Happy 28th Birthday to my second born!

 Happy 28th Birthday

Daniel

Feb. 17, 2026

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you].

The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favour],

And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];

The Lord lift up His countenance (face)

upon you [with divine approval],

And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].

Your last birthday as a single man! I cannot believe that you will celebrate your next birthday as a married man. Lord, have mercy.

What a year! 

Exciting engagement plan carried out in an Amazing Race adventure.

Then a shocking turn of events.

Blindsided by a narcissistic pastor. Sudden loss of community. Betrayal by friends. Loss of income. That's what was visible in the physical realm.

In the spiritual realm it was a deliverance from a toxic leadership, and discerning who was truly a friend. A painful deliverance to be sure, for even though God used that man, like He did with pagan nations in the OT, the malice and vindictiveness were from the evil one, meant to obliterate you. Like He did with those pagan nations, He will exercise His justice on them.

Like what happened to Joseph. One day he was content being the favoured son in a large family, the next he was being sold by his own brothers into slavery, being falsely accused of vile behaviour, imprisoned and forgotten.

And then, out of nowhere, after being steadfast and stubbornly holding on to the God of Israel, he was finally set free and exalted, I would say, far beyond what he could ever imagine.

That's why in the end, he could say to his brothers, "you planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result--the survival of many people."

I look forward to the day when you too will declare, "you planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result--.....[fill in the blanks later.....].

But meanwhile you are in the waiting room (like Joseph was in prison) with a wounded heart and spirit processing events as you heal. Seeing nothing but what has gone wrong. Seeing the friends who betrayed you moving forward with no regard for your well being. Asked by God to trust Him. You see the wedding date approaching. You work hard at building an income generating YouTube channel. This is the hard part, the trusting, the still obeying when circumstances spell despair. No fruit.

Yet.

It will come! Hold on. Press into Him. Lament loudly to Him like David did. Pray persistently and courageously like your namesake Daniel did. He is doing a work in you to be transformed into His likeness. A letting go of doing in your own strength to fully depending on Him. The only thing is, it's in God's timing and most times it doesn't align with ours and what seems urgent to us. Slowly. So you can see definitely that patience and perseverance are two of the fruit of the Spirit traits being built alongside faith.

However, it is the fruit of joy that will give you the strength needed and the fruit of peace to give you a tranquil calm in the chaos that marks uncertainty.

Galatians 6:9 says "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."

Let there be hope, a beacon of light shining in the dark.

Let there be a realization that He walks with you, never to leave you.

I am proud of you that even in the hard places, you still desire to obey Him. Even when sadness and emptiness seem to visit much too often, you are still faithful to go to church and desire to serve.

Your social media platform is slowly being built and you are such a gifted speaker along with Cynthia. You speak with clarity and wisdom.

Dude, you rock!

In a couple of months you will be wed to the love of your life. It is an exciting season for you but I know there is that dampener of how things will work out financially. Still. You trust. He always comes through although not in the time and manner we want, but His ways and timing are always perfect.

So my darling last born, I surrender all of you to Him who will redeem all the pain and perfect His purpose for you.

Following are some photos to mark your journey followed by a couple of songs to encourage you:

Prayer:

Father, first, I thank You for the precious gift that is Daniel entrusted to me for a while to nurture. My heart overflows any time I think of him. He brings me so much joy and I am so proud of him. I am profoundly sorry for being part of that pain that has been inflicted on him and I pray that you will redeem every ounce of pain embedded in his psyche. 

I commit Daniel to You now, fully surrendering him, his past, present and future, to be redeemed and refined and perfected for Your glory. As he prepares for marriage coming up, I pray that you would fill him with joy and excitement. May Your love be perfected in him and drive out all fear of the future. May you be the Father who abundantly provides for him, filling him to overflowing in your generous provisions. I pray for Cynthia as well for her well being, her healing. Equip them both in the days ahead for all You already know will transpire. I pray for unspeakable joy to fill them in the coming months leading to their wedding and for provision for the practical needs post wedding as they begin a new life together. May they walk forward with hope and confidence, knowing You go before them. May they delight in You more than anything this world offers and guard their heart and choose what draws them closer to You, not away from You.

Now to You O Lord, Who is able to do so much more than we could ever imagine, to You O Lord, be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.