Remember

How many times do you think or say the word remember in any given day?  Likely, lots of times. As recently as yesterday -- Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day, holiday -- how many remembered the purpose of the holiday?  That part I remembered. Memorial Day is a time to remember  the 1.8 million American soldiers who sacrificed their lives in military conflicts since 1775, all for our freedom.  While I was aware of the national Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m., I didn't remember at that precise time.

Remember ... retain ... recollect ... recall ... remind ... bring to mind ... bear something in mind ... reckon.  How important is it to be able to remember? Very!  Remember is used in Scripture many times as you would expect.  Sometimes, the usage is God speaking to us.  Number four of the ten commandments is one example, "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." (See Exodus 20:8.)  In Revelation 3:3, Jesus says "remember what you have received and heard; obey it and repent." Recall one other verse wherein the Lord tells you something to remember.

Other times, the usage is our speaking to Him. Like the thief on the cross asking Jesus to remember him (Luke 23:42) ... like Job reminding God that his life was but a breath (Job 7:7) ... like the psalmist remembering the deeds and miracles of the Lord (Psalm 77:11). What are you reminding God to remember?  What are you remembering to remind God of?

Commencement

The Merriam-Webster definition of commencement includes "the time when something begins" and "an act, instance, or time of commencing."  All too often we may miss the real meaning of Commencement Exercises, and view them more literally as graduations, completions, ends.  The month of May is the time for Commencements.  During the first weekend in May, I attended three Commencements in one 24 hour period, two of which were out of town.  For my nephew who received a degree in electrical engineering, the exercise was likely for him a commencement to a successful career using what he's learned through this field of study.  For my niece who received a law degree, the exercise was probably a commencement to a successful career in some area of law.  For me, who was recognized for having received an undergraduate degree 50 years earlier, the exercise was a commencement to what?

Like, what's next? What have I been prepared to do?  In what am I to be successful?  Should I have a career focus?  In what activities should I be engaged?  To help answer those and similar questions, I looked to the Scriptures.  Jesus' commencement exercise was baptism in the Jordan by his cousin after 30 years of preparation for his earthly ministry.  Moses' commencement exercise was a burning bush experience at the age of 80 which launched his 40 year long deliverance ministry.  Saul's (name later changed to Paul) commencement exercise was a midlife Damascus road experience through which he learned how much he would suffer for the name of Jesus.  His commencement propelled him into a traveling ministry wherein he was instrumental in getting more churches started than any other.

In May, this month of commencement exercises, what's next for you?  What have you been prepared to do for the name of Jesus? Is age a factor?  Hear the words of the Lord penned by the prophet Isaiah -- for my thoughts are not your thoughts ... neither are your ways my ways ... my thoughts and ways are higher than yours ... my word does not return to me void or empty ... it accomplishes the purpose for which I sent it (see Isaiah 55:8-11).  So what's next for you? To what are you commencing?

National Day of Prayer

Did you know that President Abraham Lincoln signed a resolution proclaiming a National Day of Prayer and Humiliation in 1863?  Did you know that, in 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law?  Did you know that President Ronald Reagan amended this law in 1988 designating the first Thursday of May every year as the National Day of Prayer?  Today, May 7th is that day.  Let's pray for our "one nation under God."  Let’s pray that “in God we trust.”

Did you know that the theme for this year's National Day of Prayer is taken from Solomon's prayer during the dedication of the magnificent temple He built? 1 Kings 8:18 -- "Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day." 

I challenge you to remember God's response to Solomon's prayer during the dedication of this temple in Jerusalem found in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14.  “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, ¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 
 

I challenge you to pray for our nation, not just today but daily. I challenge you to pray for the nation of Israel.  I challenge you to pray!