Happy Birthday! It's a phrase we all hear once each year as we celebrate another milestone on our journey. We hear it from family, friends and colleagues. We hear it in restaurants as the waiters and waitresses gather around a table to sing the familiar song while the birthday boy or girl gets to wear some kind of silly hat. Sometimes we even see it posted on a lawn for all to see. I saw a big sign decorated with balloons on a front lawn last week, announcing the occasion to all who went by. (Happy birthday, Kyle!)

But not all of us want to celebrate. In an episode of a popular T.V. show aired recently, the main character avoided the subject of his birthday and became cranky when anyone brought it up. The scene at the end of the show is sad as we see him alone, downing a drink and playing Happy Birthday to himself on the piano. Sometimes we don't like to be reminded that we're getting older, but we all know it should be an occasion to be happy, an occasion to receive love and perhaps even a few gifts from those around us.

A birthday is a reason to celebrate. On a certain date in time, at a certain place, a miracle happened. You were born, I was born, along with millions of others. It's one of those every-day miracles that are easy to overlook because the event is so normal. But the birth of a new child is a reason to celebrate, because each and every one has the potential to fulfill his or her God-given purpose for life ? to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Unfortunately we have a tendency to forget our purpose. Perhaps we were never told about it to begin with. Or, if we did know, we somehow got caught up in the process and forgot the goal.

Living without an awareness of God is like that man who didn't want to celebrate and ended up alone with only a glass of whiskey to fill the emptiness. There is so much more that ought to be received.

God is waiting to shower us with gifts, to bring us into a relationship of joy. He wants to blow noisemakers and tie bright balloons to strings to announce that we have been born again and now belong to Him. He even wants to sing over us. The prophet Zephaniah told the people of Israel ? 'the Lord your God is with you, he is might to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing? (Zeph. 3:17).

All it takes is the will to hear His voice, the will to turn around and let Him love you. Then even the angels will dance, as Jesus told us ? ?'there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents ?? (Luke 15:7).

Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada.  Her devotional book, The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others.  To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com
Copyright Marcia Lee Laycock, 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005