I LOVE ROCKS!
I come by this honestly – my grandfather loved rocks, too.
I love their shapes, their colors, their texture – you name it, I just think they’re VERY COOL!
“The Hub” thinks it’s a bit of a problem…
Because, you see, I don’t just love rocks, I COLLECT them – everywhere we go – and not just a few…a bunch!
Did you ever see that great Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz movie, “The Long, Long Trailer”? In it, Lucy and Desi go on their honeymoon in a trailer. Lucy starts collecting rocks. When Desi tells her to stop, she just starts hiding them! Hilarity ensues…
I believe “The Hub” thinks he married Lucy sometimes!
When we go hiking, I ALWAYS wear pants with lots of pockets (read: rock-carrying-receptacles). They are chock-full by the time I get back. I weigh twice what I did when I first started. And “The Hub,” you ask? Well, he always takes along a backpack with snacks and water, and maybe a couple of lightweight jackets. However, in MY mind, that backpack is just a very LARGE rock-carrying-receptacle!
Food and water??? Forget about it – throw ‘em out – I need space for my rocks!!
He is such a dear man – he faithfully carries my “burdens” home – all 200 pounds of them – with very little complaining. I think he secretly likes rocks, too.
Part of the reason I love rocks is because they have a “story.” They have tumbled down from somewhere, who knows when, to arrive right here…just waiting for me to pick them up. Once upon a time, they were part of a mountain. Or they might have been inside the earth. Who knows?
God does…
And that’s the main reason I love rocks. They remind me of the timelessness of God. Of His solid Faithfulness. Of the beautiful color of His Glory. Of the texture of His Love. Of the shape of His Grace…
The shape of a man – Jesus.
Less than a week before He was to die on a cross for the sins of the world, Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph. Crowds ran ahead of Him, alongside of Him, singing His praises.
“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD!”
But the Pharisees weren’t happy…
“Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”
How did Jesus reply?
“If they keep quiet, the STONES along the way would burst into cheer!”
I love that!!
Jesus said that if people were quiet, the very stones themselves would burst into shouts of praise. Why? It wasn’t because Jesus was setting up a powerful political kingdom. That dream came to an end on Good Friday.
No, Jesus was establishing God’s eternal Kingdom – and that was reason for the greatest celebration of all!
I think of those verses every time I add a rock (or ten) to my collection. And sometimes when I look at them, I just shout praise to my King –
“Let all that I am praise the Lord – with my whole heart I will praise his holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)
Are you “rocking out” for the Lord?!?
(Scripture references today are from Luke 19:38-40)
BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”
"Blessedly Leaning On God" I like that,
ReplyDeleteSharon! He is my rock, that's for sure!
Don't want to even think about what I
would do without Him in my life.
Blessings,
Sandy
Hi Sharon -
ReplyDeleteI kid you not - the Lord has had on my heart for days to post a piece called, "IN LOVE WITH A ROCK STAR" (about 10 minutes ago, I posted about it in the Announcement section of my blog - right side bar). He also told me to go online to find a picuture of a rock to post with the post. Afterwards, I came here to your blog and read this!
This is the second time recently that the Lord has had us on the same topic - the first time was "Warriors." Also, remember how you Wanda, and Judith had spider topics and then I saw a spider web which I posted?
I love what you said here, "The shape of a man -Jesus." Indeed He is shaping us into His glorious image on one accord.
Thank you, Sharon, for this rock piece - or I can say rock PEACE!
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your joy in collecting rocks. There is something to which we all find a sense of awe as we reflect on God. God inhabits our praises, so, lets rejoice and praise Him! I don't ever want the Lord to substitute rocks for me when it comes to giving Him praise.
Blessings and peace.
MTJ
how cute with your rock collection, Sharon! I bet you have a lot of neat ones! how do you display them?
ReplyDeletestones/rocks are a great way to remember the faithfulness of God indeed! remember in the Old Testament the Israelites would build a stone memorial at places where God had led them through difficult circumstances or times as a memorial to him and his provision :)
wonderful devotion to start this week off :)
betty
Hey Sharon!
ReplyDeleteI stumbled (or should I say tumbled like a rock) upon you blog and so blessed as I looked around here!! Your words and musings bless me! I'm following along with you now and hope you'll stop by my place for a visit sometime....I love meeting new bloggin' sisters in the Lord!!
I'm praying that your week ROCKS!!!
HE IS FAITHFUL!!!
Hugs!
Jackie
I was thinking about Lucy before you even mentioned her. Scary... scary... I'm thinking like Sharon.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I like it not just because you brought back memories of walks with my dear dad where I would search for rocks as a little girl, but because of the way you "brought it all home" at the end.
That's one of my top 1000 statements by Jesus. (I feel oddly disloyal to the rest if I don't use hyperbole here.) Sometimes, when I'm alone in nature, I wonder if there is praise that I just can't hear with my earthly ears.
Well I guess we must be connected at the hip! I do the same thing! In South Beach, it was sea shells. I brought home enough to fill 4 antique green jars.
ReplyDeleteHere in WI, we don't have seashells (other than mussel shells) so I've been collecting rocks. I love all the beautiful colors!
Yeah...it's a God thing.
Hey Sharon, thanks for your beautiful comments on my last post. You have no idea how much you helped this poor rock head!
I collect rocks also. My front door stop is a rock I painted with a scene from the place I got it from. And yes I love Jesus' reply as well. There is no containing the need for God to be worshipped.
ReplyDeleteI have a collection of rocks that have no value to anyone else, but have sentimental value to me. It's small, but meaningful.
ReplyDeleteI love rocks, too...and especially the Rock upon which I stand! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLiving for Him, Joan
P.S. Yes, of course you can copy the post/verses I put on my blog! I pray that you are blessed!
Thank you Sharon for becoming a follower of my blog. I will certain keep yours in mind. You have a nice one, and I always enjoy connecting with good Christian people.
ReplyDeleteWe would get along great...I love rocks and I love The Long Long Trailer and I too, believe God is the rock of my salvation! I collect geodes....when I look into one I feel like I am holding creation in my hand.
ReplyDeleteSandy - Amen to that! Life without God - ROCKY, to say the least!!
ReplyDeleteSandra - It's pretty cool how often I find myself thinking/blogging about the same thing that's on other peoples' minds. The Holy Spirit moves in mysterious ways!
MTJ - I like how you said God inhabits our praise! He does indeed infuse our hearts with Himself - that's what enables us to praise Him even in the middle of adversity. Move over, stones - I AM PRAISING MY LORD!
Betty - MOST of my rocks are in the garage right now. Some are in the front yard. But the BIGGEST one is smack-dab in the middle of my den next to the fireplace. It's got all these great crystals on it! It's funny you mention those stone memorials - I've thought about building one myself in the backyard - I just might do that now!!
Jackie - WELCOME! Thank you for joining me on the journey! I did go over to your blog, and I'm excited to follow you, too. It has been SO wonderful meeting other believers through this blog - it blesses me so much. In fact, it ROCKS!! (Interesting that you mentioned "tumbled like a rock" - tomorrow I'm posting about tumbled rocks... :)
Debbie - Stop now...do NOT start thinking like me...one of me is TOO much! I often think that the things of nature do praise their Creator - not in an "eastern, all things are divine, ohm..." kind of way. But just for the fact that EVERYTHING was created by His hand. So, it's like the atoms are infused with Him. Does that make sense? If you say yes, we're both doomed...
More response in next comment - (I hate that Google TOO LARGE thingie!)
Wow, Sharon! That was an awesome post! I love rocks too....I kept the very first ones my daughters and now my granddaughters picked up! He too is my ROCK! :) I used to collect stones on each trip of our vacations...my husband (ex) could not believe I wanted to fill up our trunk and lug stones back home! :) I guess you just have to be a ROCK lover to understand!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Carolyn ~ Cottage Sunshine
Debby - It would be my pleasure to be joined to your hip!! Yeah, I love my rocks - their colors are BIG selling points! You're right - it's a God thing. Glad to help your rock head, friend - just don't take me for "granite." (GROAN - that was a BAD one!!)
ReplyDeleteLynda - I'm so glad that I'm not the only "rockhound" out there!! I'll bet your doorstop is lovely. And I agree - praise for our Wonderful Savior cannot be contained!
Rick - WELCOME! Thank you so much for visiting my blog, and for your very kind words. I look forward to following your "doodles!" And feel free to stop by here anytime.
Joan - Thanks, friend. I was truly blessed by the verses you posted. We must continue to encourage each other to stand on our ROCK - all else is sinking sand!
Anita - There are many reasons we would get along, I think! Geodes are so very cool! Yes, you get it - rocks are like holding creation in our hands - love that! "The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters (like the ugly, plain, outside of a geode)...Then God said, 'Let there be light (like the beautiful, sparkly, inside of a geode)."
GOD BLESS, friends - Thanks for stopping by!
You all ROCK MY WORLD!!
(p.s. I'm posting another one about "rocks" tomorrow :)
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet thoughts and prayers for Chip. It's so good to see him acting almost normal. At least he comes to greet us and is getting over his limp. We'll be sure to stop by and see Marty! Thanks for the "heads up".
I enjoyed your post. Especially liked the part about the rocks singing out His praises. Doesn't it seem like a chorus of praises echo from His creation whenever you go hiking or just gaze upon His glorious masterpiece?
Giving thanks with you today,
Janis
Carolyn - I must have missed you while I was posting responses. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Only a rock-lover would understand the sentimental echoes that rocks bring - of special places, of wonderful moments, of beloved people. You get it, I can tell - that blesses me!
ReplyDelete"The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection." (Psalm 18:2)
GOD BLESS!
Hi, Sharon:
ReplyDeleteI don't collect rocks, but I love to praise the Lord so I know I fit here! Thank you for your loving comment on my blog and I'm so glad I found you, too! I look forward to getting to know you.
Janis - Oh, bless Chip's little heart!! I agree with your sentiments - nature does seem to sing a chorus of beautiful praise to God. It's one of the reasons I love nature so much. It is a wondrous sanctuary - a place where the awesome breath of God seems just a little closer...
ReplyDeleteSaleslady - WELCOME! Thanks so much for joining me on the journey. We will have fun praising the Lord together!! AMEN?! :)
GOD BLESS!
I love rocks too. :) My boys are always finding pretty ones for me, and one of my favorite things to do on our vacations is find an unusual rock to put in a glass jar to remind me of that trip . . . the beach in San Diego, Lake Superior shoreline, Florida, etc. Rocks are reminders, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the thought of the rocks crying out as Jesus passed by. What that would sound like! Rockin' out with you!
Glowin Girl - I had no idea that they're were so many rock-hounds out there in Bloggerland!! You're so right - rock are reminders!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have rockin' out with me today!
GOD BLESS!
I don't know if I'm rockin for Jesus - I hope I am. I understand what you're saying and your love for rocks and the story they could tell.
ReplyDeleteBeing married to Lucy wouldn't be so bad either.
Love,
sandie
I don't have your email and I just read your comment to me - take your time to write.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree - I have some very close friends on the blog.
sandie