13 Sep, 2011
Never Forget
On Sunday, September 11th, we remembered the tenth anniversary of the most horrific event in modern America's history. Television and radio networks shared story after story: testimonies from survivers and memories from the families of those who were lost that day. American flags flew proudly, and Facebook statuses of "Where were you 10 years ago?" filled newsfeeds. Many memorials have been erected across the country honoring the victims and heroes of 9/11, including those that were unveiled and highlighted during Sunday's services in downtown Manhattan, Arlington, VA, and Shanksville, PA. As difficult as it is to remember, Americans are determined to never forget what happened on that tragic day, in 2001, and how it changed not only our country but the world.
America remembers.
The memorial at Ground Zero - Manhattan, NY
The memorial at the Pentagon - Arlington, VA
The memorial of Flight 93 - Shanksville, PA
(Pictures courtesy of Google Images)
Joshua 4:1-8a
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord siad to Joshua, Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.
So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."
So the Israeleites did as Joshua commanded them.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about remembering?
There are many instances in scripture where God tells His people to create memorials in order to remember all that He had done for His people. The Israelites had not been known as a people who remembered well all that God had done for them, and God did not want His people to forget where they'd been, what they'd faced, and how God had rescued them. The memorial they constructed was to do more than just remind them of God's faithfulness and provision, it was also to remind future generations. They were to never forget, and never stop talking about, all that God had done and the promises He so faithfully fulfilled.
How can I connect today's story and God's Story scripture to my life?
Do you have a way of memorializing all that God does for you on a regular basis? Our God is in the business of changing lives, are you missing it? Here are some ways you can help yourself remember all that God has and is doing in your life:
- Keep a prayer journal - Use a journal (or e-file)to write out your prayers and praises, as if you're writing a letter/email to your best friend. At least once a month, go back and read through your previous entries. You'll be amazed at all the areas where you'll see God working and answering your prayers, and it will remind you of just how faithful He truly is.
- Talk about what God is doing in your life. Share stories of how He has been faithful. It's hard to allow yourself to think that God's forgotten about you when you're constantly looking for ways to see and share how He's been faithful.
- When God does something big in your life and God truly touches your heart, find a way to memorialize it with a small token/item that will remind you of His faithfulness when you see it. When others take note of it be sure to tell them exactly what God did.
How can I connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and my story to others?
- Talk to others about the memorials that have been set up to remember what took place on Sept. 11, 2001. Ask your friend, "If there is something that happened in your life that you would memorialize if you could, what would it be? What would you use as a symbol of that memorial?" Listen to your friend and learn something knew about his story. Share about a time God really worked in your life and how you would or have memorialized it.
- Ask your Christian friends, when you see them, "What is God teaching you?" (I had a friend in college who would ask me this question every time I saw him. At first, I didn't know how to answer the question, but it really got me thinking and, because I didn't want to NOT have an answer for him, it really challenged me to pay closer attention to what God was doing and trying to show me.)
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