Today I am celebrating my 50th Birthday and I give God all the glory and praise. It took 50 years to feel this good. I am in a very good place. I am feeling truly blessed.

Believe it or not, our success in life goes back to our parents. They are responsible for our upbringing, they are to train us up in the right way, instill good values in us that will carry us through the years, they nurture us, give us the best they have, pray over us and care of us. There is an old adage that says, once a man and twice a child, therefore, we as children are in our childlike stages, and therefore our parents when they become older, are in their second childhood stages. Should we not them respect them, nurture them, give them the best we have and care for them? Any child who honors his or her parents is blessed; that child will be happy and prosperous, but the child who dishonors his parents, his body will become the prey of sufferings, he will not receive the promised blessing of the Lord.

Are you aware that the longer you remain angry, the more opportunity you give to the Devil? That is why Scripture reminds us to be angry and do not sin nor let the sun go down on our anger. If you know that someone has hurt you, caused you to be angry, be sure to settle this before going to bed, for this will only give the Devil an opportunity to entice you, to fight back in ways that are not acceptable to God, but are profitable to him, because he would have indulged you and caused you to sin going against God’s desire for you. Be watchful. Resist the evil one. Do not give him any more opportunities to control you. You belong to God.

I am especially thankful for my family and the opportunity to spend time with them, to love them, to share with them, and to laugh with them. Lord, I am truly thankful that my daughter and I share a bond that you continue to bless, and I ask your prayers for this blessing for many more years to come. Amen!

Many times, instead of looking out for the needs of others, we become selfish and only look out for our own interests, we do for others when there is a benefit to us, we think only of ourselves, but Scripture reminds us that this is not God’s will. He asks that we look out for the needs of others more than ourselves, that we should do all things to bring Him honor and glory, for it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Praise the Lord!

He is like a shepherd watching over his flock, He will lead you in pleasant pastures, He will guide you along the way, He will defend you from sin and adversity, He will seek you when you go astray, He will hear you when you pray, He will bless you with His favor, He will love you, no matter what you have done, He has mercy and grace to pardon and cleanse you, He has the power to set you free, and He loves you and will love you still. Will you then allow the Savior to lead you and guide you in His way?

Many times we get up in the morning and rush right into the day, before taking a moment to stop and pray. My brothers and sisters in Christ, if it’s even to say, “Thank you, Lord”, for this new day, be sure to start the day with prayer, so that God will hear your adulation and be pleased with you. God is good, and his mercy is everlasting! Praise Him!

How then can you love God and hate your brothers and sisters? “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but, if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” Praise the Lord!

Beware, my brothers and sisters in Christ, that you do test the Lord, be careful that you do not disobey His word, be mindful of His goodness and mercy towards you. For, if because of your unbelief and hardness of heart that you test the Lord, and try Him, you will not attain the promise of entering into His rest. Who have ears to hear the word of God, let him hear and believe! Praise the Lord!

You have moved on, God has called you to a higher purpose, and you would think that your friends would be happy for you, but in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you, they speak evil of you, they seek to destroy you,; but do not let them worry you, God will protect you, and as obedient children of God, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance, for we are those whom Jesus saved, those who died to sin, therefore, we will not live in it any longer. Praise the Lord!