Message for September 26, 2021 from Pastor Shirley

   I spent many years dreading my birthday.  It was never for me a day of celebration. That is until the Holy Spirit spoke to me a few years ago, “Why do you not want to celebrate your birth-day.  This is the day God chose for you to enter into this world.  This should be a day of great celebration.”  I knew the why but I had never dealt with the why.  How often do we not embrace life because of the why’s.

     In the book of Psalms, David writes in chapter 139 verses 13 and 14: “for it was You who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I will praise You because I have been fearfully and wonderfully made”.  Fearfully when translated from the Hebrew means with great reverence, heart-felt interest, and with respect.  Wonderfully when translated from the Hebrew means unique and set apart.  Yes every human being was created to be Christ’s image bearer and to live a fulfilled life for an amazing and unique purpose.  

      I know there are stories of: you don’t understand I was adopted, I was conceived out of wedlock, I don’t even know who my father is, I don’t know who my mother is, I never felt wanted, what do I have to celebrate?  I would never tell you those things do not matter because they are part of your life’s story and they do.  I can tell you that God already knows those things and He loves you and you matter to Him.  Start believing that you just did not happen to be here.  You were destined by a loving heavenly Father who loves you so much.  Allow the why’s, the brokenness, the hurts, the what if’s to be healed and start  loving yourself for the unique person you were created to be.  God loves you!   Start celebrating your “BIRTH-DAY.”  Start celebrating  life. You were meant to be here.  Yeah birthdays are a big deal!