Birthday Flowers

Every year without fail, God gives me flowers for my birthday.

I would take these over a dozen roses any day!!!

The Lord Knows

Isaiah 46:10 "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"

God knows the end from the beginning.

Back in February Snurr was struggling with his dad's death again. Every so often he wrestles with God about it. My heart ached for him. A few weeks later our pastor gave us the 40 Day Challenge. We took that challenge and Snurr in particular made a long prayer list. About halfway through the challenge, our state got hit by COVID-19. We went from being at church whenever it was open to just watching church on YouTube.

Our church is not a building or a social club. We are a family. The guy time my sons get with their brothers-in-Christ in our church is very important. For my social bug Snurr,  guy time is something he can never get enough of. A bottomless cup.  I particularly prayed for him during this no church time, especially as February had been rough for him. But the Lord, the Everlasting Father knows.

Our state allowed groups of 10 to meet. Our pastor meet weekly with nine men of the church. (My oldest Snipp was one of these). Several weeks in some of the men couldn't all make a meeting & my pastor asked my young teenage boys to come. What a blessing for them! The guy time, the Bible study, the prayertime. All was very needed.

But I didn't realize something until I was sharing with a friend recently.

The son who was needing guy time the most was given the 40 day challenge before God allowed the men in his life to be greatly distanced from him. Snurr drew closer to God before he would need Him for the time apart from his brothers-in-Christ. And when the 40 days was over, Snurr has kept up his morning and evening times with God. It has become precious to him. 

What a blessing!

The Lord knows what we need before we know we have the need. What a caring Lord!

Remembered

The younger boys and I headed to the store. It was time for the vehicle's oil change. We have stepped into that store many times in the last 14 years. But memories hit me everytime. Jim in his white shirt and me showing him a positive pregnancy test. Jim in his grey shirt, manger of the store, but squatted down to talk to our son. Jim with his characteristic beard and twinkling eyes when he smiled. Memories, so many memories...

One of Jim's old coworkers was working. He is the last of the crew. The only one there who knows my husband used be the manager. He started about the same time Jim & Ben did over 20 yrs ago. 

He helped us get what we needed. As we checked out, he casually flipped open his wallet and scanned his employee discount card. I said, "Thank you!" He simply said, "I remember."

Jim's old crew used to all use their discount cards for us as a way to help us out & also honor Jim. It deeply touched my heart. Fourteen years have passed & someone else remembers Jim. He is not forgotten. 

God's voice echoes in my heart. "I remember." The Lord remembers me too. He knows about every tear and hardship and fear. Every cry He hears. He knows me. I am not forgotten. Ever. Not even for a minute. My Lord remembers me. 

Isaiah 49:15-16a

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;