Adventures on the dusty road distinguish us as believers.

Beloved, today is the New Year’s Eve, for our family it is bitter sweet as it has so many memories. It is my father-in-love’s birthday and he passed away and left a huge whole in our hearts. He always reminded me of George Peppard, the movie actor, who had the salt and pepper gray hair. George was best known as Col. John “Hannibal” Smith, the cigar-smoking leader of a renegade commando squad in the hit 1980s action show The A-Team. My father-in-love was well known in his small town because he was a trouble shooter for the local gas and electric company.

He was distinguished and that is our word today. The definition of `distinguish is to recognize or treat (someone or something) as different. According to Biblegateway.com, the word is in the Bible fourteen times.

This coming year, I am going to join Dr. Joel Muddamalle, Story of Scripture in A Year (2024) reading from a chronological Bible, CSB Bible Day by Day. Dr. Joel is with Proverbs 31.org. I have volunteered as a small group leader and Facebook encourager for many years. I really feel that we need to be reading God’s word. Yet every year when I read Genesis I am left confused. So I am hoping to understand more this year.

 

Our verse, is perfect,

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17.

So I did something, I bought another Bible. I justified it because of making it easy to follow along with Dr. Joel.

I love God’s word but I also love owning Bibles. On my dusty road, I read in the morning and at noon and in the evening. Also, I have a new calendar and I asked on Facebook for women’s favorite verses and I wrote their names with their verses and I will pray for each person weekly. I asked for 52 but many more responded so at the beginning of the year, I will pray for two women. If you would like prayer, be sure and respond to this blog and give me your favorite verse, or text me.

My beloved Proverbs 31 is no longer going to have online Bible studies so a group within has developed another online study and we will be known as At The Well. Our first book study is going to be Growing Slow by Jennifer Dukes Lee.

At work this week, some sadness, yet, I was able to pray with many. This is the most rewarding part of my job. The dusty road that Jesus has me walking is exciting. Recently I read a quote,

The beautiful thing about walking an unexpected path is whether we put ourselves there or circumstances out of our control put us there, God is there.

This morning a baby deer crossed the road as we approached the mom standing there, looking at us, waiting, and then she walked across the road. I love the dusty road we live on.

So, beloved, join me this year, really read the Bible, let’s connect the dots. Let’s pray verses over one another.

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times. Psalm 12:6

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

As you read this on New Year’s Day, may you have a wonderful day full of God’s blessings. May you have a distinguished walk that sets you apart for Jesus.