Remember:

Life can be a swirl of weather patterns, chickens, chores, and quiet worries. Some days I find comfort in old television shows—Leave It to Beaver, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman. Those programs bring back memories, don’t they? They remind us of how things felt when we were younger, how the world seemed at the time.

Some memories bring laughter. Others carry sorrow. And yet, each one teaches us something about grace, endurance, and where we’ve come from.

Even God talks about remembering. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s spiritual. In Isaiah 46:9, we read:

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other.”

The Psalmist echoes this in Psalm 143:5:

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands.”

And Jesus, in the most tender of moments, breaks bread and tells us:

“Do this in remembrance of me.” — Luke 22:19

Memory anchors us in truth. The Israelites were told to remember how God brought them out of slavery, so they’d know how deeply He cared. They even built altars to mark moments when God's faithfulness became real.

Can you recall something God has done for you? If not something recent, perhaps something tucked into your history:

• Has He provided food, clothing, shelter?

• Has His timing surprised you with a bit of grace just when you needed it?

Even if you can’t name something personal just now, you can still lean on what’s collective:

He brought the Israelites out of slavery.

Jesus went to the cross—for you.

That’s not distant theology. That’s your story, too.

Please don’t let the negative thoughts take over. God is right beside you—quiet and steady, holding every memory that aches and every hope that’s still forming.

So take joy in being with Jesus this week. He walks with you in memory and in mystery—and he delights in every moment you turn toward him.

Yours in the love of God,

Pastor Judi