The Gift Of Another Year

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:1-18
Author: Mr. Elmer A. Dickson (Florida)
Thursday 25 April 2024 © The Upper Room.
At the retirement home where I live, I host the birthday dinners. Each month I share with the guests the verse quoted above.  A birthday celebration can be a time to take stock of life.  How have we grown in God’s grace?  Have we learned to love our neighbours as God has loved us?  Are we able to confess our shortcomings and to seek God’s guidance so that our lives are more pleasing to the Lord?

Sometimes I also read Psalm 139 at the birthday celebration.  It is a very personal recognition of God’s place in our lives.  The psalmist knew God deeply and felt the redeeming presence of his Maker, no matter what he did, where he traveled, or even if he was seeking to escape God’s call in this life.

Whether we are young or old, we can seek the Lord’s presence and commit our time to serve God and our fellow human beings. 
 
Prayer: Gracious God, help us to say yes to your guiding Spirit and to commit ourselves to faithful living in the days and years to come.  We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”. Amen.
 
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I am so thrilled and excited about the BSL version of Deaf Missions Daily Devotions. I have their booklet and been using them for nearly a year. I have good command of English but still struggle with the concept of the context at times. What a difference it has made just watching someone signing the passage so clearly and of superior quality! I notice the USA are far more advanced with access to the Gospel in ASL but now you have made it possible for us. So many thanks for this! May it go from strength to strength. JJ