Remember

It's been a long time since I've written on this blog. A long time.

I can think of multiple reasons why it's been so long. There are four sweet, busy reasons under the age of six that take up most of my days' energies and attention. Food has to be made, dishes have to be washed, clothes have to be cleaned (and, if you're me, you throw in other random things to be washed too, like brown paper bags and crayons, just for the fun of it), a relationship with my husband to be strengthened, gardens tended, Bible studies and various ministries to be involved in, people to host for meals and games, the outside world to be explored...

But excuses are excuses and, if you're reading this, you probably don't even care why I stopped writing. If I completely honest, my pride was probably a big factor in stopping writing as well. I wondered if this blog even mattered, if people read it and were encouraged by it; and if they didn't or weren't, then why bother? I certainly had lots of things to do and could spend my time elsewhere.

And the break has been good. It's been good to examine my heart and work on that pride issue. (My armor of pride has a few chinks in it, but it appears that breaking it is going to be a life-long process.) I've also decided, though, that writing helps me to process and to remember.

It's good to remember. The LORD calls us throughout Scripture to remember:

"'Remember the days of old, consider the years of all the generations.'" - Deuteronomy 32:7  

"I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old." - Psalm 77:11   

"'Remember the former things long past, for I am God and there is no other . . .'" - Isaiah 46:9   

"This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail." - Lamentations 3:21-22

The Old Testament is filled with celebrations and festivals created for the purpose of remembering. The LORD did not want His people to forget the work that He had done for them; He did not want them to forget His miraculous powers against the gods of Egypt nor His supreme power (see Exodus 13:1-16). After leading His people across a dry Jordan River, the LORD commands Joshua to instruct each of the 12 tribes of Israel to select a stone from the middle of the River in order to create a memorial, for the purpose of remembering (Joshua 4).  

The LORD has been teaching me much over this past year, especially in regard to our move from western North Dakota to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. So this blog is being resurrected in hopes of creating some memorial stones of my own; stones which will serve to remind me of His faithfulness, His goodness, His calling, His work.

Because He is good and His work, both His salvation accomplished for me on the cross and the work He does in my heart daily, is worth remembering.