By the time you read this blog, I will have turned seventy years old!  I feel that, in seventy years, I have learned a few things and would like to share some of them with you.

 The greatest thing I have learned concerning my relationship with God, is that, I can trust and depend on Him, no matter what.  There are a lot of facts I do not know.  There are also many situations in my life, that I do not understand. However, this I know...in all of those situations, God is faithful.

 He promised to be with us and keep us.  Isaiah 46:4, "Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear (to bear, to carry, as an infant in the arms); even I will carry, and will deliver you."  Isaiah 41:10 reads, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'"

 I have experienced tribulations, conflicts, physical struggles (I have had about 16 surgeries) and other difficult situations that have weighed heavily on my ability to face the challenges of life.  As, I have shared previously, one of my greatest 'life' lessons came at a time when facing some of those challenges, I came to the end of myself and cried out to God, saying, " Just let me die, I can't take the pressures of life any longer."  My Father God's reply was almost audible, when He said, "Good, that is what I have been waiting for."  His point, of course, was that I needed to die to self and stop trying to solve my issues in my strength, my knowledge, and my power.  What I absolutely needed was to allow Him to work through me, with His strength, His knowledge, and His power.

 My life lessons learned through that experience were:

 He is the One Who enables me.  1 Timothy 1:1, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.."

 He is my strength. 2 Corinthians 12:10, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

 I succeed through Him. 2 Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

 I am strengthened through Him by the power of His Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 3:16, "that He (the Father) would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man..."

 Apart from Him, I can do nothing.  John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

My relationship with my Heavenly Father, His Son, Jesus, and His Holy spirit has been a journey... a process.  He has been with me in the valleys as well as on the mountain-tops.  Always, He has held my hand, and when necessary, even carried me through the difficulties.  In the most difficult times, He has spoken the clearest.  In the midst of the greatest trials, He has given me visions and dreams.

 As I have fellowshipped intimately with God, there have been times of dancing and times of singing new songs.  Ephesians 5:19 and 20, "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..."

 I have learned that I can choose to be calmly happy, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks to God in everything.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

 At times I fail and fall.  However, He always picks me up and reminds me that I am His and that He loves me.  My Father longs to have an intimate relationship with me.  His desire is that I be one with Him.  In John 17: 20 and 21, we have a prayer Jesus prayed in the presence of His disciples, (NLT), " I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

 My Father has taught me that the most effective way to attain intimacy with Him is through His Word, as revealed by His Spirit.  There are no short cuts.  It is a process.  Going through the process can be both joyful and sometimes painful.  One thing though, I know for certain, God has been with me every step of the way.  Hebrews 13:5b and 6,"For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." 6 So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"

 Throughout all of my journey, God has blessed me more that I can describe.  He placed me in a home with godly parents and wonderful siblings.  He called me to a marriage with the wife of His choosing.  Donna and I both know that God chose us for one another and has blessed our marriage.  He entrusted us with two sons and a daughter-in-law, all who love and serve Him as well.  He added blessing upon blessing by giving us two wonderful grandsons, both of whom have accepted Christ as their Savior.  We are very proud of them.

 Donna and I prayed together before we were married and committed our lives to His will - not ours, but His.  We do not live a life having a lot of wealth, with earthly possessions.  However, God has provided for every need and has given us an abundance that goes above and beyond those needs.  We have no debt and enough to enjoy our home and family.  Life is good, very good, because He has been in the center of it and has poured His physical and spiritual blessings out upon us.  Philippians 4:19, " And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."  Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ..."

 So, here I am, in my70th year, overflowing with thankfulness to my Heavenly Father, for His calling and faithfulness.  Yes, eternally grateful that He made me His own, through the shed blood of His Son, Christ Jesus.   Through that sacrifice, He translated me from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light!

 According to Psalm 139:16, the Lord has established the length of our days. "(NASB20), "Your eyes have seen my formless substance; and in Your book were written all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."  However long God blesses me with life on this earth, I pray that He will strengthen me to complete what He has given me to do. 

 I know He has prepared a place for me in heaven.  John 14:1-3 (NASB20), "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be." When the time for me to enter into His rest comes, I look forward to seeing Him face to face.  1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."  Such good news!  Paul expressed his feeling concerning this in Philippians 1:21-24, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."

 As I get older, I can not help but realize that I am closer to heaven, where there is no more pain.  I am looking forward to seeing Jesus and all of those who have gone before.  For now, though, I will continue to trust Him in each day, doing what I can for Him, following His leading, and continuing to run my race, in His strength. 

 I will end with this prayer for you:

 May your walk with Him become more intimate, daily, and may the path He has chosen for you, be more illuminated.  Amen