Forty Rocks!

FORTY ROCKS

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the ROCK. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it was founded on the ROCK. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
~Matthew 7:24-27

40 rocks…what a significant number as I just spent the last week celebrating this entrance into a milestone year for me. Even more so, it was my Independence Day – 7/4/15! My family surprised me by coordinating a party in Long Island at a relative’s house. This was totally unexpected for me. There were more than 40 people there to celebrate this day with me…My immediate family and friends. I was growing suspicious because of all the disappearances, calls and texts but I never thought something to this degree. This party was epic! I walked in the house and heard, “SURPRISE!!!!” I saw the faces of my hubby, kids and mom…then looked to see so MANY MORE! I couldn’t help but shed some tears…just a few! LOL! I have never had a surprise party in this size! Normally they are small parties with dear family and a few friends but never like this – it was huge for me. Since my birthday falls in the summer and on a holiday it is so hard to get anyone to do anything. What can I expect, it is a time to spend time with family, people go on vacation and everyone wants to go to the best firework show ever.

In the early part of the day, we went to the beach. I love the beach. Walking on the sand is so therapeutic for me. I love the feel of the sand on my toes, seeing the water, hearing the waves and the nice breeze from the ocean water. What can compare to that. As I stood on the shoreline of the water, I knelt down to pick up some white small rocks. I kept collecting them until I got to forty! I figured I would make a collection and put these on a jar to capture this moment in my life. I put them in my daughter’s bag and as it turns out when she disappeared to go decorate she used them as a nice display on the outdoor table. I loved it. Everything was beautiful. Red, white and simply beautiful with butterflies to match everywhere.

I think one of the reasons for me collecting the rocks at the beach was to capture how memorable this time in my life is. It is like that scripture, for the one that built his house on the ROCK did not fall and the one that built his house on the sand did fall with a great crash. I felt those times of crashing. I lived days of pain and torment. Now at 40, I want to step into the best years of my life. I am going to build my house on the ROCK of Christ! I want my house [inner core] built strong and solid. To experience a crash for something you built yourself as false really does come out disastrous. As wonderful as we paint things in our mind that doesn’t ever last but what we build for our souls, for our health – that will last a lifetime. I am going to do things differently. I have another chance at another forty, God willing! I don’t want them to be spent in sadness, pain, guilt, sorrow or regret. I have had beautiful memories that I will cherish forever but for the things that need to be let go of, that I must in order to build on the Rock. Nothing can take the place of my God. Nothing can take the place of His time. Nothing can take the place of His words as they will endure forever.

Forty will be the best ever for me. As it was recorded in the bible:

• The rain fell for 40 days and nights in the days of Noah.
• The Israelites traveled in the desert for 40 years.
• King David reigned over Israel for 40 years.
• Moses fasted 40 days in the old testament and Jesus fasted 40 days in the new testament.

Even women are pregnant for 40 weeks before birthing a child into the world. For me, as these forty years have passed I am birthing a new age for my life. A new time of wholeness, of victory, of healing, of ministry and of fulfillment. I am so thankful to God for everything that He has done thus far and to have placed it in the hearts of very important people to make me feel so special as I celebrated this age, it meant the world.  So thankful, so precious, that time is for us now. Everyday forward I will do my best to make it count. Forty rocks, as I make every effort to keep myself grounded on the Rock of Christ – He will never let me go. He will never let me down.