The Joyful Liberator

It's the Day for Remembering...our annual pause to seriously focus on honouring those who have given their lives for our freedom.  

Once again I tell my favourite story of the day my father's village was liberated, of handsome Canadian soldiers, and joyful freedom dancing in the streets.  I want my kids to know.  It's their story.  I want them to pass it on to their kids.  They need to know that at one time their ancestors were captives and that others paid the ultimate sacrifice to bring freedom.  The life they enjoy today was purchased at great cost by others.  

The story segues easily into the ultimate liberation story.  We who were once captives have had our freedom purchased by One who lived in perfect glory but willingly gave up paradise to live among us and ultimately die so that we can live.

He did so willing.  "Because of the joy awaiting Him."  

I used to think this "joy awaiting" was the privilege of being seated at the right hand of the Father.  But He'd already been with the Father.  He didn't need to endure the cross to gain that. 

I think the joy awaiting Him was the joy of seeing you and I set free!  His death on the cross purchased healing for the broken hearted...liberty for captives...prisoners set free...joy for those who mourn...beauty for ashes...  

Anticipation of all that redemption was enough to make him "disregard the shame of the cross."  It was nothing to Him in comparison to the joy of seeing you and I set free from the chains that bind us.

He loves you so much!  He wants to you be free from anxiety, shame, the weariness of carrying overwhelming burdens.  He is your joyful liberator.  Your freedom is worth everything to Him...so much that a hideous death was nothing in comparison.  

Reach for it.  Receive it.  Savour the freedom.  Worship.

 But now, by giving himself completely at the cross, 

actually dying for you, 

Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, 

whole and holy in his presence.

Colossians 1:22 MSG

Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah  61:1-3

Stones of Remembrance

Several years ago we had a mostly new group of people in our home fellowship group so we did a getting-to-know-each-other-better exercise.  We each took a stone and wrote a word on it that represented a time in our lives when we saw God help us in a significant way.  Then we told our stories to each other.

This exercise was based on Joshua 4:4-7:

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen...

He told them, "...Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it on your shoulder...

...We will use these stones to build a memorial.

In the future your children will ask you,

'What do these stones mean?'

Then you can tell them, 'They remind us...

that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the 

Ark of the Lord's Covenant went across.'

These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.

It was a profoundly moving exercise and the beginning of a great bond in our group.  When the evening was over I took the stones my husband and I had written on and put them on the window sill.

The house we were living in at the time was 1300 square feet.  When my kids (then ages 3, 4 &7) woke up the next morning, the very first thing they noticed was the stones.

They asked.  

I told them, "They remind us..."

Of course they wanted to do their own stones!  We built a little pile on the window sill.  It grew.  Some got scattered along the way.  I've tried to keep them on a tray of candles.  Long periods of time go by and we don't really think about adding another stone (though I know we overlook many opportunities).

Yesterday, my son added another stone.

You see, we gave him a bow and arrow for Christmas--something his warrior heart has passionately longed for.  It turned out it wasn't a very good one so we took it back to the store.  Unfortunately, they didn't have another with which to replace it.  My husband did a lot of research.  The next best thing we could find was quite a bit more expensive.  Devin was frustrated.  Discouraged.  Sometimes angry.  He felt like this always happens.

Yesterday husband and son visited an archery club so they could try out a variety of bows to get an idea of what they should be looking for.  They had so much fun!  The club was full of life-like targets and people who know a lot about archery.  Kind strangers gave my son all kinds of tips.  He tried out a variety of bows.  He was in boy heaven!

Then someone gave him a really excellent bow their child no longer used.  To keep.  I wish you could have seen his face when he came bursting through the door to show me.  It was even better than what he thought he wanted.  The wait had been very, very hard for his little heart, but now it was all worth it!


After all the exuberant story-telling and demonstrations, he wrote on his own stone of remembrance.

A foundation of faith is being laid.  He's going to need the reminder.  He has higher mountains to climb and bigger rivers to cross.  Hopefully, the stone will help him remember.  His Father is with him.  He cares about the things that matter to his heart.  God's plan is always better than what we think we want.

Remembering gives us strength to endure the waiting with joy.

Whatever you're facing today, you've been prepared for it.  Remember what He has done.  

Take courage.  

Hope.

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!  

Psalm 31:24