Today, September 6th, is my 40th birthday, and yes, the narcissism is coming out, I love it when it’s all about me some how!
To be completely honest, I do like attention and my love language is words of affirmation, but it is much easier to be intentional and strategic these days. My wife is amazing at telling me who I am and how deeply she loves me, we all need a wife like mine! (Trust me; she lets me know when I do it wrong as well, she needs too, thank God for balanced and God-fearing wives)
I know you are suppose to have mid-life crisis and start thinking of what you could of done better and what you should of done by now… but, honestly, I have never been happier or more content and confident of who God is in my life. I absolutely love being this age. I know who I am and that every part of me belongs; my strengths, my weaknesses, my fears and my faith; I love it all for the first time in my life, because for the first time, it’s not about me! I have a long way to go, but my family, my friends; I wouldn’t change any of it. (Well, mo’ money! Come on Church)!
No matter your age, embrace the season and purpose. You will only get to live this moment, right now, once. I heard a great teaching about six years ago from Andrew Wommack called “Ruling Your Emotions” he talked about the physco-babble that the Western World puts in our brains about “Mid-Life Crises”. The myth was about how we need to act on our selfishness, worldliness, our emotions; there is NO such thing as a “Mid-Life Crises” it’s all in your head.
Be a man or women of God, embrace your sin, your Holiness, your emotions, your thoughts at every age and embrace God with your life. He loves you right where you are, and cannot wait for you to figure out that it’s not about you, it’s about living life!
Happy birthday Gary, it’s only just begun!!!!
Happy 40th, Gary. Wish I could be there with the black balloons (but there is the matter of these 60 people camped on my lawn).
Have a fantastic day. Having you as a friend and partner and covenant brother has been a huge highlight of my last year.
Cheers and blessings!
seth
Gary, Happy Birthday Bro! I love you more than you know…I am so proud of you for all you have gone through…all you stand for…and the warrior you are in the Kingdom! You are an amazing man…tender, compassionate…a forceful ground taker…an amazing father…a loving husband…a man who understands the Kingdom and who goes for it in every sphere of your life…personal, family, spiritual, marketplace and civil government. You are raising a generation of tender warriors that worship and bring power to the earth in your own children…you are called to touch the nations…one person at a time! It does not matter what color their skin is, you look at the heart…that is why the Lord says to you on this special day, as he did to King David of old, “this is a man after my own heart!”
Thanks for the example you have been to me, my friend. You are an amazing man…filled with the spirit of God…who has the ability to inspire others and impart passion for the things the King is passionate about.
I love doing life with you….I can’t wait to see what the next 40 years holds for us, my friend!
I am looking forward to laughing hilariously with you in the near future about the goodness of God….and to crying with you as we hold the “least of these” in Swaziland and other places the Lord will take us….and to be together in the presence of the Lord just beholding his beauty and majesty!
Have a wonderful 40th birthday today, my friend!
You are simply one of the best that God ever created.
I love you!
Your friend –
Danny =)
Happy b-day you amazing man of God! What a joy it’s been getting to know you this past year plus. We’re so blessed to have you in our lives. I can’t wait to see what the next 40 years brings us. Love you bro.
Brett
A great deal of teary eyes at breakfast this morning as we all gave you gifts, and each of us told you what we love the most about you….your kids are very aware of how blessed they are to have you as their daddy….and of course I could not do anything but choke out “I love you”…I cried all day yesterday from a heart so grateful to have you as my husband…looks like another day of JOY in our home celebrating YOU, all that you are to us everyday….
Happy Birthday Braveheart, you are hotter at 40 than ever before,
love you,
Lisa
Is that gray I see in your hair? Have you thought about the fact that an entire generation has died off since you were born?! 🙂
Happy Birthday my covenant brother! I’m glad to be in your life and love seeing what God is doing in you and through you. Now, we get to go take the nations for the next generation of our lives and see them “fully alive.!” To the next 40 and the next generation!
ZA VAS!!!
hey hey hey! your forty dad! you have your whole life ahead of you. if i were you i would party, because it’s only just begun and you still get to live your life. have a awesome birthday… we all love you!
-ally
dad yes you are at the top of the hill and in your heart to me… i dont think youll ever go back down… you will still be young in my heart!!
i love you papa
emily