July 18, 2006

• Yesterday, I had another birthday.  I am now officially late twenties, almost thirty.  Yikes!  But, at the age of twenty-seven, I am exactly where I would like to be:  certain of my eternal destiny, in a love-relationship with the God of the universe, on the verge of marrying a man who loves and cherishes me, on the way to the mission field, in ‘right’ relationship with my parents and sister, pursuing my dream of writing — and all the while knowing full well that I’m at the center of God’s will.  Getting older just means getting one step closer to Jesus.  What an awesome thing!

  Yesterday was my first birthday in America in two years, so I have been so used to having the day slip by like it was any ordinary day that being remembered was surprising — I mean — “being remembered” by people.  Because, no matter where we are; with God, we never slip by unnoticed. 

  Last year, I almost got hit by a large bus ambling down a small side street in the heat of one of China’s most populous cities on the day before my birthday.  And on my birthday, God arranged it so that my life verse and song were on center stage at the registered church where our team worshiped.  God had a special exhortation for me:  What is more…everything (is) a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.  Tru dat!  It was a reminder and a confirmation and a conviction and an opportunity to say, “Yes, God!” all over again.  There is nothing better than knowing Jesus!  My life is certainly not my own.

  This past year has been the year of the Lord’s favor for me — and as I celebrated with my family — which now includes a fiance — and some friends, I can’t help but think with awe how true it is that when you give your life away, when you count it all as rubbish, you can get it back in a magnitude and depth that so far surpasses that which you had previously offered up with such short-sighted anguish that it just leaves you in breathless worship. 

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