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Listen while you read: "Bringing In The Sheaves"1 (Lyrics) |
1 Peter 2:4-7 – Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone". (NKJV)
As I'm watching a documentary on New York City, I'm startled to see a much younger Donald Trump on the screen. He is commenting on that period in the city's history when buildings began to rise higher, each owner competing with the previous one to add more stories, so that his building could be the highest one in the city. Donald Trump is saying that it was only possible because of the granite composition of the bedrock on which the city is built. It's hard to dig into, but "once you build that foundation, that building isn't going anywhere." I wonder if he realized the deeper implications of what he said.
When Solomon built the first temple, he made sure that the foundation stones were great and costly. Even at that time, builders knew the importance of a strong foundation. The stones were carefully chosen and shaped to be worthy for the temple. But neither that temple nor the one that Herod built survived.
Jesus came to earth and became the chief cornerstone, giving us access to a heavenly foundation upon which to build our lives. In order for us to become one of those living stones in His spiritual dwelling, we are chosen and then shaped by Christ through our life experiences.
What a great way to look at our lives! The experiences that we've gone through in life, both painful and wonderful, are shaping us, chipping away at our flaws and fears, so that we can be included in that final, glorious dwelling. As Daniel Iverson wrote:
- Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be willing to be molded, melted, chipped, and shaped in such a way that we can be witnesses for You here on earth and also proper building material for that spiritual home. Amen.
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Monday, May 29, 2023 – In Guelph, Onrtario — Give thanks for 10 years of ministry at Two Rivers Church in Guelph, Ontario. Pray that the congregation, meeting in living rooms, continues to grow in outreach to their community with the transforming love of Christ.
cancer: "May 27, 2023. Please pray fervently for my friend who has just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer..." 
Pregnant daughter so very sick!: "May 26, 2023. Please pray for my daughter AD, who is having her first baby at 36 years old. She is..." 
May it be so, Sharon. Happy New Year.
Good one Sharon.
(CO)
Thanking God for your message today. Yes, let’s lay our foundation upon Jesus Christ! Blessings.
Thank you, Sharon, for yet another Great message in today’s devotional!
Wishing you also a Happy New Year.
You filled a need in my heart with your devotion today. Thank you for writing it in such a way that I have done a rewind to handle a very difficult situation in God’s way.
Hi Sharon
I enjoyed this devotional, thank you! so true and very interesting.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
God bless.
Hi Sharon,
Good Devotional this morning. Jesus is indeed the sure foundation on which our faith is built.
Thank you for reminding us.
I wish you a very Happy New Year.
Thank you for your devotional and mentioning that old chorus, “Spirit of the Living God.” It is great that you can join the Presbyterians in Canada in making these devotionals so special. I love the I PRAYED FOR YOU messages as well. With Cook in your name is seems that you practice the craft well too. Have a great end of the year and keep on sharing the Word!!
Greetings Sharon,
Thank you for writing this very meaningful devotional. A strong foundation is so important for many structures but having Jesus as our foundation in our lives is supremely important. His everlasting love and grace help us through each day.
Blessings for your special writings and may your New Year be a good one.
(B.C.)
Hi Sharon:
You hit the nail on the head! I have felt that way since turning my life over to Jesus. It may be painful at times, but it is so worth the reshaping and becoming the woman God wants me to be. He is still working on me greatly.
We sing the song you mentioned in our church and I find it so calming.
May our great Lord bless you and keep and may He shine His light on you and bring you peace and joy always.
Now in my eighties I have experienced the chipping, the moulding, the filling. Every day I need God to keep me faithful till I see Him face to face. Thanks for a beautiful devotion. Shalom.