From www.thefreedictionary.com
mementoes: n. pl. me·men·tos or me·men·toes. A reminder of the past; a keepsake.
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Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer saying, “Up to here the Lord has helped us.†1Samuel7:12
After a long period of being hounded by the Philistines, the Israelites gathered at Mizpah to humble themselves before the Lord. As they did this the Philistines attacked them.
Samuel prioritised worship and continued to make offerings to God before the people, and while he did this God thundered out against the Philistines throwing them into disarray and confusion leaving the Israelites to do the "mopping up" of their fleeing enemy.
Along the way Samuel erects a stone, "Ebenezer: Thus far has the Lord delivered us."
It is worth celebrating milestones, victories and breakthroughs - especially if it allows us the opportunity to acknowledge and praise the God who has brought us "thus far."
Celebrations like Thanksgiving and Harvest can become a "monument" - an opportunity to be reminded to give thanks to God. This is also why we have the Christian Calendar - to remind us of Jesus' birth and death and the coming of the Spirit.
Many people keep mementoes or keepsakes on their desks and shelves to remind them of what God has done. A photo, a card, a rock -- all of these are symbols, tokens and reminders that we did not get here by ourselves.
How will you remind yourself of God's ongoing goodness?
How will you remember?
"Up to here, thus far, has the Lord helped us."
All glory be to God - Soli Deo Gloria!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
