Memories...

I just got off the Skype with a friend in Senegal, Africa. It's hard to believe that our trip there was almost 2 1/4 years ago now! It is wonderful to see how God brings restoration and healing in His timing! What a joy to hear about how God is moving.

Since we are so entrenched in the physical realm in North America we often forget there is a very living, active spiritual realm where God is actively fulfilling His purposes and answering our prayers.  Some things that I remember from our trip to Africa -- bartering merchants who always had a 'special deal' for their Canadian friends, the trip to the Bandia Game Reserve where we ate pizza by the crocodile pond and got the best photo shoot with giraffes ever, teaching junior and high school kids about their identity and self-worth, equipping teachers & dorm parents about eating disorders and how to guard against them, spending time with families and being able to minister to them and be ministered to by them, and believing God's faithfulness for each person we encountered.

In the old testament it was called an 'Ebenezer.' A pile of rocks that was formed somewhat like a sculpture to mark a spot that people wanted to remember. A spot they could re-visit with their children in the future and be reminded to tell the story of what God had done in that geographical spot -- a remembrance/memory jogger. The Israelites did this when they crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. God instructed the leaders to select a rock from the Jordan and to assemble them together -- one representing each tribe, so that they would remember that God had 'brought them safely thus far.' We need memories! We need things that symbolize and reactivate our memory of what God has done in our lives. We are truly a forgetful people! We think we will never forget when God does a powerful work in our lives, a miracle, or a direct and obvious answer to prayer...and yet, we do! We forget the faithfulness and love of God in our lives, especially when we encounter struggles or crisis. Yet God told us to expect troubles in this world -- John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Is there something you could do to symbolize the faithfulness of God in your life? The fact that He has brought you safely thus far? Maybe you could build your own Ebenezer. Want to know what I named the first decent car I was able to buy after graduating from seminary? You guessed it, Ebenezer! And by God's grace, it was a cute little convertible so I could more fully enjoy the sun! (And the Son!)