One Word 2023

seeking joy in all of my circumstances

“…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice [shout with joy]
and be glad all our days.”
Psalm 90:14

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
James 1:2-4

“…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10

A Life Update

I knew that it had been a while since I posted a blog entry, but I was stunned when I realized the last date that I posted. It was not my intention to disappear. In the summer of 2022, the Lord allowed me to visit the states to be present for the birth of our second grandchild. I was so happy to be there for that happy event. Since I was making the trip, I decided to come back a couple of weeks early so that I could spend Father’s Day with my dad. Living in Japan, there are few of those days together and I felt impressed to try to make that happen.

I returned to Japan and less than one month later I received a phone call. It was one of those phone calls that no one wants to get. My father was experiencing back pain for months. It’s a very long story, but needless to say, nothing helped and the pain only increased. It had become intolerable. He finally asked his doctor to admit him to the hospital to find out what was causing the pain. He received the diagnosis of stage 4 cancer that had metastasized to his bones. I returned to the states shortly after receiving that phone call to help my brother with his care.

In the meantime, my husband’s father (in Japan) took a fall in January that landed him in the hospital. He has been hospitalized for five weeks and we aren’t sure when he may be discharged. He is not allowed any visitors due to covid. He and my mother-in-law talk on the phone daily. So my husband is in Japan helping with his parents’ care and I am in the states helping with my father.

We have had many needs in our small church in Japan. In some regards, I feel like we are being hit from every side. But God…He is my strength and my song!!  I’ve seen Him work in so many ways. Maybe in the days ahead, I will be able to share some of those things. I’ve been trying to keep a journal and a “thank you” list of all the things God has done during this time.

I usually post about my one word at the beginning of January. I usually know what my one word for the next year will be in the fall. This year I had no clue. I started praying about it and through a series of events, the Lord impressed the word JOY on my heart. I will be sharing a little about that in the days ahead. 

Thank you for your prayers on the behalf of our family. They mean more than we can say!