Birthdays seem to be a great time to reflect upon the past years and ponder our future. As a child there are no concerns about the past and future, only the joy of the present-day celebration. Yet, as we grow, the concerns of life begin to creep in. What will I do with my life? Do I go to college? What type of job do I want? Who will I spend my life with? Where to live? So, so, so many decisions to make that it can be overwhelming and very stressful. Wouldn’t it be great to live life like a child who was truly only concerned about the present?

     What if we could know exactly what the Lord wanted us to do every day? What if, instead of worrying about our decisions, we could just relax and live life to the fullest?  We CAN!! Our Holy, Loving Father in heaven desperately wants us to live life with joy. He is not a big cosmic tease that tells us we can have a better life but doesn’t give us the means to make it happen. Our verse above tells us that we can be wise and understand what God’s will is for our life. In fact, there are several specific verses in the Bible that clearly state His will for our life –

    1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward”

  1 Peter 4:2 “that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication.”

            The challenge for us is we want God to specifically tell us – take that job, eat at that restaurant, marry this person, live here, etc….    When it comes to living in God’s will, He is more concerned with our spiritual maturity and growth than the details we usually worry about. He desires that we follow Him and His Word and we can do that usually in either choice we make. Practically speaking, if you are concerned about a big or small decision, spend some time alone with the Lord and ask Him to reveal sin in your life. Confess that sin and ask God for clarity of thought. If what you are asking for does not violate any Biblical principle, then you are free to make any decision. Even if you may make what seems to be the “wrong” decision, God will still use that to conform you into the likeness of His Son.  It can be hard to learn this life lesson but when you understand that God will be with you and never leave you, you can feel free to make whatever decision seems best. If you are trusting and relying upon God, every decision you make will be the right one.

     Searching and studying Scripture for God’s will is very satisfying. Proverbs 3 is a great resource. Attack your journey with optimism and hope while trusting in our eternal, loving, omnipotent heavenly Father.

Dave R  

‘ 69 / ’83   Quarryville  PA

Back in 1995 I was part of a small men’s prayer group with 3 other men. It started out as a prayer group but one day that all changed when one of the men in the group was struggling and we could see it in his face. He turned to us and “spilled His guts”. He was willing to take a risk and share what he was struggling with. What happened next was amazing! He all looked at each other and one after the other confessed that we all were struggling with similar things and we needed God to move in our lives! I will never forget not only how much my respect for the first man who confessed to us had risen, but also what God began to do in our lives. From that point forward our meetings were not the same. We held each other accountable, prayed for each other daily and saw God move mightily in our lives!

To confess your sins to each other, meaning a fellow follower of Christ is not an easy thing and requires us to be vulnerable with them and ultimately with God. It may not be easy, but God has a plan and a purpose for you being vulnerable. When we can take this step with a fellow believer it releases something within us. When we can be vulnerable and share our secret sins and struggles with others it opens us up to have Jesus come into those dark places in our lives that so easily entangle us. Confession is a catalyst for repentance which leads to healing. Praying for each other is the vehicle for that healing.

The second part of the verse is in conjunction with “righteous.” Person in prayer is powerful and effective! So, who is righteous?  Romans 5 verse 1 says Therefore, since we have been justified (or Righteous in some translations) through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is those who have put their faith in Jesus for their salvation. Believers who are talking the talk and walking the walk. These are the people you should have praying for you! A close friend, a pastor or mentor. Someone you can trust! Find that person today and ask them if you can share with them the sin you are struggling with and pray for you. Once you have taken that step of vulnerability you can experience a new level of God working in your life. Ask them if they would hold you accountable and keep you in prayer. In my experience this has been some of the most rewarding relationships I have had. I have seen God move powerfully through confession to someone in whom I trust will keep it, hold me accountable and pray for me daily. 

Glenn C 

’68 / ’87   Winter Garden  FL

I have a young friend named Ben who just shoved off to his first day of Navy boot camp a couple of weeks ago.  Ten weeks to learn the ropes of life in the United States Navy.  I wanted to write Ben a note of encouragement.  Here is some of what I wrote.

Now that you know Jesus, you will NEVER go anywhere by yourself.  He has promised that He will be with us until the end of this age. (Matthew 28:20)  And He has told us He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  So, our wish is “Fair winds and following seas!”

One of Carol and my favorite songs is “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning”.  Ben, you may be surprised to know that both of our families are loaded with sailors.  My dad served in World War 2 in the Merchant Marines.  He was stationed on one the boats the German and Japanese forces enjoyed blowing out of the water.  God protected my dad and his service was always a source of pride for our family.  Carol’s dad signed up for the U.S. Navy at the outset of World War 2, right after Pearl Harbor.  He sailed and fought for our country throughout the Pacific.  For the rest of his life, he loved fishing and taking boats out into the ocean and bays near Atlantic City. 

The song “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” is a gospel song about how God saves lost souls like he saves lost boatmen.  He uses lighthouses and the men who keep the lamps burning to guide “the poor, fainting, struggling seaman” to harbor and God uses Christians to be His lighthouses to guide struggling sinners to heaven. 

As I wrote to Ben my thoughts turned to the disciples of Jesus on earth being the lower lights which struggling citizens on earth need to see to point their way to the Savior.  It is our responsibility to be that light.  As Our Lord said, “You are the light of the world…”  The Lord declares we are the light (small L) of the world as a representative of the greater Light of the World.  We reflect His light to a very dark world.

George Q   

   ’56 / ’79 Egg Harbor Township NJ

We need to Wake up! Consider the path we are walking and allow the Light of Christ to expose the darkness so we can walk enlightened by the Truth in God’s Word. You know the door hangers you use at hotels, “Do Not Disturb.” Sometime s we go home or go to church or school or work with one of those hung around our necks. Too many sermons are like bedtime stories when they ought to be like an alarm, to wake up. We shouldn’t walk in with a little sign around our neck that says, “Please do not disturb.” Nobody can see the sign but it’s there. Paul is saying, “Wake up!” Adrian Rogers said it like this, “Too many Christians look like they’ve been chloroformed rather than transformed.” Paul is saying that we’re to wake up; we’re to walk in the light. Walk means so many different things. This word will be used literally and metaphorically today. It’s something we all do, if possible, literally. But I am mainly talking about this perspective of the “walk”. It’s “How we conduct ourselves in a particular manner as we pursue a particular course of life.”

Walk means many different things. In basketball it means someone has taken more steps than allowed when they are dribbling the ball and get a penalty. In the labor force it means to walk out in protest or strike. In the judicial system it means the prosecutor didn’t get a conviction and the defendant walks. In baseball it means that the pitcher can’t find the strike zone and throws “balls” and after four of them the batter gets a free pass to first base. There are multiple other meanings too. Walk out, walk on, walk off, walk with, walk through, walk up, walk the plank.

The danger of walking means how you conduct yourself determines your direction. So what? Why does this even matter? Because you have been warned. Walking in darkness will destroy your testimony and credibility as a Christian. But it’s not too late, you haven’t gone too far. Do you believe that with God nothing is impossible? If you are reading this and have a breath in you, God has a plan and a purpose for you.  It’s time to walk in the light for the first time. It’s time to walk in the light again. John 5:24 says, “I assure you: Anyone who hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgement but has passed from death to life.”

Would you like to receive this gift of eternal life Jesus mentions here? Maybe you would like to stop right here and ask God to save you or renew your faith and start with a new purpose to serve God and “wake up and walk in the Light.”

Mike R 

’67 / ‘83   Jacksonville  FL

          Your birthday is a very special day for you and for those that love you. It’s at least one day of the year that others honor you, not just for being born but for being the special person that you have become. I know for me; it makes me feel uncomfortable (but special) when others are recognizing and putting a spotlight on me. For others, it comes more naturally.

            In today’s social media world, most of us either consciously or unconsciously, keep track of how many birthday wishes we receive. We all desire to feel loved and honored.  I wonder how many birthday wishes the most popular person on social media receives?  1 million, 10 million, 100 million? No matter how many, there is One that one day will receive much, much more praise.

            According to our verse today, at some point in the future, the world’s most powerful person, Jesus (some might call Him the ultimate Superhero) will be exalted and honored by every created being. In 5:1-4 there was a problem so bad it caused an angel to weep because no one was worthy to open the scroll of God. BUT in vs 5 –“ … Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof. (Vs 6) And I saw in the midst of the throne….a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Vs 11) And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands (Vs 12) saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing. 

            The challenge we all face is that our sin has separated us from a Holy God. There is nothing we can do in our own power to fix this problem. At the just the right time in history God sent His Son who lived a perfect sinless life so He could be able to die for all of mankind’s sins. If we want to spend eternity in heaven with God, we need “to confess (agree with God about our sin) with our mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, (and) you will be saved” Romans 10:9

            Your birthday is special. It was the day you entered this world as a person with a body, mind, soul and spirit. There is another incredibly special day coming when every created being will give glory to the One who conquered death. Jesus will have billions of people shouting His praise, but not everyone of those people’s destination will be heaven.  God gives us a choice in our life to make the decision to confess our sins and accept what Jesus Christ did for us or we can choose to ignore His gift. If you have not done so, make this day your spiritual birthday so you enjoy eternity with Jesus.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Dave R

’69 / ’83 Quarryville PA

If you ever feel like you are being beaten down or attacked by the world this verse is for you. In the verse it tells us that if we are Christians we will face opposition just like those before us but we can go through it with joy because our life does not end here on earth and our rewards will be better in heaven. Before this Jesus is preaching the beatitudes and showing that He came to the earth for all of us broken people and we can have joy because of Him. Today we can know that we will get through the persecution because the Holy Spirit is with us every step of the way.

Leanne R

’95 / ’02 Jacksonville FL

Bonus verse – Romans 12:13 -When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

This past week I have been pondering the will of GOD and am I acting in it?  My life at the moment feels very mundane, ordinary and well not very much like a blessing. I saw how GOD was giving my friends these amazing adventures to utilize their talents and I was jealous.   So I came to GOD and asked why won’t you use me?  It was an honest conversation but it probably sounded very much like a two year old tantrum.

GOD reminded me of cookies and these 2 verses “build each other up” and “ …always be eager to practice hospitality.”

I wrote down the definition of hospitality on a post-it and put it on my computer for the week: “Hospitality is simply an opportunity to show you love and care.”

Graciously God showed me this command in a gentle way.

 1) Remembrances to call back to memory where GOD had been faithful and used me “the cookies”:

One Monday, I kept on feeling the Holy Spirit tugging on me to make chocolate chip cookies for small group that night.  I didn’t want to.  Didn’t have time too – didn’t care too – a million different excuses.  Finally gave in and made those cookies but with a VERY cranky attitude.  Why were these cookies so important that I had to interrupt my day to make them?

This is where the awesomeness of God comes in.  As I sat the cookies down at small group, the leaders 4 year old son, started giggling and doing a happy dance.  His mom asked him why the happy?  He said, “I prayed for cookies and God even gave me my favorite.”  I was humbled.  God saw.  He answered.   He heard the tender hearted prayer of a 4 year old’s request for cookies.

2) People to gift the practice of hospitality to this week:

A friend who lost her husband on Thursday.

A 91 year old widow who was grieving the second anniversary of his death.

A retired couple struggling with recovering from a string of surgeries and unplanned changes.

If I am honest the gifts I gave this week were small and maybe a little mundane but my prayer is that they uplifted the spirit of those who received them. That GOD would use them.

I also chose this week to remember GOD sees us where we are at.   He knew His people needed the personal caring touch of others.  In all types of circumstances: joy, sorrow, fear, grief.  That special touch.  To be the caring hand of God in a real world that reinforces God’s promise that He sees us.  He sees us in our sorrow, our aloneness, our joy or even on our very worst day.

So today I chose to make it a day where I show God’s love and care to those around me.  Choose your birthday to be that day where you love those around you.

Deb R 

’70 / ‘ 77     Eustis  FL

How many times do we stand at the fridge with the door hanging open to decide what we are hungry for? Well, this verse talks about a much bigger form of confusion – heresy. False teachers come in too many shapes and sizes and sometimes our own family members or close friends can fuel our confusion, Bottom line is that the Bible is the one and only true source of answers without confusion. We can always take our questions to the Bible and get the answers. It is God’s direct message to us, and He speaks very clearly through His Word. Instead of standing at the fridge today try to stand with the Bible open and see what God has to say.

Denise R  

’67 / ‘ 80   Quarryville   PA

Doris Jean H

’44 / ’55 Manheim PA

Here are some verses for your day plus a cool video. Happy Birthday !

Romans 2: 29

“but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.”

Joel 2: 29

“And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.”

Revelation 2: 29

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”

1 John 2: 29

“If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.”

Please know that February 29^th is not just anyone’s birthday, it is your birthday!! It is so special that it only comes around once every 4 years! Before, you were even the gleam in your mother’s eye, God was thinking about you. Before the creation of the world, you were on God’s mind, and He chose February 29^th to be your birthday. So, on this day we want to recognize you and say, “Happiest of birthdays!”

There are many voices in your world that are trying to get your attention. It can seem like everyone has an opinion about everything. At times it can even become difficult to clear the mental clutter. On this your birthday, here is something worth listening to… He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2:29

If God were to send you a birthday card today, He just might say something like this.

You are loved – “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

You are cared for – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

You are never alone – God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

You are victorious – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

I am not sure what is happening in your life today, but know that God loves you, He wants to restore your spirit, He wants to be involved in every aspect of your life, and what seems impossible to you, is possible for Him!

So, on this your birthday, February 29^th, be reminded that you are still on God’s mind. Unlike any other gift you will receive today, God’s gifts are gifts that just keeps on giving for all eternity!!

Brian G

   ’54 / ’66 Columbia SC