Today we are celebrating Independence Day for the USA. In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed. Many seasons have come and gone since then. In verse 5 from Ecclesiastes we see that there is a time for war and a time for peace. We must also honor and remember those that have fought and continue to fight for that peace and our freedom.

On this Mindset Monday I want to look at Verse 5. There is a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them. Each of us are in different or similar seasons in our lives. We are all moving different or similar stones. When you look at this beautiful image from our friend Ray, what stones do you see? Maybe for you the stones have been gathered for love and celebration. Maybe they have been scattered from grief and mourning. Maybe they represent joys or sorrows.

Now look at the image closer. They are stacked from largest to smallest. To scatter them, it would be easier to move the smaller stone first. Are you trying to move a stone that is burdened by the weight of other stones? God knows what stones you are carrying. I encourage us all this week to surrender our stones to God. Ask God to help us scatter and gather the stones He has for us to move, one stone at a time. In the process, let’s not forget to celebrate the joys!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬