Our Stone Memorials

Daily Bread

photo source






And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying: “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’”

Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’

Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.

- Joshua 4:1-9




Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
- Psalm 119:105




So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger,
and fed you with manna which you did not know
nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know
that man shall not live by bread alone;
but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
-Deuteronomy 8:3




But when he [John the Baptist] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them:
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
-Matthew 3:7-10




The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
-Psalm 37:23

I am a stone collector.

I don't have many stones in my collection, but only a few significant ones.

And my stones are not milestones, the kind they use to mark the miles along a road or highway.

My stones are personal ones, reminders of certain special events in my life of faith. Somehow these stones remind me of important stages in my journey... times when the Lord broke through for me.

And while my stones are really just for me, stones are often used as a memorial, with historical implications, to serve as reminders and guideposts for the next generation.

We have different ways of remembering a significant event in our lives. Over the grave of my husband we have placed a granite stone marker - a memorial to the kind of man that he was, the life he lived.


After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, Joshua was commanded by the Lord to make a memorial to serve as a reminder of this momentous event. The twelve stones were to be picked from the place where the priests carrying the ark had stood while the people crossed over and placed in Gilgal where they camped after crossing the river.

Twelve stones were also placed right in the midst of the Jordan, on the very spot where the priests had stood.


One thousand and five hundred years later after that event, John the Baptist stood in this same place in the Jordan.

These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.
- John 1:28

In a few hours I will leave Manila to return to my home city of Bacolod.

It has been a wonderful one month, many events have taken place in a short span of 31 days as I had shared in the post before this.

Despite the many places I have been to the past weeks, the truth is that I have settled into a very comfortable spot here in my Manila home. Although Obedient One is away at work on weekdays, being with her, my only daughter and youngest child, is something that brings much delight to my heart.

A part of me wants very much to remain here.

While meditating on this Joshua passage I am aware of the many thoughts swirling in my mind.

What do these stones mean to you?

This is a question I hear the Lord asking. And as I read the story about the memorial stones and the other words of Scripture that were impressed on my heart this morning, I really want the words to come alive and be as food to my spirit.

The stones that were taken out of the Jordan speak to me of obedience.

Always...always... that O word comes up.

I want to remain in my comfort zone. I don't want change. Over the past four weeks, I have felt roots growing under my feet... and I am not ready to be uprooted again.

Thus, when the Lord asks me, what do these stones mean to you?, He knows that I know the answer.

He is talking to me about obedience.

Go back, and be ready... and be willing for the next stage of the journey.

Ever since my husband died, I have often felt that there is no strong reason for me to go back to our home. I can be anywhere I like, anyway there is no husband waiting for me to return. That is what I really feel.

And I do not say this in a sad or melancholy kind of way. It is just stating a truth. When one's spouse is still alive, there is a sense of rootedness, a living connection to one another. Someone is waiting for me to come back home.

Even if I have my two sons in Bacolod, both of them are already married... they have their own lives.

This makes it quite convenient for me... but it also adds to my whole general sense of not having real roots anymore.

What do these stones mean?, the Lord asks again.

These are the thoughts I hear in my heart:

Lord, I know that you are calling me to the next step of the journey, and that is learning obedience at a higher level.

Lord, I know you are telling me that my life is not about my plans, my comfort, my personal desires.

I know I have a calling to be part of the Joshua Generation... and that there is a forerunner anointing that you have poured on me... and to this I am called... to do my Elijah task, to do as John the Baptist has done... to prepare the way... for the pouring out of your glory ... to go where you are sending me... to do as You are telling me...

It is not about me... it is all about You.


It is really easy to find excuses. But the stones to me mean a kind of dying to self.

After all, the Jordan River has always been a symbol of death.

The word "Jordan" in Hebrew literally means "The Descender". The name is well chosen. This river literally rapidly descends into the Dead Sea, which at 1,300 feet below sea level, is the lowest place on earth. This river may not be big, but it is certainly strong and swift. Originating from the slopes of Mt. Hermon, 9,000 feet above sea level, it drops over 900 feet for ten miles until it reaches the Sea of Galilee. Then it flows for another ninety miles and ends in the Dead Sea.

These facts make the Jordan River one of the fastest flowing and most rapidly descending rivers in the world. It is far from being a safe river. If one wasn't careful, crossing it could spell certain death, specially if it is at flood stage.

Isn't that amazing?

So crossing this river really does symbolize a crossing over from death into life.



Produce fruits in keeping with repentance! John the Baptist rebukes the Pharisees from this place in the Jordan where the river-crossing stone memorial stands.

"Don't do religious works just to be seen by men," that's what John was saying.

Don't settle for the barest minimum of what the law requires - just enough religion to look spiritual... worshiping on Sundays, reading your Bible, saying the right words, quoting a Scripture here and there...

But rather, be really willing to obey all the way.

Seek to know His will, know what is on His heart... be willing to obey.

If we're after conquering new territories beyond our Jordan rivers, we will have to heed the continuing call to move out of our comfort zones, and to step out in boldness... into the turbulent waters... into the unknown future.

That's the only way lasting fruit is produced.

I know God is ready to reveal the divine strategy He has for each of our lives.

It is all a matter of obedience.


When Jesus came to his cousin John to be baptized, I imagine that He must have stood in the middle of the Jordan, probably right where the priests stood with the ark of the Covenant. (The river was most certainly not at flood stage at that time.)

Baptism is a beautiful picture of death, and Jesus willingly entered the waters of the Jordan... a foreshadowing of his death on the cross...

He knew that in just three years, He would lay down His body as broken bread, shed His blood as poured out wine.


When John hesitated to baptize Jesus, Jesus said these amazing words:

Permit it to be so now,
for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.
- Matthew 3:15

What a heart of humble obedience Jesus displayed!

Permit it to be so now... Jesus says.

He, of all people, did not need to be baptized. But He wanted to do it... willingly, out of obedience.

And at that very moment, God the Father exalted His Son...

and behold, the heavens were opened to Him,
and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying,
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

- Matthew 3:16-17

photo source

Obedience makes room for God.

Obedience allows self to move out of the way.

God always rewards obedience.

God exalted Joshua in the eyes of all the Israelites after Joshua obeyed His instructions about the river crossing...

God exalted Jesus after His act of humble obedience...

And now, God asks me again:

What do these stones mean to you?

I know, Lord, my life is never about me. It is always about You...

I will gladly... humbly... willingly... obey.


Worship the Lord with me...

Breathe
by Michael W. Smith

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me

And I I'm desperate for you
And I I'm I'm lost without you

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread
this is my daily bread
your very word spoken to me

And I'm, I'm desperate for you
And I'm, I'm lost without you

And I'm desperate for you
And I'm, I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you.

I'm desperate for you.

Breathe

Update: February 8, 2011, 4:20 a.m.

I arrived in Bacolod City late afternoon yesterday.

About an hour ago, while reading Deb's story on the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf, I was so touched by how God moved so specifically to redeem her from her wrong choices. She posted the lyrics of the song, Beyond the Open Door. I don't remember ever hearing this song before. As I read the words, my heart was beating so fast... I knew God was speaking those words to my heart. I am posting the video of this song here, together with the lyrics.

Thank you Deb... God has used this song to speak a specific message to me.

In the things familiar we find security
Resisting all the changes that days and years can bring,
When God decides to lead you through an open door
Inviting you to walk in realms you've never walked before.
Beyond the open door is a new and fresh anointing,
Hear the Spirit calling you to go.
Walk on through the door for the Lord will go before you
Into a greater power you've never known before.

Hear the spirit calling to wake the living dead,
To reach the huddled masses who cry out for living bread.
Arise oh mighty army, take up thy shield and sword
For the Father lifts His golden lamp beside the open door.

Beyond the open door is a new and fresh anointing,
Hear the Spirit calling you to go.
Walk on through the door for the Lord will go before you
Into a greater power you've never known.
Beyond the open door is a new and fresh anointing,
Hear the Spirit calling you to go.
Walk on through the door for the Lord will go before you
Into a greater power you've never known . . .

Where He leads me, I will follow
Where He leads me, I will follow
And where He leads me, I will follow
Into a greater power we've never known before,
Beyond the open door.

These are the words of him who is holy and true,
who holds the key of David.
What he opens no one can shut,
and what he shuts no one can open.
I know your deeds.
See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut....
- Revelation 3:7-8