Not Every Door Is An Exit — April 23, 2021

Happy Birthday To Me!

Birthdays are kind of like New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day celebrations. They are an opportunity to look back and to look forward.

The difference is a birthday is an opportunity to look back over your entire life as well as to look forward to ‘many more to come.’

So, as one who is battling with cancer, which do I focus on as I celebrate my birthday? Do I ‘take inventory’ of the countless blessings of the previous 71 years. As I do so I can become overwhelmed by God’s past graciousness and love to the point that I might forget about ‘the many more to come.’

In the battle of any health condition it is important to believe that there are many more quality birthdays to come. Not only do I thank God for my previous 71 birthdays but also for the future ones yet to be celebrated. However I am less certain about the number of those yet to come than I was just several months ago.

Birthdays deal with the psychology of numbers. A 29 year old young adult feeling great on Wednesday feels old on Thursday when she turns 30. A 15 year old feels awkward and out of place on Tuesday but mature and independent on Wednesday when he turns 16. Some people reach a point when they stop counting.

My emphasis as I celebrate my birthday is not the psychology of numbers but the psychology of faith. Psalm 139 is a wonderful guide to our journey of faith.

The body God has given me is for His perfect purpose even during those times when it seems to be failing

The experiences that have befallen me have been allowed by God to equip me for His wonderful life of service which He has ordained for me

When my purpose is accomplished then I will be received by Jesus Himself.

Birthdays are great! Look back and be reminded how God has prepared you for the work you have yet to accomplish. Look forward to amazing things that God has yet to accomplish through you.

Celebrate your birthday not with the psychology of numbers but with the psychology of faith.