My Ebenezer — Stones of Remembrance

A Living Testimony of God’s Faithfulness

“Thus far the LORD has helped us.” — 1 Samuel 7:12

Remember His faithfulness. Paint your story. Leave room for what is still to come.

Welcome to My Ebenezer

Every one of us has a story.

There are moments of joy, prayers answered, unexpected blessings and beautiful discoveries through God’s Word.

There are also difficult seasons. Times when we felt overwhelmed, when answers seemed far away, or when we could not understand what God was doing.

And sometimes, only when we look back, do we begin to recognise just how faithfully He carried us.

My Ebenezer is an invitation to remember those moments.

Inspired by 1 Samuel 7:12 and Joshua 4, this creative project allows you to build a personal memorial of God’s faithfulness through a simple painting of stones.

Each stone represents a moment when you recognised His presence, provision, protection, guidance or love.

Some stones will remind you of joyful experiences. Others may represent seasons you would never wish to experience again.

We do not celebrate the pain. We remember the God who was faithful through it.

Your Ebenezer is not a monument to your own strength. It is a testimony to God’s faithfulness.

The Biblical Inspiration

In 1 Samuel 7, after God delivered Israel from the Philistines, Samuel raised a stone and named it Ebenezer, meaning stone of help.

It stood as a reminder of what God had done.

In Joshua 4, twelve stones were set up as a memorial after the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. These stones were intended to prompt future generations to ask about God’s mighty acts.

The stones themselves were not sacred. Their purpose was to direct attention to the Lord.

That is the heart of this project.

We are not creating something to honour the stones. We are creating a reminder of the One who has helped us.

Explore the Bible Study

The story of Ebenezer begins long before Samuel raised a stone.

It is a story of spiritual return, intercessory prayer, God’s faithfulness and a people learning to trust Him rather than the things they could see.

Explore our guided Bible study:

My Ebenezer — A Stone of Help, a Life of Intercession

1 Samuel 1–4; 7; 12 | Joshua 4 | Psalm 121 | John 17

How the Painting Works

Your canvas begins with a peaceful natural landscape and a large memorial stone bearing the words:

EBENEZER

Thus far the LORD has helped me.

1 Samuel 7:12 (adapted)

Around the central memorial are smaller stones.

Each represents a personal experience of God’s faithfulness.

You begin by painting the stones you already recognise in your life.

But you deliberately leave some stones unpainted.

Why?

Because your journey with God is still unfolding.

As you continue studying His Word, praying and walking with Him, you may discover new reasons to remember His faithfulness.

When that happens, return to your canvas and paint another stone.

Your painting becomes a living testimony that grows with you.

Some Stones We Can Name. Others We Can Only Trust.

Not every stone needs a name.

Among the stones that represent answered prayers, remembered blessings and moments of God’s guidance, you may choose to paint a few smaller stones without writing anything on them.

These are not forgotten stones or unfinished stories.

They are reminders that our understanding is limited.

There may be ways God has sustained us that we have never recognised. There are questions we cannot yet answer and seasons whose meaning remains unclear.

As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly.”

We do not need to invent explanations for what we cannot see. We can simply acknowledge that God knows what we do not.

Paint these stones beautifully. Give them no names. Let them rest among the others.

Some stones we can name. Others we can only trust.

Choose Your Design

We are developing three simple designs, each suitable for beginners.

1. Scattered Stones

A large memorial stone surrounded by smaller stones scattered naturally across the ground.

Each stone stands as an individual reminder of God’s faithfulness.

2. Garden of Remembrance

A large memorial stone surrounded by a loose collection of rounded stones.

Together they form a visible testimony of the many ways God has led you.

3. My Growing Ebenezer

A large memorial stone with a small stack of stones beside it.

The growing arrangement represents the experiences and discoveries gathered throughout your walk with God.

Choose whichever design appeals to you.

There is no right or wrong way to arrange your stones.

Free Printable Resources

We want everyone to be able to participate, whether or not they can attend a workshop.

Resources:

• Full-colour painting references.
• Canvas transfer templates.
• Simple beginner painting instructions.
• A personal Stones of Remembrance journal page.
• The My Ebenezer workshop prayer.

How to Save Your Images

Choose your favourite design and click Download Picture for the colour reference or Download Transfer Image for the black-and-white outline.

When the image opens, right-click and select Save image as to save it to your computer. On a mobile phone, touch and hold the image, then choose the save or download option available on your device.

You can print the outline to colour, keep it in your Bible, or transfer it onto canvas for painting.

Scattered Stones

Garden of Remembrance

Growing Ebenezer

Before You Begin: Gather Your Stones

Before you begin painting, take a little time to be still with God.

Think back over your life and ask Him to help you recognise the ways He has been faithful. Some memories may come easily. Others may only become clear as you spend time reflecting.

Perhaps you remember:

• A prayer He answered.
• A time when He provided unexpectedly.
• A difficult season when He gave you strength.
• A Scripture that became especially precious.
• A moment when you experienced His peace.
• A time when you realised He had protected or guided you.
• Something you only recognised as His faithfulness years later.

And perhaps there are experiences you still don’t understand. Prayers that seem unanswered. Seasons when you cannot yet see what God is doing.

Those moments have a place here, too.

Some stones we can name. Others we can only trust.

My Stone of Remembrance — A Personal Reflection Journal

We’ve created a little journal to accompany you on this journey of remembering.

Its two pages invite you to record the experiences in which you recognised God’s faithfulness and to bring before Him the things you are still learning to entrust to His care.

You don’t have to answer every question or find the perfect words. This is simply a quiet place to reflect, pray and remember.

Download and print your journal below.

As memories come to mind, you may wish to give each stone a name, a date or a Scripture reference. You can begin painting with the stones you already recognise and leave room for those whose stories are still unfolding.

Your Ebenezer does not have to be completed in a day. It can grow with you, one remembrance at a time.

Painting Your Ebenezer

Creating Your Own Ebenezer

You do not need to be an artist.

This project is not about creating a perfect picture. It is about remembering a faithful God.

We have prepared three simple designs, each with a full-colour example and a matching black-and-white outline.

Choose how you would like to create your Ebenezer.

Option 1 — Paint a Canvas

If you would like a lasting reminder to display in your home, you can transfer one of the designs onto a canvas and paint it using acrylic paints.

A small canvas is perfectly suitable. You do not need expensive materials or previous painting experience.

Option 2 — Colour Your Ebenezer

You can print one of the black-and-white outlines and colour it using coloured pencils, crayons or markers.

Keep your finished picture in your Bible, place it in your journal, frame it or give it to someone you love.

Option 3 — Create a Growing Remembrance

You may prefer to begin with only a few stones and add to your picture over time.

Paint or colour the stones representing experiences in which you have recognised God’s faithfulness.

You might write a word, a date or a Bible reference on a stone, or record its meaning in your accompanying journal.

Some stones may be beautifully coloured but remain unnamed, representing experiences you are still learning to understand and entrust to God.

Others may remain uncoloured for memories and discoveries you will add in the future.

Simple Materials

For painting on canvas:

• A small canvas or canvas board, approximately A4 or A3.
• Acrylic paints in a few colours of your choice.
• A small, medium and larger paintbrush.
• A pencil and eraser.
• Graphite transfer paper, or an ordinary soft pencil for transferring the outline.
• A container of water, an old cloth and a plate or palette for mixing paint.

For colouring on paper:

• A printed Ebenezer outline.
• Coloured pencils, crayons or markers.
• A Bible, journal or folder in which to keep your finished picture.

How to Begin

1. Choose one of the three Ebenezer designs.
2. Download the matching black-and-white outline.
3. If painting on canvas, transfer the outline using graphite paper or by shading the back of the printed drawing with a soft pencil and tracing over the lines.
4. Begin with the sky and landscape, then paint the memorial stone and surrounding stones.
5. Allow the paint to dry before adding words, dates or Scripture references.
6. Take your time. You can return to your Ebenezer whenever you wish.

There is no deadline, and there is no right or wrong way to complete your remembrance.

Your Ebenezer can be a painting on a wall, a coloured picture tucked into your Bible, or a work you continue adding to throughout your life.

What matters is not the artwork itself, but the God whose faithfulness it helps you remember.

Some stones we can name. Others we can only trust.

Sharing Our Stones

One of the beautiful possibilities of this project is sharing it with others.

Gather a few friends, organise a small group painting afternoon, or participate in a guided workshop.

As you paint, you may choose to share the stories behind some of your stones.

Sometimes another person’s testimony helps us recognise God’s faithfulness in our own lives.

And sometimes a story is too personal to share.

That is perfectly fine.

Your Ebenezer belongs to your journey with God. You are free to decide which stories you wish to tell.

Workshops and Gatherings

We are exploring the possibility of hosting guided My Ebenezer painting workshops, including potential collaboration with Creative Images and local church groups.

These gatherings would combine a short Bible reflection, beginner-friendly painting and opportunities for fellowship and testimony.

Workshop dates and details will be announced here once arrangements have been confirmed.

Interested in participating or organising a gathering with your group?

Please contact Grace Encounters to express your interest.

“Thus far the LORD has helped us.” — 1 Samuel 7:12

Read the Reflection

The inspiration behind My Ebenezer began with a personal discovery about God’s faithfulness and the ways He keeps us, sometimes without our even recognising it.

Read the accompanying Grace Encounters reflection:

Keep Gathering Stones

Your Ebenezer does not have to be completed.

There will always be more of God’s character to discover, more reasons to praise Him, and more moments to remember.

And perhaps one day, when someone asks you what those stones mean, you will have the opportunity to tell them how faithfully God has led you.

We are not finished gathering stones, because God is not finished writing our story.

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Grace Encounters