Today I Turned 50 And Am Thankful

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10 (NKJV)

One of the most influential teaching sessions I ever experienced was from John Maxwell in the mid-90’s who on his 50th birthday released an INJOY Life Club Tape lesson entitled “I’m 50 And Reflecting.”  John’s lesson two decades ago serves as inspiration for today’s post.
Today I turn 50 years old.  It is a mile-marker day in my life.  When I turned 40 I was so busy I think I was 42 before I realized I had turned 40.  I just blew through that birthday.  But this birthday was not going to just blow by.
For a couple of months leading up to this day I really struggled with turning 50.  I did not know why.  And the fact I did not know why made it even worse.  You can’t fix what you can’t diagnose.
But about Tuesday or Wednesday of this past week, I began to turn the corner.  And I can honestly say, that as I sit here today celebrating 50 years on this planet, I have never been happier or more grateful in my life.
I Am 50 And Thankful.

1. First and foremost, I am thankful for Jesus Christ.  I am thankful He loves me so much He would give up Heaven for season to come to this planet, take on the form of a baby and grow into a 33-year-old man who would die for my sins.  All of this was done so He could glorify His Father and we could spend eternity together.
2. I am thankful for Sonya.  In two days, we will be married for 25 years.  She is the greatest women in the world, an amazing mother and the best friend I have.  She truly is the Proverbs 31 woman.
3. I am thankful for Anna.  She is the greatest daughter a father could ever have.  At 17 years old, she leads worship at four different churches.  She makes straight A’s.  And she honors her mother and father.
4. I am thankful for my in-laws.  They have truly modeled what generosity and being Godly grandparents look like.
5. I am thankful for my career.  God has given me the privilege of serving pastors and church leaders for the most part of the last 14 years with INJOY Stewardship Solutions.  They treat me great and give me everything I need to serve pastors with excellence.  I also work with an amazing team of people who I love dearly.
6. I am thankful for friendships.  Because of this site and my work with INJOY Stewardship, I have had the privilege of developing meaningful friendships with literally hundreds of pastors and church leaders.
7. I am thankful for my current and previous churches.  It is there where I was taught the Word of God.  A special thanks goes to my senior pastors Jim Lowery, Mark Marshall, Bob Chastain, Gerald Harris, Ike Reighard, Mike Linch and Crawford Loritts.
8. I am thankful for this site and its readers.  God has used it to have a global impact and develop relationships with you the readers.
9. I am thankful for the blessed life God has given me.  I love my life and am so glad He has not called me to a lesser task.  As John 10:10 teaches, it truly is an abundant life.
10. I am thankful the best is yet to come.  I do not know what this decade holds but I know Jesus will be with me, my family and my friends every step of the way.  And I am also so grateful for the eternity I will spend with Him.

When I was 25 years old old, if you would have told me I would have 25 years of happy marriage to the most beautiful woman in the world, have the greatest daughter a father could ever have, have wonderful in-laws, a successful career, a popular book and website, and a wonderful church, I would have taken that in a heartbeat.
In His kindness, God has given me all of this and more.
I Am 50 And Thankful.

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