I got a couple people are going to come help me with an illustration this morning. They can come up and just, they're going to, they got, so what we got here is some Lego sets. And we are going to, we are going to let them just kind of take those out and start putting those together. They can look at the directions.
You got to, here's the deal you guys, you'll have about a minute to just kind of look at the directions, kind of go through that whole deal. So you guys kind of undo whatever you want to do to try to make this happen. All right. You got about a minute.
So I would maybe start with the directions and just look because you have a minute to look at that. But, and then we're going to do something different. But I'm just, so we have, so many texts, we've got 170 people or devices online right now watching. And so if you're watching online right now, you couldn't get here or whatever.
We're so glad you're watching. I hope this morning you get something out of, out of, out of, as you watch today. Don't, don't tune out. Stay tuned in because God's got something for you.
But, so glad you're with us. How many, you have a good Christmas? Yeah. Good Christmas.
How many traveled out of state for Christmas? One person. Okay. Good.
You guys are all home bodies. No, you maybe, you travel to family here. You don't even live here. And so you're still here.
But I hope you like great Christmas. I hate to, I hate to break it to you right now. But, but in just a few days, we're going to start a new year. And I know I don't want to be the first to tell you that.
I know it's weird. You know, we stand at the threshold of a new year and any time we do that, our first instinct, I think is always to look forward to look forward. Hey, what are we going to do? What is the next year going to look like?
Maybe, but this morning I want to give you some different advice today and to look back and remember what God has done. And we're going to kind of talk about that. And is that been about a minute? Yeah.
All right. I'm going to take this from you. Okay. Thank you.
This is going over here. All right. It's going over here. Thank you.
And I'm going to tell you this, Joe, you get a chance. Here's the deal, Joe. I'm just going to watch how this goes. So you see that whenever you want to take a look, go ahead and look and see what's happening.
You can kind of start taking this thing. But you know, for some of us in the room, starting in New Year brings anxiety. For some of you, it's you've already, you're already thinking about, you're ready to start a new because last year was a tough one for you. For some of you, it's been one of the best years of your life, 2025.
And so we're all sitting at different places and different spots. And so I love New Year's because it's a fresh start. I love stuff like this. How many of you, how many of you make New Year's resolutions?
You make New Year's resolutions? Maybe a quarter of the room, maybe not even. Maybe 20% of you make. How many did I one point, but you just didn't go well, so you just quit.
You used to make it, and you're like, I forget this, I'm done with that, right? You're like, try that done. I'm not a huge New Year's resolutions. You got by love to think about where I want to go.
And here's what I'm trying to do. Are you trying to drop all those on purpose? That's cool. That's really nice.
But you know, but here's, maybe I'll make New Year's resolutions, but maybe you plan like, here's what I want to do. Here's what I want to go. Here's something to grow in different areas. You've got a great way to start that week.
They talked about it during announcements. Our 21 days of prayer and fasting. I want to encourage you as a church, if you've never fasted to take a day, maybe a couple meals, maybe physically, some of those things you can't do to find some way to fast. And say, God, I'm committing this year to say, listen, I want to grow in you.
I've got some issues and things I want to pray about. And so we're going to start that January 4th. We also have those special services starting that day. Man, try to be a how am I going to grow spiritually?
A great way to do that would be kind of kicking with. We'll have some different prayer points throughout that you can kind of come to the website or the app and check out here who are praying for today, all through 21 days. There's just some different things you can do. But you know, but I would highly encourage you to do something that to help you and your family grow spiritually this next year.
And then you're going to be in relationships and every aspect of your life, what new rhythms are you going to start? I'll say make a plan. If you don't make a plan, you aren't just going to get where you want to go without a plan. So make a plan.
Here's what I'm trying to do. Here's what I'm trying to do. But I would also say that that isn't the most important thing that you can do. It's a plan.
I think there's some things that I think actually are more important than trying to figure out, hey, here's a new year's resolution. Here's what I'm trying to do. Here's what I'm trying to do. Yeah, Kirby, I don't know.
But I just want to walk through this with me today. And then maybe this will help go with that plan that you're making. And here it is. I love Psalm 77 verse 11 and 12.
It says, I will remember the deeds of the Lord. Yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds. How about this?
Psalms 143 verse 5. I remember the days of old. I meditated on all that you've done. I pondered the work of your hands.
I would say this today. Remembering God's faithfulness is better than planning out how we will try to be faithful. Remembering how God has been faithful is better for you than trying to plan out how you're going to be faithful. Because so many times we fail at being faithful.
Don't we fail at the things we're trying to do. But if we can continue to go back to God, I remember how you helped me when I wasn't faithful. I remember when things didn't go right. I can remember how you walk me through some situations.
I can remember. I can just keep going back. I know that you've helped me before. I know you've met me before.
That is what will help you get through the next season of life and the next journeys that you face and the next things. So he's taking time to look back at how God's been faithful to you. He was greater than thinking through how you're going to be faithful to him. I'm not saying don't think about it.
How you're going to be faithful to him. I'm saying if you really want to have a great year in Christ, it's not going to be because you are trying harder to be more faithful. It's going to be because you are filled with more faith because of God's faithfulness. Because it kind of gets inside you like, okay, I don't know what to do.
I don't know how this is going to happen. My marriage, it's not looking good, but it didn't look good before and God helped me. My kids, whether or not I did it didn't look good before. I can remember how God came alongside me before.
I can look at all the things that are going on. I can come back to something that God has been with me in the past and it can get me through what's going on. So your greatest need next year isn't a new plan or how you can be a better Christian. What your greatest need is a bigger view of God.
You need to see God as more glorious than you do right now. You need to see him as more beautiful, more sovereign, more present, more kind to you. And that won't happen as you plan. And it will happen as you look back at how God has been so gracious to you in the past.
I can look back and go, man, you were there. Man, you showed up. I think part of your growth issue will depend on you looking back and remembering how God has shown up for you over and over in your life. Let's not be so quick to look ahead and forget to remember what he's done and how he's shown up in the past.
So this morning the title is looking back but moving forward. Let's slow down and not forget what he's done in the past. It's really a stake. If we don't look back and remember, what is that stake?
So why is it so important is there really something that's at stake if I don't look back? If I don't remember, if I don't kind of go down that road. Is there some things that could happen? By the way, you're looking at me today.
I don't think you're sure you believe me or not. You're like, yeah, I'm not sure. If you're watching online, I can't really tell what you're looking at me. I wonder maybe even if you're listening.
I'm not even sure. But I'm not sure. You think you need to do this. What is the danger of forgetting or not looking back at what God has done?
Are there any dangers in that? I think there are some dangers as we look at Scripture. Here's a verse that's shocking to look through Scripture and see that's not just filled with encouragement to remember. It's also filled with consequences of forgetting.
How's that going over there? You have some consequences of forgetting right now? How's it going for you? Good.
Here's, let's go. Look at this. Psalm 106, I don't think it's going to go all morning for you. It's not going to be your whole day though.
It's just 30 minutes. Okay. Here's what it says. Praise the Lord.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for His good, for whoever whoever who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, declare all His praise. That starts out in verse chapter 106. Then it moves down to verse 6. But both we and our fathers have sinned.
We have committed iniquity. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedness. Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works.
They did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea. At the Red Sea, yet He saved them for His name's sake. He might make known His mighty power. He reviewed the Red Sea and became dry.
He led them through the deep as through a desert. So He saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the water covers, the waters cover their adversaries. Not one of them was left.
And then they believed in His word. They sang praise. But they soon forgot His works. They did not wait for His counsel, but they had a wonton craving in the wilderness.
That's kind of funny. I don't know if anybody ever has a wonton craving. That's not even a craving. You should have it.
If you have a wonton, maybe you should get checked. But God, put God to the test in the desert. This is in verse 19. They made a calf and horse and worshipped a metal image.
They exchanged the glory of God to the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God. They are Savior who had done great things in Egypt. I love God's word.
It gives us a little clarity on how we can think through this. This is about Israel. God has chosen people. He had raised up Moses to be their deliverer.
The scripture says they forgot God. They have gone through all this stuff. They get out of Egypt. They forget God.
They don't remember His love. They rebelled. Have you ever made a connection like this before that when you forget God, sometimes you start wandering away from maybe where He wants you to be. When you forget what God brought you out over, how God has helped you through some things.
You can see it's not just one isolated moment in scripture. You see all of it, they forgot God. They didn't remember what God had done. You can see this happening over and over and over again.
A connection about remembering God and how it has to do with our obedience. There's something to your connection with how you remember what God has done to how you're obedient later on in life or later on in what's going on. Because scriptures are a direct connection between our forgetfulness and our faithfulness. There's a direct connection from our forgetfulness to our faithfulness.
It's a direct connection how you remember and how you move into the next season of living life with Jesus. The Psalmist is very clear that when we failed to remember like Israel, we are prone to fall into rebellion. When we forget, probably think of yourself as one instance, but I'll tell you there's more and it may seem a little bit of an exaggeration. Is it really that important to remember how God has been faithful and if I don't, I'm going to fall into rebellion.
Yeah, I'm kind of saying that. It's possible that you could get there. Very possible. Actually, I'm not saying that the Bible is actually saying that.
Say, listen, this is something to just take note of. See, the danger of not remembering God is that what He's done. I think it does two things for us. There's two things we're going to hit on two points this morning.
First thing is it shrinks our faith. When we forget or don't remember, it shrinks our faith. Moses had been raised up to deliver them after 450 years of slavery. They saw the 10 plagues come in.
The Red Sea parted. I mean, they walked through on dry ground and the Red Sea closes in on the enemy. It crushes on the Egyptians. The army is drowned.
God has been leading them by a pillar of fire, by night in a cloud, by day. Forty-five days after leaving Egypt, they forgot. Think about that. Forty-five days after they left Egypt, they've already forgotten.
That's only been five minutes and you forgot. How's that going? You got that? That's good.
That's good. Here's what says in Exodus chapter 16. They set out from Elam and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of sin, which is between Elam and Sinai. On the 15th day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt, that's 45 days.
And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, the people of Israel said to them, would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt? When we sat by the meat posinate, bread to the full, free of brought us into the wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Isn't it crazy? Forty-five days earlier, they had watched and even a few days before they'd watched plague after plague, after plague, set them up to get out of slavery.
They'd been in oppression. They'd been in slavery. They finally, the Pharaoh goes, okay, we're going to let the people go, get them out of here. We don't want this to keep going.
It's going to ruin our nation. They get them out. They change their mind. They start coming after them.
They walk, the sea actually parts. They start walking through our dry ground. They're like, oh, no, we're in trouble. They see parts.
They get there and all of a sudden they see close in. They're wipes out a whole army. And now 45 days later, they're out in the middle of the wilderness. They're going, we would have been better off to be back there in slavery and oppression.
They'd rather go back to Egypt to be dead. They start complaining. It doesn't sound like us. Does it?
Everyone's like, start complaining. You start going, well, God, are you ever going to do what I needed to do? And you forgot that he showed up last month. I got what you're going to do this or that.
See, God delivered them from slavery and they're worried about lunch. That's about what works for us too. They're worried about lunch. I know he bashed Israelites all the time.
Like how could they build a golden calf? Why do they keep rebelling? What a bunch of idiots who would do that? Why do they keep?
You look at the stories and they're like, boy, the people are Israel. They were not very smart. And I wonder sometimes if we look at a mirror and go, maybe that's us too. We grumble, complain.
We question. We argue. We wonder. But I want you to realize this isn't just about them.
It's about you this morning and me as well. It's about us. It's about us. How could we be so worried that Jesus rescued us from sins and we are stressed about our bank accounts.
We're flipping out over our relationships and we don't know where provision is going to come from. Oh, this is about us. It's about us too. He has set us free from the oppression.
We keep on going back to it. He says free from sin. We keep on ourselves in tempting situations. Almost trying to go back into it.
It's about us just as it is about much about them. You notice their faith had shrunk over 45 days. They forgot God and they're face-trunked in that short amount of time. I'm not talking about a year.
In 45 days enough time had gone by the hand that they forgot God and focused on their own situation, on their own life. They forgot that he had showed up over and over again. They forgot his faith must have been grumbled and complained. Losing sight of what God has done for you in the past will make it difficult to believe that God is able to do something for you in the present.
I'm going to say that again. Losing sight of what God has done for you in the past will make it difficult to believe that God is able to do something for you in the present. Because he had to keep thinking, I don't know if he can do this. But what if he did this before?
He did this before? He did this before? Oh, yeah. He could come back.
You know what? He's been here before with me. I've been on this road before and I struggled before and he showed up. I've watched it.
It's happened over. I want you to go through and figure out how he's been good to you. I want you to sit down before the year starts and just take a half an hour and go. I'm going to look at all the ways God showed up for me last year.
I'm looking at all the things that he's done. I'm looking at all the stuff that he's showing up. Maybe you're going to even take it back farther because you've got some amazing testimonies of what God has done years ago and you're to go. I can remember back 20 years ago when God showed up because I can remember back 20 years for some of my stuff.
We didn't know how we were going to pay some bills and some things that went on. And all of a sudden a check showed up that it was the exact amount that something didn't even know what I was going through showed up with the exact amount of money I need to pay a bill. I can remember that's over 20 years ago for me. And I can still, I can go back to that and put that down and go, I can remember when I needed you 20 years ago and you show up, why couldn't you do it now when I need you to go back and just go through those moments and those things.
See if we lose sight of what he's done, he becomes so conflicted because we come to times where we have to trust God, aren't sure he's able to do something because we've lost sight of him doing something the past. How can I lose sight of his, can't imagine something so major that he lost sight in 45 days, someone said they did not remember the abundance of his steadfast love. It's not just enough to remember God loves you. That's great, but they forgot the height and the depth of his love for them because we're all in the background, I know he loves us, but can you go back and just go into detail of how much he did for you and showed up for you and how much he loved you by detail, not just the general he loves me because I think that would really help us.
You and I are familiar with the fact that God loves us, but are you familiar with the amount of love he has for you and the ways in which he's loved you over the last year, the abundance of his love. I'll say this, our grumbling and complaining might be a sign that we've lost sight of God's goodness to us. When we start to grumble and we start to complain, it's probably because we've lost sight, we've forgot what he's done in the past. If we remember what he's done in the past, we wouldn't grumble and complain.
We'd go forward with faith knowing that he can do it again. Knowing that he can show up again. Let me ask you this question this morning. What are you struggling to believe God for right now?
Where is it really hard to say, I don't know if God is going to come through, I don't know if God can do this, I don't know if he's able or if he hears me or if he has enough power? What do you need to recall in order to have enough faith in 2026? What do you need to just recall back and go, hey, and here's what it means, I'll just start compounding things as many things as you can remember and just write them down or put them down or put them in. All these things that we got showing up, the way he's brought things in my mind and the way he thinks he's helped me in all of my years and just go, when I get in the spot where I don't think I'm just going to go back and I'm going to read these things.
Over and over again, here's what God's done before, he's done this before, he's done this before he's done this before he's done this before he's done this before he's done this. There's no reason he can't show up again in 2026 as he's been there before. See, some of us need to stop and remember how God has saved us from our shipwreck, the shipwrecking of our life. So if some of us need to stop and remember how God has provided for us supernaturally because we will need to remember that this year.
Some of you need to remember how God brought a friend along at just the right moment to encourage you because some of you are going to need to remember that this year. Some of you need to remember how God spoke the word you had just the right time to keep you going. Some of us need to remember how God healed our marriage when we didn't even want it to be healed. See, the power of looking back is that you're actually filled with faith.
It begins to fill your life with faith so you can accomplish the things and go after things that God, the challenge that you're going to face down the road, if he's done it once, he can do it again. You're going to need faith in this next year. But where does faith come from? Faith doesn't come from you mustering it up on your own end out of nowhere.
Faith comes from God's faithfulness. God's past faithfulness is your present fuel for your faith. His past faithfulness is your present fuel for you to keep moving forward and to have your faith go forward. We start to believe he has done it before and he can do it again.
He will open that door. He will speak to me. He will meet my need. He will provide.
He will show up and give me what I need in that moment. Even though right now it doesn't feel like it, I'm going to trust that he's done it before and he's going to do it again. I don't think you're excited. Is this getting anybody else excited?
Just think about all the ways that God's showing up. All the ways that he's been there and go, ah, he can do it again. Some of us make incredible news, resolutions, and quit on them by the third week of January. Why?
Because we're going to see them through. If you keep going back to God's faithfulness, he'll get you through the tough season of life no matter what it is. And I'm not talking about resolution, but we make resolutions on us. When we go back to God's faithfulness, we can know that he can help us through whatever it is we're going through.
Thank God this journey isn't about God's faithfulness, not ours. His works, not yours. The things that he wants to do and can do. Romans 832, he says this, he would not spare his own son but gave him up for us all.
How will he not also with him graciously give us all things? If your greatest needs have been met in Jesus and all your lesser needs will surely be met as well. He's over here? No.
It's hard. Let's see. Let's pull this away. How's it going?
Good. Yeah, you got a couple of people standing up. That's really good. I like it.
Two people. Oh, and one person because that knocks one over. How's it going over here? Yeah, you look a little bit more.
You got a little bit more going on. And he does. He does, I said. That's good English right there.
Yeah, it's coming together. Not bad. Is it hard to see your little brother reaching something? It is, I'm sure it does.
What's your greatest need? Healing, spouse, a better job. Your greatest need was being saved from your sin. That was your greatest need.
And once you met that one, you could just trust you, give me all your other ones too. If you came to meet your biggest need that you have, there's no reason you can't walk alongside you. All you're called to do is receive it and remember what he's done for you so that you know we can do something that is not even close to what your biggest need was. You can walk you through this even the smaller things.
You can bank on it. If he freely gave you Jesus, he can provide for whatever other needs you have. It's not about how well you can quote his word. It's about, it's more about how you can apply his word to your life.
We get sometimes it's so good at remembering scripture, but my question is, can you apply to what you're facing and what you're going through? So you aren't gospel standard because you can quote John 3 16. You're gospel standard when you apply John 3 16 to your life in the moment when you're freaking out. That means you're gospel.
Because in that moment he becomes less of a theological fact and more of a reality. Either believe him or not, he's either good or not. He's either either died for you or not. There's no middle ground.
If he did that, then he will take care of your needs as well. Whatever it is you got going on. So next year when things aren't going well, money's tight. You get the bad report.
Your marriage is struggling when the door closes on you and the opportunity doesn't happen. And if you like God is distant, you don't have to muster up faith on your own. You just look back at what God has done for you in the past. My faith doesn't have to shrink because of who God is.
Not because of what I'm able to do. My faith doesn't have to shrink because of who God is. Or not what I'm not able to do. Second thing, because here's what faith does.
Not looking back does. It shrinks, right? It shrinks your faith. When you're in the middle of a valley, you feel like there's just no faith at all.
But if you can look back and remember, you can get you through. But the other thing, the danger of not remembering is this is it inflates our ego. Where on top of the mountain everything's going well, you think you've got there by your works and the things that you've done. And by looking back, you realize I didn't get here on my own accord.
I didn't get here by what I can do. I got here because what God has done in me, that's what gets me to the point. If point one is about knowing you, if we can trust God in the valley, point two is about the moment when everything is going right. So let's fast forward in the story where the children are about to enter the promised land.
They've wandered around the desert for a bunch of years and now they're at the spot where they're about to radiate in the promised land. We're going to fast forward to that part of the story and do it around in chapter eight. Here's what it says. Beware that you do not forget the Lord God by keeping his command.
Don't forget the Lord God. Here's what it says. His judgments and his statutes which I command you today. Last when you have eaten in our full and the beautiful houses and dwell in them and when you're heard and your flocks multiply and your silver and gold are multiplied and all that you have is multiplied when your heart is lifted up and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt from the houses of bondage who led you through that great and terrible wilderness in which were fiery serpents and scorpions into thirsty land where there was no water who brought water for you out of the flinty rock who fed you in the wilderness manner which your fathers did not know that he might humble you and he might test you to do you good in the end.
Then you say in your heart my power and the might of my hand have given me this wealth and gave me this wealth. And you should remember the Lord your God for it is he who gives you power to get wealth and he may establish his covenant that he swore to your fathers it is this day. I don't know if I need to say anything else. Sometimes we should close up shop right now.
Sometimes we get to a spot in life and we don't have to. All the ways we've got to our spot. It's going so well we think look at all the things I've done all the things I've accomplished all the stuff that's going on in my life and we start going I got here by myself I didn't even need God. So it's two ends of the spectrum going one spot don't forget because it's going to get you through it on the other side you say don't forget because I'm the one that helped you get there.
It's so important on both ends of the spectrum no matter if you're somewhere in the middle God puts this warning before them. You know to before you don't even think it was you. How does this passage start be where that you don't forget the Lord. They're about to have more blessing than they've ever had before and God knows that blessings are dangerous if not stewarded well and put into perspective so Israel will have their flocks multiply and their herds multiply and their family multiply and their safety and have their money multiplied and everything's going to go well for me.
He goes hey I just want you know if that's your case don't forget what I've done. Don't forget don't think you've tried hard and that's why you got this. Don't think it's because you stayed up all night don't think it's because you had faith it's no different for us right. We had the tendency when we were on the mountain to think it's what it was us that got us there.
It's because I prayed and I read the words because I showed up I grinded a lot late at night to get this message together it's because I had the discipline it's easy to think you are the man and forget we have nothing without God showing up. We have nothing on the spot I'm at because anything but God what God has done. See losing sight of how God has led you in the past will leave you more susceptible to taking credit for your success in the present. Say that again losing sight of how God has led you in the past will leave you more susceptible to taking credit for your success in the present.
We need that warning that when we get to the mountaintop that something needs to be remembered it's not our work it's God's work. When I get to the mountaintop moments if I don't look back and remember I remember the late nights I remember the hard work I remember what God and the effort and the grinding I skip out and see how God has kept me the whole time. I hope he opened the door he brought that person he gave me that word he did this thing without him I wouldn't have been here in this moment. Maybe just how grumbling was showing up before now pride is and our pride and boasting our sign that we forgot how good God has been to us to this point.
Maybe you taste a little more money this last year maybe your marriage is doing really good your kids are doing well maybe you've grown so much in a lot of ways. God is not concerned with you having success his concern with whom you credit for that success. He wants to bless you but what he doesn't want you to do is point it right back to you and have you think it was all of you. So when I think of all the times I've grumbled or times I've thrown little pity parties in my heart my times I've dragged my feet when God has told me to do something sometimes I've sinned the ways I've doubted God it's a miracle I'm still standing here right now and it's by the grace of God that I'm here not because they may have done it's amazing what God's done and all because we've done it's amazing what God's done.
When we look at they had 400 for Christmas Eve it's not anything that they've done it's what God's done. We look at what God's done in our church and between the two places almost 2,500 people and that is anything that we've done that's God drawing somebody's heart to say hey come on do something in your life and what God uses us as stewards of that but it's not because of a great worship or great music or a great preaching it's not us you guys have heard me preach for you know you don't come for that it's God doing something it's God showing up it's God trying to bless you it's God trying to do stuff so many times it's a miracle I'm standing here right now it's grace that's kept me going it's just faithful it keeps you going don't get it twisted it's not because you are working really hard to be as God is really kind to you we lose sight of that our ego will inflate so quickly what areas you attempting the worship team can come to feel pride in your life what successes are you taking credit for right now what have you forgotten that God opened the door for your business or gave you the idea for raising your kids the way you do so count every blessing you have and thank God for it we aren't even able to see all the God has done for us we don't even know even if we could try to put all we couldn't put all together first Corinthians 4 7 the second half says what do you have that you did not receive if then you received it why do you boast as if you did not receive it other words I'm not giving you everything that's good I've been alongside you I've walked you through it every good thing you have is from him so how do we practically remember it didn't it doesn't just work to remember our minds are more pieces to it right because if it was that easy we wouldn't have to talk about this in the Old Testament God gave them a bunch of ways to remember why because they were forgetful in so are we so you have two ways celebrations and alters they had these festivals remember what got it done they celebrate had parties remember what got it done think about the benefit of that they're sitting around 200 years later with their great great grandkids or they're sitting out there kids and like hey why are we having this pass over celebration let me just tell you what God did 200 years ago and so you're able to just kind of weave it into the story of your family let me tell you when we back 35 years ago we didn't have any money we started to be faithful to God and here's what God's done hey remember the story we got the report that there was cancer in our body remember here's what the story was and God showed up 20 years ago and that's why I could tell the story about my wife six seven years old eight years old I did try to say six seven that was not what I was trying to do it tells you that cancer doesn't look good but you know I can sit down my kids and go you know what we can celebrate what God did I'm not going to tell you how many years ago that was to protect my wife's age you know we can look back at all the moments see that celebrations that's why we do Christmas that's why I do Easter we can tell the story we get alongside go hey let me just tell you what happened years ago that's why they're doing the celebrations for years and years and years down the road they still do some of us let me tell you years ago 2000 years ago Jesus came to the earth pretty amazing God left heaven comes to the earth it's pretty awesome it's pretty cool 33 years later we could he goes to a cross to die for your sin that's why we celebrate Easter celebrate tell these things these stories is pretty amazing we remember back celebrations parties festivals that's why they did this back in the day that's why we still do today to remember to weave it into our story that was one of the things they did but then they also had a another little thing that would stack stones and build an altar stack stones up and then they'd walk by with their kids and go hey why are these stones here well let me tell you personally for us there's this moment but we didn't know what to do and got gave me a little bit of guidance oh wow that's super cool dad tell me about it well here's the details the my dad is another pile of stones over here yeah here's what got here's what got hit here for a family I put up a little monument a little memorial to remember that God showed up in our life when we needed him here oh and dad over there across the road there's another oh yeah that was that was grandpa Jimmy's pile and he did here's what God did for him and that moment and there's they set up all of these little altars little things to reist remember these past stones remember these stacks so how can we remember maybe journal something like oh boy not me I'm here like not me when it comes to journaling like that's hard for some of us right but he's trying to tell us listen don't forget what we can do so you remember it's not journaling what are you gonna do how you gonna put all together so you can remember because the remembering is really important so that we don't forget what God's done or forget who God is and how he wants to help you somehow we gotta figure out how we can recall what God's done maybe take a photo put in your out in a photo album that will remind you of that season of life or that spot maybe look at your posts or pictures of what God is doing other themes or lessons you've learned look how God has repaired you for what he has done in you or through you look at what he's done go through all your pictures go through all your posts you go okay oh yeah I remember that during that season this what God's did this last year and when we did this every year we just go back and look at it last year what he did I know what's gonna work for you but somehow we got right building all but something in your house it just go buy something that helps you remember that God showed up for this moment for this season maybe if somebody gave you a note they got you to it's sticking on the fridge and just go by the fridge I can remember that God showed up in that moment somehow we got to remember that when we get to the season we don't know if you can do it again we go back oh yeah I got the note from the last time I was here I can remember back that God provided can remember back when I needed mighty God to show up and mighty God when I remember the council well God's wonderful counselor I remember when I did that piece in the situation I didn't know what to do oh yeah I can remember you put something somewhere every time you get sit down your desk at work you go oh yeah I remember this I remember what he did in the past you're making a big business decision you don't know what to do you put your stuff around your office you look at your bookshelf and go oh yeah that's right he's got me through it before that's right the business is going down I don't know what to do oh no no I can remember looking over there there's a little plaque where he got us through last time you can remember does this make sense to help us remember do some things help you remember ask some of these questions who has got to you during that season was your father was your friend was your comforter was your healer was he what was he who was God in that moment that's this question what worked at God do in you will he humbled me I don't know if I remember that one that much he matured me he taught me he spoke something to me there's something that went on I put that in your journal going through where you're on something like oh yeah I remember he spoke to me on that day in that moment he spoke something about this or that the third question is what did God do among you what were the miracles the provision the healings the stuff see in light of all you've done in me God I have to believe this about you next year you start going through this you start writing all down these things that you will be faithful to walk me through the fire because of what you've done in the past you'll surprise me with good gifts I didn't expect or ask for that choosing to deny myself is always harder but so much better I'm totally dependent on a fresh word from you God I need other people more than I believe or I want to admit that becoming more like you Jesus is way better than getting what I want I don't see the full picture and I have to trust you that you know better some you're going to need faith for this next year I'm just telling you right now some of you are going to walk through some seasons this next year where you're going to need God's faith to show up and his faithfulness to be there and if you can remember back to when he's been there before you're going to get through a lot easier than if you don't that's why it's so important that when we get to this spot you go through and you go I'm going to do this I'm going to make some things happen the pot there's a power with connecting God's faithfulness to your future will you take time to pause and look back before you move forward it takes just a few moments this year you're going to look back at how he's helped me in the past so when I go forward I can go forward with confidence knowing he'll be there again today you might not get anything from this message until you apply the message to your situation don't just be here of his of the word do what it says what's the goal about this the goals are meant as remembering what he's done to build a faith in your life so that you can get through it the next time guys remember the story of the 10 lepers the got lepers see don't know what to do cast out from society Jesus walking by sees him kind of get stopped walks over to him gets closer than he probably should he says hey when you guys go on your way on your way you guys gonna heal you just gonna start walking start to start walking also they could be gonna get healed one of them says it's a Samaritan drops on his knees all just read it Luke 17 then one of them when he saw he was healed turned back crazy God allowed voice and he fell on his face and she's just feet giving him thanks now he was a Samaritan hopefully what this will do is when you remember instead of just remembering it'll cause you to want to give thanks when you stop you consider God's grace we should compelled to convey our gratitude I'll just say this this is the last thing I'm gonna say kind of before we just wrap this up if we do this it will change the feel of our church will come in so thankful for all these done and will create in this place of belief that God will show up and do amazing things again so when we come if you if we all do this those we watch online this morning do this it will all just go back and just go out remember what God's done I remember what God's done I remember when we come in next week and we have to pray for somebody in our first week service that he's healing and a hundred of you go you know what he's healed me before you know it walks in next week is a bunch of people faith hey he's done it before he can do it again some of the people in this room need a miracle I think it'd be really cool if a bunch of us walked in remembering what God's done in our marriage at our home and our kids and our body and our finances where we can walk in and go you know what I can remember back last year two years three years and now when we go to pray for somebody when you go to pray for healing when we go to see God can maybe show up there be about half the church and go hey there's no reason he can't he's done it before we three quarters of the church here we just go you know what come on let's come alongside this let's believe we've seen him do it before why can't he do it again if all of us just go look back and remember all the things I got to it would change the atmosphere of this room it would change the atmosphere of your home it would change the atmosphere of your life we'll just go I'm gonna remember God I'm gonna look back and remember all the times even in the years that didn't go well you still showed up you still got me through it you still walk me out of some situation you're still with her even in the struggles God I can trust you then you're gonna get me through this next season this next moment this next spot in your life would you stand this morning I know about you how's it's going for you okay why is this going so good instructions because you keep going back and looking so you keep remembering what's in the book right I keep it remember what's there so I can come back and do this how's it going for you well look at you almost there how you getting there just by looking at the picture right this is your dream this is where you're trying to get and you're trying to you can't remember what's in the books you're just trying to go by what you think you do on your own it's not working as good as working for him why because he keeps going back and remembering what's back there what's been told you're trying to just do this on your own of where you're trying to get to he's going back and looking at something that's already happened and it's helping him to get where he's trying to go I don't know if that makes sense this morning I know that makes sense but I do think there's something really important to knowing let's go back to what he's done in the past to get us to work through what we're gonna have to face in the future you're in this room just for a moment I'm gonna have the team just saying I'm gonna maybe want to find an altar spotted altar go kick on help me remember maybe some of you you're facing something this morning that you don't know how you can get through it you got some major issue you got major struggle you got some major battle you got something going on in your family in your home and your kids and your finances and you're in the room this morning you're like you know what I'm just gonna come because I need a miracle this morning to show up in my life I need a miracle to happen in my situation so I can put it in my bank before next year starts so I get it in I'm putting another I got put in one more claim here I'm one more ask one more thing so I go back to next I go no you met me a couple days before the year ended and I can look forward got you spoke something to my spirit just a couple days before you're not gonna rely on that for my next year's journey for what's gonna go on come on as they just sing I'm just gonna for a moment let's get asked just to maybe find a spot maybe make it all to your chair maybe come to an altar but you know maybe you just need God to show up one last time before the year ends maybe for some of you as they come it's just a thing that you I just have a hard time remember maybe you're just gonna come go God help me remember how you show it up help me remember how you've met me come on as they begin to sing would you just find a spot in your place this morning to connect with him I want to find a story this is my staff is maybe just gonna come and put their hand in your shoulder maybe some of our prayer team is just gonna come real quick as we just being a close let you know there's people with you they're agreeing with you that are believing with you for your situation but maybe this morning you even walk the end just to take one last thing you walked in you've never given your life to Jesus before and you're in a room right now the end of the year you're looking at this thing I don't know what to do I'll tell you what the step you should take is you know what Jesus I need you to be a part of my life know that you sent your son to down and cross for God so love this over that we talked about John 3's it forgot so the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in would not perish but everlasting life and you're in this room this morning and you're going you know I've never given my life to Jesus but this morning is the year ends I'd love to just give God a chance and give God my life you'd say hey that's me across him no look around say that's me anybody how many say this this morning you say no I'm gonna try to look back and just remember this year before the new year so looking forward I'm gonna try to remember I'm gonna do whatever I can remember so I can walk in with you faith he's saying hey this me I'm gonna try to do that I'm making effort to do that he's saying a lot of us are crossing room Lord I just pray over this room right now God you see people that are in their chairs that may be our battling through some things but maybe they're just sitting in here going help me to remember what you've done help me remember how you've met me help me remember God what's happening in the past God I need you I need that faith for this next season summer at an altar and God they're here in this moment they're going God I need a miracle God I need a breakthrough God I need you to show up God I need healing God I need God a financial they got I need something my marriage or physically God we need you this morning God you know what it is you know the details that stand around this older this morning God you know as people are sitting at home in their chair or watching with their family God what needs to happen in their family what is it look back and try to remember some are coming with God with heavy needs and heavy hearts and God I pray this morning you'd walk into every situation gotta be in the speaker word of encouragement you'd speak life you'd put the right person in their path over the next few days it's gonna not just give a word from you God I pray that there be things that would take place now God that pray healing right now in this room God you'd heal relationships you'd heal bodies you'd heal minds God pray addictions would be broken God right now in Jesus name we turn this to you asking God that you would show up and have your way in this place God we give this to you as we end 2025 and head into 2026 let this be one of the greatest years that we've ever had God because we can look back remember we've done the past I'll get us through the things that we're going to in the future we pray go asking Jesus name amen amen well thanks for being here this morning we're praying with you man look at somebody and say hey see you next Sunday you don't want to miss next week it's gonna be amazing