Memorials So We Remember

Gabor from Hungary

Let’s think about how to remember God’s faithfulness through this COVID-19 pandemic. Psalms 106 and 107 are pertinent to this season. Psalm 106 recounts that the children of Israel forgot what God had done for them at the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and in Egypt. Psalm 107 says they did not understand, appreciate, or remember His miracles. Let us all learn from the example of the children of Israel.

During a time of praise with Kent and Carla Henry online (currently 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, 7 p.m. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday https://www.facebook.com/KentHenryMinistries/, https://www.youtube.com/user/khmworship, https://www.instagram.com/kenthenryministries/),

I was led to the book of Joshua where 12 memorial stones were set up after the children of Israel crossed the Jordan. The stones were to remind the Israelites of God’s faithfulness to them. The psalms remind us that remembering His faithfulness can keep us from the evil that the Israelites committed.

I remember my friend commemorating her husband’s safety. A fire broke out in a rental home they owned, and he broke out a window to escape. She painted a remembrance as only she could do. I keep my mother’s wedding ring from her second marriage to remind me how God was faithful to take care of her and give her a loving companion after she retired from teaching. All my siblings and stepsiblings agree they both lived happier and longer lives than they would have apart. My current home is a memorial in itself; due to the generosity of friends, I live in a wonderful house and practiced my gift of hospitality for many years with family and friends.

So, I’m thinking we all need to gather memorial stones to remember God’s faithfulness during this time. It might be a picture of everyone in your quarantine circle, whether family or not, framed and displayed. Or maybe it is a special gift to a church or charity and memorializing it with a vase or sculpture displayed prominently in your home. When someone asks, you can tell them God preserved you through the COVID-19 quarantine. Perhaps you could plant a beautiful tree or blooming bush in your yard to remind yourself and everyone of this time of God preserving us. We need visual reminders so we can remember to give our sustaining, loving God credit for not just surviving this season, but for growing us through it. From the Psalms:

Psalm 106:7-8  Our fathers in Egypt understood not nor appreciated Your miracles; they did not [earnestly] remember the multitude of Your mercies nor imprint Your loving-kindness [on their hearts], but they were rebellious and provoked the Lord at the sea, even at the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake [to prove the righteousness of the divine character], that He might make His mighty power known.

Psalm 107, multiple verses Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

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