It was a sunny summer day. I was nine years old and thinking a lot about the things I was learning in Sunday School… how Jesus had died for my sins and that I could live with Him forever. I knew that this was truth and I wanted Jesus in my life.

My mother was hanging laundry on the clothes line (something we did back then).  As I came to her with my questions she happily stopped to talk to me and lead me through the decision and prayer that made me a child of God.

Through my teen years and early twenties, I would wander away, but eventually the memory of that day drew me back.

Years later I faced big decisions that would change the course of my life. As a single woman without someone to share the process with, I struggled with whether I was making the “right” decision. Then an incredible series of events took place, guiding me through the decisions and leaving no doubt that God was in control and that I was not alone. I was in awe of God’s care as he led me through it all.

I realized that just as I had tucked away the memory of that early summer day, I needed to tuck away the memory of this time to pull out when I faced the difficult times of the future.

In the book of Joshua I read about the Israelites crossing the Jordan River and how God instructed them to take 12 stones from the river to build a monument to remind them of the great things He had done for them. I realized that I needed to consciously remember the special things that God has done for me… to have my very own “stones of remembrance.”

In the Old Testament, God repeatedly asked his people to remember all that He had done for them. He told them to remember that they had been slaves in Egypt and He had led them out, He reminded them that He was with them and led them for forty difficult years in the wilderness.

Last summer, Pastor Jon did a series of sermons called the Ebenezer Project. He talked about how Samuel set up a stone to commemorate how the Lord had saved the Israelites from the Philistines. Samuel called the stone Ebenezer (stone of help).

In the New Testament we are given the sacrament of Communion so that we will remember that Jesus died for us.

Through the years those hard times have continued to come.  But I always have my stones to comfort and anchor me. What do you remember? What has God done in your life?

Psalm 77:11-2 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.