It’s been a year, right? We have all been through so much. One thing I have learned is that God still speaks. And I’m still listening.

“So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel! ” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9-10 NIV

This is how I ask God for direction, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” And God answers, but not the way I thought He would. Isn’t that God? Yep.

As I thought about the past year all that came to mind was the bad things that happened. Sickness, Covid, no Thanksgiving, home bound with no visitors, silence, isolation, depression, etc. You know. I’ll bet this year has been hard for you too.

But then God stepped in. No, it wasn’t a burning bush or tablets of stone. It wasn’t Jesus on the boat or on the mountaintop. Actually God spoke to me with Google. Yes, Google! Go figure.

I use Google Photos to back up all my pictures so I always have access. My husband and I have helped too many customers who had their photos on the hard drive of their computer. Until the hard drive fails, and you lose them all…

Well Google Photos has this really cool feature – Memories. If you have a day that you take a lot of pictures they put them in a movie for you. This was great when my daughter got married.

Earlier this week I got an email from Google that they had my past year in review memory ready. Really, I didn’t ask for it, they just did it. I pulled it up and watched it. Then the tears started falling. It was all the GOOD things that happened this past year!

I was remembering all the BAD things that happened this past year. But God used Google to remind me of all the GOOD hints that happened. Thank you Jesus!

I could frame this last year with the good or the bad. It’s my choice. God let’s us choose. I choose to remember the good. What we focus on gets magnified. If I focus on the bad I become more fearful and paranoid. If I focus on the good, I build my faith and hope in God and my future.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

Next I searched out what I am supposed to be remembering. Am I supposed to remember the bad things or the good things?

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV

I also found out I need to remember God and what He has done. It’s not all about me! Praise the Lord! When I remember God my heart is full and I am grateful, free, and happy.

“I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah”
Psalm 77:11-15 NKJV

So what will you choose to remember for this past year?