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Today is my birthday! (At least in New Zealand it is)
Today I turn 22, and I have to admit, I love celebrating my birthday! Who doesn't? It's the one day that you can truly call your own.
But have you ever really thought about why you celebrate your birthday? I mean, let's just think about this for a minute. It was probably the most traumatic day of your life, which is probably why you've spent your whole life blocking it out. Also, you are celebrating getting older. There is a certain point when getting older is no longer exciting....and I'm thinking that point is when turning 22.... :)
Perhaps we celebrate our birth day to remind us of the greatest birth there ever was, Jesus's birthday. Think about that birthday. That day brought hope and joy to the world. That birth brought forth the fulfillment of God's plan of salvation for us all. What a fantastic birthday! Way better than any of our birthdays could ever hope to be.
Now, please don't think that I don't like celebrating birthdays. As stated before, I absolutely love when it's my birthday! Our birthdays are still extremely special and worth a celebration. We just need to remember why it's such a special day. As Psalm 139:14 states, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Our birthday is a reminder of God's love when he made us. We were crafted by God personally and we are his master showpiece! God took the time to make us each unique and each his own.
As I celebrate my 22nd birthday today, I will remember why it's such a celebration. It reminds me of the best birthday ever, and it reminds me of God's love for me.
Happy Birthday!!
March 25, 2010
March 24, 2010
Walking with Light
I'm not sure how exactly to start this blog. This is the very first one, so it has to be good, right?
After checking my sister's and my nieces' blogs, they have inspired me to start my own...whether they know that yet or not.
I just recently graduated from college this past December, and since January 8th, have been living and working in New Zealand. I was extremely nervous about moving here for 4 months, especially because I am so close to my family. My wonderful family with so many people in it, and so much love! I have my 2 sisters, a brother, and a brother-in-law. These four I can only describe in one way: unique and completely my own! Then, there is the gaggle of rugrats (that they're so lovingly called) of my 8, yes, EIGHT nieces and nephews. I won't mention that my one sister has seven of them....whoops, sorry Rachel. Anyhoo, these younglings are responsible for many hugs, joy, and plenty of laughter. Lastly, I have my parents, who started it all. While some may not laugh at my dad's corny jokes, I can't help but love them because they are so completely and utterly my dad. And my mom? She's the glue that holds us all together. She's Gramma, who makes everybody their favorite meal for their birthday, and no matter what the problem, will have the solution.
My mom, in particular, encouraged me to set forth on the solo journey to New Zealand. So, here I am today, almost 3 months into my New Zealand adventure and on the eve of turning the not-so-glamorous age of 22. While 22 seems old (at least to all my nieces and nephews), when I stop and really think about my age I have to come to only one conclusion. I'm still very young and new to the ways of this world. Is that a bad thing? Some might consider that naivety, but me? I am realizing how much of a blessing that youth and lack of knowledge is. I am not yet jaded or so accustomed to this world that I think nothing of its ways. Why would I want to fit into this awful sinful world and pride myself on being an expert in its ways? The simple answer? I don't. The truthful answer? Sometimes, I do. My old sinful nature convinces me more often than I'd like to admit that I need to fit in with this world. Yet, God clearly says in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." God reminds us that this world is no longer the perfect and wonderful place that he originally made. It's now full of corruption and sin.
At this time in my life, it is especially difficult to remember God's warning about this world. My life is cloudy and full of gray answers at the moment. I'm not sure which path to step on and where my future is heading. But, even as I typed that last sentence, I realize that I do know what path I am on and where my future is headed. I am on the path of God's mercy and love, and I am headed toward heaven. I may not know any of the details of that cloudy path, but I have the true conviction that Jesus is my Savior and by his grace he has made me right with God.
After checking my sister's and my nieces' blogs, they have inspired me to start my own...whether they know that yet or not.
I just recently graduated from college this past December, and since January 8th, have been living and working in New Zealand. I was extremely nervous about moving here for 4 months, especially because I am so close to my family. My wonderful family with so many people in it, and so much love! I have my 2 sisters, a brother, and a brother-in-law. These four I can only describe in one way: unique and completely my own! Then, there is the gaggle of rugrats (that they're so lovingly called) of my 8, yes, EIGHT nieces and nephews. I won't mention that my one sister has seven of them....whoops, sorry Rachel. Anyhoo, these younglings are responsible for many hugs, joy, and plenty of laughter. Lastly, I have my parents, who started it all. While some may not laugh at my dad's corny jokes, I can't help but love them because they are so completely and utterly my dad. And my mom? She's the glue that holds us all together. She's Gramma, who makes everybody their favorite meal for their birthday, and no matter what the problem, will have the solution.
My mom, in particular, encouraged me to set forth on the solo journey to New Zealand. So, here I am today, almost 3 months into my New Zealand adventure and on the eve of turning the not-so-glamorous age of 22. While 22 seems old (at least to all my nieces and nephews), when I stop and really think about my age I have to come to only one conclusion. I'm still very young and new to the ways of this world. Is that a bad thing? Some might consider that naivety, but me? I am realizing how much of a blessing that youth and lack of knowledge is. I am not yet jaded or so accustomed to this world that I think nothing of its ways. Why would I want to fit into this awful sinful world and pride myself on being an expert in its ways? The simple answer? I don't. The truthful answer? Sometimes, I do. My old sinful nature convinces me more often than I'd like to admit that I need to fit in with this world. Yet, God clearly says in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." God reminds us that this world is no longer the perfect and wonderful place that he originally made. It's now full of corruption and sin.
At this time in my life, it is especially difficult to remember God's warning about this world. My life is cloudy and full of gray answers at the moment. I'm not sure which path to step on and where my future is heading. But, even as I typed that last sentence, I realize that I do know what path I am on and where my future is headed. I am on the path of God's mercy and love, and I am headed toward heaven. I may not know any of the details of that cloudy path, but I have the true conviction that Jesus is my Savior and by his grace he has made me right with God.
I can confidently walk on that unknown path with my beacon of truth and light.
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