TLTAJ

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes—your calls, texts, and Facebook messages truly made my day! It may sound cliché, but feeling all that love really does make a for a special day.

Each year, I remember a challenge from a former mentor: to share three things I learned during my latest trip around the sun. For nearly a decade now (hard to believe it’s been that long since this person entered my life), I’ve enjoyed reflecting on how my lessons and revelations continue to grow and evolve. For me, it’s less about discovering something brand new and more about deepening my understanding of life’s truths. That perspective is something I’m truly grateful for.

Here are my Top 3 Lessons Learned from 41 to 42:

1: Faith Comes from Hearing

If you want to strengthen your faith and help it grow, it starts with spending time in the Word. A faith based on truths you’ve read or heard yourself will be unshakable. If you ever feel lost, confused, or unsure about what you believe—or why—spending time in the Word is the key to finding answers.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” — Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

2: Peace Come from Above

I cannot express sincerely enough the transformative and life changing peace that come from strengthening your relationship with God and doing so by spending time with him in His Word, in prayer, and in fellowship and worship with others.

Focus on your relationship, growing your faith by hearing the Word of God, then taking the appropriate actions you learn from it; don’t let yourself be distracted by perceptions and previous experiences – stay present. Encouragement comes from those who have done the same, and who want to see you succeed in your journey. It’s not the building, the production, or the show; it is the body of Christ that is what matters.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” II Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV

3: There Is No Substitute for Fellowship

True connection matters—whether it’s with loved ones in your personal life, colleagues and customers in your professional life, or, most importantly, your church family and fellow believers. Nothing compares to spending time together in person, sharing meals, and having genuine conversations.

Life moves quickly, and we’re meant to go through it together. Show up for others, and let them show up for you. When you isolate yourself or don’t make time for those who matter, you miss out on opportunities to encourage, be encouraged, and build lasting relationships.

There is so much more to the human experience than what is through a screen.

 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV

Wishing everyone the best year this year, greatest of all birthdays as you celebrate them, and praying that these observations find you well, and that you get to experience similar ones of your own.