Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." 
           
  I Samuel 7:12

In our Sunday School lesson this last week we studied how God defeated the Philistines for the Israelites because they had repented and turned back to Him. As a result Samuel, the leader of the Israelites, took a stone, moved it around, and set it up as a kind of memorial marker. He called it, Ebenezer-"a stone of help." He dedicated that stone and that spot saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us."  The word Ebenezer is made up of two words; eben means "stone," and ezer means "help". The name would remind future generations that at this place, the LORD helped Israel win a great victory.

This account helped to prompt an important question. What are our "Ebenezers"? What are our grateful memories of God's deliverance or help or blessing or presence? As we look back over our lifetime we can see opportunities for many Ebenezers.

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul and Gail