When I turned forty years old ( just ten years ago) I was still in the "it's all about me" stage of my life. I demanded from Len that not only did I require a party with all my friends and family, but that I also wanted to go to the Homestead for the weekend and spend an entire day in the spa where it was going to be all about me. The timing of other things gets a little blurry... I can't remember whether I had pitched a fit then for the Volvo convertible I had always wanted , or the emerald ring that I had always wanted... but all of those things I had gotten because I deserved them. And I got whatever I wanted. And guess what... I still wasnt' happy.
Ok... so I diverge a little now. In 1993 I was dating a young man much younger than I. There were many things about that relationship that were not exactly "right". Don't get me wrong, there were things that good about it as well, but it certainly was not the relationship God had planned for me. But several very good things came from that not exactly right relationship. And I don't want to go into details of that relationship because I don't think it fair to tell my side and not the entire story. And that young man remains a friend. so... anyway.
In that relationship was where my journey back to a life lived as God had intended began. It was right after that relationship ended that my search and journey back to God really began in earnest. But during that,my friend was aware of my great love of gospel music. And in particular, he was very aware of my admiration of Mahalia Jackson. I would always say that when I went to heaven I was going to be able to sing like Mahalia Jackson. So, there was a play at the Swift Creek playhouse and he took me and I was touched...deeply. But not as much by the story as I was by the voice of Cora Harvey Armstrong. It was that day that I thought when I get to heaven I want to sing like Cora Armstrong. You could feel Jesus in her voice.
And so... the journey began slowly. In 1998 I met Len. And after an interesting courtship we were married. But I knew the entire time, from the first date that this was the man God had saved for me. When we got married in 2000 I wanted to have Ms. Armstrong sing at our wedding. She has been a symbol of my journey back to Jesus for a long time. But, alas, she was busy.
Over the last years I have followed her ministry. Through facebook I have been blessed by her workds of encouragement .
And so... now it is time for my 50th birthday. And praise God, it's not all about me.... not even close. It's all about giving God the glory for all that he has done in my life- a life transformed in the last 20 years... a life that is continuing to be transformed. And now Ms. Armstrong will sing on my birthday as we give God the glory.
I pray each of you will join us on that day for oysters and barbecue as we do the best we can to bless our minsitry in Kenya so that we can do what the Lord has asked.
Fifty is indeed the new 40 for me. I get the chance to do this birthday a little differently- my birthday, a gift from God, a celebration of a life I have now given to Him to use in any way He wishes.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will indeed give you the desires of your heart. And I apologize now Ms. Armstrong, but I might just have to sing along ( in a corner where no one can hear me)
