New Years and Rememberance
- annadieterich
- Jan 8
- 3 min read
(From Later on in this article): .."There are many new ways of doing this, but since it's a new year and we can't easily carry stones everywhere we go to remember things- let's make a "Thank you, Jesus" jar "..
How can we remember God's goodness and faithful love if we do nothing to help remember it? In the Bible, doing things out of rememberance was a form of praise. Rememberance is a big deal to God; Jesus took the bread and wine to have us remember what He did for us on the cross and the Israelites made memorials to remember God's great faithfulness to his people.
God had the Israelites wander the desert many years, in the heat, and waiting for God to come through on His promise-- the promised land. When they finally got out of the desert, finally had their big breakthrough into that land-- it was at the Jordan River.
"So now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touch the water at its edge and the water flowing down stream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city to Zarethan. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of Arabah (Dead Sea) was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. The priests carrying the Lord's covenant stood firmly on dry ground until the entire nation of Israel had finished crossing the Jordan." Joshua 3:14-17
Boom! And welcome my sons and daughters to your promise land. But instead of partying, or planning, or taking down a village in triumph-- "
So Joshua summoned the 12 men he had selected from the Israelites, one man for each tribe, and said to them, “Go across to the ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ you should tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.” Joshua 4:4-7
"This is so that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God.” Joshua 4:24
So record your God moments! Your blessings and things you're thankful to God for! Keep them in fresh, sincere- rememberance so that you feel the connectedness of God's plan and purpose in your life. You also will keep from missing the great things He brings you this year.
There are many new ways of doing this, but since it's a new year and we can't easily carry stones everywhere we go to remember things- let's make a "Thank you, Jesus" jar
Why:
Each day, kids can walk inside from being at school, see the "thank you, Jesus" jar, and think of something great or little that they can say thank you to Jesus each day throughout the year.
It will help capture the personal progress of recognizing Holy-Spirit moments, and also the memories for the new year.
On New Years Eve 2025, dump it out as a family and read God's goodness together in reflection of the year. Pray over the jar before you start, ask for God to use this to grow you in your faith.
Let's get started!
Whether it's a mountain top year or a year in the wilderness, let's praise Him and teach our kids rememberance together!
Comments