January Journey: Share Four Somethings - Serenity in Suffering

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.

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!