This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. "This day is intended to stir us to remembrance of those who have given themselves, shed their blood, and lay down their lives in military battle for the cause of freedom in our land."

A memorial is anything that helps people remember something or someone who died.
What were some of the memorials you have visited? How did it affect you?

Occasionally in life you will witness some major events that changes history and alters the way life is lived.
Our passage today, Joshua 4, deals with one of these types of events in Biblical history.
Leading up to the passage we see Abraham following God's promise to a land for his decendants, Joseph and his family settling in Egypt, and Moses delivering the Jews from their captivity and leading them to the edge of the Promised Land.
Moses is now dead and his understudy, Joshua, has taken over his job and was tasked with settling the Israelites in the land of Caanan.
Joshua 3 provides a lot of background to our story in Joshua 4. The Israelites had waited 40 years, but now the time has come. It was a very emotional moment as they prepared to cross the Jordan.
The generation who were to inherit the Promised Land had to wait for their parents, grandparents, etc. to die before God's plan could be realized.

A new and welcome chapter of life opens before them. To be the generation that help fulfill the ancient promise to Father Abraham must have brought overwhelming joy!
All they had to do was cross the Jordan River, but when they arrived, they found it at flood stage and crossing looked to be impossible.
Joshua 3 tells us that God intervened by performing a miracle. The Lord rolled back the waters of the Jordan, just as He had done with the Red Sea.

People were likely doing the happy dance and praising the Lord but we shouldn't overlook the 2 memorials that were built.
One in the middle of the Jordan's bare floor and the other one after they crossed over, where the people of Israel camped that first night.
After Israel crossed over, God gave Joshua some very specific instructions.
Joshua 4:1-3
The Lord provided an explanation for the memorial.
Joshua 4:6-7
And then verses 21-24 add to the story.

The first type of memorial is the telling of The Story to our family. Who God is and what He has done for us AND our personal experiences with Him.
You can do this by sharing The Story of your salvation, the key factors of your growth, the memories of what God has done for you, and the passion of having a relationship with God.

But there is a second memorial in this chapter, one that is often overlooked. It's found in verse 9.
This memorial was built and then surrounded by water and would be evident to all who passed this way from the side from which the Israelites had come (when not at flood stage).
The purpose was to tell The Story of God's power, grace, and mercy to a generation that didn't know Him.

This memorial would show the way … and communicate some valuable lessons.

~~If you want to be close to God, in His will, then you have to count the cost.
~~You have to make a decision.
~~You have to step out in faith.
~~You have to be willing to leave every-thing else behind.
~~You have to commit to being obedient to the Lord.

What do these stones help us remember?

I. God has a PLAN for our lives that will be realized if we move from here to there.
Joshua 4:8

II. God wants us to be WARRIORS as well as WORSHIPPERS.
Joshua 4:12-13

III. God will honor those who FOLLOW Him obediently.
Joshua 4:14

IV. God is PRACTICAL and POWERFUL.
Joshua 4:15-18

V. God uses simple PEOPLE to use simple THINGS to tell others about Him.
Joshua 4:24

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

Sunday, May 30 - Richard & Nikki Yargeau
Tuesday, June 1 - Colin Paul
Thursday, June 3 - Perry Orton, Tyberius Bloomer, Keith & Holly Carpenter
Saturday, June 5 - Amie Sensiba, Leah Yenger