I’m thinking today about the capacity to remember. With divine deliberation and unclouded foresight, the Creator chose to fashion the mind of man with memory. To be able to recollect – to re-collect images, experiences, expressions, numbers, dates, conversations, consequences, and encounters – is the champion quality of the well-functioning mind.
Maybe being around my family so much in recent days has sparked this subject in my thoughts. I cannot laugh with my daughters across the table at a restaurant without remembering them as little girls. I cannot kiss my father-in-law on his silver brow without recalling him as a man bigger than life in his mid-forties the first time Keith introduced us at a professional hockey game.
Like many of you, I have at times completely abhorred the capacity to remember. I still have flashbacks of staggering and disturbing moments in my childhood. I remember a scene in my home in my young adolescence that still causes the hair to stand up on the back of my neck. A song from the 70’s can still stir up the ache of a break up with a first love. To me, perhaps the worst of all dimensions of memory is regret. Regret is the excruciating recollection of all the decisions I could have made a different way. It’s the acrid memory that no one else assigned me. It’s mine alone to own. That I find the hardest of all. I have hated the capacity to remember so much that, at times in my life, I’ve held my head with both hands and yelled, “Stop it!”
But today I’m thinking to myself that all the torturous memories I’ve stacked up like past-due library books on the bedside table of five decades are worth the capacity to recall moments that make life on this earth worth the trouble.
Like the first time a handsome, jet-black headed young man reached across the front seat of a sports car at a stoplight and held my hand. He held it again this morning.
Like the first time I got to be all alone with a child I’d carried for nine months and I unwrapped the swaddling, leaned over her and whispered with tears dripping from my chin, “Hi there. My name is Mom.”
Like the time I took the training wheels off the smallest-ever bike and gave my baby girl a push and watched her take off down the pavement, pedaling furiously and perfectly, with blond locks of hair dancing behind her like banners in the sun. I’ve been chasing after her ever since.
Like the first time that same child threw a three-pointer. And that time I did a double-take and realized she’d shaved her legs…about 2 years too early.
Like the look on her big sister’s face when we walked outside her favorite restaurant on her 16th birthday and a new car was in the circle driveway with a large bow on it. Thanks to her grandparents who’d owned it and saved it for her.
Like this morning when I played on the swing set out here in these Texas trees with an eight year-old and a five year-old who have an uncanny resemblance to my oldest.
Like innumerable times I’ve laughed with friends until we couldn’t sit up. And prayed on our faces until we almost couldn’t get up.
I could keep going and maybe I will on my own but it would be over-indulgent here. I just want to say today that memory is a gift. An exquisite one. An excruciating one. The same capacity that invites us to replay something beautiful can recount the deplorable in startling color.
The point of this is to say that I, for one, think it’s worth it. Even with all my regrets and amid all the flashbacks. Despite all the disappointments and heart-sinking disillusionments.
To remember is among the dearest of all human capacities. A sliver of Imago Dei. Over and over on the sacred page we find the words on which we hang our hope. And God remembered.
To be thankful is, in itself, to remember.
So, today, Lord, I want to say to You that I am thankful. Because I remember. I remember the ditch You pulled me out of. I remember the hopelessness I’ve felt and the fears that I had no future. I remember a time when I wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. And I remember that the sun came up the next morning and the next and the next, glistening without fail on a heap of fresh mercies. I want to say that You have been right all along. And that life is such a gift. And it is precious. And passes with such haste. What we can hope is that there would be no waste.
And, to those of us who love You, who are called according to Your purpose, You have promised that to be true.
We are grateful today, Lord, precisely because we remember.
We remember how good You’ve been to us when life has been awful.
We remember the light through the cracks in the door when we tried to lock ourselves away in the darkness.
We remember that You would not leave us alone even when we begged You to.
We remember Jesus.
We remember Him crucified. Raised. Ascended. Seated. And interceding.
Thank You, all-wise and benevolent God, for the capacity to store up collections of Your kindnesses to us through the courses of our lives.
You are good. Your love endures forever.
Help us remember.
Excited about more Moore! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Would love to share something from Beth Moore with my grand-daughter. She is a little lost in life’s circumstances and turning 16 next week.
Thank you so much for another great resource.Love love love the teaching you provide!
So inspired by your love for the Word. Thank you for blessing us so much. We love your “stuff” and you!
So good to @times painful but always worth it! So glad My Lord and Savior remembered me!!!! Awesome blessing! Thank you for that great reminder to remember!!!
Blessings to you!!
Sharon
Thankful for your teaching, sharing, loving us enough to share you journey with us.
HUGE DITTO!!!!! 🙂
Oh Lord, help us to remember at all times how amazingly good You are!
I have been praying about a new Bible Study for the women at my church for the new year. I wouldn’t hesitate to do another Beth Moore Study! Thanks for offering it!
I had not read this until today and it’s amazing how God’s timing is so perfect. It’s been a long time fight with my own memories, especially in recent days, so this came when I needed it most. I am often in the “regret” place in my memories and it so dark & heavy. Being reminded that memory is a gift is so uplifting and, honestly prompts a good U-turn back toward an attitude of gratitude & worship to the Almighty. Thank you, Beth, for your precious and wise words. They soothe and calm my mind & soul. You are such a blessing in all you do!
HalleluYAH!! These words are precious….and so true!
Dear Beth, first off I want to thank you for all you do everyday for our brothers and sisters in Christ. I have been a follower of Jesus from a very young age and share his love and sacrifice with those I can every day. I was diagnosed with a terminal brain illness in early 2011. At that time I was told I have 3-5 years to live. I’m still hear and doing pretty well, praise be to God. I’m in the process of praying about how to share my stories with others. Maybe a book, maybe an online video series, I’m not sure still praying about it. I would appreciate your prayers in that matter. Also just appreciate prayers as to where God is leading me on this journey. Since I have become I’ll, my wife has left me after 25 years, and surprisingly many friends as well. I think many don’t know how to respond to someone with a terminal illness. I would love your devotional or music or books. They give me hope. Have a blessed Christmas, and may God bless you always, Jeff☺
Beth,
Just finished “Children of the Day” Bible study! We will be watching the last closing video Wednesday night. You are such a blessing to our Bible study group! I enjoy reading about your life and family and it is easy to relate to you. I’m sure you hear that all the time but I feel like we would be best friends if we knew each other. Thank you for keeping it real for us, and inspiring us to love our Father and Savior more and more and wanting to know Him more and more. I learn so much from your teaching. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family:)
Beth, thank you that you are a woman who loves God so much that you want to share what He had taught you to others. I have emensely enjoyed your studies and always look for ward to the next one. God has blessed me through them. Thank you! It was a lifeline especially when I lost my daughter, who was 23 at the time from a tragic car accident. That was 8 years ago. Thanks to your teachings and God’s word I was able to handle my grief and be a witness for Christ’s cause. It was hard but I knew that He was bigger than anything in my life. Praise God! I am eagerly awaiting to start memorizing scripture with you and our sisters in Christ. Thanks you for spurring me on! God bless you and your staff!
Charlotte Crandall, Cement City, Michigan
Sweet Memories and promises from our Lord. I want to thank you so much for your wonderful bible studies. Four years ago I began acquiring your bible studies for my own collection I invited my teacher friends from school into my home on Tuesday nights. We began having two bible series a year. We started with The Patriarchs, then Daniel, rRevelation, James, Deuteronomy, Esther, David and our next one to do is Children of the Day-2nd Thessolonians. We have laughed and cried at your stories, and marveled at God’s inspirational Word. Keep writing my friend! You have the true anointing of the Holy Spirit. One funny story during one of your bible studies was when my doorbell rang, we stopped the DVD and it was a policeman at the door. He had received an anonymous call from one of my neighbors complaining about the parking around my house. So everyone moved their cars. The next week I invited all my neighbors to bible study. No one came but we didn’t get “raided” by the police again. Lol. May God continue to bless you! Wanda Davis
Dearest Beth,I love the way you know so much Bible but I love mostly how you help me to feel all things are possible.I suffer with damaged emotions and wish I could understand why I keep a cloud in my mind all the time,never feeling enough.I am trying my best but never feel it is.Hope memorizing scripture will help me get the cloud or whatever out of my mind.I love you as you love me.Kathy
Devote yourselfs to prayer, being watchful and thankful
Colossians 4:2
Dawn, Eugene, OR, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” 1 Peter 2:1 NIV
Susie Popp~Lancaster,CA
James 1:2-3 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Sandra S., Lemoore, CA
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”-Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Macy Colebank from Shelbyville KY, “And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders.” NIV
Micah 5:5
“He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken”.
Psalm 62:2 NIV
Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
Isaiah 49:1b NIV
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Grand junction, CO
Ephesians 4:29NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
1 Corinthians 13: 6-7
Media,PA Ephesians4:1-2(ESV) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle;be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Springfield, MO 20 “God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
Pat C
S Burlington, VT
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. I Thess. 5:24 NIV
Regina,California, Psalm 143:10 NIV Teach me to do your will for you are my GOD: may your spirit lead me on level ground.
Inge Hoogerhuis, Carmel, Indiana Psalm 51:10 NIV Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Nancy Bradshaw Melbourne, Florida
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5 NIV
Gina, laguna niguel, CA
Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
Gisella Oliver, Ohio
“And ye shall see me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 KJV
Pamela Green, Waynesboro, GA
Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Debbie from Holbrook, NY
“Blessed is she who has believed that the LORD would fulfill HIS promises to her.” Luke 1:45
Patricia from Richmond, TX :
“…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Allison, New York
“Cast your cares on The Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”
-Psalms 55:22 NIV
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
Psalm 103:2 (GNT)
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” 1 Peter 5:7 AMP
He will not let your foot slip He who watches over you will not slumber
Psalm 121:3
NIV
Kari
Imperial MO
Harlan, my
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength
Philippians 4:13. NLT
Lynann,Artesia,N.M.
Psalm 138:8
The Lord will work out his plans for my life for your faithful love,O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
NLT
Brittian Puthoff, Indianola, IA
“But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.””
Luke 5:5 NKJV
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Col 3:16 NIV
Jenny Ann, Kansas City, MO
“But remember The Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth and so
confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
Deuteronomy 8:18
Karen Casey in Lakelanf,FL
Jude24,25 NIV
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty,power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen
Julie, Carson City, Nevada, Psalms 100:2.(MSG): On your feet now- applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence.
Psalm 27:11 NLT Teach me how to live O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. NKJV