This morning I read something that made me smile. It was part of Joshua’s story, in the Bible. The leader of Israel had been reminding the people of God’s covenant. (And some of you who know me well, will know I always get excited about a good covenant story.) So on this particular occasion, Joshua renews the covenant with the people, and he reminds them of its meaning, and then he does this:
As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the Lord. Then Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.” (Joshua 24:25-27)
Do you smile, too? A stone with ears? A rock as a witness?
What’s up with that?
It’s a word picture, of course. The Bible is full of them. And this week, it seems, my own head has been full of them, too.
Word pictures are keeping me sane. Just now as I write, three come to mind. Three word pictures God has used to anchor my soul in this season.
First there was Betelgeuse – the star – and a soul-stirring presentation from Louie Giglio. I’d seen it before, but last week I watched it again, just when I needed it most. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you really ought to set aside 30 or so minutes to be inspired. YouTube How Great is Our God, or Indescribable, either one, and it will rock your world, I promise.
It did mine. Because there’s no better remedy for doubt than an eyeful of reminder that God is bigger than big, and he’s got it covered. All of it.
Word picture number two was a dartboard, used in Sunday’s sermon. Pastor Randy stood on the stage, throwing darts at a target. He said, This is you, every day. Life is throwing stuff at you. People are throwing stuff at you. Sharp things, that hurt, and stick. And you don’t have a choice about the darts, but you do have a choice about whether or not you let them stick. The quicker you pluck them off, the freer your heart will be.
And that helps, somehow, in this season.
Finally, there’s this. A story and a word picture from Ann Voskamp, and it, too, was just what I needed. The old cahoot ran in his boots – was the opening line. And in true Ann fashion she paints a picture of an old farmer running an ultra-marathon, over 500 miles, in overalls and workboots, and winning the thing. Because he ran through the dark. Never stopping.
And that, too, is a word picture I can use.
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