Polishing God's Monuments by Jim Andrews

"A true story so gripping and moving and inspiring that one cannot put the book down.  To enter into this theological reflection on suffering is to accept the challenge to grow deeply in Christ, and to cherish the sure and certain promise of the Gospel."

Bruce A. Ware

This is the first in my self-designed reading list of good books for this year.  And, Wow!

As I have walked the path of infirmity rather intensely for the past 4 years, there have been many sources of input for encouragement and, in some cases, confusion.  In all of it, my desire has been to know what God thinks and hear His voice.  The voice of man can be so loud at times.  My own voice can be so loud at times!  This book has been an absolute and total blessing.  It has reinforced what I know to be true about God.  It has reminded me of truth that had gotten a little foggy in my mind.  It has encouraged me in amazing ways.  Here's just a taste of all that.

The book is written by the father of a young woman who, along with her husband, has experienced intense health issues for 20 years, beyond anything that our "normal" lives could imagine.  In the midst of that infirmity and suffering, this family has learned a great deal.  Jim Andrews does a fabulous job of telling the story, and of interweaving the Biblical and theological principles they have learned along the way.

"Polishing God's Monuments" refers to remembering the times when God's deliverance occurs, taking out those memories when He is silent and "polishing" them, reminding ourselves of His love, grace, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.  It reminds me of Psalm 105, remembering the works of God in the lives of the Israelites.  A memory box, if you will, of His deeds on their behalf.

Some of what I have gleaned:

• God is God.  I am not.

• His purposes are paramount.

• He works in mysteries as well as "knowns" and I need to walk in faith as I deal with "mysteries."

• God is not at my beck and call.  I am at His.

• He is totally sovereign and knows the beginning from the end.  I am not and do not.

• He is weaving a perfect tapestry, and He has no loose ends.  I can't see what He's doing and that is okay.  The dark threads reveal the brilliance of the golden ones on the top side, which only He can see.

• God's purposes are His own, and I may never know what they are.

• I am His, and He can do anything He wants with me.  I gave up my rights to myself when I bowed my knee to Christ.

• I need to trust that He knows better than I what "best" is.

• God's agenda is not to make me happy (in terms of temporal bliss), but to make me holy.

This is so, so, so worth reading.  I am grateful that He dropped it in my lap, so to speak.  A tremendous blessing.

Polishing God's Monuments in the used section of Amazon Marketplace.

My Ebenezer.....

My mind has been like a tape player set on "loop."   Replaying over and over and over again the scenarios of what I would say if I had the chance.  To defend myself.  Against false accusations.

It's a battle I have fought using Scripture.  Written on spiral-bound 3x5 cards and read when the loop needed to be broken.  Truth to refute lies.  Over and over and over again.

But I was getting pretty worn.

Then last Friday I had a breakthrough.  It finally hit me that Jesus was falsely accused.  And He said nothing in response.  And that I, by being falsely accused, am sharing in His sufferings.  Perhaps for the first time, really.  Wow.

And the really cool thing is that while Jesus didn't defend Himself on earth, every time someone dies, they bow their knee to Him whether they did on earth or not.  They have to.  They are faced with the Truth and can't escape His holiness.

"So that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW,

of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11. 

 Well, it occurred to me that the truth is something that all of us will be confronted with when we reach the other side.  Those of us who love Jesus and those who don't.  So whether my accuser and those who believe him are ever "enlightened" as to the truth here on earth, they most assuredly will be when they cross over and meet the Truth.  I need not worry about salvaging my reputation with them here.  Hard as that is.

And at that realization, peace (that passes all understanding) filled my heart, soul and mind.

And then, as if that weren't enough, something else really cool happened.  That night, some people very dear to me gave me a gift of something I have wanted for a long time.  And it was given because they were sorry for the stuff I've been going through relating to the false accusations.

It reminded me of a standing stone, like the one Samuel set up as a reminder that "Thus far, the Lord has helped me."  His Ebenezer. (1 Samuel 7:12)

So, this is my Ebenezer ~

a reminder that

Thus far the Lord has helped me....

to understand a little of the fellowship of his sufferings

and the need to keep on rejoicing that He has allowed me that privilege.

 "But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ,

keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory

you may rejoice with exultation." 

1 Peter 4:13

"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection

and the fellowship of His sufferings,

being conformed to His death;"

Philippians 3:10. 

P.S. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's a clay pot which is an amazing piece of cookware.  Its first use will be to cook a turkey for those dear ones who gave it to me.  :-)