Early in our marriage, my wife, Kristen, and I hiked a mountain trail. The day was full of color, with a hot, yellow sun overhead, lush evergreens on each side, and copper-colored soil beneath our feet. We came upon a tree on which numerous hikers had carved their initials. Filled with the joy of our new life together and the beauty of the natural world, we felt like leaving a memorial too. Using the teeth of my car key, I scratched “A + K” into the bark.
Memorials are used in the Bible as a way to thank and worship God. One such memorial was built in Joshua 4:19-22. God had miraculously held back the Jordan River from flowing so the Israelites could enter the land He had promised them (Joshua 3:14-16). It must have been an amazing and powerful experience to see the water “stand up like a wall” (Joshua 3:13). It demonstrated God’s love and provision for the Israelites, while reminding them of His faithful protection when they had fled Egypt (Exodus 14:15-31).
Each one of us has unique stories of God’s goodness and provision in our lives. You may have a miraculous account like that of the Israelites. Or you may be struck by God’s goodness in everyday activities—working, playing, or even while you’re out hiking. Regardless, take the time to memorialize God’s blessings. Write them down, tell your loved ones, or carve your name in a tree trunk if you need to. It doesn’t need to be formal. It just needs to be recorded so that you’ll remember.
Joshua 4:24 tells us that God wanted a memorial to be built “so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.” The memorial God helps you build can do the same thing.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Daniel 3:1-30
More:
Consider the urgency to remember God as it’s expressed in Ecclesiastes 12:5-7.
Next:
How could you memorialize something God has done for you this week? What could you create that would help you and others remember God’s power and goodness?
Gary Shultz on May 31, 2016 at 6:46 am
Okay Andy since you asked. I was working in the woods and lost my chainsaw wrench. Not a big thing, but I said, God you’re a God of small things too, thank you because I will have the funds to replace it, but it would be nice if you would allow me to find it. Just a little thing between You and me and this does not change my faith, I just know you can do it. I walked through the area I had worked at least three times, on two different, days, saying I’m here and looking, but no wrench. My faith faltered, not really, but I was at the hardware store and picked up a replacement with other items. The new tool was to be correct, but did not fit. Yesterday I was carrying brush from another location into the woods, looked no wrench. later in the day I thought I’m just going to carry another arm full into the wooded area. I was thinking after dumping the branches it would be nice to find it before it rains and gets rusty, before I could finish my last gasp, I looked straight down where I was stepping, the wrench. I picked it up walked out into the clearing held it up and said thank you, thank you just because you could. The Psalms has something to say about the steps of a man. Not my normal response, but you asked for it. God does interact and care even about the small things in life. Thanks Andy.
gagirllive on May 31, 2016 at 7:14 am
Nice story, Gary. God’s into finding what’s lost. 🙂
Andy Rogers on May 31, 2016 at 8:26 am
Thank you, Gary! Great story. 🙂
jim spillane on May 31, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Gary – as I read your comment, it brings to mind that you beautifully displayed a few of the keys to answered prayer. First, you persevered in your prayer to God that He would take action on your behalf. It wasn’t just “one and done.” You brought your prayer to God more than once, and that showed Him that you were sincere about it. Secondly, you displayed confidence in Him that He would act on your behalf, even though you bought a replacement (fearing future rain?), which turned out not to fit. (was He trying to tell you something there? Perhaps “wait on Me and I will act when I’m ready”?) And then, when you found your original wrench, you gave thanks and displayed gratitude for what He had done. Nicely played, my friend!
gagirllive on May 31, 2016 at 8:05 am
This is true, Andy. We are a forgetful people, aren’t we? Even if we recall significant events of our lives, many of the details are lost to us over time. As I get older I’m surprised at how much I’m forgetting about my life—the details about places I’ve lived and people I’ve met. Kinda scary. I’ve kept a journal off and on for years. It holds some pretty heavy stuff, and I don’t really like going back to read it, to be honest. The record is there, however. But one thing I’ve been doing the last few years is obtaining some item that represents “the story” that God is taking me through. I posted before that I wear an anchor necklace that I got a few years ago. It’s pretty and a lot of people have asked me about it. I get to tell them the story behind it—about the time my faith was somewhat shipwrecked and how Jesus was and is my Anchor. I also have a few other items that I’ve collected as memorials to things God has done or brought me through. Our lives are telling God’s story in us. It was God’s idea that the Israelites remember and share what He’d done for them. I’m sure He wants us to do the same. Hey…it’s a spiritual Show and Tell! 🙂 Thanks, Andy.
Andy Rogers on May 31, 2016 at 8:48 am
Hello! Thank you for sharing. I keep a journal too. I don’t write in it every day, but I try to write in it frequently. I write down the good and the bad events, the weak and the intense emotions, so that I’ll have a written record. I’ve found that it’s not always pleasant to remember, but it’s usually good. It helps me keep a healthy perspective of the present. Regarding the necklace: I’ve heard that the anchor is an ancient Christian symbol for hope, based on Hebrews 6:19-20. A powerful image of Jesus’ work in our lives. 🙂
gagirllive on May 31, 2016 at 9:00 am
Yup. That’s the exact scripture I reference when I share, Andy. 🙂
gagirllive on May 31, 2016 at 9:58 am
As an added thought, Andy, your reply comment made me realize that I have the tendency to journal only through the bad stuff (which ultimately God uses for good in my life). I need to make sure that I am memorializing the good things He’s done as well. I don’t always write about those things. Like the passage in Ecclesiastes stated…don’t just remember Him “when the water jar is smashed and the pulley is broken at the well”. Remember Him in EVERY situation. Job said it this way, “He gives and takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord”.
Andy Rogers on May 31, 2016 at 1:09 pm
I agree. And even beyond the obviously bad and good, the regular occurrences of life may be interesting to you later. You never know. What is mundane today may be insightful, or a happy memory, tomorrow.
gagirllive on May 31, 2016 at 1:25 pm
That’s wise, Andy. Thank you!
hsnpoor on May 31, 2016 at 10:44 am
I just heard a message on the radio this past weekend that spoke about Jesus as an “anchor of our souls”! The speaker also indicated that the sign of the anchor was a way of leading & guiding the early converts to Christianity (after Pentecost) to meeting places for worship.
gagirllive on May 31, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Thanks for sharing this info, hsnpoor. I didn’t know this about the anchor as a symbol for the early church. When I got my anchor necklace it was purely based off the passage in Hebrews—the idea of Jesus being my hope, the Anchor for my soul.
hsnpoor on May 31, 2016 at 10:38 am
If I could interject, I keep a journal also. Like Andy, I don’t write everyday (that would probably turn the pleasure of keeping it into a chore), but I write the good, the bad and ugly. It’s a place I can get really, real. I also have a lot of Oswald Chambers “wisdom” statements that have caught my eye, attention and heart. And, comments on this website that others have made. GAgirl, you’re in there (one that is especially close to my heart is that “whatever is above our heads is under His feet”—-I used that this past Sun. with the parents of a 2-year old that was brought to the nursery for the 1st time. He was slightly “special”, but not enough so to have to go to the special needs class. The parents were really nervous about leaving him and in the conversation, I just heard myself say that. That seemed to calm them and they smiled and left to hear a bang up message from our Pastor on the 2nd commandment). I can so relate to your “as I get older” statement too. Don’t know about you, but I’ll be 63 in Nov. I really am experiencing a “New Normal” in my 6th decade, physically, but especially mentally. The CRS is getting out of hand (and that S stands for shizzizel…:)! If it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist for me. Now, if I could just remember to pick up the lists I make before I leave the house….
gagirllive on May 31, 2016 at 10:55 am
Lol…love your humor, hsnpoor! And I gotta say, you wear 63 very well! I appreciate the way you engage here. 🙂
foxhollow on May 31, 2016 at 10:03 am
Recently I moved into a house that I decided would exhibit my faith in subtle ways, from the planted trees (Rose of Sharon, Dogwood, etc.)) to a church with steeple birdhouse, My latest addition is a silver tray which I filled with mustard seeds (symbol of faith, as quoted by Jesus) and placed on the buffet console. It’s so nice to have peple pick up the seeds and guess what they are and my response if they don’t know.♡
gagirllive on May 31, 2016 at 10:18 am
That’s beautiful, foxhollow. Wow…there are just countless ways we can fill our lives (and homes) with these little memorials to God, aren’t there?
foxhollow on May 31, 2016 at 10:51 am
Endless♡
Gary Shultz on June 1, 2016 at 6:11 am
You are a kind and insightful man Jim, thank you.