August 2, 2017 Wednesday

            Today is my 59^th birthday!  Many do not want to admit their age but to me reaching 59 is a miracle.  God came to me when I was 19 years old and was given 3 months to live.  Through Jesus I gained another 40 years but that is the least of what God gave me!

            For 40 years God has been with me and has brought Bonnie into my life and three wonderful children and now a fourth with a son who married my daughter.

            For 40 years God has used me in so many places and has allowed me to participate as He touched and changed so many lives.  So many people have sent cards for my birthday and it is a joy to know so many have been touched by God during my time serving Him.

            But most of all for 40 years God has loved me, blessed me with His presence and has taken a selfish boy with no future and worked me into a man who can look back and see God’s glory and blessing.

            Even now as I am on disability and miss so much being a pastor every moment I experience His love.  I would not trade the loss of pain because of the blessing of His continuous love and presence.  And I continue to be a minister as all Christians are called to be.

            So thanks be to God for the 40 years of real Life and the hope and promise that one day I will see the face of Jesus whose lap I sit in every day!