Birthday Blues

Psalm 2:7 NLT "The king proclaims the LORD's decree: "The LORD said to me, 'You are my son. Today I have become your Father."

The other day as my wife was cleaning, she came across a DVD box of one of my favorite movies, "Braveheart". On the box was a quote that read, "Every man dies, but not every man lives". There is so much truth in that statement and probably why it's one of my favorite movies.

Today I celebrate 30 years of existence and blessed to say 15 of those 30 years I actually lived! I gave my life to Jesus at the age of 14 years old and before that I didn't think I was going to live to see the age of 18. I actually cried tears of joy upon my 18th birthday. In my 14 year old eyes I had no purpose in life. I even tried to commit suicide several times. Don't get me wrong, I had a very loving family and many friends, but I was just empty inside and hated myself. Because I had no value in my life I did anything and tried anything without ever thinking of what could happen. I was carefree and careless. Death could have found me a number of times, but then I heard the King's proclamation!

Because God has saved me, I now have a greater respect for the family he brought me into and for the wonderful friends that I have made along my journey.  It saddens me to think of people in the first half of my life that I bullied or made their life seem meaningless by the way I treated them. To those I say 'I'M DEEPLY SORRY" I was young and dumb!

I've heard it said that I'm too big hearted, passive, or easy going because I don't hold a grudge or I forgive people a little too easily than others. I didn't know that was a negative thing.  Its just that I realized there is not purpose of holding a grudge, getting angry, or allowing myself to get sick because of resentment. So, when the king adopted me I was brought into a family where I learned heavenly values and gained an unconditional love for people.

Country singer, Tim McGraw, sings a song "Live Like You Were Dying", a song about a man who was told he was going to die and someone asks him what did you do when you found out. The man states that he loved a little deeper, talked a little softer, and gave forgiveness he's been denying. Then continues to say I wish some day you can live like you were dying. Such a beautiful song that reminds us we're not promised tomorrow and this day may be the Last Chance to really do and say all that we can to make sure we live a full life.

Now my natural-carnal mind wants to tell me I should be grieved that I'm getting old and turning 30. I should be suffering from the Birthday Blues. I remember watching my favorite TV series Friends and seeing them all go through their 30's and watching them cry and reminisce over the Birthday Blues. But I'm no longer just a natural-carnal human, I'm a natural-spiritual human that has been called a child of God. Because of my new status, birthdays shouldn't be a time of blues, but a reminder that GOD'S NOT DONE WITH YOU! He's given you another year to make a difference! Another year to live a full life on earth! I know I'm going to see Heaven some day and Eternity awaits, but there is so much beauty to this life and my Father created it all for me to enjoy!

I'm blessed to have seen many parts of the world since I became alive in Christ.  He's taken me to 3rd world countries as well as exotic islands and many more adventures are still to come!  He's given me a beautiful, wonderful wife and a spectacular son as well as guardianship over two magnificent men of God who have a calling to do great things in their lives that I get to watch and be a part of! He's also called me to live in the Sunshine state of South Florida to lead a phenomenal church!

Birthday Blues? Nope not for me!

Birthdays are milestones of reminders to remember who my Father is and that he gave me life worth living!

You too are coming up on a birthday, remember the kings proclamation and don't allow yourself to get caught up in ...

Birthday Blues!