Happy Memorial Day….

pile_of_rocksMemorial Day….a day to remember the men and women who served, and still serve, to preserve and protect the Freedoms and Liberties that we Americans enjoy living in every day.  Memorial is defined in the dictionary as “something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, etc., as a monument or a holiday.”  The Bible is full of instances…from beginning to end…where memorials are created.  Throughout Exodus Moses is instructed by God what to speak and what to do, down to the smallest details…being told repeatedly that these words and actions will “stand as a Memorial ” to the things of God.  In Leviticus and Numbers we see God giving instructions regarding the building of the Tabernacle and the creation of the Rules and Laws for the Israelites, and once again we see God saying that certain details will “stand as a Memorial ” to the things of God.  In Joshua we see God tell Joshua to take 12 stones from the midst of the Jordan River, where the Priests crossed with the Ark into the Promised Land, and set them up as a Memorial for the children of Israel to remember the day the waters parted for the Ark of God….and then Joshua was also instructed to set up 12 stones in the midst of the Jordan to “stand as a Memorial” for the children of Israel.  In fact, the word Memorial is mentioned over 30 times throughout the Old and New Testements, and the word remember is mentioned over 200 times.  My Pastor always says when God says something more than once you need to pay particular attention to it….so clearly God wants us to remember….

Remember….”Remember this day”….”Remember the Lord your God”….”thou shalt remember”….Why?

Because remembering is critical to keeping the heart connected with God.  Because each time we remember what God has done for us, another ounce of Faith is forged into the shield of Faith that we wield each day to fight off the fiery darts of the enemy.  Because each time we remember what God has done for us, we enter into His courts with praise on our lips and thankfulness in our hearts.  Because each time we remember what God has done for us, peace and joy are birthed into our hearts and minds and spirits.  Because each time we remember what God has done for us, we are made strong so that the race can be finished.

As we celebrate Memorial Day, remembering all of those who have died serving our country, and all of those who sacrifice so much today in service to our country, let us not forget to remember the Living God that is the foundation of this country.  Remember what God has done for our country and for you personally….and see the Glory of God.  Wield that shield of Faith, enter into His courts with praise on your lips and thankfulness in your heart, bask in the peace and joy, be made strong in Jesus, and finish the race!!!!

And if you do not know Jesus as your Savior, today can be a Memorial for you…simply go here to say a sinner’s prayer….or here to contact someone from the church….

Please feel free to leave a comment as well, and know that even if your comment does not appear on the blog (due to the fact that some comments are private and sensitive in nature) that you and your special need are being lifted up in prayer.

 

Happy Memorial Day!