Here we are with one of our ministry partners who we have known since the early days of our ministry in Twin Valley, Minnesota in 1983.

By Susan Shanklin

I’m writing this before Thanksgiving, but as you are reading it, you are looking ahead to Christmas.

I have it all planned, and the menu all printed out and MOST of the fixings in-house. I’ll have to remember to buy a turkey, though. Main thing, right? I’ll buy it Monday to start to brine. 

But since Thanksgiving already took place for you, I’ll move right along.

Theo, the cat, spends most of his days on the porch with the space heater and all the accessories a little cat would need. He comes in to sleep and be underfoot at night. We all are much happier now. 

I take him outside to get used to the great outdoors and to get to know Percy, the other cat. 

I look forward to Spring.

It’s good to look forward. Good to see what the new month or new year has for us.

It’s good to look forward. Good to see what the new month or new year has for us. 

I personally would like to see more progress in my family, ministry, town, country, and the world.

I’m not going to settle for less but strive for more. More of God’s will right here. 

I would like to see my children around my table discussing the things of God. I would like to go to more places and see people healed and set free from the devil. I would like to see my town more interested in Jesus Christ. I would like to see my country humbled and seeking God’s face. I would like to see the masses of the world lifting their hands toward heaven and saying, “Yes Lord!”

I have a God that is into blessing and not cursing. I serve a living God that is touchable, and He hears my prayers.

I’m not going to settle for sore throats, cancers, empty bank accounts, and ungodliness in my land. 

“Obey and don’t stray” is a good motto for the year 2020, don’t you think??

“Obey and don’t stray” is a good motto for the year 2020, don’t you think??

Obey the Word and don’t fall into the ditch.

Tom tells me often (well kind of often) that there is a ditch on both sides of the path.  You can’t wallow in the mud of despair or stink the place up with your self-righteousness either.

It’s much better to just put one foot in front of the other and enjoy serving the Lord, right?

However, I do enjoy going to the post office and checking the ministry’s post office box.  Each envelope is special. Each note is special. Each prayer request is special. Each offering is special.

I was watching Christian TV many years ago and some ministry had all these envelopes from people piled high. Huge stacks of mail and the people stretched out their hands and prayed for the mass of envelopes. I was struck with how impersonal it was. I said to myself. “I’m not going to do that. I’m going to read each one. I’m going to pray for each one.”

I know by just looking at the envelope who it’s from, most of the time. If it has stickers plastered all over it, it’s from a dear friend that I have never met! I don’t know where he gets all those stickers, but it’s a joy to receive! 

Some people fill the whole backside of the prayer request form and continue on the front. Some people itemize their requests. Some people print big in pencil. Some people write little notes on separate paper. Some don’t say anything at all. But we know they are saying, “We believe in what you are doing and keep up the good work.”

Our partners and partnering churches are special to us and we speak of them as friends, whether we hear from them by mail, or on the Internet.

Our partners and partnering churches are special to us and we speak of them as friends, whether we hear from them by mail, or on the Internet. 

I’m the reader-out-loud of the prayer requests during prayer time in the morning with Tom.

Sometimes, I keep a special request by my chair to keep before the Lord.

Some people I have never met in person, but I feel like I know them, and likewise, they know me. 

Sometimes, we don’t hear from people that we once did, but we still pray for them. Sometimes, I can’t remember a name, but the Lord knows their name.

Today, I wrote notes on thank you letters. Tom enters them into the computer and gives me a copy of the printed thank you letters. From there, I sit down and jot a note on the bottom.

I put them in the envelope and stamp them. I do complain sometimes about the choices of stamps. I like pretty ones, and Tom likes it if I put them on straight. Haha.

We don’t put your envelopes in a pile, so to speak, but read, ponder, reflect, and pray. 

So send me a note or picture. Tell me you are sad or happy. Tell me you are lean or fat. Tell me your victories. I care, we care, and He cares!