Day 1–Birthday Countdown
1
God
This may not sound that significant, but when you share a neighborhood with about five or six Hindu temples and shrines, it is. Believing in the one true God isn’t just lip service. It’s my life now. I’m faced with the reality every time I go out the door and see my across-the-street neighbor’s idols and hear the music from her morning puja as my alarm clock.
And while I’m not really tempted to believe in a Hindu god, I am tempted to believe in nothing. With so many people around me worshiping so many different things, I am tempted to give up hope that others will believe in my God. And if you look at your own life, you may see the same temptation that manifests itself in different ways. But thankfully, the Truth of who God is isn’t dependent on our weak faith or ability to be tempted. It just is.
And I know that He has seen me through 30 years of life (and 23 years of being a Christian) and I am thankful for that kind of faithfulness. So, I guess that is one of the benefits to turning 30. 
I have so many more experiences to go back to for a reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness to me.
Well, thanks for sharing this birthday with me!
I have enjoyed this “trip” through your birthday count-down. I have been praying and will continue to pray for you, realizing that more temptations are confronting you there than would be here.
Keep up the good work. God has promised to “continue the good work He started in you”. That is a promise you can “take to the bank”.
Love you!