Today is my birthday. I’m 69 years old today. I LOVE birthdays!! Sure, I love that special dinner date with my husband, spending time with wonderful friends, presents and cards and well-wishes and all. But at this age, I’ve come to understand that birthdays are so much more than the things you get, tangible or otherwise.

When I awoke this morning the first thing that came to my mind was Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV):

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!

Read that again. Now think on it. WOW!!! That means I’m so very important to Him, my Creator! It just blows my mind!!

He has given each day of my life as a gift. He knew all about them — good and bad — before I was even born. He’s the one who decided who my parents would be, my brothers and sisters, my own children and grandchildren.

Now, the last two years have been filled with personal loss; the passing of my mother, family members turning their backs on me and some physical issues, too. As difficult as it’s been, it has caused me to hold stronger and stronger to the One who Created me! 

Over these many years full of days, I have certainly made a mess of more of those days than I care to remember. At the same time, I don’t really want to forget them, because they remind me of the amazing grace and unfailing love and forgiveness that Jesus has bestowed upon me, simply because I trusted him. That day in August, 1986 was truly my “born again” day. My life was changed forever and for all time that day.

That change was not obviously immediate. Believe me, it’s been an real process and, thankfully, that process will continue until my last day on this earth. And that’s wonderful! I don’t want to be the same person next birthday as I am this birthday. I can rest assurred that God will be right there with me through to sunshine and the storms, in the desert and in the lush places. He has been there in the battles and in the times of perfect peace. And I have done nothing to deserve anything good, except follow Christ and allow him to change me into that person that I was intended to be when he knit me together. 

I was a church-goer. I believed in God. I tried to do my best and be “good.” None of those things made a real difference in my life. Nothing ever really changed until I trusted Jesus Christ!

As I look back on my life and see all those who have gone before me, family and friends, classmates (one who passed away just yesterday), fellow church members, I wonder when my days will be no more. And while I’m not crazy about where my mind takes me as to the manner and cause of my death, I have no concerns, fears or worries about what will happen thereafter and throughout eternity. Jesus already paid the ticket price for my admission into the great and awesome eternity in heaven. 

 There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the greatest gift you can ever give to yourself is to allow Christ to be the Lord of your life. Please, do it today. Nothing would make me happier than to know I would share a birthday/new-birth-day with you! 

Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful birthday. Oh, and I plan on having a 70th birthday. I’m already planning that party!!