Rocks

For some reason I have always been fascinated by rocks. Kent has made fun of me countless time for suddenly stooping down to pick up a rock in the middle of walk or hike. It's just amazing to me how there can be billions and billions of rocks out there, but that they are all different. Some may be made up of similar materials, but still they are laid out in a unique pattern. What usually catches my eyes are the colors. This summer hiking through the mountains to the sand dunes let me see such beautiful rocks. Purple, blue, green, teal, brown, and yellow rocks.

This Sunday's sermon was about us viewing Christ as our Rock and our Fortress. Pastor Doug had pictures projected with different well known rock formations. He talked about the permenance of these structures and because of that how throughout history they have barely changed. In the same way God does not change, no matter how much the world changes through time. That got me thinking about how much I desire and need to be a rock myself. Being a rock to me means knowing who I am in Christ and not changin that for anyone. I once heard it described that we should aim to be rocks that others are crashed against in the storms of life. I had to think about that for quite some time, but I've come to realize that that's so true. I want to be someone that challenges others, and sometimes that may mean that I feel the waves crashing up against me, but I want to hold strong.

I don't want to be just any rock though. There are so many rocks out there. The beautiful glittering diamond, granite with it's many colors, or rose quartz with its soft welcoming glow. I want to be fashioned off of the same rock that my Lord is Savior is made of. A chip off of the old block as they say. Rocks aren't very good at hiding, not big rocks anyway. I want to be a bold image an the landscape. Something that people can recognize and find solace in. I don't want to change for the world. I want the world to see me and see Christ. I want the world to see me and want to become a rock for Christ themselves.

I am listening to Shawn McDonald's "Here I Am", which is coincidentally the name of my blog. This song so beautiful sums up what I feel right now. "Here I am tonight, with my arms open wide...I'm in need of your love...I need you." God is, as David put it so perfectly, our "Rock and Fortress." He hides us in the secret place (Psalm 31).

A Might Fortress is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.