Memorial Stones (Day 5 from a untitled collection)

 

            The last stone is the amethyst, which was in both the breastplate of the high priest and the foundation of the New Jerusalem, it is called the crystal of the Spirit and stands for inner peace, selflessness, and passion; yet bears the logic of temperance and sobriety. I added this stone because of the inner peace that I have found here at the lake, God knew my attraction to the water and that this is where I needed to be. Because of the transformation, I have gone through while living here my spirit has soared like the eagles I see flying over the lake. I spoke with you before about the ‘peace of God’ and now I want to talk about the ‘peace with God.’  Romans 5:1 tells us, “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (NKJV). During the darkest time of my life, I felt alone because I couldn’t feel God’s presence, my mind and my emotions created a separation from my heart where I had hidden the word of God.  I needed to get past the failure I felt because, in my mind, I had let God down. That reconciliation took place in my library at our old house months ago and came to fruition here at the lake. Something I knew in my heart took years to travel the short distance to my mind; in just one verse, 24 words, away from the scripture I shared with you in Romans was the answer I had been seeking: “. . . we also glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces preservation; and preservation, character; and character hope. Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (verses 3 through 5, NKJV). All that time the Holy Spirit was pouring God’s love into my heart, so when the time was right, it flowed out like the waters in our lake.

                When my grandchildren were younger they liked me to get my stones out, as we looked at each one I would explain how they could be used to mark special events in their lives, and I would try to teach them that they are becoming living stones before God. Somehow we always ended up outside looking at rocks, and when they went home their pockets would be full of the treasures they had found.

Child of God you are a living stone being built into a spiritual house and I’m sure along with your journey there have been times when a memorial could have been set as a reminder of what God has done in your life. It doesn’t have to be gemstones, I just happen to be a rock hound.  Maybe you enjoy flowers and could plant a memorial garden as your place of remembrance. Perhaps you could start to keep a journal as a memorial book of how he has worked in your life, who knows one day it might be a book. The point is we all need a reminder from time to time of where we’ve been so we can see just how far we’ve come. Let’s pray; Lord God your word assures us that you have a plan for our lives that gives us hope and a future. We have seen many stops along life’s journey where you have guided our life, as well as when you set us back on the right path when we have strayed off course. May your precious child’s life be a spiritual house being built as a living testimony to your glory. It is in Jesus' name we pray. Child of God surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life and as others look back they will see a living testimony to be shared with many generations to come.