Blessed Lord God,

Life is short. Here I am daily slipping closer to the end of my days on earth. A little birthday present to myself is some time spent alone with you right here while everyone else sleeps. Here I can thank you for all you've done, for every breath I breathe, for your great plans for creation, for the many souls you love and you ultimately will give to me as family.

Lord God, I can think of nothing I love more in life than this precious family of mine. How many delightful days and evenings we've shared! I look forward to the day when I know the entire church just as well, when I delight in their presence in an even greater way than I delight in my own family right now.

Even those terrorists who might repent from their folly and turn to you in your mercy like Paul turned to you. I know you will answer my prayer. I know these will be my brothers, my sons, though right now they would have us all dead. For you change hearts and you reveal yourself to men.

Lord teach me to number my days. Set your plan before me so that I can follow in your steps. Teach me to love more. I offer you my family and my life. That in loving them, especially Lisa, you may be pleased, like a tithe or an offering. You convert these things to blessings. And the blessing I seek is the conversion of this lost world to the saving knowledge of You, my Savior, my Lord and my God, Jesus.