(28) "My 70th Birthday: My Gratefulness to God!" – Ann Bollinger

 

My Salvation Testimony 

 

I was born into the wonderful Mitchell family as Audra Ann on April 9, 1952, to parents who took me to church and taught me to love God. 

From the time I was nine years old until age fourteen, though, I fretted over where I would go when I died. I was so confused about who Jesus was and about church membership, water baptism and living a good life – How did these things fit into being accepted by God so that I would live forever with Him?

 

In 1966 after attending a baptismal service at Grace Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas, my dad helped me understand that to be a child of God was not by any of those things I had thought as a child. But, it was by faith alone in what Christ had done on the cross in paying for my sins and rising from the dead three days later. He shared with me: 

 

Ephesians 2:8, 9 - “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” 

 

That day I placed by faith in Christ. That was 56 years ago and I have never doubted my salvation. I know I am His child and that I will live with Him forever in heaven. Jesus paid for all my sins, past, present and future. Oh, how I love Him and want others to know and love Him, too! If you have never trusted Christ and Him alone for your salvation, please do. Today would be the best day ever to do that!

 

In 1972, I made the decision to serve the Lord, living for Him in every area of my life. It was such a special evening 50 years ago of dedicating my life to Christ.

 

                                         My life verse is: 

 

        “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). 

                                                                             

                                      “I can’t live without Christ.

                                        I can’t die without Christ.”

 

Because I know how to die with the gain of heaven (by trusting Christ for the forgiveness of my sins), I joyfully chose to live for Him here on this earth. 

 

My Gratefulness

 

Eternal gratefulness beyond words goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for making me His child, living within me and guiding me through every moment of every day.

 

And, much, much gratefulness…

 

To Mother and Daddy for raising me in such a loving Christian home with all the support I ever needed in every area of my life, as well as giving me a little sister, Michelle, who blessed me and became my treasure from the moment she was born, 64 years ago.

 

To Jimmy for being the most loving, caring husband I could have ever have and showering me with acceptance and encouragement in my walk with the Lord through every season of my life!

To my children, Nathan and Chiree, who fulfilled the desire of my heart to be a mommy, and they and their spouses, Katie and Andy, have honored and blessed me abundantly by their love and their service to the Lord.

 

To my grandchildren, Caleb, Grace, Brielle, Isaiah, Micah, Benniah (and little Samuel Bollinger in heaven and “Baby Girl Bollinger” due this fall) who are the most precious little ones ever and who let me pour my love into their lives.

 

 

                My verse for this year, 2022, at the age of 70 is 

Psalm 90:12:

 

       “So teach us to number our days 

that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” 

                                                    

 

“Shaper of the Dust” - Click here to enjoy this song performed by ForeverBeSure Music that so beautifully expresses this Psalm 90:12.

 

There is only a step between now and forever,

Only a heartbeat away.

There is so little time between living and dying, 

So soon till our beauty will fade

So, teach us, teach us, Everlasting One!

 

Chorus: 

Shaper of the dust, You Who pity us,

Come and teach us in Your tenderness

To number off our days, to feel them fly away,

That we would walk in wisdom to the end.

 

You tell us that we are a vanishing vapor;

We see it and then it is gone. 

You say that our life is a lot like a flower 

Whose glory won’t last very long.

So, teach us, teach us, Everlasting One!

 

How kind to remind us how fast and how fleeting

This life of limited days. 

How quick we forget how long and how lasting

The life that follows the grave.

So, teach us, teach us, Everlasting One!

 

With much gratefulness to all my dear friends and family members for your love and influence throughout my life. I am beyond blessed!! 

 

Hugs of love to all, 

Ann (from beautiful Niles, Michigan)