5 Things I am Thankful On My Birthday 2017

By Ianpassion

Our existence in this world is analogous to farming. We must wait patiently for the harvest season. In this photo, I'm holding a freshly picked fried vegetable from this uncovered greenhouse. It's harvest time.

Our birthday is a seasonal milestone that allows us to take a quick break to celebrate and reflect on our past experiences, as well as an excellent opportunity to correct what we have done incorrectly in preparation for the new beginning. On my birthday in 2017, there are five things for which I am grateful


Gift of Family

Not all believed the principle of "family comes first before others." Some thought that success or work is more important than commitment to a particular relationship. I am proud to say that my family is my little heaven on earth. They are my first priority. As I reflected, even from the beginning, the Father already had long thought about family. When He saw the first man was lonely, He was not happy about it. As a result, the Father provided a suitable partner for him and blessed them with children (Genesis 1:8; Psalm 127:3). There is no doubt that the original plan of the Father is family and He wanted this to be our first priority. So being single, unmarried, and barren is not the original plan of the Father,  except for a particular calling purpose (Mathew 19:12). Nowadays I am blessed with the gift of a family. Having a very supportive wife and adorable children are blessings, which I am always thankful for. 

True Friends 

It is a fact that not everyone can go far with you or agree with you, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother ( Proverbs 18:24).  Yes, it is true that the Son is our faithful friend who never turns His back when we are in trouble. Yet next to Him, there is another relationship that exists which I called the David-Jonathan friendship. This kind of friendship is outlined in the Scripture based on loyalty, sacrifice, compromise, and emotional attachment (I Samuel 16-19). I am sure you know this quote "Your best friend could be your worst enemy." In my opinion, it only happened when you found the wrong one. Not everyone who is kind to you can be your real friend. Only a  true friend stands by you when thousands are against you. Like David-Jonathan's friendship, Jonathan did not leave David when his Father and his army were against Him. However, some friends are loyal because they need you. So once their needs changed, so does their loyalty. My sincerest thanks to all my friends who are with me until now.

My Sonship

The most important thing a man should be thankful for is his salvation by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Only a few, however, comprehend the true meaning of being a child of the Father. Things and my perspective on myself changed after I received the baptism of love. My old slave mentality was replaced by sonship by the Father. He dressed me in a new royal robe. He restored my identity and honor, telling me, "I am your Father, and you are my son in whom I am well pleased." Although there are many passages in Scripture that confirm our sonship (John 1:12; Romans 8:26; Galatians 3:26), only a few have fully grasped their sonships and enjoy living as true sons and daughters of the Father. Because of my sonship, I have unlimited access to the Father's presence. There is no need for me to overwork in order to gain His favor because I am already highly favored. There is no hierarchy that separates us. He is my intimate father. As I look into His eyes, I see no anger. Instead, I see His mercy and faithfulness as evidence of His Fatherhood.

True Freedom

In my previous post, I discussed how to experience true freedom. If I hadn't had a breakthrough and been freed from the cage of fear, I wouldn't be able to write about true freedom with complete confidence. The Father's promise of complete freedom to His children is a reality. But it will only be effective if we are able to overcome oppression, manipulation, and control. That is why Paul said, "It is for freedom that the Son has set us free; stand firm and do not burden us again with the yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). According to this passage, the main reason that the Son has set us free is freedom. He desired that both you and I be free. This freedom is not only redemptive but also beneficial to all aspects of our everyday lives. As a result, we must be steadfast in our opposition to anyone who seeks to limit our liberty. Never allow anyone to degrade our honor. Let us guard ourselves against abusive words from those who defame or disrespect us. I am grateful to our Father for finally restoring the freedom I once dreamed of. For a more in-depth explanation of true freedom, please click here.

Unconditional Love

Some people are suffering and being hurt because they live in a world where there is no true love. Because their perceptions of the Father and others are incorrect, there is no trust or safety. Now that I am a father of two children, I have a better understanding of what it means to love unconditionally. The Father is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of His child's well-being and provision. Then I realized that unconditional love is fully appreciated in the context of family, particularly in a father-son relationship. It's no surprise that the Trinity refers to themselves as Father, Son, and Spirit, because having a family is essential in the Kingdom. Other types of relationships, such as the master-slave relationship, the leader-disciple relationship, the manager-employee relationship, and the manager-employee relationship, are beneficial in some ways, but they cannot comprehend the unconditional love that a family has. As a child of a loving Father, I will be eternally grateful that He loves me unconditionally. Nothing in this world can separate me from His love or cause Him to stop loving me. It's no surprise that love is the greatest of all.

For more reflections about birthdays click here...