I love a new year. I adore new calendars. I love the empty pages where I can put in birthdays and anniversaries and special holidays like National Handwriting Day and National Popcorn Day. A new year brings the hope of change, newness, starting clean.
This year has already had some small bumps that have removed some of the “shiny and bright” from the new year. Andy and I worked hard on our front landscaping, only to have the deer in our area use our plants as a buffet! Two days into 2023 and I (Catherine) fell on a walk and was mending for almost two weeks. Bruises are so very colorful! A young friend lost her sister two months after losing their father, Our niece’s son pulled a pot of hot coffee onto himself. Preston’s wonderful position at Furman University with Fellowship of Christian Athletes has ended. (Preston did nothing wrong.) Earthquakes. Shootings. God, this should be a “shiny” new year, what are you doing?
Calling us to call on Him
Our pastor quotes, “When we work, we work. When we pray, God works.” What a marvelous difference. I feel that this year will be one of prayer for me; concentrated prayer, general prayer, and quick, “thrown out” prayers while I am in the midst of life. In most of these situations, it is what I can do, lift up others in prayer. I have a friend, Savannah, whose father died last fall, and sister died in January. All I can do is pray with her. I have several friends who are fighting cancer. I lift them up before the Lord
I had not heard from my niece about her son (the one with the coffee burns) in several days, so sent her a text. “How is Sam?” The last we had heard, he would likely have to have skin grafts on his right arm. This was her response: “He is doing SHOCKINGLY better. At his appointment (with the doctor) on Wednesday, the doc said that he is 95% healed (i.e.: fresh new skin) which she seemed legit shocked by. Which made it feel miraculous, when a doctor is shocked.” AMEN!
Please join us in prayer:
- A friend, Susan, is in the first steps of a cancer journey. Please pray that she will do well with the treatments, and that the cancer will be eradicated.
- My friend, Savannah, who has lost so much this year. Please pray for her friends to be an encouragement for her.
- Our nephew Sam, pray for the healing of his skin, and for his parents to forgive themselves.
- Our son-in-love, Preston, for wisdom about his next steps.
- People in Turkey, Syria, and Michigan.
Thank you!! Can’t wait to tell you how God works!!
The Kelloggs 