Memories

I'm in the process of taking my family photos, that have been piled in boxes for too many years, and scanning them into the computer for safe keeping. So many pictures and so many memories! This project that is long overdue. It is an enjoyable process for me, yet will take much time and perseverance.

This project is making me think of all the Biblical verses that refer to remembering the past. For example, "Praise the Lord, my soul, and never forget all the good He has done." (Psalm 103:2) and "Worship Him faithfully with your whole heart; keep in mind the great things He has done among you." (1 Samuel 12:24). Whenever a loved one passes I draw upon these verses. I am thankful for the healing gift of "remembering" that God allows us.

Along these lines I was struck by a visual in a worship space I had the opportunity to visit this summer. This community is a fairly new one. The church building is not very old. The hall that leads into the worship space is lined with a memory of the prayers from the beginnings of this faith community and their plans to plant a church. The wall is lined with stones that have prayers written on them...prayers for the people that were to come together, the plans God had for them, and the spread of His love and mission within the community. I have to recall this scripture whenever I think of this lovely worship space visual, "Each of you must pick up one stone...We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future, your children will ask, 'What do these stones mean to You?' Then you can tell them, 'They remind us that the Jordon River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord's covenant went across.' These stones will stand as a permanent memorial among the people of Israel." (Joshua 4:5-7). I am passionate about worshiping in places outside of my norm and the stone wall in this church will be a lovely memory for me and a reminder that we still carry out the words of Joshua in so many ways.

Back to my family memories...I'll leave you with a "beauty" of a photo I unearthed of my mother and I that is proof of why Carrot Top Studio got it's name!