Wow, Praise God 70 years young!

So, it has been 34 days from January 29 until today March 2nd that The Lord has blessed me to begin this new chapter in my life.

But I must admit, for me this Milestone Birthday is different than the ones from the past, like when I turned 30, Or 40, Or 50, Or 60.

So, let me share with you my own personal assessment that you might find a little humorous, and that you might can relate to especially if you were born in the 1950’s or earlier.

I called this, “You know you’re turning 70!”

Listen, you know you’re turning 70, because you can remember when gas prices were under a dollar a gallon or even lower!

You know you’re turning 70 because you can remember when there were public payphones that you could use to make or to receive phone calls for 10 cent or 25 cent for so many minutes.

You know you’re turning 70 because if you went to your High School’s 50th Class Reunion, you hardly recognize anybody and there were those who hardly recognized you!

You know you’re turning 70 because you don’t need an alarm clock to awaken you each morning, because you are already up before the sun rises. And when the evening comes you’re already sleepy and ready for bed by 9 PM or sooner!

You know you’re turning 70 because you’re experiencing more bodily aches and pains.

You are becoming a little more forgetful and you are repeating things more often.

Your hair loss is more obvious, and so is your hair color, it’s changing from a dark color unto a gray color, unless if you are like me you are coloring your hair!

And that is why one of my favorite verses in the Bible says this, Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man the body is perishing, decaying, eroding, or aging. Yet, the inward man, the inner man or person, your spirit and soul, the real you on the inside, is being renewed day by day. That’s From 2nd. Corinthians 4:16.

Wow, 70 years young! You know Decade Birthdays are very special, Because a 10-year journey has ended. But the beginning of a new 10 year journey has now started!

And it’s been by the Grace and Mercy Of God, The Lord has kept me and has blessed me throughout these Seven Decades in so many ways.

But the most important way The Lord has kept me and has Bless me was in 1974 when I was 20 years old, 50 years ago this year.

By His Amazing Grace and unfailing Mercies, The Lord touch my heart, change my mind, help me to see my need for Him, and when I cried out unto Him to forgive me of all my sins, and that He would be my Lord and Savior.

Graciously He gave me His Gift of Eternal Life, and a Personal Relationship with Him and not just a religious experience.

From that day to this very moment, my life has never been the same.

And though I have not always walk with The Lord the way I should, yet He has never abandoned me, nor forsaken me He keeps on drawing me closer He keeps on forgiving me He keeps on loving me.

And because of all of that and much more, I want to do better.

I want a closer walk with Him.

I want to know Him more intimately. And I want to be like Him. I want to please Him, and bring glory unto Him in this life and in the life to come.

And truly, that is my desire for each and everyone of you as well. Not that you would live a long life only, either 70, 80, 90, 100, or 110 years!

But sooner than later if you have not already, that you would receive the one who gives eternal life, The abundant life which is made possible by a personal relationship with The Son, The Giver of life. I’m referring to none other than, The Lord Jesus Christ!

In 1st John 5:11 thru 13 it says, 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

So, as you can see, it’s not about me, But it’s all about Him at work in me. And He continues to work on me, and as you can see He is not finished with me yet. But every day He Helps me not to be what I used to be. For He enables me, and He strengthens me to be different, So I can make a difference in this world and in the world to come!

Now, I want to acknowledge my wonderful wife on this wonderful occasion. Because it’s not about me, it’s about us, being soulmates in this life, and in the life to come!

As most of you know, 37 days ago my wife was unexpectedly hospitalized. And in those moments we were not sure what we were facing at that time, but all Praise and Glory be unto God who has touched her and restored her health and strength.

Therefore, I want to share on this occasion why this year 2024 is so special for me and my wife. 50 years ago in 1974, the most attractive, intelligent and sophisticated young lady I had ever met, stole my heart. And we began a whirlwind romance in which I swept her off her feet (Smile). And we began to date exclusively with each other. Also, I gave her a courtship ring to let her know my affections were real and my pursuit of her was genuine.

Then one year later in 1975, I knew she was the one for me and I asked her on bended knee to marry me, and she said yes! This time I gave her an engagement ring to let her know I would be grateful to have her as my wife, the apple of my eye.

And then on August 14, 1976 here in Pasadena CA. we were married, and she became my wife, my bride, my queen, one of God’s daughters in Christ, whom He entrusted me with, to love and to cherish the way He does. So on that special day, I gave her a wedding ring so she would always know that the circle of that ring was a reminder of our unending commitment and faithfulness that we would give to one another.

And by The Grace of God this August of 2024, we will have been married for 48 years and counting. In fact, those of you in the audience who were apart of our wedding in 1976, could you please stand up so we can thank you again!

Now at this time, I want to thank our beautiful daughter Sister Nicole, who has done so much to make this 70th birthday event possible. In fact, she was personally responsible for my outfit that I’m wearing this evening. She took the time to go shopping with me and then paid for everything you see that I have on, so I could look good for my birthday celebration!

Also, I want to thank our handsome son, Brother Lamar who also helped financially to make this 70th birthday event possible. I thank him for taking today off, because usually Saturdays is a workday for him. And when he doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid. So I’m truly thankful to my son for sacrificing his schedule so we could be together.

I want to thank some of my extended family members, who came for this special event, who sacrificed their time and schedule and other responsibilities in order to be here with me today.

I want to thank all of you who came out in this rainy weather and traffic, or perhaps you had to deal with some unexpected thing, but you came out anyway!

I want to thank those who took the time to make a video or who live-streamed on Zoom to share their Birthday greeting and their words of encouragement unto me.

Also, I want to acknowledge and say thank you to so many of my friends and family who were not able to be here for this event. But they have reached out by phone, by text, mailing or giving me a birthday card with words of encouragement, or an envelope which contained a monetary gift, or a gift card.

But most importantly, they have been in prayer for me during this new season in my life just as many of you who are here are doing the same. Please know I appreciate that so much as well because I need the Shepherd’s guidance and Help especially now and in the days ahead.

So, I would like to close with this Birthday text that with God’s help I was able to create, and most of all I like to share it with others by text when it’s their Birthday. But today, I would like to receive it for myself.

It goes something like this, along with many of your loved ones, family members and friends, we wanted to encourage you today and beyond, that the cards, phone calls, text messages, and social media greetings that you received throughout the day, will cause you to Praise God, and be thankful for the lives you have touch, and for those who have touched your life also.

May The LORD continue to do a special work in your Heart that you might know Him better. Renew your mind so that you might follow Him unconditionally.

And may The LORD strengthen your body so that you may serve Him always. Amen!

Also, whenever you have a chance if you could read Ephesians Chapters 1 & 2, so that you might be reminded of how much God Loves you and has a purpose for you to fulfill.

Finally, as we continue in this year, may we make it our purpose and commitment to draw closer to The Lord Jesus Christ, and to The Father in Heaven, and to our helper, our enabler, The Holy Spirit during this time, in the days ahead, and for the rest of our days, Amen!!!