My last born turns 19! Happy Birthday, Daniel!

Verse of the Day - February 17, 2017

Who shall ever separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].

Romans 8:35,37 AMP

What a year it has been! Milestones.

You graduated high school and are now a college student at University of Guelph-Humber!

So proud of you!

And here are some pictures that chronicle your journey since then:

And you sure can sing!

https://www.facebook.com/trinisita/videos/1915030061846780/

And truly it has been a milestone year in more ways than one. 

A year of devastating losses in friendships, but oh, the growth that has resulted in you!

I watched you behave like a class act.

You acknowledged your responsibility. You repented.

You strove to resolve conflict biblically while others took to social media bullying.

You continued to show grace even when your mama bear wanted to go shotgun. ;)

You strove to find community to grow in grace and left what you can now discern as toxic behind.

Yes, this year's events took its toll on all of us, but we can say, like Joseph did, "what was meant for harm has turned out for good..."

You are truly a courageous man. You fought with your will and all of your heart. You are a fighter. Passionate and determined.

It soon became apparent that you earnestly desired to pursue righteousness.

I love this quote by Frederick Buechner. Use all that is given to you, joy and pain, to the utmost for His glory:

While you will always be my 'baby' with that special connection, you are now a young adult male, and just as I watched your big brother in amazement, I now look at you and my heart smiles. Always.

And yes, what God allows in your life always points to your purpose. When our pain is filtered through His eyes, healing happens and ashes turn to beauty. As Pastor Furtick recently preached, our circumstances reveal God pulling us into Himself, aligning us with His perspective, so that we can be launched in His time, like an arrow being pulled back, in the exact direction and towards the exact target of His purpose for you.

Here was the Bible reading for your birthday which I always believe God means for you:

Psalm 36Amplified Bible (AMP)

Wickedness of Men and Lovingkindness of God.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord.

36 Transgression speaks [like an oracle] to the wicked (godless) [deep] within his heart;
There is no fear (dread) of God before his eyes.
2 
For he flatters and deceives himself in his own eyes
Thinking that his sinfulness will not be discovered and hated [by God].
3 
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
4 
He plans wrongdoing on his bed;
He sets himself on a path that is not good;
He does not reject or despise evil.

5 
Your lovingkindness and graciousness, O Lord, extend to the skies,
Your faithfulness [reaches] to the clouds.
6 
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God,
Your judgments are like the great deep.
O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
7 
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
8 
They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You allow them to drink from the river of Your delights.
9 
For with You is the fountain of life [the fountain of life-giving water];
In Your light we see light.

10 
O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
And Your righteousness (salvation) to the upright in heart.
11 
Do not let the foot of the proud [person] overtake me,
And do not let the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 
There those who [are perverse and] do evil have fallen;
They have been thrust down and cannot rise.

I have highlighted the verses I desire for you to take into your heart in this new year. May you see 'light' in His light. May you never be driven away from God because of people who do not practice His love correctly, including me or those in church, or your peers or professors. For as the verse of your day says, 'nothing' can separate you from His love. You are loved, period, regardless of your inconsistent behaviour. Because that is Who God is. His love can never be modified or adjusted like humans do.

My prayer for you:

"Father, what a hard year it has been from a mother's perspective, to watch others hurt your child, to watch your child hurt, and to want to take 'things' in hand with a sword. 

But what a delight to see how Daniel handles people with grace, the same grace that You show to me. I ask You to pour more and more of Your grace into his wounds. I pray that You redeem his wounds for Your glory in the gifts that You have given him in music and words. I pray that you give him a hunger for You above all else. I pray that You bring into his life a few friends who will have the same hunger for You and Who love You above all else, friends who will share his creative and artistic passion. 

May Daniel be catapulted by Your pull into Your purpose for Him when he has fully submitted to Your realignment to His will. Please hold this 'arrow' of Yours, Daniel, close to Your heart, until that time comes when You know he is ready. While he is being pulled back, give him a heart that is content, teachable, humble and contrite. May others confirm Your giftedness in his life as he seeks. Above all, will You please speak to him personally and let him know, "This is the way. Walk in it."

Give him wisdom to discern destructive influences in his life and courage to stand against them or leave behind. Protect him in a college culture that is hostile to You and Your Word. May Your Word that he has read and memorized come to life and be appropriated into his character.

Thank you so much for this son who always makes me feel loved and cherished.

I commit him into Your loving care as always, because in You he is perfectly loved.

In the powerful Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen."