Page 12 - Have Faith Oct_Neat

Day 11 And on this stone I shall build my church...

Stones... 1 Peter 2:5
I remember, as a child, scrambling over the Commandments, the stone that David killed
prehistoric cliffs of Highcliffe-on-sea on the Goliath with, the rock that Moses struck in the
south coast. The cliffs were forever crumbling desert with his staff to quench the thirst of the
that would unearth thousands of fossils of tiny Israelite's, there are so many. But the most
shell fish and animals. My friend and I would impacting passage, for me bar none, can be
spend hours searching through the clay and found in 1 Peter 2, Psalm 118: 22, Matthew
mud in the hope of finding something that no- 21: 42, Acts 4: 11, Luke 20: 17-18, Mark 12:
body had ever seen before. What an adven- 10, to name just a few. It is simple, "The stone
ture that was. I also remember, scattered all that the builders rejected has become the cor-
over the beach were rocks and stones with nerstone". The more I think about this, the
amazing crystal formations. These formations more impact it has on me. The more imper-
had been formed by thousands of years of ex- fect we are, the more God wants to use us.
posure to the sand and salty seawater leaving Wow, how powerful is that? I find it really re-
a multitude of sparkling colours. I used to assuring that no matter I much I feel rejected
wonder what if I could break one of these from those around me, the more God wants
rocks open? Would it look like the precious to use me. No matter how damaged or rough
stones in the gem shops? Could I get rich I may be, God has a purpose for me. Some-
from them? The problem was how to break times, it is only by getting damaged and tak-
these stones open. Hmm. A child's mind is a ing the knocks can we be truly ready to be
wonderful place. Full of dreams and wonder... used. As I write this, I have another passage
Its funny, because years later, whenever I in the bible fighting to come out. It is at Mark
hear the phrase "He/she is my rock" my mind 2:17 "When Jesus heard this, he told them,
wanders back to those rocks on the beach "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick
and their sheer strength. No matter how I people do. I have come to call not those who
smashed at them with my dad's hammer, I think they are righteous, but those who know
wasn't strong enough to break them. There they are sinners." These two passages, for
was one lesson for life. A good rock can be me, have become so important in my life.
relied upon to stand strong for you. How Take some time, if you can, to just mull over
many rocks do you have in your life? Stones these thoughts today. I do hope they give you
and rocks appear all over the place in the the peace that I found in them. Oh yes, I
Bible. From the stones that bore the Ten never did break that rock!!

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