Making Memories, Again: Thoughts Along the Journey

Memories. We all have them. Some good, some bad, some we want to forget, some too precious to let go.

Last fall a customer brought suites and ties along with photos of her dad and her daughter to be incorporated into a memory quilt – a unique way to share the memories of someone special. This spring she brought back the “scraps” from the previous quilt along with different photos of “grandpa” and her niece for a second memory quilt.

Although each quilt is “cut from the same cloth” the design is different, as are the memories. Many times we too share a same special someone but our memories are uniquely our own, from a different perspective so to speak.  

Sometimes the things we read or the things we hear have different meaning to us as compared to someone else…We each have a world view in which we base our thoughts, our decisions. I realize there are many “world views” out there but mine is Christian. Even when I’m a tad cloudy in my thoughts and actions, my world view still sees things from a Biblical view point – the basis for truth if I will only stop and recognize it.

Last post I shared with you “my theme” of Stay Strong Summer and the anticipation of wondering how that would play out in my life – here’s a report “so far.”

Isaiah 55:10 -11 

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow comes from heaven, 

and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, 

that is may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth, 

It shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please 

and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

That was a verse from among many in the message I heard yesterday at Calvary Houston – you can actually  view the message , the title was Daily Bread, a Study of God’s Word. 

Why am I bringing this up you ask? Because God is true to His word – and it doesn’t go out without a purpose. Last week He was speaking to my heart about being strong, with HIS strength. There were numerous things in yesterday’s message that spoke to me concerning how I could accomplish this, here’s just part of the outline from yesterday’s notes…(1) read the Word (2) meditate on it (3) do what it says (4) use it as a weapon.

My application…

My morning begins with a quick turn of the calendar page with the “verse of the day”. This short reading of the Word reminded me that I need to be talking to my heavenly Father about the concerns in my life – that He hears me.  Oh how often I forget to pray. Not just about the big concerns, but about the little things too. He cares for me.

I am also desiring to read more of His Word than just my daily verse on the bathroom calendar…to help me do this I have an app on my iPhone   (http://www.youversion.com). 

There’s a daily verse that pops up there and this was today’s"

Proverbs 16:20 

“Those who listen to instruction will prosper; 

those who trust the LORD will be joyful”

The joy of the Lord is MY STRENGTH came to mind…stay strong summer….fits (grin)

The YouVerson app also has a section for daily Bible readings – this year I have decided to read the “One Year Bible” – I have it in book form as well as a daily reading plan on the phone – which means I have no excuses (grin).  Sometimes I find that I’m guilty of just reading to “check off the to do list” and feel virturious…but yesterday Pastor Ron encouraged us to “take your time and comprehend – consider the theme and thought of the scripture, think about it all day and try to apply it to life”….so out of today’s several verses I homed in on this one.

2 Samuel 22:29-34 

“O LORD, you are my lamp. The LORD lights up my darkness. 

In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. 

God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. 

He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. 

For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock? 

God is my strong fortress and he makes my way perfect. 

He makes me as surefooted as a deer, 

enabling me to stand on mountain heights”

Obviously  I focused in on His strength that will enable me to “crush an army” and “scale any wall” – well I’m not in a physical battle like King David – but I’m in a spiritual battle daily and am more than comforted that “God is my STRONG fortress”     

My Stay Strong Summer = His strength.

Okay, (1) read the Word, (2) meditate on the Word...oh my...(3) do the Word.  Here's the verses shared yesterday along that point:

John 8:31 “If you continue in My word, you are My disciples indeed”

Luke 1:28 “blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it”

John 13:17 “if you know these things, blessed are you if you do them”

Definitely not a onetime item to be check off on the to do list – but something to be worked at daily…

One thought came to mind this morning – take the trash out.

Monday is garbage day in my neighborhood. 

How symbolic of starting the week off fresh, cleaned out, renewed. 

De-clutter the view.

Remove all the stinky stuff.  

 2 Samuel 22:20-27

“He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. 

The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence. 

For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil; 

I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees. 

I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. 

The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. 

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to those with integrity you show integrity. 

To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.”

I’m so thankful that God removes the stinky stuff and sees me as one He delights in…through Jesus I am blameless before God. He forgives, heals, and restores. Wow. 

When I am weak, He is strong – He’s given me His word to stand on. Which brings up that final point (4) use the Word as a weapon… The example given yesterday was concerning how Jesus answered the devil with scripture when He was tempted…my challenge is to know the Word well enough that I know what it says to do, to do it,  and how to use it to keep me from sin.

I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, 

but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it.”

(photos taken with my iPhone on my walk in my neighborhood)