Favorite Bible Verse
"...I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes." Psalm 119:47-48 (ESV)
which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes." Psalm 119:47-48 (ESV)
God's word is a lamp, a light, an anchor. It is a marvel and a mystery and beautiful and encouraging. It is also strange and shocking, inviting us to dig into the wonders of our God and wrestle with things we don't understand. His Word is a treasure to us, allowing us to know the Father who created us all and loves us beyond measure.
Sometimes there are passages, stories, and verses that seem to come at the perfect time, and we cling to them, like favorite parts of a love letter - to read over and over as they touch our hearts again.
This week, the ladies of DFF will be sharing some of our favorite verses and the special place they have played in our story.
Saturday, June 02, 2012 |
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Memorials—Rocks, Blogs and a Dash of Incense
As
Sara so very well shared yesterday, Israel had altars of rocks, monuments
to remind them of what the Lord had done for them.
That got me wondering. What altars,
what monuments, do I have that tell the story of God’s love or what He has
done?
I
look around my house. I can’t see anything
that really acts as a memorial to Jesus.
I guess
I could build an altar in my house. Hang
a cross, mount a few pictures of Jesus, light some candles, waft
a little incense… Okay, I’m creeping myself out just a bit.
Then
it hits me. The purpose of an altar, of
a memorial of any kind, is to communicate something important, something worth
remembering. The lives given in service
to our country are worth remembering. God’s faithfulness to His people, Israel, is
important, not only to them but to all of mankind. Memorials help ensure that those events are
not forgotten.
Which
events in my life are worth memorializing?
Which are less so? How do I
decide?
The
beauty of living in this day, in this age, is that I don’t have to choose. All I have to do is write them down. No chiseling statues out of stone. I can document here, at Daily Fast Fuel, or
the other places I write.
Even
if my memories are not published for the world to see, simply journaling them can
be enough. Why? Because we have a tendency to forget--details,
dates, entire chains of events. By
writing them down we can revisit the memories in crystal clear detail. The remembering is important, as is giving thanks. Just as on Memorial Day we reflect and remember
in gratitude, so God also loves when we remember and express our thankfulness
to Him, be it in front of many or just Him and you.
No incense required.
Debbie Legg is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 |
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Memorial Stones
My inspiration was Joshua 4. Israel had finally been given the a-okay to enter the promise land, but unfortunately would have to hoof it across the Jordan to make that happen. God, of course, pulls out the red carpet and splits the waters yet again, but this times He leaves the Israelites with some interesting instructions. Grab 12 stones from the middle of the river and stack them up on the other side as a memorial to Me.
Why? So when the children ask about the stones the elders will tell them about God and all that He has done. God wanted His story passed on,
Remembering can be a powerful tool. It can refresh, re-calibrate, and reset our course. As we remember so many this week who have given such great sacrifices for our country, may it also remind our hearts, like Joshua's memorial stones - to remember who our God is, and what He has done, paying the ultimate the price for freedom.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 |
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Memorial Decoration
Just about everyone in my family has one wall inside their
home decorated nearly top to bottom with family photos. This unique interior design speaks a testimony
of the lives and legacies of generations of loved ones. We choose special
photos for this wall such that we would be reminded of who we are and from
where we’ve come. Every day we are blessed to walk by the images of those who
have loved and sacrificed for us. We decorate our homes with a pictorial memorial.
Did you know you can decorate your life in much the same
way? My grandfather does.
This past Sunday, I had the privilege of spending the day
with my grandfather. He is a World War II veteran. He was a paratrooper and
fought in the Battle of the Bulge. On rare occasions he has given us details of
his time in Europe fighting for his country. When he does, he always talks of
the sacrifices of others who made it possible for him to be here today. I don’t
know their names, but there are brave men who lost their lives fighting
alongside my grandfather. He came home. They didn’t. My dear grandfather has
often pondered and been left speechless when he considers how it is that he
managed to survive. His life is an incomprehensible gift.
Anyone who has spent any time around my grandfather can see
that his life is a living memorial which honors the sacrifices of those men.
His life is decorated with actions, choices, commitments, passions and pursuits
which are a testimony to the lives and legacies of those who sacrificed all.
More than that, my grandfather’s life is a testimony to the
life and legacy of the One who gave all so that he could enjoy life
everlasting. It is an incomprehensible gift…for him, for me, for you, for all
of us.
Have you ever felt speechless when you consider the
incomprehensible gift of your life? When people observe you each day… whose
memory do your actions, choices, commitments, passions and pursuits testify to?
How is your life decorated? Is it covered top to bottom with images of the
legacy of the Lord?
“Greater love has no
one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 |
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The Memorial Ahead
As I considered all of that this year, I began to wonder about my own story. What will be said of me when I'm gone? How will friends and family remember me? Will my legacy be noteworthy? Will my contributions in this life be memorable?
Heavy questions, I know, but I invite you to ask them of yourself and see where it leads. May we find ourselves worthy of a noble memorial once we leave this Earth. May we find ourselves living a memorial-worthy life while we're here.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 1 Timothy 4:7
Anitra Elmore is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 |
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