Last born turns 22!

Happy 22nd Birthday to my last born!

February 17, 2020

Galatians 6:9  (TPT) (Verse of the Day)

 And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! 
[22 - A YEAR OF HEALING AND REAPING!]

What a year you've had. A roller coaster ride of tremendous highs and devastating lows.
My heart both rejoiced and bled with yours.
Yet today, I can clearly see that my son is a warrior.
I've seen the movie images of injured soldiers plodding through enemy territory with terrible wounds determined to get to safety and finish the job.
This is you.
For yes, the battle is real as you step forward in advancing His kingdom in worship ministry. But the victory has already been won. We know the ending because God already assigned it.
However, in the middle of the battle, you can become quite overwhelmed and war-weary. It is in these moments that we surrender, not to the enemy, but to the One Who has resurrection power.
One Who can tend to those wounds with healing grace so that they are transformed into radiant scars that draw attention to Him.

And that is the final image, Dan.
You, radiant, yes, with joy.

We had some fun times:

Trini Christmas

Kayaking at the Marshalls' cottage in Lake Huron

The most exciting thing in 2019 was standing as your brother's best man at his wedding.

You both were stunners!

Here are some of your fave shots from last year.

My fave songs by you are So Will I, Waymaker and Nothing Else. 

(I wanted to post my clips here but unable to do so).

Your voice is powerful and is anointed when you allow your pain and joy to be expressed.

Always see what God has allowed in your life as fodder for your purpose, as power for your ministry. God wastes nothing in our lives if we surrender it all to Him.

He is the God who redeems what we see as unredeemable.

Others need to hear His story in your story.

There is so much about you that is so lovable.

Those sweet, gentle eyes that tell your Mama she is loved.

Your appreciation of your Dad and his journey. 

Your thank-yous. 

The way you make sure you give to the Lord. 

The way you keep your commitments in your ministry and volunteer work. 

The way you persevere under betrayal. 

The way you continue to love.

The way you worship.
The way you seek to grow and learn from others.

Your honesty. 

Your big heart as you seek to always be there for your friends even when they don't show appreciation for the sacrifices you made. 

Your wisdom and strength in recognizing when you need help and seeking it.

One of the most precious gifts you gave me was recording that song at Christmas, for I know how hard you were battling then. It felt like gold.

You are such a sensitive soul.

When I saw your brother's IG story for your birthday, it brought me to tears. He has loved you so deeply 'ever since'. He simply adores you and always has. He loved to hold you as a baby and boast about you at school:

My prayer for you, my son, is that as you experience the inevitable 'non-showing-up' of friends and family, for we are all limited and flawed, you will realize and experience the perfect love of the One Who is always with you, who knows you perfectly, everything about you, and still loves and pursues you relentlessly. And will never stop.

May you know the satisfaction in your soul of being perfectly loved.

May you always sing for the audience of One, then compliments or criticism will just roll off your back because you are grounded in His delight in you.

His delight in you has nothing to do with performance, but everything to do with the fact that you are His child, just as you are.

May you never live for the acclaim of others, but live for His acclaim only.

You have much to be grateful for. Start and end each day with something you are grateful for.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I bring my son to you, who in fact is first and foremost Your child. Thank You for Your perfect love for him. Thank You for the way You have watched over him and protected him. Thank you for the gifts You have granted him. I pray that You reveal Yourself to him in a way that he will know that he is 'seen' and 'loved'. May he find favour in the hearts of men. May You place him in the right place and time with the right people to advance Your kingdom purpose in his life. May You strengthen him in his inner being so that the circumstances in his life will not shake his strong foundation in You. Continue to give him a hunger and thirst for Your Word and to spend quality time with You. Bless him financially as he gives to You so freely all that he has, his money, time and talents. Give him a sound mind that thinks with clarity as he navigates a culture of confusion and distortion. Thank You for lending this adorable child, now a man, to me for a while. You indeed know how to give good and perfect gifts in my sons.

Now I surrender him to you. He is safe in Your Hands. Guide him in his next steps. Light the path he needs to take for this new year in His journey of faith.

In the mighty Name of Jesus, Who is able to do more than we could ever imagine,

Amen.