the rejected stone

Some people are slow to respond. (Or don't at all) Naturally this stirs up questions and some feelings - the silence leaves room for doubt and speculation.

So when these thoughts come up, I am reminded: there is One who knows of a much greater rejection. One who felt it more deeply, for there are eternal consequences. He came to His own people... and they did not receive Him, but crucified Him.

While I am just an ordinary stone in the wall... it is Him who is the chief cornerstone: stone that sets the foundation of the entire building. So my small discouragement? It points me back to the foundation that bears the weight of every wall.

Psa 118:19-24 NASB95 — Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; The righteous will enter through it. I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Keeping Him First

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." - Eph 5:13-14 ESV

The last two years had been full of challenges and trials. A business purchase that would have changed much...not working out. The end of an 11 year covenant and the begining of another - a different kind of commitment. Through the hard times I have grown and probably changed more than I can imagine. Leaned into the truth of scripture and the working of the Holy Spirit. Marriage is a sanctifying experience. Divorce... More so! And through it all? I have placed my trust and faith in Him. My walk with the Lord is so precious and full of love 

....because I know Christ is enough.

This Dayenu (“it would have been enough”) is my testimony of His provision and faithfulness and a call to keep Christ first: before a covenant, within a covenant, and after a covenant.

...

If Jesus had brought hidden things into the light

 and had not carried me when I had no strength… 

Dayenu

If He had carried me when I had no strength 

and had not enabled me to forgive… 

Dayenu

If He had enabled me to forgive 

and had not sustained me in the waiting… 

Dayenu

If He had sustained me in the waiting 

and had not met me in the loneliness with His presence...… 

Dayenu

If had me in the loneliness with His presence 

and had not provided daily bread… 

Dayenu

If He had provided daily bread 

and had not had taught me to seek first His kingdom… 

Dayenu

If He had taught me to seek first His kingdom

and had not healed me by His Spirit… 

Dayenu

If He had healed me by His Spirit 

and had not restored my joy and identity in Christ… 

Dayenu ("It would have been enough")

And yet He has done all this and more!

So my heart says...Christ alone is enough!

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. - Isa 40:29 ESV

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. - Psa 55:22 ESV

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. - Col 3:13 ESV

Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. - Mat 18:21-22 ESV

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. - Lam 3:25-26 ESV

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! - Psa 27:14 ESV

"You shall have no other gods before me. - Exo 20:3 ESV

"Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? - Eze 14:3 ESV

You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. - Deu 13:4 ESV

Give us this day our daily bread, - Mat 6:11 ESV

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. - Phl 4:19 ESV

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. - Psa 37:25 ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." - Heb 13:5 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psa 23:4 ESV

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isa 41:10 ESV

 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. - Joe 2:28 ESV

"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; - Act 2:17 ESV

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. - 1Co 12:7 ESV

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. - Psa 51:12 ESV

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. - Jhn 15:11 ESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Phl 4:13 ESV

and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. - Col 2:10 ESV