Today is my 48th Birthday. If I could have it my way I would have spent every day of those 48 years serving the Lord. But somehow God took years of chaos and disobedience and turned them to good. He has helped me to use them to reach countless young people going down the same crooked path. He has used them to humble me and keep my heart focused on him. He has used them to help me understand the lost ones that need His truth. He has used them more than I could have imagined.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." - Romans 8:28

I clearly remember one day a few years after I had accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I was kind of wallowing in guilt and remorse for having taken so long to come to Him. I was regretting all of the mistakes that I had made and mourning all of the years that I had wasted. I opened my bible randomly and came to this word from God:

"I will repay you for the years that the locusts have eaten." - Joel 2:25

I began to weep openly and eventually was crying so hard that my bottom lip quivered and my shoulders were heaving up and down (it was one of those "from your toes" cries that leaves you oddly refreshed)...God knew exactly what I was thinking and feeling and in His kindness would repay me for the years eaten up by my insolence. He would somehow bless me for all of the lost time together. Wow, this is the God whom I serve...there are no words adequate to describe His love. The degree of compassion of a loving father, who cares for you without condition, melts the heart and spirit at once and leaves you completely undone.

I celebrate today, not in a narcissistic way, but in the joy of knowing that I am here another year. That today I do serve the Lord. That this little life of mine is fruitful and has eternal purpose. In just 11 years God has turned me around and made me into a blessing instead of a curse. Through the redeeming power of Jesus Christ I am abundantly alive. I wake each day joyful and focused, offering my life for His purposes and plans. I start each day excited for the opportunities that I will have to share His perfect love.

Today is my birthday...a gift to me, a time to remember the one who gave me birth, the one who breathed life into us all, the Holy one who is reigning over all the heavens and earth. My Father, my comforter, my friend. Today is a good day. I am thankful for a life so bountiful and abundant. I am blessed.