In 2010 He gave me a new song!

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future. 

 I don't quite know how to say thanks to God for this very special song that played today in which each word reverberated with me. I remember a long time ago when Andrae Crouch's Through It All became my life song. And tonight, on the eve of my 55th birthday, my life song has a new dimension in What Faith Can Do by Kutless.

My friends, the past several years have been difficult. Totally different from what I had envisioned my life would be. Yet tonight, instead of despair and disappointment, my heart and my spirit bubble with a joy that springs from deep within me. There is a wellspring of joy in me. Jesus in me.

I know God was, is, and will be in the details and He surely equips for what He has ordained for each of us. I realize now the faith that He has solidified in me for His glory. He is doing that for you too in the midst of your struggles today and one day, He will let you glimpse the glory that is being created in the invisible realm, like He did for me today.

My desire is to know Him, my purpose is to know Him and make Him known. I must decrease so He will increase.

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1 Peter 1 (The Message) 

A New Life

^3-5What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.

 ^6-7I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

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On my birthday I want to bless all my friends with "hope that never ends, even when the sky is falling".

(Read the lyrics, then play the video clip below.)

What Faith Can Do Lyrics

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise