Wednesday, October 28, 2009

REMEMBER

Through out Scripture you can see a common thread of God challenging His own to REMEMBER. In the Old Testament He is constantly repeating this challenge to Israel: Remember where you were, remember how I chose you, remember how I heard you, remember where I brought you from, remember how I brought you out, remember what I promised you, remember how faithful I was, remember my commandments, remember…remember…REMEMBER. He even dedicated 17 books in the Old Testament to prophesy (Isaiah through Malachi) 15 of which focus mostly on reminding Israel and the world of who God is, what He has done, how they have FORGOTTEN and what the consequences of their short memory will be! The Pharisees would know these prophesies in and out, their problem in the New Testament, was their failure to remember AND apply what they knew to be true!
We must be careful to REMEMBER who we are, what God has done for us, generally and specifically and we must ACT on our knowledge. Those of us who are believers must remember we were completely lost, helpless sinners, dead in out sin, enemies of the Living and Holy Creator of the universe (Rom3:23; 5:6-8.) God provided us redemption (Rom 6:23). He sent His only Son Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16,) who came in complete humility and obedience (Phil. 2:5-8; Heb 5:7-8,) while we were still sinners (Rom 5:9-11,) He dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14) and He lived a sinless life (Heb 4:15; I Jn. 3:5,) He died a sinner’s death (and He defeated death once and for all! (II Cor. 5:17-19) He then asked the Father to send us His Holy Spirit who teaches us all things and BRINGS TO OUR REMEMBRANCE and those things which He has done and which He has taught us (Jn. 14:26.) PRAISE GOD!
I never cease to be amazed at how quickly the Israelites forgot their 400 years of slavery and at every bump in the road, on their way to God’s long awaited promise for them, after such a miraculous delivery, they always seemed to want to return to their previous life of captivity. how could the possibly forget the things that the had SEEN!!
Today marks one year form the most physically miraculous experience of my life thus far. He saved my life physically (He saved me 24 years ago spiritually) and showed off his power and sovereignty in a very big way. I am eternally grateful for every extra day He has allowed me to be here and be a tool for Him. I am shocked though how much the clarity with which I remembered last years events has faded. I still remember, but every day it has had to become more of a conscious choice to wake up in the morning and REMEMBER that each day is a miracle, a gift. I am committed to remembering, but there have been a few days where my joy has not been what is should have. I WILL REMEMBER and I WILL TELL OF HIS MARVELOUS WORKS. I am VERY grateful for this written blog, a road map of my journey, to remind me of the details my feeble mind forgets. Thank You God, for what you did, last year, before that and since then. I love You and acknowledge that I only am who I am because of You.



October 26th, 2008 Sarah is born


December 11th, 2008 44 days since I
had held Sarah.



March 13th, 2009 My 30th Birthday



October 26th, 2009 Sarah's 1st Birthday

“Lord, make me to know my end
And what is the extent of my days;
Let me know how transient I am.
“Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.
“Surely every man walks about as a phantom;
Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.
Ps 39:4-6
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.
How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.
Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;
My ears You have opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart.”
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
Ps 40: 1-8, 16
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Ps 62:5-8

8 comments:

Holly said...

Praise GOD!!!!!!!! That He does perform miracles and that He LOVES us, even in the moments we 'forget'. So proud to call you family!

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!!!!

Becky Dietz said...

Thank you for this post, Emily. I get overwhelmed every time I do think about it. I agree--we all need to purposefully remember. It's been a tool I've used to encourage others in hopeless situations. I love you!
Becky

racingyogagirl said...

Happy Survival Day! Celebrate this day to the fullest! From my own personal experience of survival I have realized this day is even more important than my birthday because it was such a turning point in my life. I have a friend who also has a "survival day" and she and her family always go out and release balloons in celebration of her survival. May the Lord bless you with many more anniversary's of this day!

Jeff's View Through A Lens said...

I remember all to clearly and am glad you are still here!

Summer said...

Our Lord STILL performs miracles every day! You are living proof that GOD is alive and well and working. May our faith grow daily just remembering how truly miraculous your story is.
Not forget---REMEMBER. Praise OUR LORD.
(do remember humans get tired and cranky sometimes, so don't beat yourself up. Just recognize your moment of weakness and PICK yourself up again. Move on) Mommy's jobs are hard!!!!

Summer said...

oh, and THANK YOU for the pictures. they are priceless.

Kim said...

"We will remember...We will remember....We will remember the works of your hands! We will stop...and give You praise...for great is your faithfulness!"

We love you Jesus, for giving Emily back to us. Whatever your purpose is for her through this, I pray you would see it through to the fullest. I pray for massive recognition of your glory through the miracle that You performed in her. Thank you, Jesus!

I love you Em! I was reading through the blog again tonite and I got the same "butterflies in my tummy" kind of feeling I still get when I drive past Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. I guess it's just partly remembering the feeling of desperation I felt each time I'd drive up there, but I also think it's because there was such an intense expectancy in my spirit to see what God was and is going to do through your story...it's sweet. I'm so thankful he allowed me to walk through it with you and Luke and all of the others who love you...what a privilege. I love you!

Brittney said...

You said it perfectly. All I can add is Amen.