![]() I want to share with you a story from the OT, a battle in fact, from a war between the Israelites and the Philistines. ![]() ![]() I’d like to share with you a thought or two. And on days like today, we take time to remember why. However, if we look around the world, at countries where your faith or my faith might be illegal, where speaking out is grounds for offence, where a citizen is not allowed to vote, where standing up against the rulers is grounds for execution… Canada is such a great country to live in. Yes, there are things wrong in society, with the government, with the system, yes. With all that is going on in the world today, the political and social unrest, seen even in our own country, it is good to remember what we have. My family and I honour this day in particular because my grandfather served in the Canadian Air Force, stationed in Iceland in the Second World War. It is a pleasure for me to share with you today, on this very special day, a word from the Bible. One idea shared in Sunday’s message was to take smooth stones or pieces of paper and create your own Ebenezer, by placing them in a jar or a bowl so that the memories of God’s faithfulness will not be forgotten.Message for Remembrance Day 2011 – Calvary Baptist Churchġ Samuel 7:7-12 – Here I Raise my Ebenezer Look for God’s presence in the past, paying special attention to His care, concern and compassion for you remembering what God has done for you and your family. This Week: Take out some pictures and share some memories with each other. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” ![]() For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him as far as the East is from the West, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. Psalm 103:8-13 reminds us, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. If you take the time to look back through the lens of past memories, like me, you might be overwhelmed by the presence of God great care, concern and compassion. You can anticipate better days because we serve a God who does the impossible. When your marriage is faltering, you are struggling financially, or your health is failing, you can have faith in a God who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He can make a way in the face of a dead-end. Our past pictures of God’s miraculous presence and power can give us faith to press into an unknown future. When you and I are going through difficult times, it is good take out the memories, the stones, the pictures, the stories and be reminded of God’s faithfulness. After they crossed, God instructed them to take 12 stones and set them up so that, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ Joshua 4:21. After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua saw God stop the Jordan river so that Israel could walk into the promised land. There are numerous examples in the Old Testament where stones are used as tangible reminders of the faithfulness and help of God. Samuel was told by God in 1 Samuel 7:12 to set up a stone which would commemorate God's help to the Israelites in their victory over the Philistines at Mizpah. In Hebrew it is called a ebhen hā- ʽezer stone or an Ebenezer stone. One of the ways they remembered was by placing a stone of remembrance or help. In the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 8, Israel was told, to remember and never forget. His faithful hand, His loving care, and His generous provision.įor thousands of years, long before even written words, people told stories, drew images and even made physical reminders of the faithfulness of God. Yes, faith … God’s presence in every picture. Often those stories are filled with laughter and reminders of family, fun and faith. I love dusting off the photos and recounting important, memorable moments in my life and story. Pictures are just one of the many ways we remember the stories of our past to share in the present. Every picture capturing a moment in time, a memory worth remembering. Only this time I had my iPhone and with digital speed and real time feedback, I took over 2,000 pictures. So I did my best to capture the experience in 216 pictures. At the time, all I had with me were six disposable cameras, each capable of 36 pictures. What is one place you have been that you never want to forget? Israel was one of those places for me.
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