I’m a Miracle – so Happy Birthday to Me!

Today my soliloquy goes like this: "It's my birthday! It's my birthday and it's a MIRACLE! In spite of all the odds, I am still here!" On this my B-day, I’m dog-sitting my children’s 85-pound, Australian Shepherd, Buddy, and their 5-pound Yorkie, Emma, while the fam is hanging out and enjoying the cool temps and fishing opportunities in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains this week. I’m on doggie and plant-duty and having a little vacay of my own at their home here in Frisco Square.

I’m hanging out where there are so many sights-to-see on a morning, noon, afternoon and evening walk with these two canines! Yesterday, in the cool of the early morning, we made our way to Frisco Square's historical area. Arriving there, I noticed this little house on a post, full of books with a sign that read: Little Free Library “Take a Book – Share a Book”. I did, and I'm sharing with you! "Miracles" is the book I chose. I didn't take time to see if it merited a read, but the title, alone, reminded me that I am a “Miracle” – my mama was never to have been able to give birth again after my sister was born, 12 years earlier. First miracle -- I was conceived. Second miracle -- I was born with a heart murmur. But – here I am -- alive and well!

Today, I hold my head up high and announce – I've turned 72. Does that alarm me? Am I sad? Do I feel old? Do I have regrets? Nope, nope, nope and nope! I'm a strong, vibrant, happy, very alive woman, lover of God and people, and ready to embrace another year. Bring it on! Thank you, Pastor Craig Groeschel for giving me this quote: “I’m still here – so I’m not done!” I'm living my passion daily – my mission, my family, my friends, my blog, and hopefully, letting my little light shine! I know what to value in this life and I know what matters. What matters are the blessings of family and friends and the “blessing of the LORD that makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22) And, indeed I am very rich in joy, peace, love, hope, and with the prospect of living forever and ever with my Lord. Oh how blessed I am.

Thanks to my sweet kids for the "birthday eve" gifts of love! By the way, that “Miracles” book I found – I read the foreword later in the day. This is an excerpt – how befitting for this day! “If your Christian life is boring, this book offers a cure. Disciples live on the edge, asking, “How can I serve you today, Lord? Who can I touch for you?” And at the end of the day, they can pray, “Thanks for using me, Jesus.” They don’t think about the day’s sacrifices. They think about the sheer joy of being used by God to touch the lives of others – to meet their needs, love them and share the truth about Jesus through their actions and their words. When Jesus said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive,: he wasn’t kidding!” I'd say that sums up who I desire to be daily! Thanks, God, for the MIRACLE of life and the reminder that living for YOU is the best gift EVER!

The Greatest Gift I Could Give You

The words, “Do Not Fear” were my blog’s theme yesterday and I gave you the Gift that keeps on giving – I gave you Jesus Who is the “fear eradicator”. So now, what do you do with that Gift? I love you, my FB and social media friends and family, too much to not tell you more about this most precious Gift.

Guess who knew you'd be reading this blog with me today! God did. God knew before you were born that you would be reading this in this moment. He planned to get your attention for just a few seconds so He could say this to you: “You matter to Me. I love you more than you will ever know. I made you to love you, and I’ve been waiting for you to love Me back.”

What if I really gave you a tangible Christmas gift and you never opened it, I would sure be disappointed. It would be a worthless gift because you didn't receive the benefit of that gift. Jesus Christ is God’s Christmas Gift to us. Yet some of us have gone Christmas after Christmas and never opened the best Gift of all: God’s gift of being adopted into His family by the grace of Christ crucified. It’s not like being given a high definition television by a complete stranger. Rather, this adoption (salvation) is more like Ephesians 2:4-10 “But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT OF GOD -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” THIS, my friends, is the Gift of God that keeps on giving and giving and giving.

So, why even celebrate Christmas if you’re not going to open the biggest gift? It doesn’t make sense to leave unwrapped the Gift of our past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a home in Heaven. God has made a way for you this Christmas to get it right with Him, and all you have to do is receive His Gift of salvation. This is a little prayer I prayed at eight years old and it “stuck” with me to this day. If it was good enough for me – it is good enough to “seal the deal” and open this most wonderful Gift meant for you, too! If these words express the desire in your heart, please prayer them and really mean them:

“Dear God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for being here with me every day. Thank you for sending your Son to die for me so that I can live with You forever and ever. Please forgive me for all the things I’ve done wrong and please help me to do things right that please you. I promise to love and serve you all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Now – here’s a little add-on for you this day – no matter what age you are: “Heavenly Father, I want to receive the Christmas Gift of your Son. I want to receive Him as my Lord and Savior. I ask You to forgive me from my past, my sins, mistakes, my habits, my hurts, and my hang-ups. I want to fulfill what You made me to do. I want to love You and trust You and have a relationship with You all the days of my life. Please put peace in my heart. Please fill me with Your love. Help me be a peacemaker and help others find peace with You and each other. In your name I pray. Amen.”

Would you please PM me if you prayed this prayer today? I am a follower of Christ. I promise to pray for and partner with you to help you become a fully devoted follower of Christ, too! Oh, the joy, peace, and hope that await you.
🎚🎚🎚🎚God loves you so much and so do I!🎚🎚🎚🎚