Saturday, February 19, 2011

When is Your Birthday?

Okay, so it's no secret anymore.... I just turned 40.
For those of you who are younger, I say, "Hang in there. It's not a big deal. You can do it too!
For those of you who are older, I say, "My hat goes off to you!"

I'm choosing to see it as just another number. My heart is still pumping, I am breathing, I can see, I can hear, taste and smell. I'm blessed!

So I started celebrating about a month ago (a month prior to the actual birthday date). I wanted to celebrate 39, and 40, and life!
Life... it's been called fragile, lousy; some say Life is Good, and others curse life.

The other day one of my students asked me if I knew where we were before being born. I didn't feed into the question much because.... well, because life is also a mystery.
So I told her that all I know is that although we did not exist prior to being conceived, God has always known us. He has known us before we were even conceived. Not only has He known us, but He has purposed a plan for our beginning, every detail of our life's travel, and our last breath.

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14 tells us "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways....-vs13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

So the other day my daughter and I were talking about birthdays, and she tells me, "God made my birthday in April because He knew that I like the spring...so He made my birthday in April before He let me go (meaning before He created her)"

I thought about that for a moment, and quickly gained this awesome feeling of joy inside. Joy not only because I thought her words were so sweet coming from a 5 year old, but I felt joy in knowing that there is truth to her words. I had never thought of it quite that way; but yes, since God knows everything about us, He would also give a "rhyme and reason" to the day we were born for our sake. He doesn't have to, but I believe it's part of His loving nature.
And to hear my daughter share those words with so much enthusiasm, I felt blessed.

There was something else I learned from those words my daughter shared. I learned that although it was not worded, she is finding purpose in life.

Yes purpose... You might think I'm reading into it too much, and maybe I am. But think about it for a second, if you will. God has determined His purposes for our lives. Therefore, every last detail--even the season when you were born, is part of His plan for you. Isn't that an awesome thought?!

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

And so as I charge into the number 40 this year, I look forward to noticing the slightest details of God's plan for my life.
Like the kisses of sun rays on my birthday. Thank you Lord!


Sunday, February 13, 2011

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Special Delivery: I love you Mama

that is what the note read