Today is Gabriel's 4th birthday. Later I hope to write a few things about my very special and gifted boy.

Yesterday, I felt that same nagging feeling that comes with each birthday my oldest celebrates. The same remorse over days lost; time squandered. I look back and see too much frustration and not enough true love. I pause long enough to remember the joy of first knowing motherhood and I feel tears sting my eyes because I have not lived that joy each day.

There is truth to the fact that I have failed much. The problem, of course, is that when my meditations revolve solely around how miserable I am, I grow more discouraged, more disheartened, more doubting, and more faithless.

This morning, I rejected such thoughts. They are not from God.

This morning, I declared aloud the following, taken from "Biblical Confessions to build Your Faith" by Larry Tomczak. I double-dare you to read it aloud yourself and see if it doesn't change your morning as much as it changed mine!

    The righteous man falls seven times, but rises again. Champions don't give up; they get up. One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind, straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, my Lord. I put my hand to the plow, and I don't look back. I run to win. Zeal for Your house consumes me. The kingdom of heaven comes by violence, and those who take it, take it by force.
    It's not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit. He ever lives to make intercession for me. He is able to do exceedingly far more abundantly above all that I ever dared think or ask, by the power at work within me. He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion in the day of my Lord Jesus.
    Boldly I can approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace for help in the time of need. I'll be anxious for nothing. He will keep me in perfect peace for my mind is stayed on Him. Therefore I enter His rest. I've been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, and the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.
    ...This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I rejoice in the Lord always. I do all things without grumbling and complaining. His words were found, and I ate them, and they became unto me a joy and delight to my heart.
    ...I have the set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my soul rejoices. My body also dwells secure. You show me the path of the life. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. I will rejoice in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
    I wait upon the Lord, and He renews my strength. I will mount up with wings like eagles; I will run and not be weary; I will walk and not faint.