Go and See - Part 1: Stones of Remembrance & the Call to Remember

This is part 1 of the series, Go and See. These posts are designed to give you tools to "go and see" the ways God has designed you for impact right where you are, right now. 

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Introduction

​Context and purpose of the Go and See series:

• God desires for us to get away with him and see how what we have can meet the needs of the “multitudes”  when he miraculously multiplies what we set in his hands. (Mark 6:30-44)
• We have all been given talents that we are asked to invest and multiply until the day our master returns and asks us to give an account for what we did with what he gave us. (Matthew 25:14-30)  
• We are a forgetful people. Thus, we need to set-up “stones of remembrance” as markers of God’s faithfulness, strength, and involvement in our journey. (Joshua 4)
  • How do you make time to create and set-up “stones of remembrance” in your own life? 
  • Based on the Scripture, what are the expected outcomes of obeying the command to set up “stones of remembrance” during our faith journey?​

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Digging Deeper 

Take a few minutes and go & read, Mark 6:30-44.
Note the following: 

• The disciples were exhausted from teaching and ministry.
• Jesus says, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” But the crowd found them there. (Jesus knew this would happen.)
• A need [for a meal] arises. The disciples want Jesus to send the people (and their needs) away.
• Jesus says, “You give them something to eat.”
• Remember they are already exhausted and thought they were heading to solitude with Jesus, not a crowd of people to feed.
• After the disciples make excuses for how/why they can’t feed the people, Jesus simply says, “[But] What do you have? Go and see.”
• Jesus restores his disciples and the multitude by performing a miracle with the loaves and fish the disciples had.
  • Not exactly how we typically think of God meeting our needs for rest and restoring.
  • Required some effort to go looking for what was there already.
  • Required offering what seemed so little and impossible to be used for the task to Jesus to allow him to work a miracle with.

Take a few minutes to go & read, Matthew 25:14-30.
Note the following: 

• To one he gave 5 talents, to another 2 and to another 1, “each according to his ability.”
• The men who received the 5 and the 2 talents “went to work at once” to increase what he had been given.
• The man with the 1 lived in fear and buried his talent (perhaps fearing he wasn’t good enough or important enough to be able to increase his talents)
• The words of the master upon his return from his journey are unsettling: “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
  • What? He didn’t commit any sins in regards to the Ten Commandments. He just didn’t multiply his talent.
  • Does this startle you? ​

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Reflection & Application

God has talents for each of us, and we are commanded to multiply them until his return.

• Do you know what your’s are?
• Are you working on multiplying them?
• Could endeavoring to remember the ways God has worked in your life help propel you forward from where you are right now?  
• Could seeking out defining your talents and how they can be used in miraculous ways to meet the needs of the “multitude” move you toward an increase?  
• What is the danger in not taking the time to figure some of these things out?

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Tool 1:  Stones of Remembrance Timeline

Scriptural Rooting for Tool 1: Go read Joshua 4 . Pay close attention to the purpose and meaning of the “stones of remembrance” the men are commanded to set-up.

Note the following:

• This nation of God’s chosen people are being led by Joshua out of a season of living in the desert toward the Promised Land. In front of their eyes the river quits flowing so they can cross. Can you imagine the emotions or thoughts  present in the hearts and minds of these people?
• After the successful crossing, God commands that Joshua instruct 12 men each pick up a large stone from the Jordan and erect a monument out of it as a memorial so that the future generations would know what God did that day. 
• These stones were also to be set in place  "so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever" (Joshua 4:24).​

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Setting Up Your Stones

Stones of Remembrance Timeline: The aim of this activity is for you to place on a timeline the “stones of remembrance” that testify to God’s presence and work in your life. Imagine that each dot is a stone lifted up from a river and carried across to be set in place as a memorial, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:24).

As we have noticed inJoshua 4, God was present and evident in their time of need, despair, and doubt. So, don’t forget to place on your timeline those experiences of your life that aren’t all that pretty, but are a testament of hope, grace, truth and deliverance.  

In contrast, there are moments in our life of pure joy, excitement and accomplishment that also yell loudly of the Lord’s presence and persistence in our life. So, include those too.

In addition, our experiences are not the only way our testimony of God’s involvement in our lives. People and places can mold our hearts and souls. Including significant people and places on your timeline will also help to trigger your memory of God’s providence and provision.

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Instructions

1. Take 5-10 minutes to pray, asking  God to reveal to you the memories that are necessary for you to walk through in order for you to see how your story reveals God's provision and plan to lead you to experiences, people and places that build your understanding of your gifts and calling. 
2. Pray for remembrance, clarity, visions, and God’s voice. Pray for strength, perseverance and expectation. Pray for protection, peace and efficiency.
3. Take a few minutes to journal or simply reflect on memories that are essential to you understanding how your story is intended to tell His story to the world around you. 
4. Then take out a large piece of paper, draw a long line down the middle and begin creating a timeline of your life by plotting on the line a sequence of the most memorable people, places and experiences of your life.  Watch and see how the timeline begins to reveal the interweaving of your story + His story.

• Each memory, person, or place is a stone of remembrance.
• Your timeline slots should be proportional to your memories, not necessarily your years of life.
• Begin by writing down all the memories that come to mind. (Don’t try to categorize at this point. Just write EVERYTHING you think of without trying to judge its importance or significance.) ​
• Optional: print out one of thesetimelines to organize your thoughts.

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The Next Step

Each day, for one week, write about the details of one of the “stones” on your timeline as if you were sharing this with a friend in order to help them see God’s hand in Your story. Try to stick to the event as much as possible, without getting to wrapped up in the history of all that came before it. (But don’t feel constrained, this is just a suggestion.)

As you are writing, keep in mind what category the experience you are focussing on is settled under. Let this help you find scripture and Biblical truths to add into the message you are trying to convey to your listening. Record the Bible verses you find that could be worked into the telling of your story.

Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, punctuation...none of that! Just worry about getting your ideas down in a somewhat organized manner that communicates how this part of your story reveals God’s story (either in your life or in the world). Remember, you best communicate your faith by showing His[God’s] Story, plus Your Story,  and how it equals Our [Your’s & God’s together] Story.

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This is part 1 of the series, Go and See. These posts are designed to give you tools too "go and see" the ways God has designed you to impact the people right where you are, right now. Subscribe to receive a notification when part 2 of the Go and See series is posted.

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