What's in a Name?

Ebenezer.

A word association test would probably reveal a limited variety of answers...

Scrooge
Miser
Humbug
Rock

Wait, what?  Rock??  

Although Dicken's classic tale of redemption has cast long shadows on the name Ebenezer, a much more ancient story tells a different tale.

After an amazing victory against the enemy, a prophet named Samuel set up a large stone as a memorial, a reminder of the power of God.  And he called it (you guessed it) 'Ebenezer', saying, "Thus far, the Lord has sustained us."

During this Christmas season- a season of busyness, shopping, baking, partying, decorating, more shopping, cooking, stress and more stress- we can have a tendency to collapse at the end of a very long day with a loud "HUMBUG!"  We're tired and grumpy with the Christmas Spirit becoming just a dim memory.

It's at those times that we need to have a reminder of all that He has done for us "thus far"; a large rock, if you will, that we chuck down in front of us to help us remember.

In days of old, shepherds abiding in their fields, keeping watch over their flocks, would carve a word or picture into their staff as a reminder of how the Lord had provided...or rescued...or redeemed.  As the years passed, and they, at times, became discouraged, the staff would remind them of all that He had done.

This Christmas, let's find a way to remember, whether it be a journal, a carved stick or even just a big rock.  For surely, thus far, and forever more, He will sustain us.