Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I watched the Master wake up the world and I spent a lot of time in His Presence to give Praise and Thanks for this new day of a new year of my life. A new year is something to Celebrate from the inside out. After a really good dose of Wisdom from my Instruction Manual and a cup of coffee, I’m ready to Celebrate this beautiful new day in my Journey of Life in a manner that will Pleasing to the One Who “knit me together” in my mother’s womb…the One who died for me! Without Him, I might be celebrating a day – with Him, I Celebrate my Life. Isn’t that the way you look at your birthday too?

My heart overflows with Gratitude this morning for countless things. Psalm 40:5 says “Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” It’s impossible to count my Blessings…there are too many to declare, but on this day I’ll declare a few.

I’m thankful for a saving Faith and that I know, with all that I am, that One Day I will spend the rest of my days in the Presence of the One who died for me and with all those Faithful ones who have gone before me. I’m thankful that all my children have a Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ too, and that parting from this earth won’t mean parting forever for us! We’ll have a Family Reunion in Heaven one day that will so beautiful it will defy words. I won’t just see the people that I’ve loved here on earth in Heaven – I’ll see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Daniel, Paul, and countless others that I read about in His Word! I’m grateful for the promise of Eternity for those of us who Believe – “too many to declare.”

I’m thankful for the world’s most amazing family. The Love that runs through my children for me and for each other is only possible through God and it’s an answer to a daily prayer since I became a Mom. God blessed me with children I don’t deserve and He has answered my prayers for Wisdom to raise them, a Heart to love them unconditionally…to forgive them just as Jesus forgives us all…to speak Kindness, and to reflect gentleness no matter what…I’m thankful for the health of each one of them..and for joy and laughter year after year. It hasn’t been a perfect journey and there have been plenty of storms, but we’ve Celebrated Victory together after the storms and we’ve always clung to our Faith to see us through. My thanks for my children and grandchildren -for the answered prayers, for all the provisions and blessings are “too many to declare.”

I’m thankful for my friends. Some that I’ve known for decades and some that have entered my life in this winter season…some I’ve never met in person but I love them all the same. Each one has Blessed me in ways “too many to declare.” I’ve felt their prayers in the trying seasons of my life and we’ve celebrated Victories at the end as I climbed back up to the mountaintop while they cheered me on – and we always give thanks to God for the new Testimony they know I’ll Share with the world. The goal of Christian friendships is to “spur” one another on to be all that we can be for Jesus, so, I spur every chance I get and I’m grateful for when they spur me on too. I love to belly laugh with them at every opportunity and my Heart and prayers can be counted on when they need me…and I know that theirs can be counted on when I need them too. “Too many to declare.”

My morning is already filling up with calls from my family and friends – each one with a priceless message of love for me as I celebrate a new year. Today I’ll gather with my precious friends at The Well, and I’ll feed them Truth with love. There will be some prayers, some songs, and even a few laughs as we break bread together and build our relationships stronger and stronger each time we meet. What greater way to spend a Birthday than to be feeding sheep in a barn in Virginia.” Too many to declare.”

Thank you, God, for another day, another year…and more time to make a Difference in this Journey called Life. thank you for each life my Life will touch throughout this new year – may I be a Reflection of you as I share the Truth with them with Christ-like Love. May I not squander even one day of this new year so that I can Live it out for you! Thank you for the Peace and Love. Thank you to my precious family and all of my friends for each sweet birthday message for me. My thanks are “Too many to declare”. My heart overflows.

Happy birthday to me!