Today is my birthday and I am 50 years old!!!!!!! I am so excited about what God has done in my life over 50 years. I am posting on the board not to share the news of my birthday but to share the news of God's goodness!!! This is a day I will praise him and praise him. And since I can not have birthday cake because I am diabetic, my daughter and I will have a worship service to praise God. This will be much more filling. As I look back on my life, I keep saying Oh, My God!! Look what you did for me. Many times I did not realize it was the hand of God, but as I have gotten spiritually older I see his hands all over my life. Wow! what a mighty God. Ordinary things become extraordinary things when seen through the eyes of Jesus Christ. I remember when I was 19 years old I was performing in a play in europe and we got on the train, some of us went to the last car of the train because it was empty, everyone fell asleep except me, I couldn't sleep for some reason. I kept hearing something though I could not figure out what it was. We were on our way to Italy from Denmark, all of sudden I leaped up and went to the conductor who was sleep, I woke him up and asked in french if the train was going to Italy. He said NO! this part of the train was going to russia, we had to run and get to the other part of the train. Another instance I was diagnoses with cervical cancer at 30, one day something told me to go to the clinic, I did not have an appointment but when I got there I told them of my reason diagnosis, the nurse said "You are in luck the doctor who pioneered the field of freezing cancer cells in visiting today from Yugoslavia, I am sure he will see you" He did and performed a precedure that saved my life. Those feelings and sounds I could not figure out were the voice of God loving me even when my faith was growing. I look back and there are thousands of such incidences that demonstrate his love. Every day is a new beginning with Jesus. Age is just a number, when we are walking in the ways of God he strengthens us, heals us and guides us. This is the day the lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. God loves you so much and so do I!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2002

Answers

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday Rev. Denise. Happy Birthday to you!!!!!! I pray you have a wonderful and joyous birthday. God has blessed you with a testimony. Think Mahalia- my soul looks back and wonders how I made it over. God bless!

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2002

Blessed Birthday to you!! Blessed Birthday to you!!! Because Jesus loves you!!!! Blessed Birthday to you!!!!!!!!!!!

To a Dear Rev. Denise God is so good and worthy to be praised. Your testimony is both rich and mind blowing. Truely God is with you. May your work and ministry double from now on.

Blessings From Bermuda

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2002

Happy Birthday to you and may God's blessings continue to be yours!!!

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2002

Happy Birthday Rev. Rogers!!!

Even though I have never met you in person,I feel that I know you through your thoughts on this bulletin board. I praise God for you and your inspirational words. Quite frankly, it is rare that I talk to anyone that is enthusiatic about their careers. I wish you all of God's blessings.

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2002

Denise:

Well, well, well so you have reached another milestone! I trust your birthdays are like vintage wine; the older the better. Reaching the Big 5-0 is, how can I say it, quite grand. Sorry for the belated congrats, but if you are like me birthday celebrations run for a whole week :-) QED

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2002

Birthday greetings to you from the Grant Nation family in Toronto - Canada.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2002

Thank you everyone for your wonderful birthday wishes! I will be celebrating the entire year. Yahoo! I love being 50 for God has given me another day to praise and serve him. My primary physcian and I hugged one another that I have reached another birthday. And to be 50, A.M.E and pastoring an A.M.E church is a blast!! Yesterday's scripture readings were Psalm 23 and Acts 2 vs. 42-47 (about the early church and how they prayed together everyday, and helped one another by sharing their possessions, they also followed the instructions of the apostles and their numbers grew) Booth scriptures have at their heart total reliance on God and when we do that; then everything is taken care of. My reliance is on God and my birthdays now are measured spiritually, looking at the miracles, joys and friends he has put into my life. I consider all of you my family members and I love you dearly, for you took me under your wings before I was officially A.M.E and showed me the love of Jesus Christ. There is no greater gift that you could give me. It is hard planting a new church and working with new Christians for they are learning to tithe, to come to church regularly, put down alcohol and substance abuse. As a pastor you love them just as Jesus loves us, you go to God in prayer and scripture and ask for guidance, you remember our A.M.E ancestors who started churches, in stables, homes, funeral parlors, gas stations, schools, restraunts, and you keep pressing on. Knowing that God has a plan and your birthday and your life is part of the master's plan. Jazzman thank you for saying I am enthusiastic, I have so many blessings in my life, a God that loves me, a Bishop who is so supportive a ministerial staff that is dedicated and a daughter who is the co-founder and at 25 is truly "the church mother" of our church. Every day is an easter experience for we are born again with Jesus. Let's take the great commission seriously and share the good news. Again thank you everyone, you give me. Joy!!!

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2002