"Rock on"

When I was younger, I thought that I would be a rock star (along with working in the peace corps after I was Miss America).........hmmmmmmmmmmm a little idealistic???
My dreams for singing in a rock band were dashed, because I can't sing in tune..in fact when my husband and children play guitars and sing and I join in, Bill has had the nerve to suggest that I lip sync (which makes me sing louder)! The NERVE!!!And there was an issue of my body (uh-hum) and talent with Miss America......anyway,back to the subject.
I have always had a facination with rocks, though, and at one time I heard a message that fit my love of rocks! I heard that when Jesus was put in the tomb, the rock that was rolled in front of it was immovable...it was also guarded by Roman Centurians to make sure NO ONE could come and take Jesus's body (because He claimed that in three days He would rise again). Well, day three came and there He wasn't. Jesus was gone!!! The women that tried to tend to Jesus discovered that the stone was rolled away and an angel was sitting on the rock and said to the women.."why are you looking for the living among the dead"??"Jesus is risen, just as He said". The teaching went on and said what immovable rock is in your life? Is it fear, anger, poverty,a health issue???? Jesus moved the big stone and He will also move our stones that seem immovable!
I began collecting rocks. I would take the kids up North and go to Lake Superior and search for the "perfect" rocks. I prefer ones that I can easily carry. I also like ones that are smooth (even though they are so hard they almost feel like velvet). Generally, I search for heart shaped rocks or rocks with a cross in them. Every time we go to Lake Superior, I bring a ton of rocks home, and hand them out to people that have big immovable "rocks" in their life. After I give them a rock, I tell them how Jesus STILL moves the rock away, and does what we can't do!
At church one day, I was the "prayer leader" for a women's event...as I was going to church I grabbed two rocks to bring with me..wasn't sure why. I had them on my open Bible and there they sat. I was praying for the event with a couple of other women, and was preparing to leave the prayer room, when, the emcee for the event rushed into the room, sat down and said she needed prayer.She was very upset and said she didn't think she would be able to get through this event because her heart was so heavy. Elizabeth didn't go into any details just said she would be walking with a friend through a terrible tragedy.
We prayed together, and one prayer was that God would give her strength to do what she couldn't do on her own and that He would surprise her with hilarious joy! I then handed her a rock and explained about the immovable "rocks" in our life. She was very appreciative and as she was walking out the door she said that she would be giving her rock to her friend the next day. I just laughed and said to Elizabeth,"that's why I brought two"!!! I gave her the other rock I had and she went off to the event!
As Elizabeth was speaking she made a mistake with words that cracked her and EVERYONE in the santuary up. It really set the tone for the program and everyone was joyful!!!
It doesn't stop here though.....years later I found out that the woman Elizabeth gave the other rock to had just lost her son tragically in the Taylor University van
accident. She stood next to her heartbroken friend at the funeral,and held onto the stone that I gave her and her friend had hers in her hand. She now keeps it in her living room on a little table to continually remind her that "He still moves stones"...even when it's not the outcome that anyone would fathom....His grace is sufficient!
If you need a stone grab one for you and a bunch for anyone that comes along your path and needs a reminder that God is there....and He does what we can't do! There's nothing magic about it...it's just good to grab one and feel the rock and remind ourselves of God's love!!!
It may sound silly to you, but I have gotten comfort from these rocks and I bet you will, too!
ROCK ON PEOPLE!!!!