Joshua 4: 5-7 “Each of us is to take up a stone on his shoulder….to serve as a sign or remembrance among you.  In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them……These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”  Last Sunday was September 11 and we have memorials and remembrances of the historic day for America and the world of what happened on 9/11/2001.  Each of us probably remembers clearly where we were when the terrorist attacked our nation and set off the war on terrorism.  Equally remembered is December 7, 1941, when Pear Harbor was attacked by Japan and became another day of infamy in world history.  These are both tragic acts of war that have impacted history and we have memorials for each of them and will forever.  When 9/11 occurred, our nation was shaken to its roots and had a closer look and trust in God.  However, time has proved that the short term of turning to God did not last and we now just fight terrorism.

Our Scripture this week gives us the account of God leading His people through Joshua across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.  This was another historic world event. It was not a tragedy or act of war to remember, but a time of God’s fulfillment of His promise to His people.  Just like we do not now have the same memory of either 9/11 or December 7, God knew people and how they forget.  He instructed His leader, Joshua, to remember.  He instructed him to have twelve men representing all twelve tribes of Israel to take a large stone and place it across the river.  Why?  He did this so that the men of the day could answer and show their children a memorial of what He had done for them.  We have the responsibility to remember what God has done for us and our families and to put down spiritual memorial stones to impact the lives of our children.  We are to remember and to build memories in our families of certain events, vacations, homes, marriages, births, achievements and how God has worked in our lives.  As the leader in business, church or home, you have memorial stones which you should remember and use in the lives of those whom you lead.  Most business leaders and church leaders can look back at a certain date or event that made a difference.  The same is true in the home.  Leaders remember and do not forget as the future unfolds.