Today is my BIRTHDAY! I am the big 26! Funny thing is...it doesn't feel like my birthday...it feels just like any other normal day at work! Does a birthday ever feel like a BIRTHDAY once you hit 19. I don't think so...

When you were a child your birthday was a holiday...you counted down the days until...BAM...you were considered another year older. You got great presents had a big birthday celebration...your BIRTHDAY was a BIG deal! Take my daughter for instance, she is already counting down the months to her birthday and making a mental list (or should I say having me make a mental list) of everything she wants, who she wants to be there, and what kind of birthday cake she wants. My birthday on the other hand will come and pass into oblivion without most of my friends and family even noticing...when you are an adult birthdays are no fun!

This kind of reminds me of they way some people feel about religion...when you are a kid you have great church camps, fun Sunday school classes, and you look forward to going to church! When you grow up things somehow become less fun and sometimes quite boring! Sundays come and they go without most even noticing what day it is except for the knowledge that they have to go to work the next day.

I hate this perception. We go to an AWESOME church! We look forward to going every Sunday! You don't think about what you want for lunch or what you need to do that afternoon while the pastor is speaking. Guts Church makes "adult" church fun! Pastor Bill energizes you with the Word of God so that you can make the week ahead amazing...or if not amazing at least you don't worry about it! The Word should not feel like a chore...it should feel like a rejuvenation, a celebration, a healing of your soul. God did not intend for "religion" to be just something you did out of obligation...He intended for you to have a RELATIONSHIP with Him, a friendship, a father/child intimacy. He is your father...Abba.

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:14-17)

I challenge you and myself to seek a more intimate RELATIONSHIP with Him, not to feel that it is an obligation or a chore but a friend that you want to get to know more about.

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." (Gal 4:6)