What do you do to remember the high points of life? How do you preserve the memory? Some of those times are very easy to remember. It's tradition.

Most of us celebrate anniversaries-when God joined us to a spouse. And birthdays. We celebrate the birthday of a treasured child or grandchild. We celebrate our own birthday-having survived another year. On Memorial Day we remember our service men and women. At Christmas and Easter, we celebrate our Savior.

In the Bible, people created memorials to remember the great things God did for them. For instance, in the book of Joshua, a memorial was built of twelve stones. When God's people needed to cross the Jordan River-at flood stage-to enter the Promised Land, God stopped the rushing water. The people crossed the river on dry land. Before the water returned to the riverbed, Joshua instructed men from each of the twelve tribes to retrieve a stone from the riverbed, and deposit at the side of the river. They built a memorial of the twelve stones to remind the people of God's miraculous power and care.

God knew His people would be forgetful. As time went on and members of the nation of Israel became preoccupied in their new life, they would tend to forget about God's grace. They would need reminders. The memorial was there for them to see and tell future generations about their great God. Joshua 3:1 to 4:24


We need reminders, too.
In the busyness and stress of life, do you sometimes forget that God carried you through struggles in the past? Do you become worried and fearful because you've forgotten God is good, and powerful, and faithful?

Suggestions for reminders:


• Journal
  
  Grab hold of those moments of grace, when you realize God has cared for you. When you see a specific answer to prayer. Record His faithfulness. You don't have to be a great writer. The journal is for you, as a reminder. You return to it and remember, rejoice again, and share the story with the next generation.



• Write in your Bible
  
  Okay, I know some of you would never mark in your Bible. But in years to come, when I'm gone, I hope my children and grandchildren keep and look through my Bible. I want them to know what I considered important.
  
  When you find a meaningful verse or passage in your Bible, write in the margin. Note how God used that verse in your life. Write a prayer and how you will depend on God to use it.
  
  
• Daily reminders with sticky notes.
  
  
  Put them on your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator, or in the car.
  
  • As you read the Bible, and find a promise, write it down.
    
  • Are you lonely? Are you afraid? Put this on a sticky note. "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13: NIV or Deuteronomy 31:6
    
  • Do you feel insignificant? Unimportant?
    I am a child of God. John 1:12
    I am a friend of Jesus. John 15:15
    
  • Do you feel guilt?
    My old self was crucified with Christ and I am no longer a slave to sin. Romans 6:6
    I am a new creation in Christ. The old has passed away. The new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

God told His people, "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 11:18-19 NIV

For more on memorials, read Ebenezer - Who?

Need a journal? Jeremiah 29:11 Two-tone Flexcover Journal

For your casual reading:


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