God Speaking

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body.”

(2 Peter 1: 12- 23)

Christmas time is a time of family gatherings and we were fortunate to be able to gather our bunch all together on Christmas day this year. When we all get together somehow all the old stories get told and the grandchildren, (now mostly adults with only two little ones) love to hear these stories and especially if about them or even more important about their parents, when they were children. This year one of our daughters pulled out of her Christmas present a piece of soap attached to a rope. Her sisters burst into gales of laughter, while the grandchildren begged me to tell the story behind this strange addition to her present.

Memories are very precious in a family and the retelling of them is such an important part of keeping the family history alive. When Peter was writing to the young fledging Christians, he wanted them to be very much aware of the importance of this in their spiritual walk and of course a great reminder to us as well. When we go through difficult times and experience the wonderful intervention of the Holy Spirit and come through these trials with his help, there is a danger of slowly forgetting as life settles down again. We need to keep those experiences in the fore front of our minds, to help us face bravely whatever revolts against us, and to remind ourselves of God’s power.

David knew very well how necessary this was

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” (1 Chronicles 16: 11- 12)

Memories become so much more powerful when they are shared with others and just as we share them with our earthly families it is also very much a part of strengthening for the family of God, we belong to, when we love the Lord. Psalmists knew the recounting to future generations ensured knowledge of the Heavenly Father would never be lost for our children

“Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever, from generation to generation we will recount your praise.” (Psalm 79: 13)

The end of a year is often a time of refection and I found myself doing this as I was checking the nearly expired calendar for dates I needed to add to the new 2017 calendar and while I read those scribbled notes, memories of some of the ugly times we went through came flooding back, but immediately wonderful memories of how the Lord carried us through surfaced, and I was able to spend time thanking him for being our rock this year. We can keep a calendar of his grace and mercy in our minds and constantly return to refreshing our memories of his incredible love so those beautiful memories always remain fresh in our minds.