Today, I am turning 23 and feeling a little extra grateful for all of the things that God has allowed me to experience and given me these past 23 years.
For one, my life right now as I had pictured it when I was younger doesn't look a thing like that I thought it would... and that's a blessing.
God has protected me, God has gone before me, and God has shown His favor upon my life.
Today, I sit at a coffee shop, and reflect back on where God has brought me. Truthfully, I don't know where I would be if I did not know Jesus as my Lord & Savior. From accepting Christ at age 8, to turning 23, I have never once regretted my decision to follow Him. Of course there have been hard times to the point where I have questioned my own thoughts, beliefs, and decisions to lean on the Lord. However, at the end of the day, I am always reminded of the One who stayed faithful and who in all points was tempted like we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). It is truly an amazing and humbling thing to think that the Creator of the Universe became a man who lived and breathed on the very earth He spoke into existent only to die in my place when I had nothing to offer him.
I mean, how crazy is that?
Romans 5 puts it so beautifully, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (verses 7-8). Jesus willingly laid down his life for us when we were bankrupt, broken, and in the filthiness of our sins. Today, I am utterly thankful for a God who chose to rescue me in the midst of my brokenness and save me from myself, so that I could reflect the love of Christ and bear the fruits of His spirit.
Love. Joy. Peace. Longsuffering. Gentleness. Goodness. Faith. Meekness. Temperance.
These are the characteristics of my sweet Savior, and these are the characteristics I aim to produce for the next 23 years or longer of my life. I am extremely indebted to Him, and just wanted to thank Him for allowing me to even be here on this earth and partake in the riches of his grace.
I also wanted to thank God for my amazing family that He has blessed me with. My mom, my dad, my sister, my brother, my in-laws, and sweet nieces & nephew. What a privilege it is for me to be a part of the Brogle fam and share in the warmth that comes from being loved, treasured, & valued as a daughter, aunt, little sister, and sister-in-law. God has truly surrounded me with the best support group and best family. Obviously, I'm partial, but still, God is good. :)
With that being said, I just wanted to hop on here and praise God for what He has done and what He is continuing to do in my life "being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). I know God's not done with me yet, really He's just getting started.
I can't wait to celebrate with you all in the grace of our Lord and grow in Christ His Son.
Much Love,
Hailey Renee
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