I love the story in Joshua 4 where the Lord tells him to take stones and build a memorial for future generations.

I grew up in a family and a church that encouraged sharing your story or testifying as we called it.  So as a family we frequently reflect and talk about stones that have been built to represent a time when God showed up and circumstances changed.

Today is one of those days...

 December 6th marks one year ago that my daughters, Erica and Alexis, and my nephew, Richie were in a bad car accident. Being in the holiday season this year feels a little weird.  My thoughts keep going back to activities we did last year right before the accident.

 Just the other day my mind rehearsed the phone call from Ron as I remembered word for word everything he said about the car wreck. I could feel my body reacting to the emotions I felt at that time.  In some ways it seems like a lifetime ago and in other ways it seems just a month or so has passed.

 A year later and I am still reminded of the verse in Genesis 50 that says "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good"

    I know for me I am not the same person I was last December 5th.  Once you come face to face with what truly matters in life you live differently. Things that are temporary lose their appeal when eternity is brought into focus.   I looked into hospital beds and saw the broken and wounded bodies of dancers and daughters of God and thought about an enemy that would love to stop and silence all that God created them for.

  Yet even with that reality starring me in the face I saw them  healed and whole.  I remember saying to Erica while she was laying in a brace, flat on her back unable to move with a tube stuck down her throat in the ICU unit,  "It doesn't matter what it looks like... we serve a God that can do the impossible. You are going be fine!"

  I saw the power of God rise up within, strengthen, heal and propel purpose in each of our lives.

  In the past year God has multiplied the influence of my girls:

• within 6 weeks of the wreck they were back teaching at the studio...

• 5 months later they led RDA's end of year dance recital and danced as their testimony of God's healing power was shared...

• this dance season the studio has doubled in size in both facilities and students...

• stepping into new leadership roles withing our church

That's what He does!

He can do the same for you my friend!

  Take your eyes off your circumstances.  Invite Him into your pain and brokenness and let him bring healing.  I can assure you that when you feel He is all you have, He is enough!

  Sometimes our own stones seem insignificant to us so we haven't gathered them.  I encourage you today to reflect and gather your stones. Gather up those stones that could have taken you out and instead use them to build a memorial... a place of remembering how God brought you through.

  Someone needs to hear your story.  It may be you that needs to hear it.  Today, you might need to remind the enemy of your soul that you remember how God has been there in your life.  The Book of Revelation talks about how we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of OUR testimony.  Gather your stones my friend and share your story.

“In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

  Joshua 4  (New Living Translation)

Today these stones mean...

Pain and healing

Peace in uncertainty

Lungs mended

Strength in weakness

Braces removed

Scars softened

Love of family & friends

Boldness in purpose

Fresh perspective

 Powerful dancing

God's faithfulness.