Soul Stops is a brief rest on the journey. A quite intake of breath as we pause and a gentle nudge to keep moving forward. It is a waiting in the Truth as we nestle close in His promise…looking at what He has said to our hearts and remembering the promises in His Word.
Our family has been reading through the book of Acts together at our table. We have been taking a slow and leisurely stroll through the beginnings of the Church and have been looking into the inspired Word a little more intently together. We started the journey with our Advent preparations…we started with a desire to prepare and to look for Christ in our days as we were waiting… and we are learning to look into the bold beautiful words He has left to lead us in this journey.
This book, though, God’s Word, a collection of action and faith combined always inspires me to be bold, to speak fearlessly, to be a builder, to fill others up…to be that faith-girl… the one who chooses God more than she chooses self.
In boldness, Peter, filled by the Spirit of God, spoke with an understanding that astounded the listening audience and angered a few others. He reminds us that Jesus is the Stone, despised and rejected by the builders, but chosen and destined by God to be the Head of the Corner… Jesus is the Cornerstone.
I mean, we know that. We have read it on our own, we have heard it preached from the pulpit, and we have learned these truths through Bible study. But I was captured by the meaning of the cornerstone.
Psalm 118:22 says, ” The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; ” which refers to Jesus. Did you know that this head of the corner is the capstone, a large anchoring stone that is used to align the corners of a window or opening, like a keystone in an arch? In ancient architecture the entire frame was held together by that one stone at the top. The capstone, a single piece which kept the structure firm and secure, meant to strengthen and protect the building, was also an elemental decoration.
Beauty and function. Isn’t that rich?
I love how God teaches us these truths in His Word are always applicable and relevant in our world. When I think of how an arch is always entryway to something more. It is both useful and beautiful, strong and powerful. It holds a burdensome weight that makes the foundational walls solid, and provides an invitation to pass through. A lot like Jesus.
Christ is not only the keystone but the key.
He is our cornerstone, the one who makes our whole self strong as He holds us together. His name is the key that unlocks that door.
The Hebrew word for corner, pinnah, is sometimes used as a metaphor for leader. Job, Proverbs, Isaiah, Psalms, and 1 Samuel all used this word like cornerstone in reference to leadership designed by Godly order and structure. Peter went on to say that salvation is the purpose of this arch of grace that Christ represents in our lives. (Acts 4:12)
See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.” Isaiah 28:16
This foundation, the keystone of our faith, is the reason we can be bold about our faith. It is the reason we can’t let the stones cry out in our place. The stones which are held in place by the capstone, each and every moment on our faith journey, testify of the way He holds us up as we stand in our trials and our difficulties.
I am completely enamored with ancient architecture and gothic windows. Their beauty and artistry always inspire me to look deeper at the craftsmanship and the detail behind their construction. Built for more than just purpose, their intricate composition provided more than an opening for light, but an invitation to study, to approach and wonder, to look deep. Inspired beauty often invokes a spirit of adventure, emboldened by wonder. It draws us in heart and soul.
God’s Word is the arch by which we enter into knowing Him more and more, the path we take to find Truth. Christ is that Arch of Grace over us. He is the door to mercy that provides us a way to the Father and an invitation to walk in bold faith and speak mountain moving prayers.
I want to be more brave to share that in my every day conversations. Instead of letting my words construct the conversations I have, I want to let His Words build a space for grace. I want to pause in His covering and wait a little more, letting courage build by the pieces of His story in my journey like a contractor erects the strong doorway of a building. The more I look and study the form of the arch, the way the top is the covering and the capstone is piece that bears the most weight, I can see how our posture can reveal His beauty as we choose a stance of worship and admiration.
He is the doorway. He is the arch that covers us. And because of Him we can be bold…that is absolutely beautiful.
And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants to declare Your message fearlessly. While You stretched out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage.
Like Peter prayed for boldness, to speak with courage and freedom fearlessly, we need to rest under the arch of His grace. These first few days of new year provide us with hope and expectation for something new with God, like walking through a door of possibility. I am reminded of the early church and their eagerness to follow hard after Christ, and I want more of that, for both you and I. Because more of God is exactly what our broken world needs, friends and when we have Christ, we have the key that opens the door of promise and bold prayer.
Praying for you to be built, to be emboldened, to be filled, to be shaken, to be encouraged.
Do you have a word for the year? Each year I wait for the Lord to reveal a word that He wants to teach me about. This is the first year I don’t have a word but a prayer. I will share about it more next week, but I’d love to know what He has put on your heart.
Linking up with friends for the journey:
Moments of Hope, Cheerleaders of Faith, Tell His Story, Coffee For Your Heart, Three Word Wednesday, Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace n Truth, Faith n Friends Blog Hop, Missional Women, Dance with Jesus, Glimpses with Barbie, Give Me Grace,
Thanks for your encouragement to live and pray boldly, Dawn. Aren’t we thankful God doesn’t give a directive and leave us to figure it out. Praise God, we are in the hands of the Master Builder! (I really like your pics.) Blessings from your neighbor at Kelly’s
Hi Alice!
It am thrilled you were able to visit me here and were encouraged. We all need a little nudge from the Master Builder, don’t we? Bold prayers for you.
Blessings,
Dawn
I love the architectural viewpoint of this post…thank you for that inspiration!
Thank you Liz! So glad you were able to stop by and even more that you were inspired. May His grace abound in your day!
Blessings,
Dawn
What a beautiful post with beautiful images! I found your blog through a comment you left on Micah Maddox’s post. Had no idea you hosted a linkup. I will be glad to participate in the future. Blessings to you!
I would absolutely love for you to join the #GraceMoments Community Sarah! 😉 And I am grateful that we met through such a grace-filled friend like Micah.
Blessings to you!
Dawn
Hi, Dawn, I’m visiting from #RaRaLinkup and I don’t think I’ve ever been here before. It’s nice to meet you! My word is TRUST at the moment, and God is peeling back layers of my heart and going deep.
Hi Kelly!
I am so grateful you chose to visit! I have been taking a break from linking up with friends for a while, choosing only to post here once a week at the #GraceMoments Link up here. The resting was a needed reprieve but I missed my friends and meeting new friends while I pressed pause for a while. Trust is such a good word! Praying God will fill you and hold you close as you trust Him to go deep.
Blessings!
Dawn
Yes, you’re right that pausing and waiting in His Presence and in His Word are the place that we find His strength and receive His boldness.
I chose two synonyms for my word this year; they are both used many times in the word of God. Dwell/abide
If you want to read more about this, I’ve blogged about it at: https://plantedbylivingwater.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/push-buttons-power-sources-and-prayer/
While you’re there, you can click on Abiding in Him in the tag cloud for another take on the word abide.
May the Lord bless you richly as you dwell/pause/wait on Him and in His Word.
I love those words! Rich and deep and meaningful and you’ll probably never get to the end of their significance in Christ, right? I look forward to checking out your post!! Thanks for sharing it and thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a bit of grace.
Blessings,
Dawn
Your whole family reading through Acts …that’s amazing! How did you get them all to do that? Please share! You’ve inspired me here today in more ways than one! Visiting from the Dancewith me, Jesus linkup. Happy Friday! Megs
That story, Megs, is a long and not always a pretty one. It was after much difficulty and a lot of tears that His heart moved upon our home and brought that beauty to light. It may have to be a blog post one day, but for now it was a lot of prayer and submitting to the Lord that brought us to the table together as a family to begin our study of the book of Acts. It was a lot of holding back from me, because I want to ‘teach’ my family (side effect of being a homeschool mom for 17 years) what God’s Word says. But because I have older children, it was a glorious gift watching my son lead us with a simple prayer and each of my children reading from God’s Word. Praying for that inspiration to grow in your heart and for God to show you how to follow His leading in that.
Bless you!
Dawn
Amen. Acts 4 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. I often pray the words in Acts 4:29, “enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Praying with you this morning.
Dawn, this was beautiful! So many aspects to ponder. I especially loved your prayer at the end. Your analogies and insight into Christ were thought provoking and full of lessons to be learned. I come from a family of builders so I could relate easily. Beauty and function…..yes! Christ Himself!
Isn’t it amazing when God reveals something so simple yet so profound in the every day lessons we live and learn, Gretchen? I am always astounded by the awe that rises when I take tiem to look for Him in all things. Grateful you were here.
Blessings!
Dawn
This is beautiful, Dawn! I especially love “Christ is that Arch of Grace over us.” Thanks for linking up at #ThreeWordWednesday. xo
Thank you Kristin! I am so glad you were here for a visit. I am still settling into that arch of grace image, and I a must admit I am smitten with the beauty of it. 🙂 Always wonderful to see your smiling face.
Blessings,
Dawn
Dawn,
What a beautiful writing. Your words and pictures perfectly relayed the imagery in my mind of our Father being the doorway and the protecting arch. Love it and love the hope you share here! Thank you for coming alongside me to share this hope with the world at #MomentsofHope!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori