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February 21, 2012: Today is my birthday

It's my birthday, and I've given myself permission to start it totally in slow motion. So, first I shuffled into the bathroom, looked in the mirror, saw my hair standing up in the "touchdown!" position, looked up and said, "Thank you for my birthday, Lord." I don't think He minds the hair.

Then I went to the kitchen and poured myself a good cup of decaf Mocha from Gevalia coffee. No Teeccino today. Teeccino is very good, but on a celebration day, I have to break out the decaf Mocha Java. Why decaf? Because the nutritionist said that it's better for my heart and my worn-out adrenal glands. That's another blog.

Then I cut up a Granny Smith apple into some vanilla Greek yogurt, added a tablespoon of ground flax and two tablespoons of granola, stirred and put the whole feast on my breakfast tray. Headed to the den for my daily closed-door session with my Lord.

After some prayer time, I opened His Word (I like to have my physical food with my spiritual food), and allowed my mind to think on what I was reading. Guess what verse showed up in my reading today? Nehemiah 8:10, and I'm not making this up!

"Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Eureka! What a birthday note! Permission from heaven to go out and “eat the fat and drink the sweet” on my birthday! I've got to hurry up here so that I can go out and obey these instructions!

After finishing my reading in Nehemiah, I went on to read my Proverb chapter for the day. I have many verses that I like in Prov. 21, because it is my "birthday chapter." Here's one of my favorites:

"The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of everyone that is hasty only to want." (Prov. 21:5)

I have learned that it pays to slow down when making plans, to allow time to be sure that I'm on track with what God wants for my life. That's one of the reasons why it took us so long to get this website online; we were still praying it out. And Norman and I like to avoid being "hasty" about anything in general. It's just too risky to rush things that don't need a rush job!

Well, it's time for me to go out and "eat the fat and drink the sweet." And I'm thanking God for giving me year number 54 of life. Of these 54 years, 35 of them have been as a Christian, since I was saved at age 19. Thank you for all the birthday well wishes on Facebook and by snail mail. I will obey your notes, and will enjoy my 35th/54th birthday. Keep the heart, sisters.
Love,
Francie
Prov. 4:23

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