birthday

Coffee with frothy milk, pretty serviettes and the delicatessen neatly sliced into smaller pieces because we’re all keeping an eye on the lines.

We had coffee on her orange embassey couch like we have every Wednesday morning. Time for coffee and sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life. And time to ask for wisdom from Someone so good.

She sent me home with a goodie bag and a card to match because we celebrated the upcoming birthday. My precious girl friends!

The card calls me to remember. I share this ‘remember’ with you. Ten things.

• He loves me. (Jeremiah 31:3 – God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!” – The Message)
• He delights in me. (Zephaniah 3:17 – He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. – NIV)
• He is with me. (Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. – NIV)
• He gives me rest. (Matthew 11:28-30 – Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. – The Message)
• He speaks to me. (Jeremiah 33:3 – Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. – The Message)
• He leads me. (Isaiah 58:11 – I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places — firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. – The Message)
• He goes before me. (Deuteronomy 31:8 – God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry. – The Message)
• He strengthens me. (Isaiah 41:10 – Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. – The Message)
• He provides for me. (1 Timothy 6:17 – Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. – The Message)
• He blesses me. (Deuteronomy 7:13 – He will love you, he will bless you, he will increase you. He will bless the babies from your womb and the harvest of grain, new wine, and oil from your fields; he’ll bless the calves from your herds and lambs from your flocks in the country he promised your ancestors that he’d give you. –
  The Message)