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If you grew up "across the puddle" (the Atlantic Ocean), you'll remember this childhood rhyme:
- Remember, remember, the fifth of November:
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I know of no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot.
November 5th is the anniversary of Guy Fawkes' attempt in 1605 to blow up the British Houses of Parliament. A Catholic politician, he didn't want James, a Protestant Scottish king, on the English throne. The plot failed, but Guy Fawkes is still remembered every year with fireworks and a bonfire with a stuffed "guy" burned upon it.
The Bible tells us to remember events when God intervened and came to His people's rescue. The Israelites were to remember the day when God brought them out of Egypt and the day when they aroused God's anger by molding a golden calf. Joshua erected rocks as a monument to remind future generations where the Israelites passed through the Jordan River.
Joel 1:3 – Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (NIV)
My family has several stories that we enjoy telling, and each time, we laugh with delight that God came through for us. One of my favourites is the tale of my son as a teenager at the lake, falling off a friend's brand-new Sea-Doo (a brand of personal water craft), only to discover that the deadman's switch on it was faulty. The Sea-Doo kept going! My son swam after it as hard as he could, but the Sea-Doo was getting further away. In desperation, he shouted "God! Send it back!"
He then watched with eyes popping out of his head as the Sea-Doo made a graceful turn and headed back towards him!
Can you imagine an angel steering that Sea-Doo with hair blown back and a big grin, exhilarating in the sun and spray? Told around the campfire each summer, it's a story that captures the imagination of all ages. Every time we hear it, we praise God and remember His faithfulness.
You have stories of your own. We may roll our eyes when we hear oft-told tales repeated yet again by our elders, but it's necessary to pass them down through the generations. They are proof that God is real. People need to hear that. God hears our cry. He loves us and is faithful. He's a God that we can trust. God is good.
The best stories are shared again and again. The very best ones are those in which we see the hand of God at work. If you have a story, don't keep it to yourself — tell it! Get excited about it. It's your testimony. It's your witness, and others need to hear it.
Prayer: Father God, You bless us with miracles every day, big and small. May we not hold back, but pass them on. Stories get repeated, and someone, somewhere, needs to hear ours. Help our story to reach the ears of a person in need. Amen.
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Hip replacement on April 17th - please pray for me: "Update April 24, 2025: I am grateful to you all for your prayers. They supported me through my hip..." 
Neighbour: "Aril 24, 2025: Our neighbour Tom just passed away. Pray for the family. In Jesus name. Amen."
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Amen JJ!
Thanks so much!
A good word for today, JJ.
Oh JJ what a wonderful, humorous story. I can just see the scene in my mind’s eye. God must have gotten a good chuckle from that event. And yes, I believe God has a sense of humor. Thanks for sharing this devotional lesson with us. Blessings.
Thank you for sharing your story – and now indeed it has been told to a much wider circle! Praise God for His goodness and faithfulness, and for His speaking to your heart to pass it on.
(BC)
Loved your devotion this morning. Thank you so much. A great reminder that we do need to tell our story for sure! God is so good to us! Thanks, and may God continue to bless you as you share His love with others.
(Ont)
Thank you for this ever so important reminder of our great God’s loving faithfulness. May we remember the words of the old song, “Tell me the old, old story”, and may we be faithful to that reminder.
Bless you.
Praise God for having you share this devotional with the world! Yes, we need to share our stories so that people understand that Jesus lives and the Bible is relevant today. Formal religion rarely shares these first-hand experiences but they hold much power. Your family is blessed to have grown up under such wise parents. Thanks for sharing the Sea-do story and may it’s telling continue to change lives!
Blessings.
That’s a good one, J.J.!! Every time my daughter hears me retell a story, it’s not to her but to someone who hasn’t heard it before. I sometimes have to remind her of what and why I am doing it, as under the circumstances of the moment, it seems important enough for me to share it. I never know what kind of a blessing it might be to that person. Every morning I ask the Lord to make me a blessing to someone that day whether or not I know what it is. As we know, it’s not always what we say, but how we live our lives.
Thank you for always bring a blessing to me in your devotionals. God loves you and so do I.
(Ca.)
Your devotional today reminded me of the helping hand of God in my life. I believe He has helped me many times but one time sticks out in my memory.
I had borrowed Dad’s car to drive a buddy home. He lived on a gravel road and it was night and snowing quite heavily. I had just dropped him off and was returning back to the highway. When I came to a set of railroad tracks, a very bright light and a loud horn were blasting across just to my right. I applied the brakes but the car started sliding. There was no way I was going to stop soon enough. Suddenly, as if a hand had grabbed the car, it stopped. The train went by so close, it shook the car. There is no reason to believe anything other than God had a hand in this. We all have so much to be thankful for.
Thanks be to Him.
Dear JJ,
Yes, you have reminded me to tell a few. Thank you very much for telling yours and encouraging me.
Continue to write, for God’s sake.