“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
    all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
    his great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
    love extravagant.”~ Isaiah 63:7, The Message

In the Old Testament, God repeatedly, quietly and loudly, tells his children, “You have forgotten me!”  (Jeremiah 3:32, Ezekiel 22:12, to name a few). It’s a heart cry from a father to a child who has forgotten all the love, all the saving, helping, little and big blessings – and it leaves me stunned when I realize our Father, the creator of the universe, who knows things I cannot begin to fathom, who authors storylines that leave me amazed, delights in all of us so much, He cries out, “Remember Me.”

While every day is a Remember God Day, I am inviting you to join me on Monday mornings to come by and remember what God has done for you, for your family. Maybe God sent a cardinal darting out in front of you, as if to tell you, “I’m here,” or broke a child’s fever after you laid it all down at His feet in a 2 a.m. bedside vigil. Maybe He stood with you in the wait of a prayer sent out, or brought someone you loved to Christ. Maybe He healed your broken heart, gave your courage, or you gave Him your dreams as a love offering only to have Him give them back in an unimaginable way. Maybe God helped you survive to bedtime after a crazy Monday, or forgive yourself for missing it with your kiddos –– Whatever it is, let’s Remember Him. . . in a “Remember Me Monday” love letter. If you’re a blogger, please put a link to your post in the comment section. If you don’t blog but want to join in, just write, cut and paste into the comments. Please be sure to read a few of your comment neighbor’s God Memories praising what He has done! Let’s make Monday so Rejoice, that the goodness of God spills into the rest of the week!

Remembering the Big and Little Blessings

To make a list entails remembering. Our Father wants us to remember the Big and Little things He’s done for us. Monday has become my Remembering Day – starting off the week remembering what He has done for me infuses the day with hope and joy that He is here – and His hand is in the stepping forward not just into this Monday – but the entire week – and, while some steps might be challenging, each step is built by His hand, inlaid with blessing.

Blessing in the middle of quarantine looked like comfort in a stormy wind, Italian Parsley growing big, energy to make a lavender-blueberry galette, being “Muddy,” laughter of a grandchild, backyard snowball blossoms, birds in a rain-filled bath, strength to pull weeds and strength to dig when a friend gives out the call to share the lilies of the valley, blue hostas, lilies – and other garden plantings – blessing in the bulbs and in the friendship shared over a shovel, 10 feet apart, and the blessing of a healing sleep – all night long’s worth, and sitting by my guy sharing a plate of oysters, the slowdown of isolation and the things filling it.

As quarantine winds down cautiously, my strength has increased – and I’ve walked up and down paths looking for creeks for a photo shoot. I found two waterfalls instead – and what felt like God telling me to dream waterfall-sized dreams instead of creek-sized dreams.

When I did find that creek for a photo shoot, I felt Blessing comfort in the cold creek water on a late spring morning. God has been in the get-up-and-go to stir the pot into Philly Cheese Steak Stew, Creamed Shrimp and Rice, Chimichangas, or not-so-roasted tomato soup – and the smiles from the ones coming through my door to grab a plate full.

It’s been celebrating lost celebrations with pecan pie, Muddy Cakes, and Ice Cream Cake. It’s the grace in a messy house, and watching one son hunt for the chocolate syrup he didn’t put away, trying to find my new hiding place, and my husband praying for me when I was all out of sorts in an upside-down way. It’s Saturday morning flowers at the Farmer’s Market – and it’s the rhythm of my husband working from home – and how we meet in the busy of it.

Thank you God – for the Big and Little Blessings you send each day! I remember what you have given me, how you inlay blessing into the steps of each day.