Hi, this is Joni and welcome to Joni and Friends on a day when we’re singing hymns.
O Breath of Life, come sweeping through us,
Revive Thy church with life and pow'r;
O Breath of Life, come, cleanse, renew us,
And fit Thy church to meet this hour.
Now that’s a song to sing on today, my 60th birthday. Can I believe it? Can I believe it? No, I can’t believe it! Never would I have dreamed I would reach this age – I mean, what a milestone for a quadriplegic paralyzed like me. And it’s a real cause for celebrating the sustaining grace of God! And hey, believe it or not, I’m not the same kid on the cover of the Joni book! 60 years old! A few more wrinkles... a few more aches and pains... and a disability that, to be honest, keeps encroaching tighter and harder as the years goes by.
Which is why... today... I chose to sing this hymn. Oh Breath of Life, please sweep through me... at this age, at this stage in my life... because I can’t make it without the Lord. No way! And I am not, I tell you, I am not about to kick back, put it in low gear, and cruise just because I'm in my 60s.Friend, I hear the clarion call, I’m rousing to the challenge, I’m ready to face another year, quadriplegia or no, wheelchair or not!
Last week a bunch of friends from around the country came to Joni and Friends to help me celebrate my 60th birthday (plus it’s also the 30th anniversary of our ministry, Joni and Friends).I was so honored that people like Dr. R.C. Sproul showed up, can you believe it? As well as Chuck Colson and John MacArthur. There was a big birthday cake and balloons everywhere. Best of all, the party turned into a real hymn sing – you know how I love hymns. All of us harmonized on all my favorites.
And now on this day I look to the future -- Oh Breath of Life come sweeping through us, how we need you. Friend, as I look at the years ahead, I want to squeeze every ounce of opportunity God gives me to shine His light, to get closer to His heart, to stretch my faith, to follow His lead, and steer my power wheelchair forward through brand new doors that I know God is going to open. He’s got me living still so there must be a reason. There’s a purpose for living. So please, as I begin this new decade, may I humbly ask you to pray for me?
My theme verse on this birthday of mine is Acts 20:24 where it says “... I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me‑‑ the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace.” Oh friend, little did I realize back in 1967 when I broke my neck that I’d be living this long. That I’d still be testifying and running the race. Believe me, I am really outliving all of the statistics that they project for people who are spinal cord injured like me. I’m not supposed to be alive. But God’s got me alive and I praise Him for it. So I invite you to remember Acts 20:24 as you follow Christ into the future as well.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends