Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place [Jehovahjireh] The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” -Genesis 22:6-14

It’s Good Friday. I hadn’t planned to write, but a picture stirred me to.

I made this sign for my front door several years ago. It was the earliest days of my faith. It was also my first attempt at wood-burning. The back of this piece was my practice spot, so it’s got all kinds of ugly marks (much like the flesh I traipse around in).

With my crude wood-burning skills (and faith), I was compelled to make this one-word declaration to the world from my front door:

JEHOVAHJIREH meaning, THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

It’s been there ever since, and what a reminder it has been for me…

As a new believer, I was riddled with ugly marks – with all kinds of self-imposed and other-imposed burns-with all kinds of sin. I see striving and frustration and confusion and disappointment…  a crude faith, desperately needing refinement.

JEHOVAHJIREH.

I’m still riddled with ugly marks and I’ve gained many more, but with each of them, the Lord teaches me to trust Him and to wait for Him. From the seemingly insignificant circumstances to the overwhelming trials, He’s working it all together for my good. This sign is a declaration of my confidence in Him.

JEHOVAHJIREH.

When I can’t see Him, hear Him, feel Him – I wait for Him, knowing that He will show up. He will provide, far beyond all I could ever hope for. He’s my Creator, my Completer and everything in between. May this truth be burned into our minds over all the ugly marks.

JEHOVAHJIREH.

I’m waiting for Him with you, knowing that we won’t be disappointed. When I’m weak, encourage me with this truth, okay…

In His love and provision,                                                                                                                                                                             Jamie =)

…[John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  -John 1:29