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Because I woke this morning filled with the love of the Lord God almighty, forgiven and saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ so I am promised eternity in heaven, a full-fledged, wholesale follower of Jesus, my big beautiful Bible having spent the night in my bed with me all ready to be opened and studied and lived, my heart aflame with love for the Lord, satisfied and fulfilled more than I have ever been because I at last know that this now 47-year-old life of mine is not my own. I was not born to live for me. I was born to live for Him. And though I have lost much of what I have wanted in life, and not gained much of what I desired, and though my life to many would look foolish for its simplicity and lack of things and dreams and desires of this world, I understand at last that my life is His. I belong to the Lord.
I am grateful for every birthday gift every person has ever given me, and am grateful for all the people with whom I have crossed paths in my life. But the greatest gift of all is not temporary like all other gifts. It is not to be opened and then placed aside somewhere, forgotten, used once in a while, handed off to someone else, nor will it wear down, break one day, fall apart, become no longer useful, or be a simple and lovely reminder of somebody’s love for me.
The greatest gift I’ve ever received is the Lord. And no person on this earth paid the price for this gift. Jesus Christ did. For when He went to the cross and took my sins upon Himself and bore God’s wrath against me for my sins upon Himself, and was raised by God three days later, He gave to me the gift of His life so that I would not spend eternity in hell – but so that I might repent and believe in Him and be forgiven and granted eternal life. Now, because of Him, I am reconciled to God, my Father in heaven, and have the most beautiful, most precious, most amazing, most intimate, ever growing, everlasting relationship with God.
Do you have this gift? It too can be yours.
I spent years upon years of my life wanting to celebrate the perfect birthday. This time around, on this 47th birthday of mine, I have no greater desire in celebrating this day than to love and glorify the Lord, and to tell the world about Him.
Do you have the greatest gift of all? Do you have the Lord?
I invite you to call me at 843-338-2219 if you would like to hear more about Him.
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!