How DOES that WORK?


JANUARY 2018

It’s Wednesday.  Wasn’t it just Sunday?  And this Sunday is soon to arrive.  And then it will be Wednesday again!  How does that work? 

AND, I’m still dining on Thanksgiving fare – gluten free paleo pumpkin blondies.  They are more delicious with age.  (I checked for mildew…none as yet).

AND, our decorated Christmas tree with lights ablazing remains in the living room.  Our son, Jarrod, told us last week that he’s thankful that we haven’t packed Christmas into boxes as yet.  Of course, the celebration of Jesus’ incarnation is never “packed away”!  I told the ladies at the Tues. a.m. Book of Revelation study last week that Christmas is always pertinent.  Christmas is part of the “one long sentence that is the Bible”!  Ponder that!

The Chanukah/Christmas season was such a blessing…such a mixture of everything all wrapped up in God’s grace!  The days were truly a moment-by-moment adventure.  Several 24-hour increments prior to the 13th annual Chanukah/Christmas Celebration at Scottsdale Bible Church on Dec. 17th, I began losing my voice.  My role at the celebration: Emcee and program wrap-up speaker!  Deja vu!  In past years at this event my voice abandoned me.  BUT GOD did not!!  Thought it wise to visit the doctor.  Diagnosis: “virus that is going around”!  I was given a script for a steroid medication.  After completing the dosage, my voice was still “iffy”.  I did feel, WIRED, however.  Couldn’t sleep much but I was raring to go the next day.  That was FINE with me.  Had LOTS to do in getting ready for the celebration, for various Bible studies, an outreach at one of the retirement facilities, and Christmas festivities.  Additionally, I was preparing for company from Chosen People Ministries.  Cindy’s visit was such a lovely respite from all the year-end paperwork (on which I’m still working), program details, studying, lesson development/writing, telephone calls, Emails, and texts.  Cindy and I talked, prayed together, visited thrift stores, talked, and prayed more!  At one point I felt extremely flushed. The warmth in my face, however, seemed to dissipate. Cindy was able to attend church with us on Dec. 17th – our Sunday school study on Revelation (during which my voice was marginal) and the Chanukah/Christmas Celebration (no evidence of weak vocal cords).  GOD WAS TOTALLY IN CONTROL – AS ALWAYS.  Over 250 people gathered at Scottsdale Bible’s Grace Chapel in the afternoon that Sunday including Jewish non-believers, Jewish believers, a Hindu gentlemen, two Muslims, a Mormon couple, a former IDF/Israeli Defense Force Soldier….   Every seat was occupied.  I’m following up with those who filled out a comment card.  I’ll soon be meeting with an Israeli Jewish woman, a Jewish woman from the UK, and a local Jewish woman.  Prior to Cindy leaving for the airport, we enjoyed a wonderful last meal together.  Bobby wrapped up Cindy’s thrift store find – preparing it for safe travel.  What was the “find”?  An identical lamp to the one she has in her NYC apt. which she purchased in 1985 for $350+.  The identical lamp in pristine condition from the thrift store: $1!!!!

The days prior to Christmas were filled with a lovely day trip to Prescott, AZ with Bobby, visits with friends, high blood pressure (239/139) - first time in 40 years – due to the steroid medication, and a wonderful gathering at our home with family and dear friends on Christmas day!  The visit from our friends was an answer to prayer as Ragan had been released on 12/23 from the hospital: congestive heart failure on top of cancer.  She wasn’t up to our visit until the morning of 12/25.  God gave us such a special time together.  At 1 a.m. on 12/26 the paramedics took Ragan to the hospital and she was put on a ventilator.  The doctors didn’t think she would survive.  God’s people PRAYED and Ragan was taken off the ventilator two days later and returned home shortly thereafter.  We celebrated Jarrod’s birthday with Ragan and Carter this past weekend. 

New Year’s Eve found us attending the annual Marty Goetz concert in Phoenix with my Jewish friend, Sara, whose one year anniversary in the Lord was 12/15/17.  Sara and I continue Bible study weekly.  Sara lit the Chanukah menorah at our Chanukah/Christmas Celebration and declared before the 250+ folks who attended that Jesus has already come!  What a victory!
A mixture of everything…all wrapped up in God’s grace!

God gave me the 2018 theme for the local Jewish ministry: II Tim. 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We are to have a zealous persistence in studying the word of God so that we can be pleasing to Him (II Cor. 5:9). When we know and live out what God tells us in His word, He gives us confidence and don’t need to be ashamed (I John 2:28). How glorious to strive to handle His word “rightly” – with precision and accuracy!

How exciting to observe more of the “big picture” of Scripture as God has given me the privilege of continuing to teach five to six classes weekly. Two classes are thinking through (not walking through) the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation has been called “the exclamation point at the end of the one long sentence that is the Bible!” I find myself revamping lessons at the last moment because the Lord never ceases to impact me with additional truths about Him! HE is amazing!

Praying for a POWERFUL 2018 with much fruit for His glory!


Cathy

P.S. If you’re not receiving the monthly ministry newsletter and would like to, please let me know at cathylouwilson@live.com

P.P.S. My blood pressure is now down to 97/63, or thereabouts!


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