Forgetful
I have been known to be forgetful. Lost keys, diaper bag, cell phone, phone numbers, names....when it comes to remembering, I like to blame the dog. That we don't have. I feel on top of my memory game when I send out a birthday card in the same month as the one celebrating. The birthday person should feel extra special if their card is within the same week. I think the Lord knew from the beginning of time that His people would be forgetful. Forgetful in the small things of taking out the trash on trash day, yes. But more importantly, that we would be forgetful in the big things.
Our forgetfulness can be a result of our distractions. I am most apt to forget where I put my keys when I am trying to get the groceries inside before they melt, while trying to get my 3 year old to go potty before having a big mess. When I am most forgetful, I am distracted by the busyness of now. The same can be said of my spiritual walk. I am most forgetful of the faithfulness of God when I am distracted by the weight of my circumstances now.
In Joshua 4 the Lord has the Israelite people take 12 stones from the Jordan River as they crossed the Jordan into the promised land. He tells them to make a memorial as a reminder..."When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children know, Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground. For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did with the Red Sea, which He dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty...(vs 21-24)" God has the Israelites set up these stone memorials seven times as the people came and received the promised Land (Joshua 4-24).
The stone memorials were to preserve a memory, to pause from the daily routine to remember. These stone memorials were a reminder for the current generation but also were for the next generations to know of. What type of spiritual "memorials" am I building in my life so that I can remember the faithfulness of the One who called me? Am I telling the next generation of those "memorials" where the Lord provided in power and greatness? As I pondered these questions I came up with just a few of my memorials:
- January 18, 1989 when I gave what little I knew about me to a God who knew me intimately and yet loved me enough to send His son Jesus for my salvation.
- A Sunday in 1989 when I publicly professed that I was a sinner saved by grace by being baptized before my church family.
- Super Summer 1997 when I decided that I wanted Jesus as not only my Savior from my sins, but the Lord over my earthly life.
- Windermere Youth Camp 2000 where He reminded me of His unfailing love.
- Corpus Christi Mission Trip 2003 when He opened my eyes to a world in need all around me and said "Go."
- September 5, 2005 when He graciously and generously provided me with the promised gift of my husband Zac.
- March 2008 when He called us to leave everything comfortable for greater Kingdom purpose in Houston, and yet proved faithful in His provision.
- September 10, 2009 and March 5, 2012 when He placed the responsibility of raising children who are the next generation.
- Every Sunday we take the Lord's Supper He reminds me of the cost of my sin and the grace and forgiveness that are given.
In a world that is distracted with the busyness of now, the Lord invites us to pause and remember. Remember the memorial stones where He proved Himself faithful, gracious, and full of power.
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I have been known to be forgetful. Lost keys, diaper bag, cell phone, phone numbers, names....when it comes to remembering, I like to blame the dog. That we don't have. I feel on top of my memory game when I send out a birthday card in the same month as the one celebrating. The birthday person should feel extra special if their card is within the same week. I think the Lord knew from the beginning of time that His people would be forgetful. Forgetful in the small things of taking out the trash on trash day, yes. But more importantly, that we would be forgetful in the big things.
Our forgetfulness can be a result of our distractions. I am most apt to forget where I put my keys when I am trying to get the groceries inside before they melt, while trying to get my 3 year old to go potty before having a big mess. When I am most forgetful, I am distracted by the busyness of now. The same can be said of my spiritual walk. I am most forgetful of the faithfulness of God when I am distracted by the weight of my circumstances now.
In Joshua 4 the Lord has the Israelite people take 12 stones from the Jordan River as they crossed the Jordan into the promised land. He tells them to make a memorial as a reminder..."When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children know, Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground. For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did with the Red Sea, which He dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty...(vs 21-24)" God has the Israelites set up these stone memorials seven times as the people came and received the promised Land (Joshua 4-24).
The stone memorials were to preserve a memory, to pause from the daily routine to remember. These stone memorials were a reminder for the current generation but also were for the next generations to know of. What type of spiritual "memorials" am I building in my life so that I can remember the faithfulness of the One who called me? Am I telling the next generation of those "memorials" where the Lord provided in power and greatness? As I pondered these questions I came up with just a few of my memorials:
- January 18, 1989 when I gave what little I knew about me to a God who knew me intimately and yet loved me enough to send His son Jesus for my salvation.
- A Sunday in 1989 when I publicly professed that I was a sinner saved by grace by being baptized before my church family.
- Super Summer 1997 when I decided that I wanted Jesus as not only my Savior from my sins, but the Lord over my earthly life.
- Windermere Youth Camp 2000 where He reminded me of His unfailing love.
- Corpus Christi Mission Trip 2003 when He opened my eyes to a world in need all around me and said "Go."
- September 5, 2005 when He graciously and generously provided me with the promised gift of my husband Zac.
- March 2008 when He called us to leave everything comfortable for greater Kingdom purpose in Houston, and yet proved faithful in His provision.
- September 10, 2009 and March 5, 2012 when He placed the responsibility of raising children who are the next generation.
- Every Sunday we take the Lord's Supper He reminds me of the cost of my sin and the grace and forgiveness that are given.
In a world that is distracted with the busyness of now, the Lord invites us to pause and remember. Remember the memorial stones where He proved Himself faithful, gracious, and full of power.
