4:161 – Memories Are Powerful

#faithbites #faithjourney memories

Setting

This past week my eldest started swim team practice. You may not know this, but I was an avid swimmer growing up, was on a swim team in high school, coached a summer team, and tried to start one in college. I loved the pool. So many memories of working at a pool. Yes, I was a pool rat in high school and college. Seeing my daughter don her cap, dive into the pool, learn the strokes, and listening to the coaches teach in similar ways that I did, just brought back so many memories. I loved the people I worked with and swam with. The pool was my home, my refuge, my safe place, and a place I could thrive. It took away the issues of the day and just let me be me. I miss that.

As the Counting Crows sing, “If dreams are like movies, then memories are films about ghosts.” Memories are from a time gone by. Even trying to recreate a memory seems to pale in comparison to the initial experience. While we can’t recreate them, we can relieve them. Memories teach us so about history, propel us into the future, and remind us of that which is closest to our hearts. And yes, the good and the bad that rest in our hearts are all represented by memories. Another line from Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby, “The price of a memory is the memory of the sorry it brings. ”

We should think of memories as yet another gift from God. They help us measure where we were, where we are, and where we are going.

Today’s Questions: What purpose do memories serve for you? Are there memories you wish you could forget or relive? How do you use your faith to work through this?

Scripture

• John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
• Deuteronomy 6:12 – Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
• Deuteronomy 8:2 – And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
• 1 Corinthians 11:2 – Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
• Revelation 2:5 -Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Reflection

From the beginning of the Bible to the end, God’s work talks about remembering him, his work, and his word. He tells us never to forgot how he led our ancestors out of the desert and into the promised land. God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us remember everything that Jesus said to us. Our helper so we don’t forget out his word, his promises, and His commandments. We are never alone. Even at the end, in Revelation, he tells us to remember where we fell. down. This helps us to repent, learn, and grow in him.

Memories show us where we excel, where we need to grow, and teach us a lot about who we are. Never forgot to remember. I know it sounds trite, but when times are tough it’s so important to see the personal growth you have undergone. A stumble is not a fall. A fall is not the end. Get up, dust yourself off (repent), and move forward.

As we close, I remember my time at the pool, my dad, my mum, my friends, all have passed on or represent a time gone. Not all of those memories are good, but they all make me who I am. Don’t turn from your memories, as they represent you.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for giving us a memory. There are times when we want to forget the past. Other times, we wish we could go back and relive it. You make time go one way so we can see where we learned, where we failed, and how we are progressing in our #faithjourney., Lord, help us make the most of our memories and use them to serve you better. In your name, we pray, Amen.