It felt like time stood still as the past and the present intersected in a glorious moment that took my breath away. So many thoughts and so many emotions filled my heart as I watched my daughter sing her very first solo on the very same stage where it all began for me when I was her age. It was such a surreal experience not just because I was so proud of my little girl, but also because of the profound symbolism that moment held—symbolism of God’s incredible faithfulness through EVERY moment of my life.

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As I stood there on the stage while my daughter sang, I couldn’t help but reflect on how God was with me in the difficult moments of my life. As a child, I experienced first-hand the devastating effects that drugs and alcohol had on my family. As a child, I also knew what it was to have a mother die of cancer. But as a child, I also experienced God’s faithfulness as He directed a family from that very church to come to my house and offer HOPE and the LOVE of Jesus. That family took me into their home and loved me and raised me as their very own and because of their faithfulness to Jesus Christ, my life was given meaning and hope.

There is hardly a day that goes by when I don’t think of where my life could have been if God had not intervened. But that is exactly what God does. He takes the broken pieces of our lives and masterfully weaves them together to form a story of grace like no other.  ~Taken from Dare to Soar

As we spent the week touring and singing at some of the same churches that I sang at as a teenager, I found myself sharing with my daughter the stories of how God opened the doors for me as a young girl to sing for Him and how He began using me in ways that I never dreamed possible. Before long, I began to realize this trip was more than just a concert tour, this trip was a time of remembrance of ALL that God had done for me.

Interestingly, I just recently have been reading about the Israelites who also knew what it was like to look back and to remember God’s faithfulness to them after they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This wasn’t a typical trek for them, and I wonder if some were even a little fearful as the entire group of Israelites prepared to cross the river. Joshua, perhaps sensing their apprehension, gathered them together and reassuringly told them to consecrate themselves because the Lord was going to do wonders among them (Joshua 3:5).

And that is exactly what God did- He showed up and did the miraculous as He rolled the waters back so the entire nation of Israel could cross over the Jordan on dry land. Then, as soon as the last poky person made it to the other side, the waters flowed back. I love it when God moves, for when He moves, He moves MIGHTILY so there is no question in anyone’s mind that it is ALL Him!

After the Israelites had triumphantly crossed the Jordan, the Lord instructed them to take 12 stones from the Jordan and to set up a memorial—a memorial so that when their children would ask the meaning of the stones they would hear the incredible story of God’s faithfulness to them (Joshua 4:20-24).

Last week, as I retold the stories of God’s faithfulness to my daughter, I began to realize that remembering God’s faithfulness brings glory to Him but also does the following for me:

1.  Remembering God’s Provision in the PAST is a constant  reminder that He has never let me down. He has always taken care of my EVERY need and ALWAYS will.

2.  Rehearsing God’s Faithfulness in the PRESENT ignites my heart to worship and praise Him for all that He has done for me. How can I keep silent when He has done the miraculous for me?

3.  Reiterating God’s Promises for the FUTURE is possible because He has never failed me in the past and certainly isn’t going to start now. He promises never to leave me nor forsake me and holds my entire life in the palm of His hand.

So, thank you, sweet girl, for being so brave and singing for Jesus last week. You not only touched the audiences in a powerful way, but you blessed your mommy’s heart more than you will ever know. I pray that you will never forget ALL that God has done for me which plays a part in ALL that He has done and will do for you. May we both always share His faithfulness “so that people of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God” (Joshua 4:24).