reBirth-day! {December 1st}

Today is a big day in my life!

 

It is my re-birthday!

 

Thirteen years ago, December 1st 2001, I made the public declaration of my allegiance to The Lord by baptism. Although there were other times where conviction, conversion and growth took place, this date serves as the beginning of my deeper walk with The Lord. I thank God for seeing another re-Birthday and I take this date to heart as I seek a rebirth in my life; both spiritually and socially. Some people look forward to January 1st for making changes in their lives, I say take your re-birthday as a date for self-reflection and change.

Do you remember your re-Birthdays? Do you recall those dates when your life took a turn for the better (we never forget those times when life turned for the worse). No one has any choice in his/her first birth, but everyone has a choice in his/her second birth. It's a date for reflection, for continued growth and continued thanksgiving to Christ Jesus for all HE has done.

 

December 1st is also the date that the world observes World AIDS day. In all the world's deadliest diseases, AIDS is still one of the most costliest, most feared and most stigmatized diseases of this century. According to the World Health Organization, HIV/AIDS is the 6th leading cause of death world wide {See reference here}. With the recent outbreak of Ebola, I have seen some similarities between both diseases (so I wonder if we would ever have a World Ebola day in the future), but there are many differences as well. One of the prominent ones is many can live with HIV/AIDS for longer periods of time, unlike Ebola that has a higher mortality rate. Despite it all, we have a work to do. We have millions of hurting people to reach out to, pray for, donate to and encourage. We don't have to go far to help someone; many of us have family members or neighbors who are in need. Whatever to do this holiday season, make sure you are reaching out to those who can never repay you.

"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." - Jesus

Happy ReBirthday to me!

December 1st is known as World AIDS day to the world, but this day also marks the anniversary of my second birth.

In the year that the World Trade Center fell, I was reborn. December 1st, 2001 was the date of my baptism. It was a wonderful day, and I was happy to make the public declaration of faith in the Adventist movement.

This was not without persecution; inside and out.

The years and especially the months that led to that decision were tumultuous, but I had the deepest belief that this was what The LORD was calling me to, and it is still one of the best decisions I have made in my all my life! All praise goes to The LORD!

This year marks the 12th anniversary of that life event. My walk has been plagued with some potholes, bumps, dark valleys and ditches, but thanks be unto God, even during those times I have had the Son of Righteousness with me and those dark days were more bearable because of His Presence. Besides those trials, the walk has been a 1000 times better and more deeper with The LORD than when I was born only once.

You don't have a choice in your first birth, but you do have a choice in your second. Looking forward to spending another 12 years (and more) on the LORD's team. :-)