Happy Birthday Jimmie!

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning, new every morning:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord – great is Thy faithfulness!”

Edith McNeill set those words to music in 1974 as a reflection of the truths contained in Lamentations 3:22-23. In that passage Jeremiah offers his own experience of God’s goodness as encouragement for God’s people to find hope even in very difficult times. Timeless indeed.

Many of us who remember when Mrs. McNeill’s Scripture song was new (or nearly new) have sung it (at least in our minds) at a dark moment when we really needed to be reminded of the faithfulness of God. (We thought it was “contemporary” – imagine that!) Maybe we were going through a long trial, or a protracted spiritual battle, that had robbed us of sound sleep many nights in a row. As long as the trial lasted, a new day meant a new reminder that the battle wasn’t over – and we were tired because rest was hard to find – but the morning light also meant a renewed hope in the goodness and provision of the Lord. There’s something about a new day that brings at least a little new strength.

Eileen and I walked through more than one failed adoption, and I can remember such heaviness of heart that the knowledge of God’s grace became the only life ring in the sea of sadness that seemed to surround us. But God was faithful. As He always is. We look back now on those chapters in our lives as seasons of needed growth in absolute reliance upon our Lord and Savior. We needed to know that His plan was perfect, no matter how we felt at the time. We needed to know that Christ is enough. I’ve lived half a century now, and I can tell you that Christ is enough. (Please remind me tomorrow, though, as I’m not immune to spiritual amnesia.)

A week ago today I enjoyed the amazing privilege of celebrating the 100^th birthday of one of our beloved church members, Jimmie Mahoney. Jimmie looked gorgeous all decked out in her bright pink outfit, complete with shiny tiara. Her regal attire made her dazzle with the sophistication of a member of the royal family. And why shouldn’t she look like a queen? You don’t turn 100 every day.

As I thought about Jimmie’s life, I thought about all the history that she has personally observed over the last century. All the American Presidents she could tell us about. All of the personal joys and all of the personal sorrows, rolled into one beautiful life. I thought about the faithfulness of God to her all those years. His stubborn love for her. His relentless gifts of just what she needed, at every point along the way. That’s quite a track record of faithfulness, isn’t it?

But then, again, that’s the Lord’s faithful record in your life too. And in mine. He’s never made a mistake. Not one. Even those things we couldn’t figure out or accept – maybe we still can’t – were all part of a good and gracious plan that He was orchestrating on our behalf (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11).

And so we choose to trust Him now. For today, and even for tomorrow (Proverbs 3:5-6). Not many of us will celebrate a 100^th birthday. But whether we do or don’t, the same faithful God who cares for Jimmie is all we need.

And when we leave this earth, we’ll see with perfect vision how God’s faithfulness was with us every step of the way. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope” (Lamentations 3:21).

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, Dear Jimmie!

Happy Birthday to you!