I love the ocean and I love to hunt for seashells as I walk along the beach. I have accumulated hundreds if not thousands of shells over the years as a result of my relaxing pastime. Some of the shells have a hole. I had always intended to use those particular shells to make jewelry and wind chimes, but I haven’t found the time to do that. Today, I was inspired to sift through those shells and get to work on my first wind chime.
I was reading from the book of Joshua this morning and was reminded of the time that God’s people crossed the Jordan River on their way to the promised land. God actually stopped the waters of the Jordan from flowing to allow them to safely cross. God told Joshua to instruct one man from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to pick up a stone from the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and to bring them over and lay them down in the place where they would lodge that night. He told them that the stones would be a memorial to the people forever.
So the twelve men brought the stones, and Joshua set them up at Gilgal and instructed them, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:20-24).
I started journaling years ago and especially like to write down the times that I experience God in my life. I do this because I tend to forget a lot of details.
When I am discouraged, looking back at the times that I have had an encounter with God helps strengthen my faith. It helps me remember who He is and what He has done in me and through me.
Looking back over those encounters with God can also help me when I need direction. By examining the places and events that I have been through, I can have an idea of where He is leading me next.
Another great reason to remember these special moments with God is so I can share those stories with other people. My hope is that when others hear about the impact that God has made in my life, they can see that God is real and “that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty,” and that they may fear the Lord God forever. (Joshua 4:24)
I decided to use my seashells for my memorial stones and to use those “stones” to make a wind chime. I will have to finish that project another day, but I do have a nice little pile of memories to read through now. There are some other encounters with God that I didn’t get a chance to write down on a shell, and there will be several to add in the future as God continues to work in my life.
I am so thankful for a God who reveals himself to me through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church. I am also forever grateful for a God who desires an intimate relationship with me through His Son, Jesus. My prayer is that I never miss an opportunity He gives me to share with others how awesome He is.