A STONE OF WITNESS
Today’s Reading: Genesis 31
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Mount Hermon is at the north of Israel and is the highest point in the land. A peak in this area rises to 2,236 m (7,336 ft). Psalm 133:3.
To view the location of today’s photo on Google Maps, click here.
Key Verses: Genesis 31:3, 44-45
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you…Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and Me.” So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
Jacob heard from God and from his father-in-law Laban. Back in Genesis 28:18 Jacob set up a stone as a pillar of witness to God’s restating of the covenant He made with Abraham and Isaac. God reaffirms the same with Jacob. Now Jacob does the same as a witness to his covenant with his father-in-law, Laban. These stone pillars would be permanent reminders of the life-changing commitments made to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and now, Jacob; also to Jacob’s family. Be assured that the twelve sons of Jacob and his daughters listened over and over to the stories of Jacob’s encounters with God and now they were watching as their Dad and Grandpa Laban made their commitments to each other. Here’s a lesson: pass on to your family “stones of witness,” e.g. your testimony for Christ in your will, special mementos, etc.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord, help me to be creative in the reminders for my family of those times I have encountered You, as well as my commitments to others. Cause these items and/or documents to bless my children, their children and beyond. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In 1992, I carefully chose a great and beautiful “Stone of Witness” from a quarry near our Severn Bridge, Ontario, Circle Square Ranch, transported it to the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario, and erected it in front of the main entrance. Along the stone’s foundation a Bible verse is written, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16 NIV). The cost of doing this was paid for by Leno Mori of Niagara-on-the-Lake in memory of his wife who had recently passed into Heaven. It is a powerful witness to the Mori family and to all of us (see photos below). Norma-Jean and I are still working on the “witness” we want to pass on to our family. It won’t be a great stone, but we believe it will serve to remind generations to come of God’s faithfulness.
Yours sincerely for blessing our families,
David
The rock outside of the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario. CTS stands for the “Crossroads Television System,” a 24/7 television network (now known as YES-TV).
A close-up of the plaque beneath a “Stone of Witness.”
A “Stone of Witness” and scripture verse. Thought of the province of Ontario. Appreciate those verses posted yesterday concerning making decisions. Please include me in your prayers concerning making the right decisions right now. It does cause a great deal of anxiety and sleepless nights when we are waiting on the Lord and trying to hear His voice and discern His will especially when you may have some health issues thrown in the mix. See in this Bible account real human people with real human problems yet God shows mercy and continues to lead faithfully. Psalms 107: 29; “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves therof are still.” is a verse that comes to mind. God bless you all in making your decisions.
Blessings Ger! Lord God You know how my anxiety affects me, I pray Lord You will help Ger in her decisions in her life! Lord You have blessed me greatly, I know You will bless Ger over and more abundantly! I pray Lord that You would speak very CLEARLY to her,
Lord give Ger the absolute truth in her decision making. Thank You Lord for ALWAYS walking with us, Your Word says You will never leave nor forsake us…
God bless you Ger, Thank you for sharing your concerns on this prayer site!
Praying with you Ger:, You probably know this but if you read the Psalms before you sleep,especially Psslm 23 it will help you relax.
Hi,Ger.In the bible we don’t see the long gaps between the times God chooses to speak to His servants.I share your concerns also but I am slowly learning to wait on the Lord,in his timing.We must show our trust by waiting,for His timing is always best.The ‘patient’ part is what we must cultivate by trusting Him through these gaps.I’m reminding myself of this as I type….could your comment be God’s way of pointing it out to me?Thanks and God bless
Trust Me
Trust Me,I know what I am doing,
It’s not just your heart I am wooing
But your soul is so dear to Me,
I want you with Me for eternity.
Even when your days are very bad,
I share the load that makes you sad,
So do not be angry with Me,
You must trust in Me eternally.
I love all my children most dearly,
And in life I see you clearly,
That is why you are on the Earth,
It is a school and the grave is your birth.
‘I knew you before you were born’,
I would never leave you forlorn,
I know every hair on your head,
Death is not for you to dread.
Life is through my precious Son,
A reward for when your day is done,
So know that this is my gift to you
And walk with Him your life through.
G W (Bill) Marshall/.2011
God has had and still has his living stones as his witnesses in every generation. I truly thank God for all those who have stood as faithful witnesses to the fearsome God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I thank God for all those who are standing as his witnesses in this generation.
May we also be strong, faithful, and courageous. Please, God, give us the grace to listen to You and trust and obey.
In Jesus’s strong, faithful, and trustworthy name, amen
Remembering also those in Nigeria, S.Sudan, N.Korea, Syria, Iran, and all those places where it costs so much to be a public witness for Christ…
Amen Rob!!
Thank you William Marshall for your encouraging words and poem. Really a blessing. God bless you. Have a burden for the world as well Rob and what is happening on the world scene right now. God bless you saints.
Yes, it is important to leave, memories for our children; be it stories, pictures, or poems. I did picture/story binders of my life for my children; as well as some short stories.
Have a blessed day!
PRAISE THE LORD!
He told me my tea kettle was broken; it was!
I lost my lipstick, went back to the park thinking I would find it on the ground.
Didn’t find it!
Came home sat down and watched some TV, stood up and my comb fell out of my pocket, stooped down to pick it up and there was the lipstick, just under the chair a tad bit! PRAISE THE LORD
He cares about the smallest things in our lives! AMAZING, SIMPLY AMAZING!
the above is from sah!
You are so right Sah, God does care about the little things as well as the Big ones.
Thank you Sah and Eleanor and God bless you and all you do. Sorry but I did not see your postings before.