There are days in our lives we will stop and remember.

       Just random thoughts of people, places and things. We will think of occasions that have been a part of our lives. Some memories are difficult and sad and some are happy and joyful. Our lives are filled with “remember when”.

        As I sit at my desk at home, above my desk are pictures of our kids and grandkids. Remembering when the kids were the age of the grandkids. If I look too long, I begin to realize as the kids and grandkids get older so do I. So, then I go look another picture to keep my good thoughts. So, I find other pictures in our home of our dog Sadie, our friends, pictures of Churches we have served and Churches we have seen while traveling; pictures of our parents, our grandparents and even pictures of great grandparents I have never met.

  I love to remember. Remembering the good times brings smiles and even laughter at times. It’s fun to remember where I have been and what I have done. It is great to remember the people that has meant so much to me over the years.  But some of the pictures can cause me to become a little sad. Sad for the ones that I miss that have crossed over to Glory. Sad because of choices that maybe I shouldn’t have made in life. And when this happens my mood changes and my spirit begins to drop. My attitude changes, my facial expression changes, and it can cause my day to be not so good.  My Joy is gone.

  Sometimes the things of the world can rob us of our joy. Having a broken heart can rob our joy. Fear can rob our joy. Loneliness can rob our joy. Watching the evening news can rob our joy. There is a mountain of things that can rob our joy. I wonder. I wonder what each of us has in our homes that help us to remember the joy of the Lord. That thing, whatever it is to help us remember the joy that God offers us every day. In our home we have many things that remind us of God’s love and the joy He offers. Such as Wall hangings that read:  “Believe”, “Blessed be the name of the Lord”, “To God be the Glory”. We have words on things ways that read “Rejoice in the Lord, and another that simply says “Rejoice”.  We have pictures that read, “Let us be silent that we may hear the Whisper of God”; another reads, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”. We have a picture of Christ on the cross with John 3:16 which reads “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  

         But my favorite is a painting of John and Peter coming away from the Jesus’ empty tomb on the first Easter morning. The painting depicts John and Peter wide eyed and amazed. And at the bottom of the painting, it reads: “He is Risen Just as He said”. It also shares 2 Scriptures:

Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”.

And the second reads: 1 Corinthians 15:57- “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.   

        All these things cause me to remember and they should also cause you to remember, you and I are not alone. We are to remember that God is forever with us, even carrying us through the rough and hard days called life. Stop right now; and remember the Love and all He has done.

        And remember this Scripture as you go through your day:

1 Chronicles 16:27 

Honor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 

     Remember all God has done and remember His promises to you. His promises will lift your spirits and bring your joy and happiness back to your life.

                                                   Celebrating God’s Love;

                                                   Pastor Brian