2019 has been a wonderful year so far for me! God has done some amazing things and there are some exciting things on the horizon! With God, all things are wonderful, but sometimes this particular time of year can be difficult. As we reach the final weeks of cold (and rainy) weather, I have had to fight the feeling of being stuck in a bog. In addition, the New Year’s resolutions that many of us have may seem like distant memories. The good news is that spring is right around the corner, but sometimes we have to force ourselves to stay positive. We can learn from some biblical characters who struggled with the same thing, and found hope by remembering God’s faithfulness in the past.
Scripture records many times when the people were encouraged to remember what the Lord had done in the past. Sometimes they even placed memorial stones as an ongoing reminder to them of God’s goodness and faithfulness. One such occasion was after a victory against the Philistines, when Samuel set up a stone calling it “Ebenezer” (or “Stone of Help”), saying “Thus far the LORD has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12). This became a common practice for the people of Israel, as they sought to commemorate God’s divine action on their behalf.
Maybe you can adopt this practice for yourself. Why not take some time to list the Ebenezer moments in your life, particularly over the past year, when God’s help has been evident? Take time to thank God for what He has done. As you do this, it will invariably stir up hope your Heavenly Father who is utterly faithful, and will never let you down. In fact, I would argue that the best is yet to come!
This Sunday we’re going to do that as a fellowship. During our 2020 Now Celebration Lunch, we’re not only going to talk about the amazing ways that God has provided in the recent past, we are going to also recount some “Ebenezer Moments” from the past 30 years of ministry, since we located our church building to its current location. You will not want to miss out on this watershed moment of celebration! I look forward to celebrating with you and all of the saints at Tabernacle Baptist Church this Sunday.
Expecting His Best,
Stephen V. Allen, Senior Pastor
