Dear Jynne...Yes, You're 35 Now...

Thirty-five...thirty-five...It does not matter how many times you say it or how many different ways you say it. You are still thirty-five. And be grateful you are, the other option, while it means seeing Me, your Saviour face to face, well, it's not the option I believe you desire in the immediate future. So here you sit, in your comfy over sized chair, writing a letter to yourself, and realizing you have reached a milestone the pinnacle of your thirties. There are two questions that should go through your mind. In fact I know you well, so I am positive they have been constantly running through your mind. First, what have you done with the first thirty-five years of my life and second, what are you going to do with the next? Those are loaded questions, let's be honest. In thirty-five years, you have learned to crawl, learned to walk, learned to run, learned to read write add subtract, graduated high school college and graduate school; you have played basketball high school basketball college basketball; you have played piano and attempted to minor in music; you have sung church choir high school choir Erskine Choraleers; you have started a career, worked at 8 different schools (some at the same time!);  you have lived in 2 countries 3 states and 5 cities and this is not including the friends you have met the family you have loved on. My head is already spinning, and I wrote out this journey for you. I have a feeling the next thirty-five years may be a little more settled...well, in some ways. Yet knowing you so well, I am positive to say that your earthly accomplishments are not what you have been pondering over, thinking through. So when I asked the question "What have you done with the first thirty-five years of life?" You started thinking deeper. So while you are lost in thought, this is what I have seen. I have seen a young girl being called to Christ at 4 years old after a conversation with her mom. I have seen a young child sitting at the feet of missionaries desiring to serve the Lord with the humility and power and strength they did. I have seen a teenager desiring to fit in, have a boyfriend, have people like her, but wanting to live a life the Father desired and fighting the feelings of no one will ever like me, I'm just every guys' friend. I have seen a young woman off to college, feeling the tugging and calling of the Father to put her career on hold and go to a different county to serve His people in Asia. Knowing it wasn't going to be received well, walking with boldness into her professor's office to tell him she was giving up Graduate Assistant positions. I have seen a young woman come alive in the classroom dancing and singing with her students overseas, showing them the love of the Father through actions and deeds because words were unable to be used. I have seen a woman battle in a male dominated career yet do so with strength and dignity. Using love and passion for Christ as her sword and winning hearts of kids from Charlotte to Richmond to Anderson to Durham and back. I have seen young men and women walk into your room in despair and leave with joy and hope. I have seen an army of young people falling in line behind you because you love them, not because they are perfect but because they are people. Every race, every color, every demographic, every orientation, every one...you have never discriminated. You have always loved. You have never condoned but you have never condemned. You have spoken My truth over them and while they may not always seemed listen they have heard it. The seeds have been planted. I have seen you morn loss, I have seen you fight demons, I have seen you question me, I have seen you hit the bottom and have no where but up to go. I have given life and I have taken life from you. I have given finances and I have taken them away. I have given health and I have taken health. My son Job has been your battle cry. I have seen you put your heart on your sleeve and love others with unconditional love. I have seen you become more like your Granddaddy more like your Uncle Dave more like your mom your dad your  sister, the faith of those who have gone before you. So, what have you done in your first thirty-five years? Exactly what I have planned for you to do. Exactly what was planned before you were even a thought on this earth. And now I ask you, "what will you do with the next thirty-five years?" I have had Romans 4 written for you, to you, for hundreds of years. Thankfully you have found it. But I want you to remember Abraham. I gave Him a promise and while he could have laughed and thought I crazy, (which I promise you, he did at times, I just did not have enough pages to write his entire story, but remember he was human and he had his moments)  he never weakened in his faith. Even when he looked at his body and his wife's body, even when he realized her clock had quit ticking and his body was as good as dead. He did not weaken; nothing, nothing caused him to waver concerning My promises to him. He continued growing in his faith, he continued giving Me the glory, and he was fully convinced I was able to do what I had said I would do. And I did not write these words just for Abraham but for you. Never weaken in your faith, though you do not see answers now. Though I have delayed giving you desires, though your checkbook is at zero and your biological clock is slowing down. Never weaken. But continue as you have, continue growing, continue giving me the glory. While I know right now, your next thirty-five years, while I have written the story before you took your first breath, and I have carved it out in due time, if I were to tell you it all right now, you wouldn't be able to handle it. That is why I have given you today. That is why My grace is sufficient for today. That is why My mercies are new every morning. That is why I do not want you to worry about tomorrow. I know your heart, I know your desires, I have seen as you have been faithful in the small things in life. I have seen your failures I have seen your times of questions and doubts. Trust Me. The best is yet to come. There is more to this life here on earth for you. So in times of doubt, remember Abraham. In times of worry remember Abraham. In times of looking at your body and seeing it age, remember Abraham. It was credited to him as righteousness and it will be credited to you the same. So yes Jynne, you are thirty-five now. Press on...press on towards the goal for which I have called you. You're best is yet to come.