Grandma always said to tie a string around your finger in order to remember. I'm sure you've heard that old phrase. Ever done it? Did it work? Or after tieing it to your finger, later still forgot what it was for, except for the throbbing pain it created?Remembering is important. In our youth ministry years ago we had a saying that we shared everytime we let the youth go their own way, whether that was after youth group or an event but especially when we were at a youth event. We would say,
Remember who you are and who you represent!
It was a simple reminder that they were not just teens, but Christian teens who were to live under a different set of expectations. They were ambassadors of Christ no matter where they were or what they were doing. We hammered this reminder home every time we were with them because we didn't want them to forget!
The Israelite tribes who lived on the East side of the Jordan River built an altar as a reminder to them and all who came through that land that they belonged to the family of Israel, the people of God. It stood not as something to be used (which would have been against the laws of God.) but as a memorial, a testimony (witness),
a reminder, of who they are and who they represent. They built it so that they might not ever forget that they were God's own possession!
In my house there are crosses displayed in each room of the house. It wasn't intentional. In fact when you are a pastor you can pretty much expect that most gifts received will have a very specific Christian theme just like most teachers receive gifts that carry images of apples! So we display these crosses throughout our home. But the biggest reason we do is that they remind us who we are. I wear a gold cross around my neck and a cross ring on my finger. It's a sign to others, sure, but its more a reminder to me. I am a Christian before anything else, before I'm a husband, a father, a friend, or a pastor.
It's my string that reminds me who I am.
Who are you?
and where's your string?
His ><>
pc
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On a quiet car ride the other night, I was blessed to have an opportunity to "remember".
While driving, I was listening to one of my favorite c.d.s by the group Casting Crowns. It had been a long and somewhat difficult day and I was feeling a bit down. But thanks to the lyrics of a song, I was reminded just exactly who I am.
The song goes like this...
"Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt...
...I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours"
Yes, the lyrics of that song just like a string around a finger or a cross around a neck, reminded me of who I am.
I AM HIS!
Amen
So the movie "The Guardian" came out on DVD the other day and I finally got around to watching it, and I walked away from the movie in deep thought about who i was and where I am. With the changing from one job to another job and going to school I began working a lot more hours and spending more and more time away from everyone. And i don't know that I really realized this before sitting down to watch that movie. While watching the movie I saw how the Senior Chief pushed away his family and other things and became engrossed in his work life, and looking back upon it I have done the same. I have pushed away my church and personal life and concentrated more and more on work. So now that I have recognized the it, i think its time for a change, time to remember who i am and look for that string that reminds me of that.
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