January Recap

January has slipped by so rapidly!  The children returned to their homes in their various states. Christmas decorations were all put away. 

I gathered up my Christmas cards and put them in a basket. Each week I am pulling out a new one and praying for that particular family. So far I have prayed for 4 different families and began praying for another family this week.

My friend, Carolyn, from California got me into choosing a word for the year.  Here are a few I've had in the past.

As I contemplated what word to choose for this year, I kept coming back to Prayer. ...to sit more in His presence, talking with God.  

In particular I love to pray back Scripture as I read it. God speaks to us from the Word, the Bible.  And I pray back to Him as He speaks to me. It is a 2-way conversation.  A relationship with Him.  

I pray for people as they come to mind; while doing dishes, or even in the middle of the night.  But I had been hurrying lately in praying through my prayer list; getting on to my "to-do" list for the day.  I sensed God wanted me to spend more time here, interceding for others.  I love it when someone says to me "I prayed for you this morning."  What a bond to pray for others in the Body of Christ.  And to pray for those who don't know God at all!  I especially love to see how God answers these prayers.  I printed off these Request/Answers pages.

"Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people)."  Ephesians 6:18, Amplified

I have seen suggestions on how to do this.  I have my own categories that I use, but these are good ideas.

We went to a conference with Paul Miller, who shared this method. 

I did it for awhile, but I went back to my notebook method.

I came across this prayerbook and had to get it since "prayer" is my word this year.  I had already decided that I would read through the Bible again this year so it was perfect! I hadn't read through the Bible in 3 years. This year I would read it in the Amplified Version and I have found it so enriching!

This past month I also started attending a class on "Learning to Accurately Handle the Word of Truth" by Dr. Jim Martin, Biblical scholar and founder of Bible World Seminars.  We went to Israel with him and also on Paul's Missionary Journeys.  We meet twice a month on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.  On the off week, we have small group zoom classes where we "yeshiva", have interactive discussions.  

A scroll of Joshua

Dr. Wave Nunnally - He is Emeritus Professor of Early Judaism and Christian Origins at Evangel University.  He completed an MA in Hebrew language at Jerusalem University College on Mt. Zion.  He is recognized for making specialized scholarly research on the Dead Sea scrolls accessibe to people.  Our son went to Israel with both guys and does video work for Dr. Nunnally.

The purpose is not to study for information, but to SEEK Him; 

head knowledge versus knowing God.

Psalm 25:14, Amplified, Classic

"The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the LORD have they who fear - revere and worship - Him, and He will show them His covenant, and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning."

"My heart will know no rest, until it has found Thee." - St. Augustine

We've seen some spectacular sunrises and sunsets this month.

A couple in our small group from church had several wooden puzzles.  They come with fun shapes!  What fun it was to put it together!

We went out to eat with our friends, Dave and Marilyn.

Our freezer gave out.  It was 21 years old.

That meant shopping for a new one.  All our kids have the french door style and like it so that's what we got also.  I do like the bigness of the frig.  Jury out on the freezer part.

It should probably last until it is time for us to move and downsize.  Allen's parents bought this frig the year they got married.  1946.  It still works!

I'm continuing the slow process of going through old photos.

    My family, 1959 - we had to have formal pictures every year to send back to the                 churches in America that supported us.

Wasn't Allen so cute in first grade?  

Well, I would say he STILL is cute!

Kansas got hit by a snow storm.  We had to cancel my older women's Bible study due to the single digit cold.  We had to cancel my younger mother's study due to illness that has hit the area hard also.

Luckily this wedding was not cancelled but it made for some rather scary driving out of town! 

We helped at the nursing home with wheeling the residents to hymn sing.  We enjoy it just as much as they do!  The words of hymns are so rich!

All the Way My Saviour Leads Me....He does!  This is my prayer for 2026, that I would follow Him in the way He would have me go.