Easing the shock of yet another month all but concluded, I rejoice in a glance back at my January Journey joining Heather Gerwing as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month.
January 2022 brings new categories for contemplation, and this is my first post with the new categories. The four categories remain the same, something loved, something gleaned, something braved, and something achieved.
The premise delights me; the new categories falling right in line with my one word 2022 journey with resilience! Looking back over the previous month through these four categories helps me linger with God’s goodness, and ignites my gratitude.
something loved
My January Journey: Share Four Somethings starts off a brand new year and with that, my something loved is my new journals! This year I found these beautiful journals in a three-pack of lovely florals.
Generally, one journal acompanies my daily devotional time, but this year I wanted a separate journal for Bible reading notes and inspirational thoughts gleaned from walks or time in my garden. Grabbing the three-pack also gave me the “writer’s notebook” I needed for collecting, quotes, ideas and sundry things for my writing.
a new something loved for 2022 bible reading
Reading the Bible from cover to cover more times than I remember, naturally inspires me to find new ways of enjoying reading through the Bible every year. Reading through chronologically is my favorite, as I read old testament passages in the morning and new testament passages in the evening.
This method allows me to read through entire new testament twice and complete the whole Bible in nine months.
With this new year came another new idea for reading the Bible through in a year which I LOVE. The Thematic Bible Reading plan was created by Craig DesJardins, of Faith Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, Washington.
The goal is to make as many associations as possible between the different parts of Scripture while still reading individual books of the Bible from start to finish. Only the Psalms are not read in consecutive order. I am truly amazed at the connections and themes found so far!
something gleaned
The new category of something gleaned offered me so many options, as my curious mind finds nuggets everywhere for hoarding! But this month my gleaning came from Phil Shappard’s book, “Approaching the Almighty: 100 Prayers of A.W. Tozer.
Phil Shappard, a former Moody Radio manager, collected and transcribed almost two hundred of Tozer’s prayers, during his time there. Tozer prayed fervently at the start of every sermon, and Shappard captures 100 of those prayers in this book.
Tozer’s conversational style with God is both reverent and familiar, drawing you into his close relationship with God. Divided into ten main chapters covering various topics from salvation to gratitude, makes navigation easy.
While Approaching the Almighty, is not an instructional book on prayer, it guides the reader in modeling heartfelt, faith-filled prayers to a loving, faithful God. I marked various sections and prayers to return to as they inform my own prayers and encourage me to go deeper with God.
Obtaining this book at the start of a new year, breathed new life into my prayer routine. Most of the prayers while inspirational, are easily modifed for personal use.
something braved
Only the second week into the new year found me braving the unexpected. Receiving a call early one Saturday morning from my daughter found me heading to the emergency room with her and my little two-year old granddaughter Grace.
In acute respiratory distress, battling a high fever, little Grace clung to Mama as we were immediately ushered into triage and then a room. Everything happened so quickly, yet slowly at the same time.
Exam, x-rays, tests happened quickly, answers, not so much.
After attempts at oxygen, oral steroids and breathing treatments, the decision came for admitting her to the hopsital for more intense treatment.
While I certainly saw my fair share of hospital scares and crises with my own three children, somehow watching my little granddaughter in distress and supporting my daughter as she supported her daughter was new territory.
It required me interpreting medical information, while maintaining a backseat on decision making, while at the same time juggling just enough instruction for my daughter to advocate for her daughter.
All simultaneously keeping my own emotions in check and my mind clear. The hospital trip absolutely qualifies for my something braved, but I share the honor with my daughter and the bravest little two-year old girl I know.
something achieved
My writing new year sped off to a good start with my new weekly writing spot on Thursdays at Woman to Woman. What a joy spending time there with a wonderful group of writers and fabulous readers!
My biggest achievement by far involved meeting six submission and editing deadlines for publication of articles in various print and online avenues. Meeting the deadlines in the midst of a full time job, maintaining my own blog post writing, and social media presence and personal obligations taught me an important lesson.
Apart from abiding in Christ (John 15:4-5) I can do nothing, and with Him I can do all things. (Philippians 4:13).
In fact, when I sat down and took stock of where I stood with all of the January writing, as I planned my February editoral calendar, I stared in disbelief. Far from laborious, January’s writing flowed easily without overwhelm.
The biggest blessing of my January Journey something achieved, comes from God’s confirmation of His call on my life as a writer. For truly His strength enabled me in every way for this achievement.
january journey:share four somethings
Thank you for taking a walk back through my January Journey with me! I am grateful to Heather for creating such a creative way to review the moments of our days which often slip by so quickly. Sharing Four Somethings is a way to savor one more time those things we loved, gleaned, braved and achieved!
But you don’t have to be a writer or blogger to enjoy this practice. Why not take a few moments and think back over YOUR January Journey and share four somethings with me in the comments! Meet me back here at the end of February for more joyful somethings!
I love your journals! I am always excited by new notebooks and have to hold myself back from buying too many. I’m sorry you had such a scary time with Grace being unwell. I hope she is doing better now. And well done on meeting all your deadlines! I enjoyed your recap of the month.
Lesley, I love my journals too! They lay flat or fold, perfect for journaling anytime! My little Grace is back to her old self, and feistier than ever! Her resilience is truly a marvel. Thank you so much for your kind encouragement on my writing!
I’m so sorry about Grace and also about your daughter’s divorce, Donna. I’m so glad Grace and your daughter have you to support them through the tough times. Your granddaughter is so cute, and by your comments to others, it sounds like she has recovered. I’m so glad. I enjoyed reading your January journey. Congratulations on your new writing spot! 🙂 Love and blessings to you!
Trudy, thank you for your kind words of acknowledgement and care. Life can be difficult as you know, I praise God for His comfort during such times. My little Grace is doing well, and for that we do gratefully thank our Heavenly Father! I so appreciate your congratulations on my new writing spot!
I’m inspired by you meeting your writing deadlines. I’ve had writing articles in my goal list for January. Although able to keep up with my blog posts, I am still figuring out how to fit the other writing in while working full-time, and doing life! Those journals are lovely, and pray your grand daughter is doing well today!
Thank you Lynn for taking time to read my post! It was only by God’s grace that I made those deadlines because it IS hard to work full time, run a home, stay connected with my people, keep up with my blog and so forth! I am also blessed to have a job with generous PTO, so I can always parlay that into a few extra hours during the week to write too! My little Grace is fully recovered, praise God!
Oh my goodness, Donna! I’m so glad you were able to be there for your daughter and granddaughter but phew! I never thought about what that experience might be like from the grandma’s perspective … now I have just a taste. I hope sweet little Grace is OK now. And good for you to meet all those writing deadlines in January, and what a blessing that it all went so smoothly!
Lois, I must admit I never thought about what supporting my daughter as SHE supported her daughter would look like either! After walking through so much with my daughter’s chronic illness, I thought I would handle it much better, but it was definitely a learning curve!
I give God all the glory for meeting all those writing deadlines, I honestly don’t know how I did it apart from Him!!
Those are such lovely journals, Donna. I’ve been journaling so much this past year, but I confess I journal via typing on my laptop. I love the idea of writing in a beautiful journal, but it just never sticks with me, whereas typing does. I’ll just have to use my pretty journals for other things. 🙂
I hope your sweet little Grace is well now! I’m so sorry she had to go through that, but such a blessing to have her mom and grandmother by her side.
I love my journals, Lisa. I have thought about typing too, as my hands are very arthritic, and hand writing can be painful. Yet it is the actual writing I find so therapeutic! So some days it takes a while, but so far so good. Perhaps a lovely journal just for quick thoughts or “word treasures” you like to ponder!
Thank you for your kind wishes for Grace, she is indeed doing much better. This little cherub is one of the most resilient little ones I have seen. She is intensely brave and having been through so much with her daddy leaving, mama processing divorce and her own separation anxiety issues, she still isn’t afraid to embrace life.
I hope Grace is fully recovered and doing well now. Definitely some bravery there – on everyone’s part! Thematic Bible reading….that is new to me but certainly intriquing. I am going to check that out. Have a wonderful weekend ahead!
Thank you, Jennifer for taking the time to read my post and for your kind wishes for Grace. Yes my little cherub is doing well, having past that scare! I like the thematic Bible reading for a change, it really prompts me to think and find connections!
Donna, it is amazing how grandchildren bring out deep emotions when there is a health issue. I am so glad your little one is doing OK. She is precious!
Joanne, this is new territory for me! I went through so many crises with Grace’s mom, Rachel, yet walking through it from a grandma’s support perspective is challenging!
I will try it too, in Dutch. I love to read yours. What a nice idea.
Your journals are beautiful.
Aritha, I hope you give it a try, it’s such a wonderful practice of glancing back at God’s goodness throughout your month! I wish I could read Dutch so I could enjoy it with you!