My husband Dave asked me this afternoon, Monday October 25, if I was working on this month’s newsletter. I said, “No, don’t I have another week?” To my surprise, he informed me that this was the last week in the month!!! I look at my calendar every day but somehow that reality slipped right by me. Can any of you relate?
Maybe it was because we both came down with the Delta variant October 4th. The second time for me to have Covid, which you can read about in my blog My 2x Covid Survivor Story Has a Message for Everyone. I definitely lost a few weeks being sick, but that doesn’t explain how an entire month got away from me. Or maybe it does.
And now 2021 is nearing the end.
I started out 2021 like many of you with great plans for what I wanted to accomplish in the New Year, so it always makes me a little sad when the end of the year approaches and I haven’t checked everything off my goal list. Also, life happens. Maybe you’re feeling like me that time is going by way too fast. So I prayed about what to write as we come to the close of October with two months to go finishing out 2021.
Since I can’t stop November from looming ahead next week, I thought I would thank God for what He’s done in the first 10 months of this year and ask how He wants me to use the last two months to His glory. Maybe this practice will help you too and we’ll each realize that God has been very busy in our lives. We actually live on His time schedule, not our own.
1. Welcomed new friends! We’ve had the joy of making friends with two new couples who moved to Idaho from California. When Dave and I were first married, we asked God to give us friends as a couple, and we’ve been blessed with an abundance of friends over the years. Can you think of any new friends you’ve made this year? Pray for God to send you more. We need each other.
2. Dave decided to stop living in pain. Dave had a successful knee replacement surgery he badly needed. We were disappointed when his second surgery was canceled because of a Covid surge in our area, but we’ll reschedule as soon as we can. Are you dealing with a lingering pain? Maybe it’s time to make an appointment with the doctor to find a solution.
3. We gratefully accepted help. We were blessed to have friends here to help us and also long-time friends from California who now live in Prescott came and assisted us for a week during Dave’s surgery recovery. Has someone come to your rescue this year and/or do you need to ask for help? Do you know someone who might need your help?
4. Looked for the Praise! As I mentioned earlier, we had Covid, me for the second time. We give God all the glory and praise for the healing prayers we received and wisdom to manage our illness. If you fear Covid, remember you know a couple, the Thompsons, who survived it. Do you know other people who survived Covid that you can focus on if you start feeling fearful or is there anyone who needs your prayers for healing?
5. Shared the Lord’s love everywhere and anywhere we went! Dave and I make it a habit to tell everyone we speak with, whether in person or on the phone, to have a blessed day. It’s been remarkable the positive reaction we receive. Not one person has told us they don’t want a blessed day. Instead, we hear “Thank you” or “You too! Everyone you know needs to hear “Jesus loves you.”
I’m starting to feel more optimistic about the remainder of the year! How about you?
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecc. 3:1
*Opening article picture of Atlanta, Idaho, courtesy of Mary Drake.
About His Work with You,
Janet
New Blog Posts:
PSSSS: Please share with us a story from your mentoring ministry to encourage other churches.
