Have you ever gone on a trip and forgotten something important like a toothbrush or coffee coffee filters? I have, and I have paid the price for forgetting, especially when traveling to another country where things are not so readily available. Walking around with morning breath and no coffee all day in another country does not make for a successful mission trip!

Have you forgotten something even more consequential... your kid? It happens, especially when two parents are taking separate cars and expect that each other has their child. There are consequences to pay for that one, too. You leave your kid at church one time at Christmas Eve service, and they'll hold it over you forever! You will never be able to apologize enough.

Have you ever gone about your day or taken a trip and forgotten something that ruined the whole thing? Isaiah asks, "For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge..." - Isaiah‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬. That one will have mega consequences. Israel was kicked out of their land for that mindlessness.

We humans are not so anxious about that kind of forgetfulness. We even dupe ourselves, with little to no gratitude for God, thinking, "He is with me wherever I go, so I don't really have to think about His presence." Wow! What arrogance?! The fact that we can forget God, who, by the way, literally causes us to breathe, is both appalling and immoral.

Think about a time you forgot about God. Were you not grateful? Did God not deserve to make the top spot on your packing list? Did you not want your salvation with you as you go about your day? Did you not want a defender, a refuge, and the sure footing that He provides? If He didn't make the top spot or if you just flat out forgot about Him, there could have been life-altering consequences tied to that mistake.

God will not be sidelined forever. He will not tolerate ingratitude and disrespect very long. God will not be forgotten. He destroyed the nation of Israel for such forgetfulness and disrespect. Go about your day, but remember to acknowledge and thank the God who gave it to you. - Pastor Mike

BTW, I'd like to give a shout-out to all of our sidewalks. They work hard to keep us off the streets.