Happy Birthday

"A Journey of Gratitude: Celebrating Life, Faith, and God's Grace"

    Hello, my dear friends! My name is Sumathi Dinesh, and I am delighted to welcome you all. Greetings to you in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Recently, I celebrated my birthday, and I am grateful to God for His grace in allowing me to step into a new year. Today, let's reflect on a few thoughts about birthdays.

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

Gratitude for Another Year

Birthdays are special. They mark the anniversary of the day we were born and serve as a reminder to appreciate the journey of life and the gift of being alive. I feel truly blessed to celebrate another year.

We celebrate birthdays to acknowledge the day someone came into the world and to express how thankful we are for their presence in our lives.

It fills my heart with joy to know that I continue to live a healthy, happy, and meaningful life, year after year.

The Joy of Birthday Gifts

    The purpose of giving gifts is to make someone feel valued and loved. A gift is a way to make them feel special and show our gratitude for their role in our lives. Gifts bring happiness to both the giver and the receiver, creating a shared sense of joy. 

  We often look forward to receiving gifts on our birthdays, as they add to the excitement of the celebration.

The Delight of Birthday Surprises

From the moment we wake up on our birthday, we are filled with excitement and wonder about what the day will bring. Will there be a surprise party waiting for us? Will friends and family arrive with gifts and warm wishes? The surprise element adds extra joy to the celebration, making the day feel even more memorable.

The Impact of Birthday Celebrations!

    For most children, starting around the age of three, birthday parties are a major source of excitement. When a child feels celebrated, they also feel loved and important within their family. It brings them joy, love, and a sense of appreciation.

    As young people celebrate their birthdays, they often experience a mix of emotions, including happiness, gratitude, and a sense of love and significance.

    Among adults, those between the ages of 30 and 44 are most likely to feel positive about their birthdays. Some may view it as reaching a significant life milestone, while others might still feel like they’re in their late twenties.

    As the years pass, birthdays can shift from joyful celebrations to feeling like a "crushing emotional weight," rather than being about "parties and cake." This shift may suggest a need for a change in perspective. Instead of focusing on the inevitable passage of time or the increasing awareness of mortality, perhaps it's time to see birthdays as a celebration of life itself. Happy Birthday!

My 2021 Birthday, Facing Challenges

In 2021, on my birthday, I was in the hospital for cancer treatment. On that day, I began my second cycle of chemotherapy, which was an incredibly painful experience. My husband went to the lab to give blood for my HLA test. When he returned, he broke down in tears, telling me that the doctor said I only had a 40% chance of survival because the first cycle of chemotherapy had failed.

    God, in His goodness and grace, has blessed me beyond measure. This year, in 2024, I celebrated my birthday with a heart overflowing with gratitude. Praise the Lord.

 

Precious Birthday Gift

These Bible verses are ones I always remember on my birthday each year, and they are my most precious birthday gift.

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6

“You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11

“The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail“. Isaiah 58:11

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8, 9

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

“Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Psalm 23:1

“who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:5

“My future is in your hands.” Psalm 31:15

God’s Guidance and Aging

God’s guidance and the blessings that come with growing older:

 

 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

“They will still bear fruit in old age; they will stay fresh and green.” Psalm 92:14

“For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.” Proverbs 9:11

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4

These Bible verses offer a hopeful and encouraging perspective on aging, highlighting that with each passing year, we gain wisdom, experience God’s sustaining power, and continue to grow spiritually.

Celebrate Every day:

    Every day is a gift, not just birthdays. Each day is a present from God, a chance to live fully in the moment. Let go of yesterday and don’t worry too much about the future, as it remains uncertain. Focus on today—cherish it, give thanks, and approach your tasks with wholehearted dedication. Celebrate the present as a blessing and make the most of every moment.

    Each morning, as soon as I wake up, I make it a point to thank and praise God for the gift of another day. I remind myself of the verse from Psalm 118:24: "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." I also encourage my son, Isaac Ebenezer, to say this every day, helping him begin each day with gratitude and joy.

    If God has given us a new day and we are blessed with breath and life, let’s praise Him with this confession: ‘This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Psalm 118:24) "Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord."

Thoughts to Chew On

• Birthdays are a special opportunity to reflect on life, express gratitude, and celebrate our journey.
• Reflecting on God’s grace and love through Scripture brings comfort, especially during life’s challenges, such as the personal testimony of overcoming cancer.
• Every day, not just birthdays, is a gift from God, and we should celebrate each day with gratitude and purpose.
• Life is a continuous journey of spiritual growth, and each moment presents an opportunity to live in God's Word and give thanks.

 Let’s Exercise the Word of God Every Day!!!

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