Yesterday morning Soul City Church celebrated its 4th anniversary with abundant joy and gratitude for the ways Only God has worked among us. Powerful stories of transformed lives were told; we sang praises to the One who most deserves our praise; Co-Lead Pastors Jarrett and Jeanne Stevens reflected on the wonder of how God works among ordinary people to do extraordinary miracles. My favorite moment took place when we toasted the anniversary with about 2 ounces of sparkling cider, clicking our little plastic cups. It was all very fun and deeply significant at the same time. Celebration matters. All the planning and hard work are more than worth it for the ways these moments of commemoration remind us how God has been faithful.

The Old Testament is marked by frequent use of the simple word, Remember. We are called to pause and look back at all that God has done. This is because we tend to be forgetful, ungrateful, and even anxious about the future. Can our Heavenly Father be trusted? If only we will take the time to look at the past, at all the crossroad moments when God came through for us, at the resources and people and ideas that He lavished on us, we will be moved toward hope instead of worry. We will remind one another…our God is good!

So let’s find ways to celebrate. Often. Every anniversary, birthday, baptism, addiction recovery, debt retirement, answered prayer, holy moment. Throw a party – little ones and big ones. Raise a plastic cup of juice (or the beverage of your choice), look your comrades in the eye, and say, “Only God!”