What Do These Stones Mean?

by | Jul 25, 2018 | Discipleship, Missions | 2 comments

The Anniversary Mission

What’s the connection between Anniversary and Mission? What do the following terms have in common:

  • Anniversary
  • Memorial
  • Celebrate/Celebration
  • Commemorate
  • Monument
  • Jubilee

The point in each of them is remembrance. And remembrance is one of God’s many teaching tools!

Mission: Remember!

When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt they were told to commemorate the event in all their generations. How were they to do it? God decreed the Passover Meal. The symbolism in the meal was a way to remember (and recite) the mighty acts of God on behalf of people who could not help themselves.
On the night before Christ died, He told His disciples, As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, do it in remembrance of Me.

Anniversary Mission

What is the significance of your wedding anniversary. Our anniversary was last month. And that day means it’s time to:

  • Reflect
  • Remember
  • Celebrate

Keith Burnett portraitWhy do all that? In God’s design, remembering gives us perspective. We are reminded of His blessings, His work, and our need of Him. Celebrating an anniversary reminds us of all that has gone before.
We have had challenges in ministry, parenting, and life in general. God has provided, guided, and given grace in it all. It reminds me of the stones from the river Jordan. When God parted the waters and they crossed into the Promised Land on dry ground, He told them to gather 12 smooth stones for a memorial. They got instructions about the memorial:

When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’

Mission: Be Wise

I didn’t cross the Jordan into Canaan, but we have stones of remembrance. What are yours?
Reflecting reminds me of some Nabal moments. Nabal? Yes. His name means Fool. His story in I Samuel 25. He did not act wisely. However, he was blessed with a wife named Abigail. She demonstrated grace and wisdom. I’ve had my Nabal moments and I have been helped greatly by a wise, loving wife. Fortunately, my error didn’t end in my demise. Nabal’s did!
This post wouldn’t be complete without referencing a well-known Proverb:

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Part of my bride’s beauty is she thinks that Proverb doesn’t describe her. I know it does!
We don’t often get to celebrate our anniversary in Texas. But sometimes we do. The last time that happened was also worshiped yesterday in the church where we were married. And God was teaching me in dramatic fashion. I felt as if I was trying to drink from a fire hose! The memories were coming by the trainload!
And those memories included times of caring for her, protecting her, and providing for her. Sounds a bit like Boaz and Ruth, doesn’t it? And looking back you know you’d do it all again.

Memory Mission

So, what are you remembering? Is it helping you or holding you back? Your life’s mission will be helped if you remember:

  • Count your blessings – it really will surprise you what God has done
  • Remember Who blessed you
  • Say Thank You – do it often
  • Look back and see His hand of guidance, rescue, and provision
  • Find your stones of remembrance – recite God’s work often

And you can do all that with a stone of remembrance similar to one of mine – it’s on the third finger of my left hand!

Soli Deo Gloria!  

[Originally published June, 2015]

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2 Comments

    • Keith Burnett

      Thank you! Glad to see the comment 🙂

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