Tuesday, October 2, 2007

The "Ebenezer Stone"


I Samuel 7:12 "Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."

I heard a message preached on this subject once and it blessed my heart.

Ebenezer means stone of help. The preacher talked about that stone being a memorial or object of remembrance of God and His promise to protect and care for His people. The preacher encouraged us to make ourselves our own "Ebenezer stone" to remind us of God's promise to us.

My husband has one on his pulpit that our youngest daughter made for him when she was smaller. She took a rock large enough to write a Scripture verse on and painted it white. She then wrote one of God's promises on it so my husband would be reminded of that promise each time he looks at it. It's there also for each person who stands behind the pulpit to teach, preach or sing to remind them of that promise as well.

I also made one (pictured above) for myself that sits on my computer desk. My "Ebenezer stone" has Isaiah 26:3 on it. That is one of my favorite promises in the Word of God.

Let me encourage you to make an Ebenezer stone for yourself. You can have more than one to set in different places in your house. It will not only serve as a reminder to you but to all who look upon it.

21 comments:

Lyndy said...

Julie, What a great idea. I am going to make one for my desk and for at home. Thanks so much for the idea.

Love you, Lyndy

Sis. Julie said...

sis. lyndy...you are very welcome.

Mimi said...

This is a wonderful idea... and I know just who needs one right away...
thank you so much for the suggestion
blessings to you!!!!!

TO BECOME said...

Isaiah 26:3 has been a favorite verse of mine for many years now. I love it and the promise it holds. Good post , very good idea. connie from Texas

Melissa said...

Hello-I'm a friend of Deby-Daughter of the King. Just wanted to come by and introduce myself. I'm looking for new blog friends-especially Christian women! God Bless!

Kristi said...

What a great idea! I love that. I'll be working on making my Ebenezer Stone. Of course I'll blog it when I get it finished so you can see it. :)

~Kristi

Sis. Julie said...

sis. mimi...I pray it will be a blessing to the person you give it to.

Sis. Julie said...

sis. connie...it sure does!!

Sis. Julie said...

sis. melissa...thank you for stopping in and introducing yourself. I look forward to getting to know you. Come by again soon!!

Sis. Julie said...

sis. kristi....Amen!! I look forward to seeing it when you get it finished!!

~~Deby said...

Julie,
This so so cool...the verse that has beenon my mind has been 2Corinthians 5:17...you know the one I am sure...and you know WHEN our rain lets up...I think I need to go stone hunting....especially right now...
Deby

Unknown said...

I like this idea! I'm going to share it with many!

How is bro. Tim and his family adjusting in their new home and ministry?

Sis. Julie said...

sis. deby...I hope you can find one when you go hunting.

Sis. Julie said...

sis. pam...they are doing well!! God is really using him there in that church. We sure do miss them though!!

Jessica said...

Sis Julie!! This is that best things I've heard all day!! I've always seen that stone, and I've even asked about it before, and was told there was some story behind it but whoever I asked (I don't remember who it was) didn't remember what the story was.

Anyway, Let me tell you why it is such a blessing to me. Momma and I went to our (Mine & Ronnie's) house a month or so ago. And there was a big rock (just a little bigger than the one on the pulpit). Momma said that would be neat to paint, so I picked up the rock and brought it home. But I haven't done anything with it yet. Then when I read your post tonight, I thought "How neat that would be to paint it and put a scripture on it, and put it in our house!!"

Ok, so maybe it doesn't sound like that BIG of a blessing, but it was big for me (you know how I get excited about the blessings that seem "little").

Thanks again for that, it made my day!! :)

Love you!!
Jessica

Sis. Julie said...

jessica...I'm so glad it was a blessing to you. I guess the Lord had plans for that rock even before you knew what the plan or purpose would be. I love you too!!

Anonymous said...

what a fantastic post and idea! I am on a mission to find a rock to paint!
I have a polished river stone that I carry in my handbag (it is quite small, I am not carrying a weapon!!) It was given to me many years ago at an easter service as a symbol of how God and His promises endure. Whenever I reach in my bag and touch the smooth stone I am reminded of that.
But now I want to paint one!!
Thanks Sister Juile for this awesome blessing
Amy

Sis. Julie said...

sis. amy....sounds like you have an Ebenezer stone of sorts already. I am thankful that this encouraged you to get one to paint and put a scripture on.

Jerry Bouey said...

In light of your post on this stone, consider this passage:

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

I believe the Bible is the best commentary on itself, and that all symbolism in it is explained within its own pages - yet this white stone is always defined in commentaries outside of any Biblical reference (which kind of takes away the Bible as the explainer of the stones' meaning).

However, in Joshua and Samuel, we find several references to stones of memorial. They were reminders of victory attained, reminders of where the Lord had taken them. I believe that is what is in view in Revelation 2 as well. The new name quite possibly is a name God gives us as indicating our faith in Him (like Abraham and Sarah, Israel, Peter, Jedidiah, etc.), and the white stone is a memorial of our saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sis. Julie said...

bro. jerry...that is interesting. I didn't know that part. Thank you for sharing. That too is a wonderful stone!!

Anonymous said...

Julie, we found your site at work. we did a google on glen puder and saw where you had his pic & memorial. I worked with glen at the navy base and we had a memorial at the base chapel for him. You are his older sister, right? I'm sorry you could not be there for the memorial, it was nice but very emotional. I am very sorry for your loss.

Michele A.

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