considering your cornerstone.

Cornerstones have been around for centuries. It's the ceremonious first stone that is laid straight and firm, so that the rest of the structure is not built wonky and the building comes tumbling down in the first storm. In the more recent years this cornerstone has morphed into something not quite as important to the foundation.  It has become, especially in churches,  a place to stash memories for future generations. 

Every few years my father would grab a crow bar and open the time capsule that was located above the foundation in the church I attended from baptism through marriage.   Officially it was called the cornerstone, but when you are a young girl.. all you cared about was what was the treasures in it. As my father would open it the papers and pictures inside would come to the light. The ladies would then fix up some fancy display as no doubt people would be coming to celebrate the legacy of faith this building had had a part in. This particular cornerstone told the story of the people in the church, and how God had bonded them together through one thing.. a building. Several years ago this church closed and the cornerstone was emptied and packed away. This particular building's cornerstone stands empty. 

In building, many hours are set aside for focused attention on the foundation. So how come when it comes to our lives we often first focus on the structure itself, instead of the foundation? Isn't the point of building firm, secure, usable structures dependent on the foundation?

Pride. The thing God hates. The thing inside all of us that can alienate us from all that God desires. The pride that says.. I don't trust you enough God to do this so I will do it myself. Pride that says, I'm scared of living another way, so I'll sit here in this chaos instead. Pride that says, if anyone knew this about me, they wouldn't like me.  Pride that builds life structures on appearances that the world can look at and say "Wow.. look what you did." Pride that says, look what God did on the outside, but on the inside screams "Wow, i'm amazing." Subtle pride that infiltrates your thoughts is still pride. If pride is in your cornerstone.. your cornerstone is empty and your life structure may topple at any time.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It lives and breathes life into the empty day after day. It rebuilds foundations and concretes the hope you can't see or feel into the very foundation of your life, but often times, it takes a monumental effort on our part to tear down and then rely on God to replace the cornerstone where it belongs. Deep into the foundation. The Cornerstone that isn't for pridefully filling with mementos for people to ohh and ahhh over, but for the only Cornerstone that can stand through anything. Jesus.

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,a cornerstone chosen and precious,and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 

 1 Peter 2:6

unfolding of a cornerstone.

I stepped across the threshold and I was immediately taken back to high school. The building back then  was a Christian book store and almost every payday I'd jump in my Ford Escort and head to the big city to find a new tape. Music, full of words that drenched my soul in Him. The place where I was standing now, is that place. And I feel Him unfold my thoughts as I fumble with my lens, trying so hard to be good at something.. capturing light in a dark place. 

It's there, in this building that I meet the men that He has chosen to carry the torch forward, and I am in awe of the sparkle of light that I catch in their eyes. Men that see through the darkness surrounding them, wanting once again to offer the Light to souls who come to the city for nourishment. 

I fail miserably at capturing the light with my lens,  but is that my purpose? 

I had come to capture what was in that building. The before. The Light.  

I had come to capture the Word. 

"The unfolding of your words gives light; 

it imparts understanding to the simple." 

 Psalm 119:130

I discover that the Word made flesh is right before my eyes. He has come and the building is twitching with excitement.  Yes, it's in need of great repair. A total makeover. But isn't that what's needed whenever the Word becomes new? 

A fresh drenching of the Light. Washing clean what once was. Giving understanding to the people who thirst. The Word, casting Light in the darkness. It's what captures me. 

And I find myself, bubbling over with anticipation of what will come of this Light to this city, and I want to capture every moment of the transformation. To become part of the movement to establish a place that enables ordinary folks to see, feel, and live in the Light. A place where souls are cared for, tenderly and prayerfully. A place where folks learn to live in the Light.

This building, it's holy ground, and as I walk around, carefully stepping in the darkness that surround me I'm certain I hear God's whisper..

"This Cornerstone.. it's Mine, and I'm drenching it in my Word."