Preparation

This gentleman is preparing for a fireworks display, as a great many people will be doing next week. Preparation takes thought, planning and action, though sometimes a misstep occurs.

The other night I was going through my prayer list, already in bed and very tired. Thinking of one particular person, a verse came to mind and I knew it would be the subject of the next morning’s blog. I thought a moment about getting up and writing it down , but I didn’t, opting instead to store it on a shelf in my mind for retrieval the next morning.

Can’t find that shelf.

That’s why I take notes during sermons or send myself an e-mail when a thought comes while I’m out and about. No matter how good I think that thought is at the time, it doesn’t seem to file homestead and take up residence. That’s also why Bible reading is a daily activity for me. Left undone, I would miss out on communing with our Lord, an opportunity to learn more as well as any new message He might have.

I look upon missing services in that same way. Not only is it a very pleasurable social activity, but it is filled with opportunities. Without it, it is easy to forget, as Israel did. When they were reminded, there was a tremendous celebration:

And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 35:17-18)

I won’t go into how they got to this point. I’ve written in the past several posts on Josiah and his rule. If you want to learn more …

Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD, And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. (2 Chronicles 35:26-27)

But here we see there was no Passover like this, none of the kings held such a day of remembrance, since Samuel. Both citizens of Judah and Israel were present to remember their deliverance and give thanks to their Lord.

Do we plan our religious holidays to be such days? Do we gather on that day, remembering, and placing God first?

Easter – do we spend the previous week thinking of the Passover our Lord partook, the supper He instituted, the prayers in Gethsemane, the arrest, trial and crucifixion? Or, are we more concerned about who will be at Sunday dinner, whether the preaching will run over and the food that’s in the oven?

Christmas – do we think of Mary hearing of her child for the first time, of Joseph’s disappointment then acceptance of God’s will? Do we think about the magi and their journey, of their gifts and their meaning? Do we think of the great I AM being born as any other child into this world, laid in a manger, His first and last shelter belonging to another? Or are we more concerned about what presents will be given/received and who will miss out because they HAD to go to the other family this year?

Our preparation for every single day begins in our heart, in our mind, based on memories. Keep the right ones before us, not stored on a forgettable shelf.