Stones of Remembrance

For the last couple months life has been really crazy! Come to think of it, life is still pretty crazy! But over the last few months God keeps bringing me back to the story in Joshua where the Israelites are getting ready to cross the Jordan River into the Promise Land. God tells the Israelites to pick up twelve stones to place on the other side of the river to continually remind them of all that ways that He provided to bring them to this point.

As we prepared to move to Rio Rancho, NM God kept telling me I needed to remember all that He's done and all the ways that He's provided for me in the past. I've been meaning to write this post for a few weeks now but I didn't have internet and then I kept putting it off.

I've been feeling pretty discouraged the last few days. We're trying to buy this house that is a short sale and it seems like it's never going to go through, my purse got stolen, I miss my close relationships and even my familiar neighborhood and grocery stores. This morning I felt God nudging me to finally take the time to sit down and write out some of my stones of remembrances. God has never failed me! He has never failed to provide the perfect house, great friends and each desire of my heart that I bring before Him and even those desires I didn't realize I had but he knew. But sometimes amidst discouragement it's hard to remember all of those things.

So it's time to start remembering them...

- First of all God sold our house in a month! Not only did our house sell quickly but God's hand was all over the purchase and sale of that house. It was such a gift and we loved so much about it!

- God provided people to help clean and pack up our entire house and people to watch our kids.

- When we moved home from Vienna and I was pregnant with the twins, we literally had nothing...God provided a townhouse we couldn't afford (the couple gave us an amazing deal!), people just kept giving us furniture and stuff for the twins, and in some of the moments that all the change seemed too much to handle, someone was offering to bring a meal, a family member was coming over to help and people poured love and prayer over us.

- We were outgrowing our Toyota Camry and Mike's grandpa sold us his van for an AMAZING deal!

- God has provided people to call, stop by, text, give a gift or watch the kids at so many of the most perfect moments when it was just what I needed.

- God provided a temporary rental house here in NM that someone at the church owns. This is such a blessing that allows us to not be tied down but buys us time to buy a house.

- Through lots of prayer and spending time in God's Word, God continually gave Mike and I a sense that this is where He was calling us to.

- One of my biggest fears in moving was how Davis would do, he's my shy guy, and he hasn't even skipped a beat here. He loves it and even seems excited about Kindergarten! This is truly a God thing, if you know Davis!

The list could go on! Mike's at a meeting right now but before bed I plan on together talking about more ways that God has provided so perfectly in the past. My hearts feels encouraged already just writing this, though I'm anxious to write the ending where I'm looking back at all He has done. I know that some ways we will recognize months from now and I know that in some areas it will be years before we begin to see where He is at work or how He has been at work in our lives. Though if I could quickly look back and recognize God giving me an extra dose of patience I think my kids would greatly appreciate it! :)

I am begging God for more faith and in my weaknesses, which I feel like abound right now, that He would be strong. I wanted to make sure to blog about this because I don't want to give the misconception to my kids, or anyone else for that matter, as we look back on this that following Jesus is always easy. Sometimes when God calls us to something all the pieces perfectly fall into place but sometimes they don't. Sometimes it's really hard and everything doesn't make sense but that's why looking back is important because in the moment I can't always see how God is going to provide, but when I take the time to look back I can see how He has ALWAYS provided in His perfect way and in His perfect timing.

The verse God gave me this morning, that I've known for years but was just what I needed this morn was Proverbs 3:5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

In this season of lots of new things and unknowns I am asking God to help me trust Him, His ways and His perfect plan. He has never failed me! Mike kept saying as we prepared to leave "no looking back, just looking up." I am striving to do that, though I have been failing. Thankfully God has been faithful. He keeps bringing my eyes upward and for that I'm thankful. I know when my eyes are fixed on Him, peace abounds in every area of my life. I am praising God now for what He has in store! I can't wait to look back and see all that He's done!