23rd Birthday Blessing For My Last Born!

Happy 23rd Birthday, Daniel!

CHOSEN AND LOVED

What a year it has been for you and the rest of the world from your last birthday till now. Who would have thought that a pandemic would enter and bring the world into lockdown? As we know though, it did not take God by surprise for He reigns sovereign! Covid19 has polarized our world and made it a fearful world on top of all the other 'normal' stuff we are used to hearing.

But...

What a year of decluttering and realizing what is really important in our lives. Decluttering involves 'cleaning up' which is always a painful process for the believer but as Scripture says in Hebrews 12:11:

"No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way."

Again, you have shown you are a warrior and that you are faithful. Your mind continues to be a battleground for the enemy who works overtime with those chosen to advance His kingdom in any public way, as you are called to do in your role as worship leader.

You have said that the word 'favor' is your theme for this year, so I decided to do a quick research. I found this article which gave the best explanation of favor as found in Scripture in this article in Compelling Truth:

"The definition of the word favor is best described as "demonstrated delight." To have the Lord's favor means that the Lord is in accord with an individual and has shown gracious kindness towards them. When we think of someone who has the favor of God, we think of someone in whose life we see tangible evidence of God's approval. A father shows favor to his children by showing them grace and guiding them. He demonstrates delight by wanting to spend time with his children and by helping them become healthy people. Favor is often shown both ways. When individuals favor each other, they desire to feel connected to each other. God shows favor by connecting with His people and being a shield that leads them and protects them (Psalm 5:12). 

The Lord invites us to seek His favor, and the Bible is filled with people who cry out for God's favor and graciousness (2 Kings 13:4; Jeremiah 26:19; Zephaniah 2:3). David says in Psalm 119:58, "I entreat your favor with all of my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise." It must be stated that only those who are in Jesus Christ can experience the favor of God. It is by Jesus' righteousness that we receive forgiveness of sin and become children of God (John 1:12–13; 2 Corinthians 5:16–21; Hebrews 4:14–16). Once we are God's children, we can pursue God's favor by seeking Him for who He is, not for the things that He can provide for us. We can pursue God's favor by humbling our hearts before Him (2 Kings 22:19) and by desiring to show Him love with our whole selves (Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). 

There are a few things we can do to begin seeking the Lord's favor. We must first seek righteousness, which prepares our hearts and creates room for the Lord (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 5:12). We must humble our hearts before God because Isaiah 66:2 (NIV) says, "… These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word." We can also gain God's favor by seeking wisdom. Proverbs 8:35 says that the one who finds wisdom, "finds life and obtains favor from the Lord." We must also honor the Lord's favor above anybody else's favor, even our own. This means that we must desire to please Him more than we desire to please ourselves (Hebrews 11:25). The Lord is happy to favor those who love Him, so He can protect them, connect with them, and guide them (Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 3:5–6). 

Unfortunately, those who have favor with the Lord still suffer, and alternately those who have seemingly perfect lives do not always have God's favor (Jeremiah 12:1; Psalm 37:7; 73:1–28). To gain God's favor does not mean that we are free from the hardships of this world (John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 6:4; Acts 14:22; 20:23; 1 Peter 2:19). Multiple biblical examples show us that those whom the Lord favors are not free from the world's suffering. There are many individuals whom God favored in the Bible who still had difficulties. We find hope in the stories of Noah (Genesis 6:8), Moses (Exodus 32:7–14; 33:13), Daniel (Daniel 10:19), and Mary (Luke 1:28), because they were highly favored by God, yet overcame enormous obstacles and hardships. In fact, to call them merely hardships is to undermine how monumental their situations really were. 

However, from their stories, we learn that God never leaves those He favors. His favor can be felt in the spirit. With the favor of the Lord, we have peace in our spirits that our sins are forgiven (Romans 4:7). We can also feel a confidence that no matter what happens to us in this world, that we are within the plan of God (Psalm 86:11), and that He is with us always (Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20). As we continue to walk in favor with God, He equips us in our struggles (Psalm 34:15). Our devotion and trust in Him will be rewarded (Matthew 10:42; Revelation 2:10), and our eyes are illuminated to blessings in our situations that were previously unseen." 

Your Dad and I and your grandparents have always prayed that you and Nathan would find favor with God and man. And as I have been reading through the OT in recent times, I see the people God showed His favor or grace to were those whose hearts were humbled by suffering and who cried out to Him and sought to obey His decrees.

So, my son, I bless you with all the attributes that will bring you His favor:

...with a heart that is broken and contrite (humble) heart:

"My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17

...with a heart that seeks and pursues God and His wisdom primarily through His Word.

"But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also." Matthew 6:33

Delve into His Word and allow it to transform your mind. View your circumstances through His Word, knowing that He allows all your circumstances for your transformation into the likeness of Jesus. And what is Jesus like? See the Sermon in the Mount to see His character and let that be your only measure in life.

I am so grateful to God for sustaining you in these hard times, providing the resources and fellowship needed. It shows me that He sees you. 

Thank you for your encouragement and affirmation and unconditional love.

Thank you for your voice and smile.

Thank you for cleaning the car. (HAHA)

Thank you for your kind and generous heart.

Thank you for your perseverance.

Snapshots of your year

Friends

Family

This was also the year you started to train in Worship Arts at Tyndale. So proud of you!

For your second year, I bless you with favor with your professors and fellow students as you pursue excellence in all you do for His glory.

YOUR BLESSING IN SONG:

The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace

May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children

May His presence go before you
And behind you and beside you
All around you and within you
He is with you, He is with you
In the morning, in the evening
In your coming and your going
In your weeping and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you
May His presence go before you
And behind you and beside you
All around you and within you
He is with you, He is with you
In the morning, in the evening
In your coming and your going
In your weeping and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
Always for you, He's for you
I know He is for you

 

This verse struck me today as a verse for you:

"We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor.3:18 

The most effective ministers are those who have no veils (masks) and whose faces reflect His glory. As you grow in Him and in the applied knowledge of His word, may your worship always come from a genuine heart like David, who as you can see had no 'veils' in writing his psalms. So may you become a man after God's own heart.

And finally my prayer for you:

Father, thank You for the gift of Your grace, Your favor, Your mercy. Thank You that You have promised You will never leave us or forsake us. Thank You for Your Presence even when we can't see or sense You. Thank You for Your Word that brings life and speak to us from Your heart. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.

Thank You for Daniel. You formed him in the womb, You wired him, You know how he thinks. You know and see to the most hidden places in his heart. And You love him with a love that never fails. Thank You. Father, I pray that he would find favor with You and those in authority over him. I pray he would find favor with his friends and colleagues. I pray that he would find favor with that soulmate that You have been preparing for him. I pray a hedge of protection around his mind and heart and body so that Satan will not thwart Your plans and purposes for him. May You give him wisdom to discern what 'words' or 'relationships' come from You or the evil one. May his discernment grow as he meditates on Your Word. I pray for healing in his mind so that he is able to have clarity of thought. May he see through Your eyes, think through Your mind, love through Your heart, speak and sing through Your lips. May he be a display of Your glory. And Lord, finally, would You give him joy, a deep well of joy that overflows to his eyes and voice as he uses his gifts to worship.

In the precious Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

I love you, Daniel.💖💖💖💖

With much love, thoughts and prayers,

Your Mom.

(Sorry it is so late!)