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  • Writer's pictureDaniel Storm

Dust off the Souvenirs


How many of us would say we have great memories? The reality is that we forget things all the time and we know we forget. For example, we use Calendars. Why do we use them? So that we don't forget where we are supposed to be at a certain time. However, even when we write down what we need to do in a calendar we then set alarms to remind ourselves (at least I do), and still even with alarms we can forget. We are forgetful people.


Take another example, whenever you go on vacation somewhere new there is one thing you always get; a souvenir. If we are honest, the souvenirs are completely random and sometimes don't look great but we still get them. Why? So that we can remember the great times we had on the vacation. However, after many months (or years) we end up putting the souvenirs away (maybe in a box) to completely forget about it. Out of sight out of mind. We are forgetful people. I want to challenge us today to be people that remember. That we remember what God has done and be thankful. Let us dust off the souvenirs of our lives and remember.



What Can Happen When We Forget


We become prideful and selfish.

When we forget what God has done in our lives and forget how he has brought us to where we are today we often become prideful. This pridefulness states that "I am number one" "I did everything myself and don't need God". Our lives, our accomplishments become about ourselves and no one else.


We become ungrateful

Forgetfulness can easily lead us to ungratefulness. We forget what God has done, where we have come from and what has happened in our lives. Since we forget, we become ungrateful for where we are in life at this moment.


We blame God and others

When we forget, not only do we become ungrateful but we tend to blame others and God for things in our lives that we don't like. We take all the credit for what is good but then pass the blame to others or God when things aren't good.


We become bitter

Additionally, forgetfulness can lead to comparison. We compare what we have with what other have, which will often lead to bitterness and jealousy. We become bitter toward them or even God because we don't have what others have. Comparison destroys us and our relationships.


Why and How should we remember


We are not called or created to be people that are bitter, ungrateful, and prideful. Rather we are called to be people who, even in the midst of difficulties, celebrate and are thankful for what God has done and is doing. However, we won't be people of thanksgiving if we don't take active steps to remember.


Set up Monuments

In the book of Joshua (in the Bible) God calls Joshua to set up monuments (12 stones) to remember what God has done. This was done to be a reminder to them, their children and strangers of who God is and what He has done. This year I challenge and encourage you guys to set up something to remind yourself of what God has done in your life. A poem, artwork etc. It doesn't matter what it is but just that you do something to remember. Dust off the souvenirs of your life and set them up.


Tell Your Family

Don't keep what God has done in your life to yourself. Tell your family. There might be many things that even your family doesn't even know that God has done in your life. How will they know if you do not tell them?


Tell Others

Don't stop with just telling your family but tell others (friends, neighbors, coworkers) what God has done in your life. In Joshua 4:24 after God instructed Joshua to set up monuments for remembering what God has done, God says, "So that all of the people of the world may know." God hasn't just worked in your life only for you but also for the benefit of those around you. So they will know that God has not abandoned them.


Conclusion


Too often we easily forget what God has done and how we have been blessed in our lives. When we forget we can easily become: prideful, ungrateful, and bitter. If these have taken root in your heart we will pass those onto others. Let us change the narrative of our lives. Let us not forget but rather set up "monuments" in our lives. Let us tell our family and others about what God has done. We are called to remember, celebrate, thank God and pass that same attitude of thanksgiving to others. This year what attitude are you passing onto to others? Is it a attitude of thankfulness?


If today, you are wondering if you are a thankful or bitter person, I challenge you to do a heart check. Jesus states in Luke 6:45, "out of the abundance of your heart your mouth speaks." What overflows out of you, the words you speak, shows the condition of your heart. Let us check our hearts, ask Jesus to do a work in us and remember what He has done.

"Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare."-Psalm 40:5
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