Building monuments...

The first one. We're going to start out easy, because, let's be honest, I have no idea what I'm doing. ;) I guess this serves as my preview of coming attractions.


There are so many other blogs that I am continually encouraged by. So many people that reveal truth and display God's living and active nature in their lives... I've been praying about starting one for a few months at least, now. (Yeah. I'm lame. I know.) I was afraid that I would have nothing to say, that what would come out would just be an account of menial day-to-day interactions and experiences. And trust me, my life isn't nearly exciting enough to warrant an audience, even a cyber one, for that. ;)


However, what God has affirmed to me, and what I can say without question, is that HE is worthy to be displayed and gazed upon. His acts are wondrous and He calls the world to stand by, to watch and be amazed. In the Old Testament, as we watch the creation and progress of God's people, Israel, there is a pattern that God calls for. The Israelites are in trouble, the enemy (whether internal or external) is pressing upon them, and as they wait, the Lord performs miraculous signs and wonders, affirming again that He is the ultimate King, the sovereign power of earth and heaven and HE is the one they are to believe and trust in as they proceed. He is their Savior. Many times, after He would perform these wonders, the Lord would call their leader to build a monument to Him, whether a book or a song or stones, that whenever the people saw or heard it, they would recall the glory of the Lord shown that day, and they would continue to remind generation upon generation of the magnificence of their God. In Joshua 4, it says, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying 'What are these stones?' then you shall inform your children, saying 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever." Even in dark times, even in dry times, even in quiet times, even in painful times, they were called to remember the greatness of their God and trust in Him. 


So this is my desire, to chronicle some of the things He does, teaches, reveals as I (try to!) actively surrender to Him daily. Erecting monuments for myself and, I pray, for you, as you see the amazing things He accomplishes. Now, I'm not anticipating parting the James River or anything of that nature, but since starting out here in Richmond at Aletheia, He's asserted His presence and authority over and over in so many ways. Seeing the gospel transform people's lives, seeing Him build up a community of men and women genuinely in love with Christ and wholly devoted to exalting Him amongst one another and those around them, seeing Him provide for needs too great to be understood or dealt with, seeing how He's taken a rebellious heart like mine and made it yearn for Him like a baby for milk... And even before this season of my life, He has acted over and over to make me what I am and put me where He has- through a divine series of events, if you will. I pray that through sharing pieces of these things, God would gain the glory that He so fully deserves. Know that it is all His and none of it mine...


And before I end, I must clarify the premise under which I begin writing. You must know who I am to understand the rest. For those who may not know me, and for those who may but, forgive me, do not know what the purpose and central love of my life is- I am completely and utterly indebted to Jesus Christ, who bought me by His blood along with the rest who He calls out, that I might die to myself and this world and be made alive in Him, the ultimate revelation of God's justice and mercy. I am a sinner saved by grace through faith in the work of Jesus, who suffered on the cross for my sins, taking the punishment of death that I deserved because I disobeyed and did not love the God who created me. But now, through turning back to Him and trusting that Jesus' sacrifice was the only one worthy of a perfect God, not my own works, my own imperfect efforts, He has given me a gift of eternal life in a relationship with Him. My salvation and expectation. I love my Lord and God. That is who I am. His undeserving but abundantly loved daughter.


I pray these monuments encourage you to seek, remember, and hold fast to the truth of our great God.


-Erin :)