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| “Out of sight, out of mind”… No more!!! |
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How many times do I forget something incredible that God has done in my life? Sadly to say, I have done it many times. Not because I am ungrateful, just because as the old saying goes… “Out of sight, out of mind.” There are some things which I think about only as long as I can see them in front of me; when I can no longer see them I forget about them.
I was in one of our life groups (home/small/cell group) this week and I was confronted with the reality that I need to start collecting stones or something like that, to help me remember the awesome things God is doing in my life. You see, the works of God are so worthy of remembrance, and I need to develop better ways to remember them. Don’t get me wrong, I do write notes in my Treo. I write the date and action words when God minister to me through a verse or a chapter in my Bible, but I have never being aggressive in using symbols of remembrance or building memorials like Joshua did in Joshua 4:4-7 NLT:
4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. 5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”
I know it will benefit not just me, but those coming behind me, to see and appreciate how great and wonderful God is. I just want to leave behind great stones for my kids.
Can you help me with ideas???
Lourdes |
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| To add a comment to "“Out of sight, out of mind”… No more!!!" |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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| Great idea! OT believers were always building memorials, altars, and things to remember the great things God had done. They seemed to know very well that they (we) are forgetful beings. I too have wondered what I could do to memorialize the great things God has done in my own life. Really, I don't need any more confirmations for myself that God is faithful and does amazing things, He's done enough in my life already!!! But yet, ask me specifically what He's done and I actually have to stop and think! Ok well, I will be watching your responses. Thanks! ~mike |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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| I think that we have to make a conscious effort to remember things, and thank God every day. I try to, in my prayer time, remember a different thing every day, that I can thank God for. Sometimes I really have to rack my brain, but usually something comes to mind. Some things are so obvious, but I consider the little things great blessings too, such as the wonderful sound of the birds singing...and the fact I can hear them. Keep a journal and write down things when they come to mind, and then pray on something everyday, to thank God for. |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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Mike, I really want to learn to use different ways or methods to trigger my memory and keep my spiritual experiences with God fresh in my mind. I know many of our mychurch friends have great ideas. Can't wait to hear them. Thank you for your comment.
Deb, I agree with you... little things are wonderful blessings God sends our way too ;-) Hey,
the journal idea is great. I bought one last year and I've being using it. Thank you! |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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Very nice blog, Lourdes. Is this your first? I only ask, because I haven't seen any others. |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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I LOVE this picture and agree with your post.
Did you take this pic? |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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Jan, thank you for your comment. A friend told me of a wonderful thing they did when they were building their church. Before they put the carpet in the pulpit everyone in the church wrote on the wooden floor, either a verse, a prayer, or a praise. I saw the pictures and it was very moving. Something they will remember forever. Wow, there are things that really make an event so special.
Sue, Yes, this is my first blog. I usually like to comment on other blogs, but I felt I needed to start doing my own. Thank you ;-)
AngiePangi, I wish I could take pictures like that!!! No I did not take the picture. I look for graphics in the internet. I hope I don't get into copyright trouble ;-(
Thank you guys!!!
Lourdes |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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no, I don't think there is any prob....I just love it
Nice choice. I love beach pics.
Making memories...good stuff |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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| Maybe you could memorialize them in poetry/song. We always remember words to songs. Just think of all of the history and wonderful things that God did that are contained in the Psalms :) |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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Hey,
That looks like my rock collection!!!
Great post honey!!!
Love you... |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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Hey Zach and Jessica Snow, that is really a great idea. You made me think of Moses when he crossed the Red Sea with the people of Israel. He sang a beautiful song about that experience in Exodus 15. Thank you ;-) |
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| May 24, 2007 |
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Not fair Dr.Wilson. You are supposed to give me some ideas... But I humbly receive the complement ;-)
Thank you. |
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| May 25, 2007 |
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| Lourdes, sounds like you already know that Dr Wilson chap! ~mike |
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| May 25, 2007 |
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Hey, Lourdes! I know God looks at your heart's desire on this and smiles! :-) A couple of ideas come to mind. I don't know the ages of your kids or how willing they would be to do this, but you could make a scrap book of their drawings/interpretation of your stories of the awesome works of God in your life. Just have them draw whatever comes to mind when they hear the story, or have them write a paragraph that starts with: "When God did (fill in the blank) for our family, it showed me..." A charm bracelet or necklace is a cool way to remember, too, but obviously it could get pricey if you had a whole lot of things you wanted to put on it. The neat thing about charms is that if you actually wear the jewelry, someone inevitably asks what the charms stand for. You could also make a string of beads (on hemp or something, to carry around kind of like a rosary) and write a single word on each bead for each remembrance. I'm thinking of the long (~ inch) cylindrical, colorful beads that they sell at craft shops, WalMart, etc . |
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| May 25, 2007 |
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Mike n Laura, Yes... for 20 years ;-)
Jen, Your ideas are great. By the way my boys are 15 and 11, so I do not know if they will go for the scrap book idea, unless there is a nintendo game some place in the book ;-) I will bring the idea to them. They might surprise me!!!!! Thanks, lm
P.S. Last Sunday our Children's Ministry leader gave my youngest son an "awesome stone of remembrance." She bought every kid in her class a small kitchet mat and with a marker she wrote "My prayer mat." My kid put his next to his bed and now he is reminded every night that he has a place where he can kneel down to talk to God. But the funny thing is that when I pass by his room and see the mat I am reminded as well. Awesome! (If you're reading this Ms. Terry... Thank you!)
Lourdes |
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| May 25, 2007 |
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| Hey Laura, great blog I love the story and so very true. It seems at times we do forget what God has done for us. I fine that in the quit times He will always remine me of what He has done for my family are myself. When I'm alone by my self, it's the mind set that I'm in that brings me to remember what He has done or going to do. I put on my worship and set at His feet and when the spirit of the Lord shows up I can hear Him in volume's this is what I have done for you are this is what I'm going to do. Awesome thing. As I set here you have made me think of some great and mighty things God has done in my life. Wow thanks. Did you take the pic's of the stones on the beach? |
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| May 25, 2007 |
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Cheryl, there is something about having the right song to enjoy God's presence and to think of how wonderful His love is. Thank you for your comment. OH, by the way... I did not take the picture. I got it online. I wish I could take credit for it, but then if the photographer is a member of mychurch I could get in a lot of trouble ;-)
Thank you,
Lourdes |
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| May 25, 2007 |
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| Lourdes, good blog! In thinking about building a memorial for god's blessings I think I will add to something I have done in the past and need to begin doing once again. That is writing scripture on a post it and placing it on the corner of my bathroom mirror. This helped me to memorize scripture through the years. Now Ithink it would be really neat to put scripture on one side and daily jot down one of God's blessings to put on the other side. What a way to start a new day for the Lord by seeing first thing in the morning a reminder of what he did for me yesterday! Thanks. |
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| May 26, 2007 |
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humbledrice, you are so right... There is nothing like starting our day knowing how real God is. Thank you ;-)
Lourdes |
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| May 29, 2007 |
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| Nice blog, Lourdes! and love the pic! |
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| May 29, 2007 |
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| Hey Kathy welcome back from your well deserved vacation/time off.
Glad you enjoyed the picture. It,s been a hit ;-)
Lourdes |
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| May 29, 2007 |
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Lourdes (fellow Marylander), I, too, love the pic...
Something my wife and I have done over the years has really helped us to remember what God has done in our lives. Each year, we keep a top ten list of things in our life - she keeps one and I keep one. Sometimes there are more than ten, never less. Then, on our anniversary, we review the lists with each other. Some of the items are the same on both lists, but some are different. We put the lists away and review them in future years. This year (our 18th anniversary) we reviewed the ones all the way back to our first. We do forget and it is always a joy to remember.
Our kids are reaching their teen years now and we have talked about finding a way to include them in our process. It might be something we do for their birthday. In any case, the stack of top tens will always be something we can look back on and see God's hand in our life...and, if they want to, some day maybe our kids can, too. |
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| May 29, 2007 |
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| voice-in-DC, Wow... It's incredible that after 18 years you have kept "these stones" in your marriage. It is truly inspiring!
Thank you!
Lourdes |
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| May 29, 2007 |
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| Lourdes - Thank you for starting this blog. It has brought to mind some very important points; both from you and the many comments. We all need tips on how we can keep our eyes on the blessings of God. Remembering the goodness of God adds joy to our everyday life; even during tough times. |
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| May 29, 2007 |
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| Amen Julia! That is my goal.
Thank you.
Lourdes |
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| May 29, 2007 |
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Ok... give me back my rocks....
Pleassssse!!!!!
Your Luvy Hubby... |
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| June 02, 2007 |
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Yes, since Truth never changes then God is always good. = D
I catch myself many times forgeting how much I truley appreciate everything there is on this earth, and I always have room to praise God.
But I do have an idea for you, why don't you plant flowers? They're beautiful, and they grow as you grow with God.
~Godbless
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| June 03, 2007 |
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Phil_Me With Your Love Lord, I am not so good with flower but I am willing to try planting a tree with my family. I've being thinking about doing that for some time. Hey, thank you! AND yes God is always GOOD!
metalgoddes, Wow you really do love stones. I like the idea of writing dates on the stones. It'll help us remember the event it represents. Thank you.
Lourdes |
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| June 03, 2007 |
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Cool Blog Lourdes, I have an idea, although it could get heavy... Get an empty water bottle (the big ones from a water cooler). Start by leaving it bare and empty, then get a small bag of pebbles from a pet store. The kind that you can put in a fish tank or something. Then everyday when you get up (since this is the one consistent blessing) add a pebble to it every morning. Then pretty soon the first color/kind of pebbles will be gone and you can get a different color/kind of pebbles and put them in daily as well. And when something extra special happens put in an extra rock (maybe even a different color). Also, when you go through hardship and come out of it ok, go ahead and put an extra pebble in as well because God blessed you with the strength to continue through hard times (this could be a different color too)... Then as you travel and see the country/world or go to special places and events you can begin to decorate the outside of the bottle with small items that will help keep the memory of your travels. Pretty soon, you will have many layers of different color pebbles, which will clearly identify for you how God has been consistently good to you. And the outside of the bottle will begin to take shape as well. Then about the time it is getting full, you will probably have little grandchildren to whom you can explain it too, and start one for them as well... But like I said this could get heavy so pick a place and don't move it around...otherwise your back will never heal. Just an idea. Cheers JJ |
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| June 03, 2007 |
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| Oh yea, and it keeps with your original theme of the story from the OT... |
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| June 04, 2007 |
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JJ, Awesome idea! Thank you for taking the time to think this through. I'll tell you what... stones have taken a new meaning for me since this blog ;-)
Thank you, Lourdes |
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| September 28, 2007 |
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| Lourdes, Hija mía yo no colecté piedras pero si colecté 4 hermosos capullos para la gloria de Dios |
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| September 28, 2007 |
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Gracias Papi, te quiero mucho. Me hicistes llorar!!!
Love you! Lourdes ;-) |
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