My house isn't very tidy. You will see something laying about just about everywhere you look. This particular table sits at the top of the stairs that lead to the bedrooms. It holds many little treasures.
I'm a collector of sorts, not of any one thing in particular but there is a definite theme: just about everything reminds me of special promises which are a little too close to my heart to really believe they are true. Moments where the Lord spoke to my heart, or taught me something about who He really is...
I'll describe a few items from this particular table, which holds many favourite things.
- I love the expressions of John Paul II and Mother Teresa (Karol and Agnes) in this precious moment. They have inspired me for many years. As I walk by this table, I am reminded each morning and each night to be a sister to everyone. I sometimes forget to be that way by the time I reach the bottom of the stairs. But when I get home, or make my way to bed, I am reminded again when I see their joy in greeting a cherished sibling. It pierces and softens my heart. On good days, I rejoice with them. On particularly bad days, well...I become thankful for their very human example and entrust myself to Jesus again, ever leaning on grace to rest from the day that has just ended.
- You can find railway spikes in various places in my house (and garage), but the four pictured here are special and set apart from the rest.
- The broken shell, and little girl with the dove remind me of who I am, in different ways.
- The statues are tokens from relief projects: women holding water jars for an African well project, and girl hugging a little boy for a life center in Romania. That little boy was named Christian and was living in the streets. On the day he climbed out of a sewer (literally) to give a hug to a Christian missionary because he thought she was sad. She was the daughter of a famous pastor. He sniffed glue to keep himself content with his circumstances. But even with that, he recognized the grief on her face. So he went to give her comfort. The hug they shared, captured in bronze, reminds me of how precious each of us are regardless of where and how we live. (If memory serves, this boy didn't even know about Jesus until that day, but his story touched many hearts...including mine.)
- There is a stone shaped like Africa, and a fossilized shell, markers from a hike up a mountain on Thanksgiving day a couple years back.
- Arrowheads and some other stones, and a few gifts from family.
My whole house has little corners like this one. Reminders of special moments and promises.
You might think I spend all my time looking back. I do get nostalgic, but at work I'm a planner. My role is to look forward, and anticipate what needs to get done, and set things in motion to get them done. I'm not neat or orderly in how I do it, but I am usually effective. But it's that critical thinking and looking toward the horizon that can also be my biggest stumbling block.
So, I need to remember and be reminded of promises. I need to rest more and enjoy the depth and complexity of the little moments. I need these visual glimpses to see and hear what Jesus has done, and is doing in my life. In a flash, as my eyes fall ever so quickly on these 'things' I remember the blessing; sometimes I wince realizing my heart has hardened again. Either way, I often drop to my knees, or at least humble my heart, and softly whisper words of thanksgiving.
How does this relate to "You said", and that song from the prior post?
Well, one of the common questions in my internal dialogue is this: "
Did Jesus really say that?"
Yes, I'm one of those who thinks they really talk with Jesus regularly. And yes, most days I believe I hear from Him. But I don't always remember that what He says are actually promises - Somehow, I easily forget the continuing and ever present truth of the I AM. (The scriptures are full of promises, I know, but I doubt them far too frequently. Perhaps I never really believed or understood them? But even the parts I think I believe, I begin to question.)
I am often struck by these 'inner words', because it was Satan who first them in a dialogue with Eve, (Genesis 3: "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?") Yes, it is good to question - sometimes. Yes, it is good to validate who is really speaking, even in our internal dialogues. It's not my desire to agree with satan or feed my doubt.
Far better to speak with Jesus, than about him, even with myself. The question is quite different from simply saying...You said...
So, I place "
standing stones". Many are literally stones from special walks, but there are many things I've picked up along the way. Even in a passing glance, my mind...heart, soul, and spirit, can be filled with images, words and hope in Jesus Christ. They allow me to hear again just by seeing quick glimpses of 'things'.
Especially these days, as I look around my home, my heart swells with praise, because Lord, "You said"...so many beautiful things. You are faithful and worthy of our trust. I love you.
Matthew 8
