O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me … I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:1, 14)
I am sixty-four years old today. Aside from those previously unknown aches and pains that inevitably accompany the aging process, I really feel good – for an old guy. 🙂
As I reflect on my life, I consider myself incredibly and undeservingly blessed. Not that my life has been without its share of trials and tribulations – many of which were self-inflicted wounds and consequences – but through good times and bad, I have never felt abandoned by my Lord. Even when I did some pretty despicable things, God brought me back in line and back in sweet fellowship with Him. I have learned from experience that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And I have had plenty to confess! The assurance that I am secure in the hands of my Creator and Savior is the single greatest blessing in my life. Along the same lines is the assurance that when my time on earth is ended, I will be eternally in His presence. There can be nothing greater than that!
God has blessed me with so many precious and tangible gifts as well. Following a failed marriage, He restored “the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25) and more with my beautiful wife, June. She has enriched my life for over twenty-six years and the trend seems sure for eternity. God continues to bless me with wonderful Christian friends who are more like family. There is no sweeter bond than that found in the family of God. There is an even greater blessing in having earthly relatives who are also in the family of God. What a great reunion we will experience one day soon! God has also given me a great place to serve Him at the Institute for Creation Research. What a joy to fight rush-hour traffic every morning to serve and be with my brothers and sisters in Christ doing important work for the kingdom of God!
God has also given me two fine sons who are wonderful fathers to my three granddaughters and one grandson, and who are loving husbands to their beautiful wives, my daughters-in-law. They are the flesh of my flesh and the love of my life, and I am so very proud of them both. Yet to my knowledge, my time with them is only for this world, and this is my greatest sorrow. Yet, while there is life, there is hope. I do not believe God ever closes the door until the lights go out for the last time. In this too, there is blessing.
So, happy birthday to me! God is so good to me. He always has been, and He always will be. Of that I am sure. “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness” (Psalm 65:11). Please, Lord, I could use a little less fatness! 🙂
Ernie's Musings 