To Mary on Your 90th Birthday

When I became a Christian at the age of 25, I was given a verse which still blesses me to this day. It is from Philippians 1:6. It says, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Where does this confident come from? It is explained in the verse before it: "because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now" (Phil 1:5)
Dear Mary, you have been a great partner in the gospel! You faithfully come to home church week after week; whether in good weather or bad. You are often quiet in discussion but there is this quiet confidence in you that says "it is well with my soul". You bless everyone by your presence, your smile, and no doubt, your prayers offered during huddle!

So being confident of this, we trust that this same "God, who demonstrated His love towards you in that while you were still lost in your wandering about, He sent His son to die for you on the cross." (Romans 5:8). And if you ever have these moments when uncertainty of what lies ahead troubles you, you can confidently say this: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" (Romans 8:35) The answer is of course a big NO! "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For you are convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

And this is a present from your brothers and sisters in home church to you Mary:
"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give YOU all things? " (Romans: 8:32)

So until the day of Christ Jesus, God has many more good work to be done in you. We are honored to celebrate this important milestone in your life along with your wonderful family.  Since this is your 90th. Let me leave you with a few verses from the Psalmist, taken from Psalm 90 (of course):

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    throughout all generations.
2
Before the mountains were born
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
    establish the work of our hands for us—
    yes, establish the work of our hands.

(Psalm 90:1-2, 14, 17)