January 6. Woke up early this morning, and got up around 5:50. Wrote one e-mail today, and marked down prayer requests from others. Washed and hung out clothes. Wrote a monthly update. Finished reformatting the rest of Luke up to where we have completed revising and checking (chapters 11 and 12). Did a little writing in The Isles are Singing. A little before 3:00 this afternoon, rain and sleet started falling. I was snuggled in my bed for nap and was sound asleep. When I woke up, Christy said, “It started sleeting about ten ’til three. Sleeting! I’d better hurry out there and get the clothes in! Thank the Lord for dear Connie. She had already thought of the clothes and had just finished bringing them in for me. Most of them went into the dryer, and a few are on hangers. “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13 Spiritual blessing number fifteen: made nigh by the blood of Christ. Before Christ came, before He lay down His life and shed His blood for my sins, I was a stranger, far away from God, far away from the people of God, and from the promises of God. I had no hope. Without the shedding of the blood of Christ, there would be no way for me to be reconciled to God. But now I’ve been brought near to Him. Hallelujah! I’m no longer a stranger. January 7. Snow, snow, beautiful white snow! Snow started falling around 8:00 last night and continued through mid-morning today, giving us an accumulation of about 6 inches. Isn’t it wonderful to be reminded that we have been washed whiter than the snow through the blood of Jesus Christ?! And that as the snow comes down from heaven and doesn’t return there, so God’s word accomplishes what He pleases and prospers wherever He sends it? Took a few pictures of the snow yesterday evening from the front porch, and some early this morning from the back door in the laundry room, before the sun came up when there were long shadows on the snow, and the snow was still unspoiled. I was sad because I have no boots and thought I wouldn’t be able to go out in the snow. But then an idea came to me - homemade boots, using plastic shopping bags. So after breakfast, I found four bags that didn’t have holes (two for each foot just to be sure), tied them onto my feet, bundled up in scarf, winter jacket, and mittens, and went out to take a few more pictures. The snow was fairly deep and somewhat crunchy, not slippery. Under the snow, however, was a layer of ice. Temperature was just around freezing, but the wind wasn’t blowing yet and it was refreshing to get out. First, I put a ruler in the pile of snow on the roof of Christy’s car - 5 3/4 inches. Snow was still falling, however, and accumulated another 1/4 inch before it stopped. Took a number of pictures before coming back into the house. This afternoon, the sun came out, and a lot of the snow has melted away. Now, however, the sun is going down, and the temperature is going down, and is expected to keep going down, down, down until it reaches around 9º by morning. (It only got to about 14º) That means the snow that has been melting onto the road will turn to ice and be quite slippery. Emmanuel Baptist Church is planning just one service tomorrow - at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Ogle said to be very careful, however, as there is water on the parking lot and there may be black ice. Today was not a computer day. This morning, I crocheted some on the baby afghan I am working on and also made a mini hat and scarf set for the teddy bear Connie had crocheted. It felt so nice and warm snuggled in bed at nap time that I didn’t want to get up. When I finally did get up, I went to the kitchen and started making soup. I forgot to do that this morning so didn’t have a dish of soup for lunch as usual. By the time the soup was on and boiling, it was time to call Daddy. Hooray! Daddy is doing well, praise the Lord, but much sickness there in the village. Philemon is the only health worker right now as the head nurse is on vacation. Daddy said Philemon has been going day and night treating people, some of them with pneumonia. Daddy said he would be preaching today on missions again as he did the last day of the special meetings. The Lord has been working in Matthew’s heart concerning going somewhere else to preach. A couple churches have asked him to come and be their pastor; and now that he has gotten things right with the church, they could surely give him a letter of reference. Dallas and Elise also expressed their desire to go out to do evangelistic or missionary work. Mike was ordained as pastor on Thursday, and on Saturday he gave a testimony regarding a letter given to him by the youth, when the ordination gifts were given. In the letter they shared how they had been watching Mike’s life and saw in him a godly example that they would like to follow, and that they would like to serve the Lord just as Mike does. (Please pray for Mike to remain godly and faithful) Late this afternoon, our neighbor Earl came by to ask about picking us up (or the girls) for church tomorrow. He drives a van that picks up people for a church. Christy and Connie met Earl a week or so ago at Christine’s house. He says he is saved and seems excited that he knows the Lord. I asked him if he could come by and talk with us some time so we could learn more about the church and himself too. He said he works two jobs so doesn’t have a lot of time, but he would try to come by and talk with us. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18 Number sixteen among the spiritual blessings - access through Christ by the Spirit unto the Father. Through Christ’s death I was reconciled to God and the way was opened for me to have direct access, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to God as my Father. I’m so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father, a living Saviour, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, all there to help in time of need.
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