it ourselves, maybe build a small pavilion over it, etc. We've talked about where it could be done how we would do it, etc. It never got any farther than a couple of "what if" conversations. Then, as I was reading Deuteronomy 27:1–8, I immediately know—that's it! That is what we are supposed to do. We are to gather stones, we are to build an altar of praise to our God. Can you imagine? I can't wait! All of us will gather, from the oldest grandparent to the youngest grandchild. We will gather stones and we will take those stones we have gathered and mortar them together to build our altar of praise. We will work together and talk about what God has done. We will gather together in the coming years and remember. We will talk about it with our children and grandchildren.
We will remember!
The ideas are flying through my head, but I don't want to do anything that is just my idea. So, time will be taken. What is it You want us to do God? How do You want it done? We want this altar of praise to honor You and You alone. Show us how to incorporate Your commands. Show us what You want us to do. Our hands are open to You.
Our family has went through this time together, and we will build this altar of praise—together. Joshua 24:15 - "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Can't wait to see what God is going to do and how He is going to do it. Blessed be the name of the LORD!
Addendum: 11/4/13 ~ "All of us will gather..." A lot has changed in the three and one half years since I first wrote that. Dad is gone. My husband's parents are no longer capable of participating. So, that just leaves Mom, but in NO way do I mean "just" Mom. Mom of all people fully understands what all we have been through and the events surrounding this storm. I so hope she will still be alive and well when this is over so she can participate in the gathering of stones. I want Mom to live long enough to be able to witness the Hand of God as HE saves us "from the hands of the wicked." But if for some reason she still isn't with us, I am okay with that. She has already experienced and witnessed the Hand of God working in our lives, and that is enough.
Addendum #2: 5/6/16 ~ We finally realized "the storm" didn't have to be over to build the shelter. Faith is believing before seeing. So the work has begun. The timber peg construction of our Praise Shelter is completed. The fireplace to commemorate the altar is finished; the stones have been gathered and engraved with the promises God gave us through Jane's lips; the plank has been engraved with the words—Praise Shelter Est. 2016. We still need to finish laying the brick and cobblestone floor and stain the wood. We are so grateful. We WILL remember. Thank you LORD. We will celebrate YOUR faithfulness and guidance on this journey.
Addendum #3: 8/22/18 ~ Picture of the Praise Shelter and video of the completed cobblestone path.
Addendum #3: 9/20/18 ~ Mom went to her eternal home and her Lord and Savior in 2018. She had no fear of death and zero anxiety about the process; she only felt God was "dawdling" and not taking her soon enough. Mom was ready to "go home."
My brother and I took care of Mom for the last three weeks of her life. What precious memories we have of our time together. We laughed, we cried, Mom told us stories we had never heard, she kept us entertained with funny one-liners, we shared life and love together, and as difficult and exhausting as it was, it was also a beautiful time that I will forever cherish. Mom was fiercely independent, determined, and self-less to the end. She didn't live long enough to see "the storm" in our lives end, but thankfully, she helped with building the Praise Shelter and preparing the surrounding area. She enjoyed spending peaceful time swinging in the hammocks.
Faith is believing before the proof. I'm so thankful we built the Praise Shelter honoring God's promises while Mom was still alive to enjoy it. You're home, Mom. You're home. Praise the LORD!
2020 Update: "The storm" is over! See: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Next Entry: Deuteronomy 27:1 – 28:68 (Continued)
My brother and I took care of Mom for the last three weeks of her life. What precious memories we have of our time together. We laughed, we cried, Mom told us stories we had never heard, she kept us entertained with funny one-liners, we shared life and love together, and as difficult and exhausting as it was, it was also a beautiful time that I will forever cherish. Mom was fiercely independent, determined, and self-less to the end. She didn't live long enough to see "the storm" in our lives end, but thankfully, she helped with building the Praise Shelter and preparing the surrounding area. She enjoyed spending peaceful time swinging in the hammocks.
Faith is believing before the proof. I'm so thankful we built the Praise Shelter honoring God's promises while Mom was still alive to enjoy it. You're home, Mom. You're home. Praise the LORD!
2020 Update: "The storm" is over! See: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Next Entry: Deuteronomy 27:1 – 28:68 (Continued)
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