A Birthday Celebration: The Incredible Blessing of Just Being Alive
I’m not much into my own birthday. But today I turn 53. Amazing!
Where have the years gone?
As I woke up early again this morning – around 3:30 am (something I’ve been doing my mother tells me since I was born – lucky mum!!) I just realised again – afresh and anew – what an incredible blessing it is just to draw breath; what an awesome blessing it is just to be alive. (I wonder whether amidst the hustle and bustle of life, that’s not something that you and I forget all too often!)
And – as it always does when I read it – this passage of Scripture warmed my heart. May it remind you too, what an awesome blessing it is today, just to be alive:
Psalm 139:13-18
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
I come to the end—I am still with you.
Congratulations Berni!! I hope you had a great day of celebration – of life and family. I have had a busy week with visitors and only just caught up with your news. Psalm 139 is my favourite Psalm too (as I think it is for many people) and always fills me with the assurance of my Father’s love – that He knows all about me and has me in the palm of His hand. Thank you for the great job you do and the encouragement you are. God bless, Ruth
Hi Bernie,
Happy Birthday! I just turned 39 on 12 March. I also agree with Nsikak Ekpe ‘s comment. Your spreading of the Good News has been a tremandous inspiration to me!
Also, as I am not a new Christian, but recently made the decision to be born again, could no, or rather did not, think of a way to thank God for the wonderful blessing.
But your reference to the Psalm was a perfect way to do that!
Thanks and may God always bless you and keep you,
Cyril Bihary
Happy Birthday Bernie, as an child (and felt like it most of my adult life) I was told I was worthless and useless, but guess what? I am now starting to really believe that Jesus will never leave me and I am fearfully and wonderfully made!!! When I feel a bit down I just keep repeating it and reading these and other affirming verses of scripture and bit by bit it feels more real and I believe it! I praise the Lord for His words that are giving me back my self esteem and know I am a daughter of the King!
Many happy returns Berni. May the Lord give you many more blessed years to continue the wonderful work you are doing, especially getting the good news out to the lost around the world.
Have a great day.
Hey thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. Really appreciate it. Be blessed by the Psalm – God’s Word is always awesome!
The days of birthday cards seem a long time ago, don’t they?!
🙂
Berni
Happy birthday Berni
Thank God for another year in your life, with life in abundance.
And many more ahead with love, peace, joy, … wisdom, and fruits in abundance!
You said you wake up around 3:30 am … what time do you go to bed?
About 9.00 to 9:30 Marco – plenty of sleep. Usually 1day a week I “sleep in” ’til about 6.00.
🙂
Happy birthday Berni! Scary, 1959 and I had just gone from prep to high school! I like to turn the numbers around when possible, look what you were doing when you were 35 🙂 Psalm 139 a favourite, was my invite for my 60th bush dance celebration!
Happy birthday Berni. Thanks for reminding us what an incredible blessing it is just to draw breath & be alive. Hope you have wonderful time with family & friends celebrating life. Your writings & fb posts have been helping in my journey with God. Thank you for that.
Wishing you a very happy birthday Berni, may your day be filled with much love, laughter and happiness, and all the richest Blessings of God. Suze.x
Dear Berni,
For the few months i have come in contact with you,your writings have inspired me a lot.I just want to fish you a happy birthday.My sincere prayer is that the almighty God will continue to keep and bless you as you are a blessing to others.