Happy Birthday To My 21-yr-old Gift From God: Nathan

On July 13th, 1993, God gave us an amazing gift: Nathan.

From this...in 1993

Nathan - 1993

to this...21 years later

Nathan - 2014

21 years old.

This is the age from tradition where a person is deemed an adult.

But come to think of it, you've been acting 'grown-up' for quite some time now, making it clear to 'Mom' that this 'man' can make his own decisions now.

But what shows 'maturity' is the way you now say it, "Thanks for the advice, Mom, but..."

Nathan is the name your Dad and I chose very carefully. We wanted your name to represent 'you' in biblical tradition. Taken from the name of the prophet Nathan, advisor to King David, it meant "gift from God."

...gift from God...

In Hebrew, it literally means "he gave."

Wayne Blank says this of your Biblical namesake:

"Nathan, in Hebrew meaning God has given, was a prophet of God who served King David and his son and successor King Solomon. He was a wise and steadfast servant of God, and of the Israelite monarchy, who was often consulted by the kings. He was also fearless; it was Nathan who rebuked David after the incident with Bathsheba, and it was Nathan who intervened during the attempted palace coup by Adonijah."

Heavens Cross Ministries gives an insightful look into Nathan:

Nathan, the prophet, lived up to his name, "He[God] has given." Nathan was a necessary and helpful gift from God to David. He served as God's spokesman to David and proved himself a fearless friend and counselor, always willing to speak the truth, even when he knew great pain would result.

In confronting David's multiple sin of coveting, theft, adultery and murder in his affair with Bathsheba, Nathan was able to help David see his own wrongdoing by showing that he would not have tolerated such actions from anyone else. David's repentance allowed Nathan to comfort him with the reality of God's forgiveness, and at the same time remind him of the painful consequences his sin would bring.

Nathan's approach helps us judge our own actions. It shows us how often we condemn others for things that we also do. We need to ask how God and others would view our actions. Unfortunately, we have a huge capacity to lie to ourselves. God provides two safeguards against self-deception: His Word and true friends. Let God's Word speak to you about yourself, even if the truth is painful. If you don't have a friend like Nathan, ask God for one.

How befitting the young man you have become.

Yes, my son, you are a Giver.

You have been entrusted with a gift.

Giving.

With that gift comes wise counsel from Henri Nouwen:

A Time to Receive and a Time to Give

It is important to know when we can give attention and when we need attention. Often we are inclined to give, give, and give without ever asking anything in return. We may think that this is a sign of generosity or even heroism. But it might be little else than a proud attitude that says: "I don't need help from others. I only want to give." When we keep giving without receiving we burn out quickly. Only when we pay careful attention to our own physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs can we be, and remain, joyful givers.

There is a time to give and a time to receive. We need equal time for both if we want to live healthy lives.

Your FB profile says you have 1,167 friends.
Yikes.

In reality, you could probably count on one hand the 'friends' who are as described above.
Friends who speak wisdom; who speak truth in love; who stay with you; consult God on your behalf; and who always point you back to Him.
Don't neglect these friendships in the glare of a 'fan' following: that superficial allure that dissipates when that quality that is admired can no longer be 'seen'.
Skin-deep relationships.

Nurture the heart-soul-spirit relationships.

But moreover, BE the friend that Nathan was to David and the kings.

Speak the truth in love always.

Immerse yourself in His Word to nurture that most important relationship, to change your heart to become more like Him.

Spend time in silence and solitude to refresh and refill your spirit and to hear His whisper.

It is then that you are able to give that which brings life to other people.

I am so proud to see you in the writing world and your first article wowed me as it shows your journey in growing intimacy with God: "Loving God With All of Me".
And yes, I have been keeping track on Converge Magazine with that author named Nathan Henderson. 

May all of your writing be filtered through His lens, through His Word and Spirit dwelling in you.

Your Dad and I stand back in wonder as we see God's grace in watching over you. May you always know that you can count on Him, when all of us fail you.
And we all will. Most of us already have.
Certainly me.

The Scripture that I want to bless you with in this milestone year:

Psalm 6:1-8(AMP)

1 O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is.

2 So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

4 So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5 My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips

6 When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.

7 For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.

8 My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Follow hard after him in all you do.
And since we love music, I had to find 2 songs that I hope will mark your life:

First: One Pure and Holy Passion (Candy Pearson)
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You
Spoken:
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You, God

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

Oh, to know and follow hard after You
To grow as Your disciple in Your truth
The world is empty, pale and poor
Compared to knowing You, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after You
Lead me on and I will run after You

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

To know and follow hard after You
To grow as Your disciple in Your truth
The world is empty, pale and poor
Compared to knowing You, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after You
Lead me on and I will run after You

To know and follow hard after You
To grow as Your disciple in Your truth
The world is empty, pale and poor
Compared to knowing You, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after You
Lead me on and I will run after You
Lead me on, and I will run after You


Second: From The Inside Out (Hillsong)
A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in Your grace

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord, my soul cries out

My soul cries out to You
My soul cries out to You
To You, to You

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord, my soul cries out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord, my soul cries out

From the inside out
Lord, my soul cries out

And finally, if you want to keep dem good looks and keep on keeping on, you need to do more of this.

At night. :)
And maybe this will be the year you find along the journey into the heart of God, the woman who also is on that journey.

And by the way, you know He told me who already. ;)

Have a wonderful year!
Happy Happy Birthday!!!
Love, Mom.

Father, I commit my son to You knowing that in reality, He was always Yours. Ignite his heart for You. Consume him with a longing for You. May he see the world through Your eyes; love himself and those You bring into his path with Your heart; think through ideas and concepts with Your mind. May you grant him a humble and contrite heart to keep him dependent on You. Grant him wisdom to let go of destructive habits and relationships and build up life-giving ones instead. May he be like Nathan the prophet who had the ears of kings and who heard Your voice and shared fearlessly with love and discernment. May he follow hard after You.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.