Each year on your birthday, you have a special dessert, and a candle is placed on top of that special sweet, a candle is placed. You add one for every year you get older, and eventually, you stop adding the candles because your cake has so many there is no room left! Seeing my very gold and large twenty-nine candles placed on my treat this year made me smile and reflect on all my twenty-eighth years have been, and wow, lots happened!
After four years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where EmbracedBravery began, I have lived such a full life from Bible College, Online Writing classes, COVID-19, friendships, relationships, a major surgery, and moving back to Colorado after all that. Now, I find myself back working in children’s ministry with people I love and pursuing more adventures that, one day, will lead me to more speaking and writing opportunities. Let’s say my twenties have been busy! Reflecting on my candles and how far the Lord has brought me has led me to tears of joy because, without my savior, I would truly be lost and without hope. I’m reminded of how doctors would tell my parents that I would “never” do certain things, and with prayer, stubbornness, and determination, Jesus has helped me beat every odd spoken against me. My blog name continues to be what the Lord has done in my life: in every season of life, He has helped me embrace what was next and right in front of me through His loving voice, grace, and abundant and sufficient nearness. It has not been easy, and each time a decision, medical situation, or personal struggle occurred, He encouraged me and helped me to choose bravery over fear and anxiety.
He has this for every daughter of His. One of my favorite songs, “I Know That You Are For Me,” by Kari Jobe, is one I listen to every birthday to remind me of His goodness. He is for me, and He is for you. He knows the plans and purpose for every of your life, and on my special day, the day He gave me breath in my lungs, is the start of my life with Him.
This birthday is my “Golden Birthday,” which is kinda an old concept, but it’s when you celebrate your age on the day you were born, so mine is my twenty-ninth on November twenty-ninth, tomorrow! So, on my golden birthday, I will blow out my candle, reflect on all God has done, and embrace a new chapter. In some ways, it’s scary to think I’m “starting over,” but I also have so much peace in knowing my heavenly father knows my desires and thoughts before I even do. So, what do you take away from this post? I encourage you to do this when you begin to get close to your birthday.
Make a list and write down each number of years past; with each number, reflect and write a single word that describes it. You won’t remember what you felt on your first birthday, but ask a family member or sibling what they would say. Then continue to write until the night before your birthday, pray, and ask God He says your next word could be for your next age. I’ve found it such a blessing to have it written in a journal and use it as a motivational word or a prayerful word to meditate on, and through my twenty-ninth year, I will keep it in my heart and see what God does with His word. It may not be profound, but if God has spoken it, then that is for you and Him to walk through and learn together. That’s what I love about Jesus; I walk with Him, and throughout my life, He has given me pictures that give me ideas for blog posts, but even more beautifully, how He sees and knows me.
He knows you.
He knows your name.
He celebrates with you.
He’s excited to share things with you.
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