This is My Ebenezer

Once upon a time, in a land far away and long ago, God's people once again turned from their idols and began to confess their sins to the Lord and pray for help. They were afraid of their enemy, the Philistines. Samuel the prophet cried out to God on behalf of his people. He took a lamb and offered it as a sacrifice before the Lord. While he was doing this, the Philistines prepared to attack. But the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines, and God's people defeated them as they fled. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up in that place as a remembrance. He named the stone Ebenezer, which means "stone of help" and Samuel said, "Thus far has the Lord helped us." And the Philistines did not invade again.

This story taken out of 1 Samuel 7, was the topic of one of my pastor's Sunday night sermons this summer. He reminded us of the importance of remembering what the Lord has done for us. Having "stones of remembrance" can serve as sources of encouragement when new trials come. They can help us remember that God helped us before and He will do it again. I immediately began to pray that the Lord would show me a meaningful way to mark what He has done in my life this year. One simple thing I did was write on a stone the verse that started my journey.

 

If you have not read the story behind this verse, you can find it here. I put this stone in my kitchen window by my sink, where I spend a great deal of time!

When I see it, it makes me smile. I whisper, "My confidence is in You, Lord," as I pass by it. And I think that if I had a stone for every time He has helped me in my life, I would not have enough places in my house to keep them. Or I could build a wall with them symbolic of the wall of strength He is to me.

But more than my simple stone, it is this blog that has been my way of remembering the goodness of my Father. This is my Ebenezer stone, Lord. It is for You and about You. It is how I say, "Thus far has the Lord helped me," and how I can say with confidence,"You will do it again!"

If you don't already know this, my heart is full of love for you who have been reading this stone of mine. And to express that love in a tiny way, I'm doing another giveway. If you haven't already entered yourself to win, go here!