Sunday, November 6, 2011

Let us remember



"Our faith would be stronger if we would remember 
what God has done for us in the past. 

For some reason, as humans, we seem to remember 
all the hurts and tragedies of our past, 
but forget the good that has happened. 

“Some saints have very short memories. 

It has been well said that we write our benefits in dust 
and our injuries in marble,
 and it is equally true that we generally inscribe 
our afflictions upon brass,
while the records of the deliverances 
of God are written in water."
C. H. Spurgeon   (from "The Lion & the Bear") 


Memory is our ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. 
 - the power of our mind to remember things.

But - why do the negative memories seem bigger and 
seem to carry more weight than the good??  


Is Satan fighting us by causing us to forget what God has done?


Did you know that scientists now think there are specific neural circuits for specific memories?  

Whatever the reason, God recognized our inclination to forget.
  
In the Old Testament,  God is constantly warning the 
children of Israel to “remember” or “do not forget”. 

He instructed them numerous times to take stones and stack then on top of each other so that “when your children and children’s children ask why these stones are here, you can tell them what God has done”.  (Joshua 4:2-9)


These were monuments of remembrance.  
God knew they would forget

What do YOU do so that you will NOT forget what God has done for you?
Because you will forget, you know?  
       


For those times when you were distraught and His presence came.
        For those times when you were all alone and he comforted you. 
        For when the situation was impossible and the finances came through.
        For when the situation was impossible and someone came and held you.  

It’s important for us to devise our own method of remembering because - we WILL forget.  


I have a friend who literally has an altar in her house of rocks.  Dates written on them as reminders of what God had done.  


Another family with small children has a bowl on their dining room table with smooth river stones in them.  They are dated with a word to remind them.  They occasionally go through the bowl and discuss the events and how God came.  


I keep a 'joy journal' as a reminder.  
Sometimes I even enter a brief description on my recurring Outlook calendar.  That way, each year on the very date, it pops up as a reminder.  I love that.  


So what are your monuments of remembrance?
What do you do, so that you won't forget?
So when the tough times come again - and they will -  you can look back and be encouraged.  



"Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. 
He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped us."  1 Sam 7:12 (NIV)

“...Be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God” (Deu 8:11b). 

“Do not become proud...and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery” (Deu 8:14).

“If you ever forget the Lord your God...you will certainly be destroyed” (Deu 8:19).




12 comments:

  1. Janet, I found your comment on The High Calling's blog post about Stewarding Memories. I clicked over here and have found that you and I have a lot in common.

    Your current blog post is terrific! I wrote a blog post similar to it a couple of months ago at this link:

    http://spiritualmemoirs101.blogspot.com/2011/09/gathering-up-your-memories.html

    I collect quotes, like you do, too. :)

    Thanks for your wonderful ispiration today.

    Linda

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  2. Linda - thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving your comments.

    I have visited your blogs and they are wonderful. I need your spiritual memoirs a long time ago. It will help me now, as well.

    I am adamant that our Spiritual Heritage is important for our children, friends, and others.

    I am currently going through about 75 letters that my Dad wrote and received during WWII. Fascinating letters from both sides of the Atlantic. He was in Germany. I've been scanning them into a document for our family. I've already helped him write his WWII story. Now I have these letters that I can insert into the story.

    Thanks again for your kind words. Keep on keeping on.
    In His Name
    Janet

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  3. Good things to remember! I have enjoyed perusing several of your posts and getting to know you a bit.

    Kindly, Lorraine

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  4. Janet,
    I just found your blog and it is lovely! We have sooo much in common- RN,farmer's wife, believer in the power of hope and faith in God. I also lived in Mo and visit dear friends there yearly. So nice to meet you. Your posts resonate with me. Keep up your great work!

    Kathy

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  5. Ms. Janet...thank you for stopping by and commenting at Jeremiah 29:11 on "God's Stamp of Approval". Being pressured to do something when we know in our hearts isn't in His will for us is wrong. It seems often there is a just a slot to be filled and all that's wanted is a "warm body", so to speak!!! "Stick to your guns"....and God will continue to bless you. So glad I found your blog...I'm a new follower!!!

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  6. I just love your blog and can't wait to read more! Thank you for visiting my blog, too! I am your newest follower. I look forward to more visits from you and to your blog!
    Hugs, GraceinAZ

    Growing Old With Grace http://growing-old-with-grace.blogspot.com/

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  7. The Spurgeon quote ... Wow! Thank you for sharing. I needed to hear that this morning. In a big way!

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  8. How I wish I could get rid of all the bad memories and have only good ones. But....those bad ones are learning experiences that HOPEfully taught me a lesson from God. Could that be why He has to keep sending me more and more....could I be a slow learner?!?!?! ;-) Great post!

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  9. Good stuff here, good reminders to hold to the truth and engrave it in marble.

    The pain is there, though, and needs to be addressed, don't you think? It seems that if we don't at least acknowledge and address it, there is the chance it will fester.

    In fact, if we deal with the negative memories, we can open ourselves up to further deliverance via God's power.

    Digging into memory and telling our stories honestly can be a way to unearth the pain in a good way, perhaps?

    Much to think about here.

    So glad to meet you today at my blog post about the plaque! Thank you for leaving that great comment!

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  10. Regarding the pain and bad memories. If we allow it, they will become the best learning experiences. They will continue to encourage and strengthen us the rest of our lives.

    I learned the hard way, that we have to face our feelings and bad memories HEAD-ON. The sooner the better.

    It has taken me 6 years to finally feel comfortable in my own home and in my own yard; due to the tragedy that happened here (my son's death 25 years ago in a farm accident) and the attack on my husband (6 years ago). A poacher cut off his nose and sliced his abdomen open just a short distance from our yard - stole his vehicle and left him for dead in the dark in the middle of the road.

    My husband and I have finally gone a little over a year now without a nightmare. Praise the Lord.

    5 years ago I was at the end of myself. LIterally ready to give up and 'cash in'. It frightened me.

    I found a christian counselor who helped me face my fears, anxieties, and panic attacks. She kindly pointed out my faulty thinking. I gradually started replacing those negative and faulty thoughts deliberately with positive ones. It then became a habit.

    Some day I will take all my notes from our speaking engagements & write the stories of that night 6 years ago and how our God intervened on our behalf over and over and over again.

    We spent about 2 years as guest speakers at churches all over Kansas. People were touched and some turned to God.

    Also the story of our son's death and how God did NOT intervene on our behalf even tho all the same people were praying. We found that God was still on his throne. He was still with us. Never leaving us. Never deserting us. Holding our hands and crying with us as we traveled that horrific journey.

    I've learned more these last few years through the tumult; than I could ever have learned if the way had been smooth.

    My motto. Life is tough. God is Good. Sometimes we get God mixed up with life.

    My husband and I have been left in the storm and we been rescued from the storm. Both times He has been there. Fulfilling his promises of Isaiah 43. When we go thro the fire, the water, the floods HE WILL be with us.

    Thanks to all of you for reading my posts. I so appreciate it.

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  11. Hello Janet, Its lovely to meet a fellow R.N. and Christian as well. Yes we are incline to remember the bad more than the good, and how the devil must thrill when we do. My good, like I can see from your famiy pics, are my children and grandchildren, what a blessing they are.Also. learning about the risen saviour from an early age, with all those scripture retained in my mind. I can call upon so many when needed... God is my strength. Blessings to you and yours this day. Crystal Mary

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  12. Thank you Janet for including my blog in your list of blogs on grief and pain. I pray that my journey with chronic pain will be a blessing and encouragement to others. Thank you for your support!

    ~Stacy

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