FROM SEED TO SAINT
Today is the fortieth birthday of my youngest daughter. Yes, it makes me “feel” my older age. So, in honor of my daughter, I would like to share with you a letter I wrote to her. But first, my prayer to the Lord:
I thank You for the precious gift of my daughter, Jessica, who is a blessing to me and to many others. I thank You for the privilege of being her father, and for the opportunity to train her in Your ways.
You have been faithful to me, her mother, and to her, guiding us, protecting us, and providing for us the knowledge and tools of Your indwelling Life. You have given her a heart that loves You, a mind that seeks You, and an indwelling Spirit that serves You. You have given her gifts and talents that she uses for Your glory. You have given her a purpose and a destiny that You have prepared for her.
I praise You for the work You have done in her life, and for the work You will continue to do. I ask You to grow her in Your grace, to fill her with Your joy, and to empower her with Your strength. I ask You to lead her in Your indwelling Truth, to surround her with Your perfect peace, and to inspire her with Your hope.
On her fortieth birthday, I entrust her to you, Lord, knowing that You love her more than I do. I commit her to You, Lord, knowing that You have a plan for her that is right and righteous. I surrender her to You, Lord, knowing that You are able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine as an earthly father.
You are my God, and I give You thanks for caretaking one of Your faithful. You are her God, and I give You praise. Through Your indwelling Spirit, I pray, amen.
My beloved Kiwi.
The biblical number 40 is a symbol of completion, testing, purification, and preparation. Our Lord often uses it to express a full period of time rather than a precise number. As you know, Kiwi, the Bible contains many references to the significance of 40, such as:
The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years and then wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land.
Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God. He also fasted for 40 days before seeing the Promised Land.
The great flood lasted 40 days and 40 nights, and Noah waited another 40 days after the rain stopped before opening the ark.
Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert and was tempted by the devil before starting his ministry. He also appeared to his disciples for 40 days after his resurrection.
Plus, 102 Bible passages referencing the Holy purpose of the number forty.
The number 40 tells us something important about God’s plan and purpose for His people. It shows that God is faithful and patient, even when His people are disobedient and rebellious. It also shows that God is gracious and merciful, providing a way of salvation and restoration for those who repent and believe. It also shows that God is preparing His people for a glorious future, where they will inherit His kingdom and enjoy His presence forever.
As you celebrate your 40th birthday, I want to remind you of the amazing Grace and Love of Christ Jesus. He has been with you through every season of your life, and He has a wonderful plan for the next season of your journey.
The number 40 is not just a number but a symbol of God's work in your life. It represents the completion of a cycle, the testing of your Faith, the purification of your heart, and the preparation for a new beginning. Just as God led His people through the wilderness for 40 years, He has been leading you through your trials and challenges. Just as Jesus fasted for 40 days and overcame the temptations of the devil, He has given you the strength and the victory over sin and death through His indwelling Life. Just as Jesus appeared 40 days after his resurrection, He has appeared in your daily life to cement the assurance of a victorious walk in Him.
In my mind, forty is not a scary number; it is a marker in your life that reveals a renewed fresh beginning of what I call the age of wisdom in Christ Jesus. It was no “accident” that Jesus was removed before He turned forty. His age of wisdom was to be experienced on Heaven’s side.
The first forty years of your life were to cement the doctrines of forgiveness – past, present, and of the future, His continued transforming power in your present and His secure plans for your future.
Sweetie, as you know, when you received Him, He made you a new creation. In the next forty years of your life, He will pass the wisdom of His new creation onto others. True and effective evangelism and discipleship begin in the second generation of wisdom. The first generation of wisdom is in training a child in the way they should go. The second generation is for ministry and overflow of the investment within the child of God. Due to this new identity, a renewed purpose, mission, and ability springs forth to minister to others. So, get ready for an exciting phase in your life journey.
Kiwi, as you enter this new decade of your life, I have confidence that you will continue to grow in the indwelling Grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus. Since I have watched you abide in His love, walk in His ways, and bear fruit for His glory, I do not question the effectiveness of the days ahead of you. Now that you have arrived at the perfect forty - count on experiencing an increase of His peace, joy, and power in every area of your life.
All this to say - blessed 40th birthday!
You are such a blessing to your Heavenly Father and to me. You have grown into a strong, spiritually intuitive, and compassionate woman of God who has become an example to the many who watch your life. Your beautiful reflection of Christ, endurance in your walk, and dedication to the Word inspire me and all those around you.
Saying I love you comes nowhere close to expressing my thanksgiving for you. You are not only my daughter but also my friend, my confidant, and my sister in Christ. We have shared so many memories – from the incubator to the antique malls, laughs (like yesterday), and tears over the shared sorrows of our loved ones. As a faithful daughter, you have been there for me & your mother through thick and thin, and I hope you know that I (we) are eternally grateful.
Oh, one more thing!
You have taught me so much about life, about myself, and about being a father. You lifted my soul when I was sorrowful, reminded me of God’s faithful words, and those daily hugs that reminded me to stay out of my detached flesh-pattern. I am so grateful that God gave me a daughter who reflects the ideals of the purpose and mission of the “why” God blesses fathers with daughters. Thank you! You are one of the best gifts I have ever received, and I thank God daily for blessing me with my beloved Kiwi.
As you enter the next 40 years of your life, always remember that this old Poppy will be with you to the end – for I am a father who knows the benefits of a Godly, faithful daughter.
In His Perfect Love, Your Poppy.
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Reader, without the indwelling life of Christ and my daughter’s faithful mother, who is the corner post of raising this faithful daughter, I would not be a father who cherishes the woman Jessi grew to be. The role of a mother and father is paramount in training up children in the Lord - Jessi is proof of this.
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