Ebenezers

In yesterday's post, I talked about the importance of practicing praise.  I referenced Pastor Chris's sermon this past week in which he talked about Bethel being a place of remembrance.  He told us we need to learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord by remembering the times he has been faithful.

In 1 Samuel 7:12, the Bible says, "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.  He named it Ebenezer saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."  This morning I made a map of the Ebenezers in my life-- the points that I can look back and remember that the Lord has brought me this far.  The points that I can remember when I need to encourage myself in the Lord.

I know it is hard to read, but it was really more for the purpose of encouraging myself in the Lord than for the purpose of testimony.  However, if any of you FpStudent girls want to hear my testimony, if you want me to tell you about my Ebenezers, lets sit down and talk this summer.  I'd be glad to tell you what the Lord has done in my life-- in more detail than I wrote about here.

This is by no means comprehensive God has done a zillion little every day miracles that don't show up on the map.  And I know that as Pastor Chris pointed out on Sunday, He's done a bazillion other miracles that I never even noticed.

I encourage you all to make your own list of Ebenezers.  It can be a map, a timeline, a list, a web, whatever.  Just take the time to look back at the times that "the Lord has brought you this far."  As we continue in our "Cool Story, Bro" series, it's important that we think about our own stories and how the Lord has brought us to where we are so that we can use that story to glorify Jesus!

(FpStudents and Leaders- If you write down your Ebenezers and wouldn't mind me sharing them on here, please send me the picture.  I think we can all be encouraged in the Lord by seeing the miracles in each other's lives.)