December Reflections

 

O Christmas Tree

I received a phone call two days after I requested the hardware store to reserve one of their trees for me. It was in. They were very nice and helpful. It came with lights (battery powered). Jim seemed to like it.

                                                              

This is such a sweet little tree. 

Getting Things Done

I was able to do some online ordering for part of my family’s Christmas. I also ordered a couple of things to help me with an ongoing circumstance in our home. For us Christmas presents have come to the level of “what do you need?”.

Feeling Better

In some ways, I am feeling better than I have in a long time. All I can say is: It must be the Lord.

WOTY Change

For the first time since I started doing the Word of the Year, I changed my choice from the one I decided on earlier in the Fall. I will tell you more at the end of these reflections.

Writing

I gave my effort to create a VBS program to our new Children’s Ministries Director. Two Sundays later, he told me he was going to utilize part of the material to teach the Sunday school children about Bible heroes. I am thankful that some children will be learning from my efforts.

Church’s Food Drive

For several years, our church has had a Food Pantry. The first Sunday of each month, the congregation brings staple foods to the church and place the items in a designated place. There are some who choose to make monetary donations. This year, for Advent, we had an Advent Food Drive. Each Sunday of Advent, there was a designated item for us to donate. There was a decorated cabinet placed in the narthex to hold the items. As of the close of service on the second Sunday of December, the cabinet was overflowing, and items had to be placed on the floor in front of it. On the third Sunday, there was one cleared shelf for that week’s designated food. I took a picture of the cabinet.

On the last Sunday of Advent, there was a small blurb in the worship folder that our food drive was successful. On the Sunday after Christmas, the cabinet had items on top of it and there were still items stacked around it.

Christmas Shopping

In doing some Christmas shopping about mid-month, I noticed a book rack at my local CVS store. I noticed one particular title, Keep Calm and Trust God by, Jake and Keith Provance. I needed to find some things for gifts. I also found Stress Less, A Woman’s Devotional Guide to Tranquil Living by Donna K Maltese. Three of my friends received these books for Christmas.

WOTY 2024

It’s time for me to unveil my Word of the Year 2024. My word is TRUST. The selection of this word is special to me. I had chosen one word and then I had second one came to mind. One day, I had a thought that I needed to trust God more than I have been. When I saw those books, at CVS, I had to get one for myself. Whenever I choose a word, I find it in my reading whether it is a passage from the Bible or a book by a Christian author. Hmm! This already has held true. The day I found those books was December 15^th.

Our son ordered me some journals for Christmas. The cover has Proverbs 3:5 on the front. “Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” He did NOT know about my choosing a word a year or that I had chosen “trust” for this year. Two of my friends gave me assortment of scripture related item and each assortment had that same scripture included. I believe God is trying to tell me something.

                                                              

I believe this is the scripture 
that will guide me through 2024.

Feeling Energized

As of the middle of December, I feel energized and actually have looked at some websites for Christian magazines that I can possibly submit articles and stories to.`It feels good to write that.

Christmas Weather

The weather forecast for Christmas was listed as “spring weather”. Christmas Day the temperature was to be around 59*. We might not have any snow at all this winter. When we have had exceptionally warm winters in the past, there has been a lot of illness. Both hospitals here have put restrictions on visitors. They do this from December until March as a way to keep people safe from the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses.

Happy New Year

I would like to wish each of you a very healthy and happy New Year.