birthday reflections ...

another birthday has come and gone!!!!  i can't believe how fast the years have flown ...  it was a good birthday - i felt the love through notes, emails, phone calls from friends and family ... there were even visits (though the weather was not cooperating!!!) ...  GOD is so gracious in His dealing with me, i could cry because i KNOW i'm undeserving - but "in the Beloved" i am redeemed! ... and so thankful!

this morning as i was reflecting on life, and lessons learned through the years ... God's patience in teaching and re-teaching things ... i thought about the day yet to come ... there will be no more lessons ... no more time to learn truths here on earth ... no more testing of our faith ... because one day (soon?) God will say "put your pencils down - times up!" ... and off we will go - eternity beckons ...

The Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)

5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.