Here I raise my Ebenezer

The other day I had my last bible study of the year with a few girls who I've had the privilege of sharing my life with this past semester. They are SO hungry for the Lord, and time with them has honestly been so refreshing and life-giving and if I'm being honest sometimes even draining(Since I'm human afterall). They are willing to meet, willing to give up their own time, willing to hear truth speak into their lives! They ask the blunt, hard questions, they take opportunities to get more of Christ and they challenge me daily!!! I am so ill equipped- but looking back on this semester all I can see is God's goodness overflowing through my life and in their lives. My soul is so grateful for our time together and for new, everlasting friendships based on Christ! : )

So, during our last official gathering together we went to Amelie's. (The cutest, funkiest, french bakery located in Noda -Charlotte's version of Greenwich Village ... for all my New Yorkers out there!)  We drank coffee, painted pretty flower vases, and made Ebenezer Stones.  What's an Ebenezer Stone? Great, I'm SO glad you asked ; )


One of my favorite hymns (and I'm sure thousands of other people's favorite as well) is "Come Thou Fount".  Here's a link to listen to Mumford and Sons singing it. I highly encourage you to! --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNzO6LCyiIY&feature=related
Anyways, the lyrics in this hymn NEVER cease to turn my heart upward to gaze at the face of Christ. Oh, how this song unconciously raises my hands to praise Him! 


The second verse of the song begins with these words: “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” The word Ebenezer comes from the Hebrew words ’Eben hà-ezer (eh’-ben haw-e’-zer), which simply mean "Stone of Help". In 1 Samuel 7, the prophet Samuel and the Israelites found themselves under attack by the Philistines. Fearing for their lives, the Israelites begged Samuel to pray for them in their impending battle against the Philistines. Samuel offered a sacrifice to God and prayed for His protection. God listened to Samuel, causing the Philistines to lose the battle and retreat back to their own territory. After the Israelite victory, the Bible records in 1 Samuel 7:12 “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us’ ”


The following words in this sweet hymn simply state "Here by Thy great help I’ve come.” I love this!  This is so true of my life. ONLY by God's grace have I gotten to this point! My Ebenezer stone represents God's bountiful blessings this semester, His unceasing mercy, His help, and His perfect FAITHFULLNESS to me and ALL of His children!


We wrote little summarizing words or phrases if you will on our Ebenzer rocks to REMEMBER this season of life, and ALL God has done. Each rock represents individually what the Lord has taught us over the past 5 months.  HE IS SO GOOD!

Mine says "He Promises-2012". My inspiration for this semester came out of Psalm 33:4 "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does."  This semester I desired to be a woman who stood firm on every promise of God's Word. Someone who didn't allow her emotions to change the way she viewed her walk with Christ or Christ Himself. He has proven to be trustworthy and faithful. His covenant is sure, his words are mighty and strong to save. On this I am secure! He  has allowed me to consistently KNOW this truth even despite the ups and downs, the all-nighters, the terribly busy days, the times when I dissapointed people, the harsh test grades, the bad "WOD" experience, the uplifting AND discouraging conversations, and well frankly despite exactly HOW much money I actually had in my bank account that week. ha. The Lord has been my help through it all, and he will continue to be my help until forevermore!  




...and for that I sing along with the Psalmist.... " I love you, O Lord, my strength." -Psalm 18:1