Upon this Rock

Two summers ago I was hiking in the Snake River Canyon in southern Idaho when I came upon this rock.  It reminded me of the story in Exodus 17 where the Israelites are complaining because they are thirsty.  God instructs Moses to strike the rock with his staff, and water pours forth.  We see a similar scene again in Numbers 20 where the people are complaining of thirst.  God instructs Moses to speak to the rock, but he strikes it twice.  Numbers 20:11 says, “Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.”  Even though Moses did not follow God’s instruction (for which he paid a heavy price), scripture says that water came forth abundantly and all of the people and their beasts drank.  Can you picture that?  That would have been enough water to meet the needs of a million people plus their animals!

Jesus is both the Living Water as well as the rock or cornerstone upon which the church is built.  1 Peter 2:4-6 says, “And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For this is contained in scripture: ‘Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.”

Did you notice in that passage that as followers of Christ, we are living stones being built up in Him?  As I read this passage, I am reminded that not only am I to be growing in the Lord, but my life needs to reflect that foundation upon which everything rests.  When people see into the cracks of my life, do they see Jesus?  Through word and deed, I need to be pouring forth His love to those around me, and leading others to the Living Water that is abundant and will never disappoint.

One Thousand Gifts

631.  Luke 18:1

632.  Romans 8:26

633.  Watching the Spirit knit my day together

634.  When my friend offered us a meal to save me an extra trip home

635.  When my daughter thanked me for being "the best mom ever."

636.  That her old boots still fit

637.  Her excitement for the Pumpkin Patch field trip

638.  A safe trip over the mountain

639.  Quality time with a close friend

640.  The flicker of firelight

641.  Listening to and being blessed by a mission team's presentation of their trip to India and Thailand

642.  Fall foliage in the mountains

643.  Snow that doesn't stick!

644.  Learning that chewable ginger tablets cures her car sickness

645.  A safe and uneventful return home from Bend

One Thousand Gifts

616.  Hot showers

617.  That she was a peacemaker on the playground

618.  His "I love you" texts

619.  Excellent report cards

620.  Going to bed early

621.  Faithful prayer warriors

622.  The soft coo of a mourning dove

623.  Same day appointment with the chiropractor

624.  A hug from her teacher

625.  Sharing in the joy of a friend's new granddaughter

626.  Crisp October mornings

627.  A celebratory dinner

628.  The earthy smell of a horse stable

629.  Watching my son persevere

630.  Working together with my son as a team

Five Minute Friday: Race

Feeling your heart race.
Watching clouds race across the sky.
Race for a cause (ie. Race for the Cure).
Rat race.
Race against time.

It’s amazing how many phrases in our language include the word race.  The world is always in a hurry, and the march of time is relentless.  Most days of the week, I am constantly on the go.  There are places to go, appointments to keep, details swirling in my mind, the crush of laundry, the pile of dishes, and I just want it to

STOP!

While important, all of those things are temporal and temporary. 

I need to remember that I’m really only running one race that is of eternal value. 

“And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.  Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win.”  (1 Corinthians 9:23-24, NASB)

…and what is the prize?

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, NASB)


       

One Thousand Gifts

601.  Waffles with fresh strawberries piled high

602.  Watching a seal play in the surf

603.  Watching waves build and crest

604.  Her first phone call to a friend

605.  Having ingredients on hand

606.  When she comforted a child who was crying on the playground

607.  Reading children's books out loud to a captivated child

608.  That he took the kids to school and let me sleep in

609.  That my son can fix broken toilets

610.  Shimmering rainbows in sprinkler spray

611.  Flannel sheets, warm and cozy

612.  Lemon drops

613.  The sweet note that she left on the principal's desk at school

614.  A new camera

615.  Home grown melons

One Thousand Gifts

586.  Hearing his fingers tap on the keys

587.  Dew drops on a fallen leaf

588.  That he thanked me for taking him to the doctor

589.  Her awesome teachers

590.  The fluffy ringed tails of four raccoons (even though they scared me to death!)

591.  The way they help each other with spelling tests

592.  When the Spirit confirms

593.  Finding a chore system that works!

594.  The sound of gravel crunching under foot

595.  Dew-laden spider webs

596.  The twitter of birds at dawn

597.  Warm sand between the toes

598.  A clear head in a dangerous situation

599.  The Lord's protection

600.  A nice young man willing to help me with my car trouble.