Encouragement

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"I have called you by name; You are mine." (Isaiah 43:1)

Birthdays are always a mixed bag of sentimentalism and joy. Two days ago, I celebrated my milestone birthday.
When I woke up in the morning, my first prayer of thanksgiving to God was that this day was possible only because He had created me and I was His precious child.

I somehow feel that on one's birthday, God must be singing our name in Heaven as His beloved creation, strongly believing that we will accomplish the plans that He has for us.
I was fortunate to celebrate this day on the first Friday of the month which is consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As with every year, it was overwhelming to be inundated with continuous calls and messages from family and friends across the globe wishing me on my day. It is their two magical words; "Happy Birthday" that always make my day. Because these words carry a wealth of feelings, emotions and good wishes.

I believe a birthday is not just an opportunity to celebrate life but also to measure how far we have come in life, the battles we have won, the sufferings that we have overcome, our positive deposits to the world and our optimism about the future. Of course, none of this is possible without the central control of the Great Controller from above.

I would like to share some of the most inspiring verses which depicts God's awesome love in His plan of creation for us and which seems really apt to recall on our birth date :

"You are not a mistake; I planned out every day of your life."(Psalms 139:15-16)
"I made you to be like me."(Genesis 1:27)
"I even knew you before you were born."(Jeremiah 1:4-5)
"I created you in your mother's womb."(Psalms 139:13)
"I brought you out when it was time to be born."(Psalms 71:6)
"I picked you from the beginning."(Ephesians 1:11-12)
"I decided when you would be born and where you would live."(Acts 17:26)
"I am excited for how wonderful I made you."(Psalms 139:14)
"I give you power to live, move and be who you are, For I am the one who created you." (Acts 17:28)
"I even know how many hairs are on your head." (Matthew 10:29-31)
"I know when you sit and when you get up. I know everything you do." (Psalms 139:2-3)
"Everything good you get comes from me."(James 1:17)
"I am the one who meets all your needs."(Matthew 6:31-33)
"I have really big plans for your future."(Jeremiah 29:11)
"I love you with a love that lasts forever."(Jeremiah 31:30
"I think of you more often than there is sand on the seashore."(Psalms 139:17-18)
"I will never stop being good to you."(Jeremiah 32:40)
"You are my treasure."(Exodus 19:5)
"I will take care of you with all my heart and soul and I will show you great and wonderful things."(Jeremiah 32:41;33:3)
"If you look for me with all your heart, you will find me."(Deuteronomy 4:29)
"I will give you your heart's desires."(Psalm 37:4)
"I can do more than you will ever imagine."(Ephesians 3:20)
"When your heart aches, I am near."(Psalm 34:18)
"As a shepherd carries a lamb, I hold you close to me."(Isaiah 40:11)
"One day, I will wipe away all your tears and I'll take away all the pain in your life."
(Revelation 21:3-4)
"I am your father and I love you just like I love my son, Jesus. For in Jesus, you can see my love for you."(John 17:23;26)
"Jesus died so that you & I could be together."(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
"His death was the best way to show my love."(1 John 4:10)
"I gave all that I loved so that you could love me back."(Romans 8;31-32)
"Nothing will stand in the way of my love for you."(Romans 8:38-39)
"I have always been a father to my family in heaven and on earth."(Ephesians 3;14-15)
"Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen."(Luke 15:7)

There is no other greater reason to celebrate a birthday than to rejoice and praise God for creating us with intricate love and care.

Maria Franco

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