05/23/2026
My Memorial Day message this past Sunday at Eagle's Rest Ministries, Key West, Florida. We are currently meeting in the Tortogus Banquet room of Double Tree Resort, each Sunday at 10:30 am. We had inspiring praise and worship with the praise team before the message. Children enjoyed their own meeting with Linda Marston, our Children's Director. I hope to see you there this coming Sunday. And now my message...
"Don’t Forget To Remember"
Memory and recall have become a trillion-dollar business through the internet and many other storage devices.
We all have ways of remembering important dates through the year… it may be an app in our phone or a computer file, or a card in our wallet because we don’t want to forget to remember!
Winnie and I have a board with hooks on it. There is a hook for each month and on those hooks are tabs with birthdays and anniversaries we need to remember. It’s always there to see, and it has saved my hide many times and kept me out of the dog house! We have museums, and historical markers and monuments across the country that are there to help jog our memory. Throughout the year, we all participate in events designed to insure that we don’t forget, THEY’RE CALLED HOLIDAYS!!! From the very first day of the year, these special days are so that we don’t forget to remember.
The 4th of July commemorates the freedom we all enjoy. Thanksgiving reminds us of the kindness of the Indians and the providence of God in bringing the founding fathers His blessing and provision. Mother’s day and Father’s day honor our parents and reminds us of their important place in our lives. Memorial day insures that we don’t forget those who sacrificed their lives for our country and the cause of liberty, or God’s blessing in this journey we’re all on together!! Christmas reminds us of the joy of giving to others. Even as God gave His son to us…. All of these holidays are designed to make us stop and remember important people, and significant events..
Speaking of memory…. In the early days of our country, a young man took a trip out West and came across a little Native indian village. One of the Native women, tells the man he should visit the Chief, who she says has the longest and best memory in the world. So the man decides to go visit the Chief and says "I hear you have the greatest memory in the world." The Chief answers "I do. I can remember every single detail of my entire life." The man figures he should test this, and asks the Chief "What did you have for breakfast on April the 27th, 1826?" After stopping to think for a second, the chief answers "two eggs, buffalo bacon, and corn bread." Satisfied, the man says goodbye to the Chief and leaves the village. Forty years later, the man takes another trip out West and comes across the same village. He's amazed when he hears that the Chief, is still alive after all these years. The man, stops to say hello, so he raises his hand and says, "How" and the Chief replies "the eggs were fried and over easy, the bacon was well done, and the corn bread was perfect."
In the bible we find that God commanded His people to set up seven annual feasts and celebrations in their calendar to always remember the way He led them and brought about victorious outcomes and miracles in their lives.
GOD KNEW THAT BY REMEMBERING THEIR PAST, THEY WOULD BE BETTER EQUIPPED FOR THEIR FUTURE ! ! !
He wanted them to know that what He had done in the past, He would certainly do as they moved forward in obedience.
That’s why He said in Hebrews 13:8, that He is the same, yesterday, today and forever”….The faithful one….
He wanted them to always remember how He brought them out of Egypt through signs, wonders, and miracles…and that He would do it again.
Exodus 12:14 "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall remember it as a festival to the LORD--
The arc of the covenant was to go before them wherever they went and in the arc, were remembrances….that God never wanted them to forget…
A pot of Manna, the commandments, and the rod of Aaron that blossomed… The manna was about Divine provision, the commandments was about God’s mandate for our lives, the rod of Aaron was about God’s right to choose in our life’s journey.
Job 23:10 “But He knows the way that I take, and when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold”. I need to remember that the test is not where I stop, because the test prepares me for the rewards….
As I remember what He’s done before, I can be confident that He holds in store, the same for me. I remember because by faith I receive that He will do for me whatever He has done for others who came before me! Who endured the same tests, the same trials but who reaped the reward.
I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER…..I remember that Job suffered great loss, but he got back double for everything he lost.
I remember that Abraham had to walk away from friends and family, and leave it in the past, so he could become the father of the faith, the fore- runner of all who believe and follow after God.
I remember Noah, who encountered the greatest flood ever known to man, but was provided a way of escape, so I can believe that He will make a way for me!
I WILL REMEMBER! I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER!
When they crossed the Red Sea, they set up stones of remembrance on the other side, so all could see it and know that God can also take you through and bring you safely to the other side…
Today I am doing as Peter did in 2 Pet 1:13 “I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things”.
IF WE FAIL TO REMEMBER, THEN WE’RE SURE TO FAIL! -WHEN WE FEEL LIKE LOT’S WIFE AND WANT TO LOOK BACK ….. WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED TO YEARN FOR THE GOOD OLD DAYS .......
-WHEN WE LOOK FOR AND ARE TEMPTED TO TAKE THE EASY WAY …..
-WHEN WE WANT TO THROW OFF THE RESTRAINTS OF GOD’S CLAIM ON OUR LIFE AND IT’S DEMANDS …..
-WHEN WE WANT TO GO WITH THE FLOW AND BE AND ACT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE …..
THESE ARE ALARMS GOING OFF, THAT TELL US WE’VE FORGOTTEN TO REMEMBER…! SO REMEMBER TO PUT GOD FIRST, WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL, AND YOU’RE ENJOYING LIFE’S BLESSINGS AND YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. Remembering is an important part of forgiveness. When we forgive someone, we remember the lesson but we forget the offence that was done and drop the phone on the toxic emotions.
Speaking of remembering….I heard that the Titanic was not just a passenger liner, but it was also being used to transport cargo.
Among other things, it was carrying a large shipment of mayonnaise bound for Mexico. When Mexico heard that they would never be receiving it, they decided to name a day in memory of the sinking of the Titanic. They called the day Cinco de Mayo day. (Lord have mercy)
Deuteronomy 6:10 “When the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you-- a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant-- then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget to remember the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery”.
DIFFICULTIES OFTEN DRIVE US TO GOD, BUT TOO OFTEN, PROSPERITY DRIVES US AWAY FROM GOD.
FOR EVERY 10 PEOPLE WHO CAN HANDLE ADVERSITY, ONLY 1 CAN HANDLE PROSPERITY. REMEMBER, REMEMBER!
REMEMBER THOSE TIMES OF YOUR GREATEST ZEAL FOR GOD!!
REMEMBER WHEN YOU PRAYED AND HE DID A MIRACLE…
REMEMBER WHEN YOU HAD NO WAY OUT AND GOD MADE A WAY!
REMEMBER WHEN YOU GAVE UP, BUT GOD DIDN’T!!
I think of Rev 2:2 “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wickedness, that you have tested those who make claims but don’t have the evidence, and you have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forgotten your first love”.
WHEN YOU ARE HURT OR OFFENDED BY SOMEONE ELSE …. It’s time to return to your first love!
WHEN YOU’RE OVERWHELEMED AND FEEL LIKE GIVING UP… It’s time to return to your first love…
Remember, that what it’s really all about is not all the stuff we may have made it all about… It’s still about “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” What have we done with Jesus, our first love!
If we don’t remember, He gets pushed further and further back, until He gets pushed out, and replaced with other things.
WHETHER IT’S A …..RELATIONSHIP THAT NEEDS TO BE RESTORED, A PASSION TO BE RENEWED, A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED, OR A NEED THAT HAS TO BE MET….I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE SAME GOD WHO WAS FAITHFUL IN THE PAST HAS NOT CHANGED AND WILL NOT CHANGE IN THE CHALLENGES OF TODAY….
Having given you His best, will He not with Him, freely give all things…
He is not a man that He can fail, He will keep His covenant with us, and when He speaks, and He promises, His “I Will” shall come to past!!
The ground is level at the foot of the cross…. Hey, we all have our issues, we all have our weaknesses, we all have our vulnerabilities, but the love that flows from that cross, is enough for every area, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness!
And that is what should determine how we live!
It is in remembering this that we find our best selves.
It is in remembering this that we release miracles…
It is in remembering this that we rediscover our purpose… Hebrews 10:35 “Do not cast away your confidence, for it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised”.
Without confidence, we do some weird stuff…. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and let Satan into the garden because they lost their confidence in the creator….Abraham ended up producing an Ishmael because of a lack of confidence… Moses’ lack of confidence after all he saw God do, kept him from entering the promised land…. Jacob’s lack of confidence caused him to deceive his father and steal the birthright …. ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER TODAY
-WHEN YOU FACE TEMPTATIONS OR DISAPPOINTMENTS THIS WEEK
-WHEN TRIALS OR DIFFICULTIES COME
-WHEN THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE CAUSES FEAR OR DOUBT
-REMEMBER THAT THE GOD WHO WAS FAITHFUL DOWN THROUGH HISTORY, IS THE SAME RIGHT NOW TODAY ! !
If we can remember this, then we can say that life is good….
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we remember to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”.
This weekend is a season of remembering…. Memorial weekend! Why do so many in our current American culture seem to be so adamant to destroy the Christian foundation and core principles our framers worked so hard to establish?
America is at war with itself. We know that there are forces that want to remove many, many of the historical monuments that are located through-out this country. They want to forget who we are, why we are, and how we got here. They want to change the narrative, rewrite history, and in that way introduce a contrary narrative that is destructive, undermines our purpose and mission as a nation, and changes our entire belief system.
It elevates humanism and seeks to remove every trace of Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit from our history.
History hangs in the balance if we do not Remember!
We remember and honor the MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED AND blazed trails and set the example for others…..
-MANY SUFFERED -ALL SACRIFICED -SOME DIED FOR THEIR FAITH
-AND GOD WANTS US TO REMEMBER THEM THIS WEEK…..
-BUT MORE THAN REMEMBER -HE WANTS US TO BE INSPIRED BY THEM
-HE WANTS US TO HONOR OUR SPIRITUAL Founding Fathers BY FOLLOWING THEIR EXAMPLE…
Christianity had a profound influence on the founders of this country.
29 of the 56 signers of the Declaration held what would be considered as seminary degrees for ministers today, and many others were outspoken about their Christianity and preached in local churches on the week ends. Even Benjamin Franklin, who is considered to be one of the least religious of the framers, requested that the Constitutional Convention pray before each session. In his request, Franklin stated, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it not possible that an empire can rise without his assistance?”
John Adams said, “The general principles upon which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
In 1925 – at the Scopes Trial: The ACLU recruited John Scopes, a substitute high school teacher from Tennessee, to require that the public schools would have to teach that man descended from a lower life form, known as evolution. Many consider this trial to be a major turning point in U.S. history and war declared against God.
In 1962 – in Engel v. Vitale: The U.S. Supreme Court banned prayer in public schools. The prayer that was considered offensive was this; “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon You, and we beg for Your blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country”.
1963 – The U.S. Supreme Court banned the Lord’s Prayer and Bible reading in public schools.
1973 – Roe v. Wade: Legalized abortion in the U.S.
These tore down the monuments of righteousness and erected the monuments of humanism and atheism in their place.
Hear the words of Daniel Webster, an early American Jurist and Senator. Webster stated, “If we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity.”
In 1776, 98 percent of the American colonists, identified themselves as Christian. Anyone who might doubt that America was founded as a Christian nation, might discover that our early founders required that a person could not hold public office of any kind, unless they could prove and have it confirmed that they were practicing Christians. It is critically important that we know and understand the foundations of our faith, of our mission, and our purpose. If you can destroy the foundations then what has been built upon that foundation can easily be toppled…. Have you ever played “Trust Falling” It’s when you fall backward trusting that someone is going to catch you. This is often an exercise which is used as part of team building, and emphasizing the importance of trust in marriage and family.
How many times, I’ve lost count, when I had to trust that God would catch me when I felt like I was free falling! I’ve discovered that God allows me to get to some free fall moments, so He can turn them into “Trust Falling” events that I can look back on and remember that when I come to those times, if I have put Him first…. I can know that underneath are the everlasting arms….But Satan wants you to experience times when someone let you down, when someone betrayed you, when someone stabbed you in the back instead of catching you, so you are never able to transition into “Trust Falling”, faith building moments…. But regardless of what life hands you, God will turn it for good! (come on)
There is a “Trust falling” scripture in the bible, that we need to remember! Isaiah 43:2 “When You Pass Through the Waters, I Will Be There. and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.” Another word for faith is “Trust Falling”….
Our trust comes as a result of the foundation we have built everything in our life on. Jesus isn’t just a part of our life, He is the foundation that everything is built upon… It’s like building any structure. The foundation pretty much determines what you can or cannot build upon it. A shallow foundation can only hold up something small and without much weight. But if you’re going to build anything large which will carry a lot of weight then you need a deep and solid foundation. I like what Hebrews says… Hebrews 12:2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith”
So many folks fail, and come apart, because they have not deepened their foundation, so it can’t sustain much pressure and the weight of their life challenges causes them to cave. They only have a shallow relationship with Christ. They’re saved but there is no relationship that influences the other parts of their life. They say they’re Christians, but at work, at home, on the internet, and basically in most of their life, it’s pretty thin and shallow.
What is flowing through what you've been building? I think we’re talking about the difference of Jesus my savior, and Jesus
my Lord and master!
Luke 6:46 Jesus said, “The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 46 Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say”?
Thank God on this Memorial Day season, we can look back to those whose faith produced a deep foundation, which enabled them to build the framework of a Christian Nation that has so far, withstood all the attempts of men who would destroy it.
Thank God that there were people of faith who have fought and died for the concepts of freedom and liberty which are the benefits of that Christian concept know as America, and thank God for those who are still fighting, praying, and believing that “In God We Trust” is a good foundation to continue to build our hopes, dreams and future upon.
We will remember and never forget, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”….
I think it would be good if we take this moment of remembrance and make our pledge to the flag and what it stands for….
(Pledge to flag)
Let’s go the rest of the way in our allegiance and also pledge to the Christian flag and what it stands for…
(Pledge to Christian flag)
Prayer…. Lord deepen our foundations and may we build all that we hope for and dream of on Christ the solid rock. Thank you for those who believe that You are the only way to lasting freedom and liberty and it is only in You that our trust grows to the place that we can “trust fall” into Your arms, knowing that You will never leave us or forsake us, but through the flood or the fire, You will be there.
Help us to not only call you “Lord” but to live our lives in obedience to what You ask of us. Lord may we stand firm in the midst of this war that is being waged over who will rule the hearts of this nation. And who will choose our laws, our narrative, our history, and our way of life. Give us wisdom like no generation before us has ever needed, and understanding that our future is linked to our past, and how we remember it.
All our hope is in You. All our trust is in You, and all that we hold dear finds it’s fulfillment in You Lord. Arise Oh God, and let your enemies be scattered. May Your name be lifted high, and Your truth endure forever, In Your name we declare it, Praise You Jesus, amen!
