Romans 8:22-24 (NLT)
For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.
Happy Birthing Day to me! I have celebrated these days for more than 22 years now with my children. Each one a privilege and blessing of itself, God has allowed me to be the mother of five amazing, talented and wonderful people. He has challenged me to think about more than just myself and leave selfishness behind to care for these individuals. The Lord has allowed the parameters of my heart to be tested loving them as he shaped and molded them into who they would need to be to fulfill His Purpose and Plan for their life. They were expected and unexpected joys. Each one arrived differently and the details of their birth the beginning of their story. All five labors and deliveries were not comfortable, painless or fun but the moment they arrived it never occurred to me that it was not worth every second of turmoil or labor as overflowing love came pouring into my life once again. Children are a heritage from the Lord. We celebrate their arrival each year of their young life with celebrations planned for months sparing no expense to make them feel special and important. But parenthood does not end at the finish line of adulthood just as discipleship does not end with an altar call, it requires a lifelong commitment that begins with birth and extends to Eternity.
To be born into this life and never realize that you are more than just a mistake, moment or mandate is tragic. You are not here because your parents made a mistake. You are not the result of a passionate moment. You were not born because it was the next step in marriage. You are here because God has a purpose and plan for your life that requires fulfillment. He created you with something in mind. Your mother and father had a plan that included you whether they thought about it or not. The world devalued the Plan of God no longer seeing the powerful potential of people thus the word “abortion” is now a possible procedure. It is time that we look at our birthday and birthing day as God sees it rather than as man describes it. You are not an option but an intentional creation of the Most High God. Your children are His Blessing and Promise. No matter how you or your children got here, God was in it and remains part of it today!
I Chronicles 4:9-10 (NLT)
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
With most of my children, I was able to endure labor and delivery without any medication and very little medical intervention. Birth is no doubt a painful experience. It hurts. However, with proper coaching I learned to perceive the pain as a process and expected it. I planned how I would meet it, receive it and work through it before it arrived using the Bradley method. When labor did come at first it was unexpected and overwhelming, but once I assessed it, acknowledged it and associated it with the arrival of my long awaited promise then I was able to endure it. In the case of Jabez, his mother associated this child with hardship and named him for the pain of his arrival. How terrible yet not uncommon in the world today? While some mothers spend every minute of every month preparing for the arrival of their child, there are some who dread each passing day. There are those who fear the pain, expense and responsibility of a child. There are some who simply see their life as a means of support expecting something from them before they are born. Maybe their face fits in the perfect portrait of life painted by human expectations causing unimaginable heartache when the new arrival does not fit the picture they had planned. No matter what you expected when you brought your children in the world, God always had a plan. No matter how you arrived in this world or what your mother calls you, God’s Purpose for your life has not changed. It is up to His People to discover the powerful potential of each purpose and birth it before He comes! God granted the request of Jabez when he decided to rise above his name and birthright! Will you ask the same today? It’s birthing day! The perfect time to discover God’s Word, Will and Way for your life and claim it once more!
Genesis 22:9-11 (NLT)
When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
Life does not always turn out like we expect it. God’s Plan for your life will not change and it may not seem like a perfect arrival. In other words, just because you think you missed the boat doesn’t mean you will not walk on water or experience a miracle in your life. When things did not turn out as I planned, I walked away from God, the church and Christianity as a whole. I still believed in God but felt that I had missed His Purpose and Plan so figured what was the point of trying anymore. In my wanderings, I was married and had three precious, beautiful children. When I came out of the wilderness, I was a single mother alone, poor and bitter. The Lord caused my path to cross with a man whose heart was seeking the Lord as well in the midst of darkness and we collided. When the subject of God came up, our affection for the Lord created a bond that resulted in a marriage of heart and spirit that would blend the lives of two people and three children to become a couple and five fabulous children. God did what statistically seems impossible. I did not miss God’s Plan for my life but ran right into it.
When Abraham was walking up that mountain with Isaac, I cannot imagine what was going through his mind. God had promised this boy to him and he had waited faithfully so long why this? I have asked the very same thing as our son battles cancer. Why Lord? You know we will love you and serve you no matter what. So why are we walking up this mountain? God allowed Abraham to get to the top, build the altar, bind his son, and lift the knife, and then God said, “Enough!” Every child is a blessing of God. Every second of your life is an opportunity to bring glory to God! Don’t miss it by walking out of the wilderness, but trust the Lord and look for Him through it all! He is there. There is a plan for your life. Not one step is ever wasted as His Purpose is revealed in your life.
Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT)
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Although I did not plan each pregnancy, God did. There is no such thing as an unplanned pregnancy, only unwanted ones. You must understand that conception is a result of creation. It is not a cell that divides into some complex creature of exceptional intelligence superior by evolution. God created you! You have a plan and purpose. His Workmanship is marvelous, flawless and perfect. No matter what you were like when you arrived – no mistake has been made. God formed you exactly as you were to be. Every single day of your life was predetermined by God in the great anticipation and expectation that you would be born again! Everything you need has been provided. The choice is yours!
James 1:17-18 (NLT)
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
Every person is a good and perfect Gift from our Father. Perhaps, you are thinking of some imperfect people. What is the definition of imperfect? Imperfect is characterized by defects and weakness. It is not perfect and lacks completion. Well, I believe every person is imperfect outside the knowledge of God through the Blood of Jesus Christ. We have all sinned and fallen short of His Glory. It is only through salvation that we become complete lacking nothing. So what makes human beings think that anyone is any less “perfect” then them? I have children labeled with a list of human imperfections based on medical knowledge based on society’s concept of normal but I believe that they are complete lacking nothing according to the Word and Will of God. I also have a very good friend who the world has labeled “autistic” but his understanding of God’s Word, Will and Way is exceptional and his soul is secure. His life is to bring glory to God no matter what the details of his birth or how the world sees him. Who cares? Outside of that what more could a parent ask for? Anything else meets the human example of normal NOT the example of Jesus Christ. You are good and perfect created by the Hand of God. It doesn’t matter what sins your parents committed or what you have done for the that matter God desires to manifest His Glory in you and through you, He will allow whatever it takes for such a revelation to hit you and your children. He desires a healed and whole legacy, generation and heritage for you and your family. Your children are good and perfect created by the Hand of God as well. It is up to you to discover and challenge your own children to see themselves as God sees them and live up the full potential of Jesus Christ. (John 9:1-3) Anything less is imperfect and incomplete anything more is a blessing from God’s Hand to your life!
John 1:12-14 (NLT)
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
The only way to find and fulfill your full potential is to be born again. Everyone experiences physical birth but rebirth comes by believing in Jesus Christ and accepting His Spirit into our life. (John 3:5-6) Now you can see the Glory of God expanded in your life and everything working for the good as ordained by your Father before you were born. (Romans 8:28) The Word became flesh and died so His Spirit could be poured out on His People to complete us inside out. Now we can live in God’s Word, His Way according to His Will becoming complete and lacking no good thing! Are you ready to live beyond human expectation? Jabez’s mom expected the boy to be a pain his whole life. She wanted the world to know just what she went through to get him here. But Jabez wanted to know what God thought about him. When he discovered it, he invited God to work out the details of his life, bless him, to expand his territory, to be with him, keep him from living up to his name and live according to His Father’s Kingdom. God answered his prayer!
I Thessalonians 5:2-4 (NLT)
For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.
My birthing day wish for you is this that you would see God’s Full Potential in your life. Jesus is coming back! Revelation will give way to realization when it comes. When I was about to give birth to the same child that I celebrate today it would be a home birth. When labor began to progress, I was walking up the stairs of our home to prepare for her birth when I thought to myself the next time I come down the steps I will have my precious baby in my arms. Imagine if we approached God’s Throne the same way and intended to remain in His Presence until His Glory came down. It can happen and will be a reality for those who choose by faith to never ignore the details of their past but commit each one to the resurrection power and redemption promise to see His Goodness and Completion in our life. Your children each represent a blessing of God determined for your life. Do not give up on them. Give them to the Lord. Let Him work on their fulfillment while you work on unconditionally loving them and continually praying for them. Release them from personal expectation and release them to providential anticipation of what God is doing in them and through them. Mistakes are inevitable or grace would not be an option. Guide them and LEAD them to Jesus! Happy Birthing Day to you as you commit to the birthing process of every promise God has for you!
Isaiah 51:1-2 (NLT)
“Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the LORD! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined. Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.” (God has put such potential in you!)
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