The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
(a repeat from 2015. Happy Thanksgiving Day!)
"More Than Memories"
When we journey to the past, we must be sure to go with God.
"I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old" (Psalm 77:11).
Such recollection involves remembrance of both our blessings and our challenges. Thinking back on pleasant and happy occasions offers opportunity for more than memories. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). When we remember our blessings with gratitude and consciously expressed thanksgiving, the Holy Spirit graces our recollections with a strengthened faith and determination to presently trust and honor our Lord. Thus, we journey to the past of God's generous lovingkindness not only in remembrance, but with gratitude for His goodness. "Give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness" (Psalm 30:4). Yes, we remember our happy times as more than memories, and as opportunities for thanksgiving.
It is just as important that we never look back without factoring our Heavenly Father's involved presence in yesterday's pains, difficulties, and sorrows. He was there in all of them, either determining or allowing our challenges in complete confidence that He could weave them together for His glory, our benefit, and the benefit of others. Regarding wrongs committed against us, for example, God did not determine people to mistreat, neglect, or hurt us. "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man" (James 1:13). In the mysteries of His wisdom, however, He did allow the trials that occurred through the misdeeds of our offenders. We therefore journey with our Lord to the painful portions of our past for the purpose of seeing Him there with compassion, and also with the commitment to work together for good the wrongs committed against us. We "sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving" for those times, and for the ongoing work of the Lord to redeem us from their effects (Psalm 107:22). As Joseph confessed to the brothers who so dreadfully wronged him, "Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good" (Genesis 50:20). Thus, we remember our difficult days as more than memories, and as opportunities for thanksgiving.
When we journey to our past, we must not go alone. We go with God, the One who is able to illuminate our view of days gone by. We choose to see Him in our yesterdays, believing that our Lord is so wise, able, involved, powerful, and loving that every good and perfect gift was from Him. We also choose to believe that no painful moment of the past is beyond His capacity to redeem and use for our benefit, and the benefit of those with whom we live and to whom we minister. The choices to view some matters in this perspective are not easy, and we will not fully understand how God works all things together for our good. We just know that He does. His Word declares this truth. He cannot lie. He always fulfills His promises. Thus, we journey to the past for the primary purpose of seeing our Heavenly Father there in the blessings and trials, and in all. We make our memories more than memories as we give thanks and rest our hearts in the God of our yesterdays, todays, and forever.
I will not go alone
as I journey to the past,
along the trail of memories
that in my heart hold fast.
For I did not go alone
through the blessings and the trials,
Someone was ever with me
in times of tears and smiles.
So I will not go alone
when I ponder yesterdays,
I will journey with the Father
so worthy of our praise.
For He was there in all,
weaving all together,
for the glory of His Son
and our benefit forever.
I will not go alone as I journey to the past.
"Thou hast been my help."
(Psalm 63:7)
"God… worketh all things after the counsel of His own will."
(Ephesians 1:3; 11)
Weekly Memory Verse
In Him we live and move and have our being.
(Acts 17:28)
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