Faith On Every Corner January 2026b by Faith On Every Corner

January 2026 Photographer Karen Ruhl

God created the sea, the dry land, and all life within them, showing His ultimate sovereignty. Psalm 95:5, Genesis 1

Photographer: Karen Ruhl

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Thank you for being so faithful and letting our photographers hear from you. I remember the first time I started taking photos. My mother had a small film camera and put me in charge of taking photos of the family. I was on cloud 9. I was able to get myself a camera as I got a little older and kept taking photos and upgrading my cameras as I could. Today, well, you can only imagine what my camera closet looks like. I have more than one, and several - ok - a lot of lenses and other equipment. If you would like to see some more of my of photography, click on this link. https://karen-ruhl.pixels.com/ I would love to hear from you! Email me at karenruh12@gmail.com God Bless You, Karen

Note From Karen Ruhl, Editor Happy New Year! At the end of each year, I reflect on places I have lived. The first photo is in, California, the second is The Loveland Castle, in Loveland, Ohio, and the third is in North Carolina. I have been blessed to visit many states and traveled from east to west coast on several occasions. My hope for you in 2026, is that you take time to get out and explore the area you live in and when you can, take trips and see the beauty God has given us to enjoy . I have taken some quiet time this past week, mainly to pray and get organized for 2026. It is an amazing time to be in prayer and thank God for what He has given you. Even in loss, we can pray and thank God for the time we have had with your loved ones. Take some time to sit and pray. It is a wonderful feeling to know our God, our Father God, listens to what we say. Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are with me, that You are in me. Help me by opening my ears this year, so that I can hear You and enjoy You every day. Help me by opening my eyes to the needs around me. Help me by showing me where I am needed. And I lift up my family and friends and ask that You bless them as well. I pray these words in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen Blessings to your New Year. If you have a story you would like to share, please send it to the email address under my name. Much love and many blessings in 2026. Karen Team@faithoneverycorner.com

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Poems ... by John Alexander ... Pages 6-7 January Sunshine ... by Melissa Henderson ... Pages 8-9 Learning to Dwell with the Lord ... by Yvonne M. Morgan ... Pages 10-11 What Is Your Perspective? ... by Donna J. Miller.. Page 12-13 Morning Coffee ... by Michael E. Wells ... Pages 14-15 A Year Of Faith ... by Irene Surya ... Page 16 Be Still and Know That I Am God ... Karen Ruhl ... Page 17 Carrying Christmas In My Heart Year-Round ... By Brianna Barrett ... Pages 18-19 Photos by Karen Ruhl ... Page 20-21 Bison in the Badlands ... By Shara Bueler-Repka ... Pages 22-23 Look For His Blessing ... By Karen Bowling... Pages 24-25 Book Reviews ... Pages 26-27 Let Your Light Shine ... By Linda Castro ... Pages 28-29 Poems ... By Jodie Glardon ... Pages 30-31 “Build On!” ... By Richard D. Waters.. Page 32-33 Depending on God - The Faithfulness of God ...by Ron Moore ... Page 34-35

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A Prayer For 2026 Heavenly Father, we come before you and praise your name. Lord God,

as we head into a new year, we look to you to help us become the people you want us to be. We praise you for your lovinig kindness and ask you to guide us in the year ahead. In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen

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John Alexander Winter Chill Here in Texas, we’ve had some winter as well as some days more like spring over the last few weeks. The rapid changes from the 80s to the 20s remind me that I don’t adapt as quickly as I once did. It should not come as a surprise at my age, but my mind and what it would like to do and my body and what it can do are often at odds. I’m at the point where I’m enjoying life at a slower pace. As I slow down, I’m finding that I can spend more time focusing on the things to come, those eternal things in store for me when I pass from this life to the next, absent from the body and present with the Lord. I’ve selected poems that acknowledge the reality of my stage of life and how I’ve come to embrace it. I pray you have peace in your heart as you contemplate what is to come one day. Blessings, John Alexander https://quiettimerhymes.com/ YouTube Channel

Winter’s Chill

One Day

God’s Realm

The freezing rain, the sleet, the cold, The icy shards, the crunching sound, My bones I know are getting old. They also crunch, not just the ground. I hear that old familiar call, Each time I leave, walk out the door, “Be careful dear that you don’t fall.” Those loving words I’ll not ignore. Some folks equate this final stage, To winter months, leaves wither, die. I’m blessed to reach this ripe old age. It’s not for me to question why. Perhaps there’s work remaining still. God keeps me warm through winter’s chill.

Now words won’t suffice, and my spirit must groan, One day I will see and at last will be shown All that awaits us beyond the great veil, Eyes opened, a body that’s no longer frail. With a soul and spirit that both will be free, Time will no longer put limits on me, No sin or temptation, no holding me down. I’ll be part of the chorus of heavenly sound. My mind can’t conceive of that heavenly realm With my righteous redeemer in place at the helm, Love flowing forever throughout His domain. We’ll praise Him forever, the Lamb who was slain. One day He’s returning, oh glorious day. His returning gets closer and closer each day.

Lord help me to fathom the depths of Your realm, To understand fully what You have in store. Lord help let go and have You at the helm. Eternity’s boundless I’d love to know more. The treasures God’s shared, although centuries old, His people, through history have captured each word, Preserved through the ages, recorded on scrolls. And those who knew Jesus wrote down what they heard. I’m grateful for Bibles, so many in print, So easily purchased, distributed, shared. Its books probe the depths, let us know the extent Of God’s love for His people and how much He cared. His love is extended to you and to me, That limitless, boundless eternity free.

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Page 8 January Sunshine By Melissa Henderson

The temperatures may be cold, the holiday decorations may be taken down and put away, and the calendar has turned from one year to the next. In the midst of change, I look for sunshine. January sunshine. Will the cold days be dark and cloudy? Hopefully, the sunshine will brighten the freezing temperatures and bring smiles and warmth. The weather varies in different locations of the country. When we lived in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, we expected snow and ice during winter. Now, we live in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and we experience humidity and hot summers. The longest season we have is summer. The heat stays longer than the cold. That is okay because my husband and I have learned what to expect during the seasons in the South.

Award-winning author Melissa The January sunshine brings a smile to my face. The new year brings opportunities to learn, to Henderson writes inspirational share, and to serve others. Along with the cold during winter, I marvel at God’s creations. I’m messages laced with a bit of hu- thankful to experience the beauty of nature that God provides. A red cardinal lands on the mor. With stories in books, maga- branches of the maple tree. A black-capped chickadee sings while sitting on the feeder. zines, devotionals and more, Melissa hopes to encourage readers. On a sunny day, Rowan and Eden visit and help fill the bird feeders. The smell of the seeds takes Melissa is the author of “Licky the them by surprise. “Why does it stink, Mimi?” I explain that the seed doesn’t stink. That is just Lizard” and “Grumpy the Gator”. Her the smell of bird food. passions are helping in community and church. Melissa is an Elder, When I show them the bag of mealworms for the bluebirds, Rowan and Eden both quickly step Deacon and Stephen Minister. Fol- back from the bag and share their disgust. low Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, “Mimi, are they alive? That is gross.” Pinterest and at https://www.facebook.com/melissa.henderson.9440 I laugh and explain that the mealworms are not alive. The worms are good nourishment for the birds. Kids are funny when they experience things for the first time. They let Mimi fill the

Read her blogs at: feeders on that day. I smiled and agreed that the worms were “gross”. https://melissaghenderson.com/ It’s Always A Story With The Hendersons

As winter approached, I checked the holly bushes. When I was a young girl, my parents shared that if the holly bushes had lots of red berries, a harsh winter was coming. Of course, that prediction wasn’t always correct. It’s the same way here in the Lowcountry. Our holly bushes are filled with beautiful red berries. Yet, the winter has been mild so far. But, wait… winter is notover yet. Perhaps those berries will tell the story of the weather that is coming. While I wait, I enjoy the January sunshine. I fill the bird feeders with seed and mealworms. I wait and watch for the birds and perhaps a flake of snow. Have a blessed January! In His Name, Melissa Henderson Click on the book covers to purchase Melissa’s books.

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Learning to Dwell with the Lord By Yvonne M. Morgan

I prayed for a term to carry me through the new year, and God impressed upon my heart the word “dwell.” First off, I wanted to understand the meaning. Webster defines dwell as: 1) to remain for a time; 2) to live as a resident; and 3) to keep the attention directed or speak or write insistently. With the first part of my quest completed, now I needed to look at what the Bible says about the term dwell. Verses About Dwelling I discovered many verses that talk about dwelling. As I studied them, I narrowed the list down to three that spoke to me the most. Yvonne M Morgan, Christian author and speaker https://yvonne-morgan.com Blog at Turningmountainsintomolehills.org Twitter: @ymmauthor Website: Yvonne-Morgan.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ YMMauthor/ Turning Mountains into Molehills (2017)

1. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his , the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV). 2. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV). 3. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV). From these verses, I love the picture they paint of our faith. Christ came down to dwell among us. If we accept Jesus, he comes and dwells in our hearts to teach us how to live a life pleasing to our Father. As we dwell with God, he will lead us home to live out our eternity together. Christ dwells with us, accepts us and teaches us so we can dwell eternally with him. How do we dwell with God in our daily activities? Dwell with God When we dwell with God, we are conscious of his presence in our lives. We can describe this as a feeling of closeness or a sense of joy beyond our understanding. I can also describe it as an awareness of his greatness, power, wisdom, and love. If we feel this kind of comfort in God’s presence, why don’t we dwell there more often?

A New Year to Dwell Closer I want to spend more time dwelling with the Lord in 2026. I want to feel and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit more every day of this year. And I plan to do this through daily praise and worship. I also plan to use my words to bless others and not tear them down. Next, I will work to become salt and light to this generation and to love others the way Christ loves me. As the light of Christ dwells within my heart, I can reflect his light and love to all those around me. Let’s enter 2026 by seeking Christ in all we do and say. We can start by humbling ourselves, asking for forgiveness, forgiving others, loving our neighbors as we seek a closer walk with our Heavenly Father. Prayer Please help me dwell more on you, Abba Father. And let me be good soil for Your Word to grow in. Let every word I speak and everything I reflect, reflect you to the world. Let my life bring forth good fruit. I want to live in perfect obedience to your glory and your wisdom. Amen.

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What Is Your Perspective? By Donna J. Miller

My husband and I love to visit the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Space exploration and the study of the universe is so interesting. Seeing galaxies that stretch for thousands of miles gives us the perspective of being very small in God’s creation. The Psalmist states: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1) Isaiah said,“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.” (Isaiah 40:26) Even driving by the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center makes me feel very small. The VAB is the largest single story building in the world and at 526 feet is the tallest building in the United States that is not in an urban area. From a distance, you don’t really Donna is a preschool curriculum writer for Lifeway and notice how big it is until you get close enough to see how small a van or truck is compared to loves teaching two year olds the building. at her church, Hudson First Baptist. She is a retired ele- In 1976, as part of the United States Bicentennial Celebration, a large United States flag was mentary school media coor- painted on the building. On the bus tour of Kennedy Space Center, the information video says dinator and K-1 teacher. She that each star of the flag is six feet wide! Even more amazing, the video says that if the flag was loves all children - especially on the ground, each stripe would be wide enough for the bus to drive on it. I find myself looking her 4 grandchildren! She loves at our large tour bus and back up at the stripes painted on the building. WOW! to read, scrapbook, and make cards. Donna lives in Hudson, On our visit last month to Kennedy Space Center, a new fact had been added to the video. The NC with her husband, Lewis. narrator said that if the Roman Colosseum was placed on the roof of the VAB, there would still They enjoy traveling together. be plenty of room for a parking lot. We visited Rome and toured the Colosseum last year. My legs are still tired (just kidding) from walking around that giant ancient amphitheater so picturing it on top of the VAB gave me a new perspective of how immense the VAB really is. Often when we talk about perspective, the half-full and half-empty cup viewpoints are mentioned. We all know people who see the world in a negative half-empty way and mourn what is missing instead of appreciating that their cup is still half-full. We know others who celebrate their half-full cup and cherish every drop in their cup. When we stop to look at the world and ourselves through God’s perspective, we learn how he views us with love and grace instead of the condemning ways we often view ourselves. Our faith plays a strong role in how we see ourselves and the world. God created us on the sixth day of creation and Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” God was pleased with the world He had created and wanted a relationship with the people He created, even those of us alive in 2026.

In Isaiah 55:8-9, God reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I cherish knowing that He is so much wiser and has plans for me that exceed anything I perceive and plan on my own. Romans 11:33 reminds me: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” When I start to focus on the problems and “bad” things in my world, I get discouraged and focus on my cup being half-empty and getting lower every day. Philippians 4:8 reminds me to focus on the good things in life. It says: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Colossians 3:2 reminds me to “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Our journey here on Earth is not all there is. When faced with struggles we can focus on our future in Heaven and the blessings God gives us even in hard times. Focusing on the true, pure, lovely things will remindus of God’s care for us each day! James 1:2-3 tells us to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” God uses even hard time to produce perseverance. When we see through the eyes of faith, that God is blessing us even in the hard times, we have a different perspective than when we say, “Woe is me! I have all these problems.” God gives us strength to face the hard days. 2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” A few days after our visit to Kennedy Space Center, there was a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch planned. We watched it from our New Smyrna beach hotel, on the coast, 38 miles north of the launch pad. We were excited to see lights and billowing smoke in the distance and to follow the exhaust flames of the rocket until the first stage fell off. It was amazing. Later, we watched the YouTube launch video taken onsite for a much better perspective. What is your perspective on life and the things you face each day? Are you seeking to be near God and to find His will for you? Stay near to God (not 38 miles away) and your cup will be overflowing! You will begin to see God at work even in the hardest times!

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Morning Coffee by Michael E. Wells

FIVE REASONS TO PRAY REASON ONE We pray to be protected from evil In one of Paul’s letters he asked that prayers would be made for him to keep him from ungodly men on his travels. Evil actions come from evil thoughts placed by an evil presence. It is as simple as that. We are not creatures of original thought and when we listen to the wrong voice horrible acts of violence are committed against others. We pray for us and loved ones to be protected daily from those who would harm. Michael E. Wells has a passion for writing letters of Christian encouragement. With poetic style and moving messages, the reader is often comforted and consoled, inspired and refreshed. Since his retirement from Federal Service in 2006, most mornings are spent penning letters of the heart. Tucked away in the foothills of Pennsylvania, his is an idyllic lifestyle in a pastoral setting. This backdrop helps to set both mood and message for his many writings. You can find his book, “Morning Coffee with Words For The Day” at Amazon.com.

REASON TWO We pray to keep our flesh at bay. Truly we are our worst enemy. As Paul wrote saying what he wills to do he does not and what he wills not to do he does, is a truth present in so many of us. We pray to walk in the Spirit and not flounder in the flesh. Acting out desires that would dismiss us from His tangible Presence is sometimes a daily reality. We pray to have our minds renewed, our hearts refreshed and our destructive desires removed. Paul said daily he placed his body in subjection to the Spirit. It is mind over matter. The mind of Christ over matters of the heart. REASON THREE We pray to have intimacy with God. Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17 was that we would know God in the unity and fullness of His presence. He prayed that we would experience the love and the glory of the wholeness of God. It is something that is now possible and accessible to us by His Spirit. Prayer is the only vehicle we have to travel to the place. It is not our happy place but a holy place. Prayer is not simply requests to be made but experiences to be had. It is singing, enjoying, speaking, listening, receiving, sensing and awakening your spirit to experience the reason for your believing.

REASON FOUR We pray to understand. Sometimes our greatest questions cannot be answered logically. It is through meditation and contemplation that we often find peace of mind. Events in life can at times be too heavy of a burden to carry. We pray in order that we may be spoken to. To hear the quiet whisper and have the awareness of His Presence can give perspective to people and events in our lives. We will never know all the reasons why but we can be comforted in all the seasons of our life. Prayer is where we will receive mercy and find grace to help when we need it most.

REASON FIVE We pray to be a witness for God. Paul asked for prayers that he would have an open door to preach the gospel. We pray we will not be one who simply speaks His name but one who reflects His character. Knowing that it is the goodness of God that leads one to repentance we should be an outreach of His grace and mercy to others. To be forgiven is a powerful persuader of the heart and salvation a sweet surrender of the soul. In this life we can be a witness for the God who calls all to eternal life in Him. The Bible declares he who wins souls is wise. In all things through prayer let your requests be made known to God and He will give you peace! Mike’s books are available to purchase on Amazon. I highly recommend his books! -Karen Ruhl

Page 16 “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 by Karen Ruhl

A YEAR OF FAITH By Irene Surya

As the clock strikes twelve On the midnight of the first day, When the gigantic bell chimes And rings in the new year As the old year drifts away And becomes the past, With its own share of Numerous joys and sorrows I look forward to the new year To new saplings of faith To grow into strong plants Dr. Irene Surya is an award- Rooted in the Living water. winning author of her book, To new steps of faith In Solitude with God. Her To see what is not seen poems have been published To have not my vision stunted in various magazines and By things that are seen. anthologies. She has a To new rainbows of faith passion for writing for the As I look at the horizon with hope Lord and glorifying His Leaving that which is behind name through her writings. And run towards eternity. She loves and serves the To new mustard seeds of faith Lord with her husband. To grow into magnificent trees That is a blessing to many Who find shelter among the leaves..

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If you have time, open your Bible to Psalm 46. Pray first for you to be able to be still and take in every word. It starts out with: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. It is easy to feel down when something bad or hurtful happens in our lives. Yet, if we truly believe that God is our refuge and strength, we also believe that He loves us deeply and wants us to be srong. He will get us throug it all. Over the past couple of years, our family has had many losses. It is when we take our prayers to our Father God that He will bring us through the losses and will stay beside us as we need him and as we come beside others.

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In no way do I think it is easy, but I have learned to look at the loss of my husband with smiles. If I feel sad, I think about the silly things he would do to make me and others laugh. It is my hope and prayer that each of you are able to celebrate a new beginning in 2026. Try to get out and meet new people - church is a good place to start. Get involved at church or in the community to help others. Prayers and blessings to you in 2026.

Page 18 Carrying Christmas In My Heart Year-Round By Brianna Barrett

I carefully placed the ornament in tissue paper and wrapped it with bubble wrap. Securely storing it away for next season. Each ornament held a special memory or person, and I reminisced as I undecorated the tree. When my eyes fell on the mantel, I saw my earth-toned faceless nativity scene. A gift from my parents a few years back. Instead of carefully wrapping each piece with bubble wrap, I decided I needed this visual reminder to carry Christmas in my heart year-round. What Does It Mean to Carry Christmas in Your Heart Year-Round? In order to carry Christmas in our hearts year-round, we must be determined to love others the way Jesus told us to. Forgive quickly and pursue peace in our hearts. Those Brianna is a Carolina girl who loves Jesus things seem easy to say, but when we have to implement them into our lives, when and her family. She enjoys watching the we are tired and cranky, it’s hard to want to love others who have hurt us. It’s hard to sunrise, photography, reading, writing, and forgive things said and done to us, but when we place our hope in the Lord and allow paddleboarding. According to her teenage Him to control our lives He changes us. son, she’s a master chef in the kitchen, making When we watch our words and choose them wisely, it helps us to live out Jesus’ love gluten-free cuisine from around the world. for others. While it is not always easy, following the advice in James: “You must all be Her writing and photography have appeared quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19 NLT). I don’t know how in numerous publications including Faith On many times growing up I heard an adult tell me, God gave you two ears to listen more. Every Corner, Creation Illustrated, and Our Maybe I need to listen more to those around me—really listen. Sometimes when we Story Magazine, and she is a contributor to listen with our hearts and ears, we find out more about people, why they are the way The Grit and Grace Project and Broken But they are. Some have been hurt and have become jaded, while others are struggling Priceless Magazine where she writes the with unforgiveness or wanting justice in their worlds. So often, people feel unloved and column, “From A Homemaker’s Heart”. Her unwanted that they act out in ways they are ashamed of but want to be seen. We should put our own issues aside and strive to love others in the here and now. first devotional book, “Hope in the Healing: A 40-Day Devotional Journey Through Chronic He changes those hardened hearts and allows love to flow in. He changes the Illness” is due out this spring. Check out her latest works at www.briannagrams.com and thoughts of wanting justice and fairness, replacing them with forgiveness. As we connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, or allow God into every aspect of our lives, we are able to surrender to Him more, grow closer to Him, which produces peace in our hearts. Pinterest.

Hope produces peace and joy in my heart.

Page 19 When I focus on Jesus and the fact that He is returning in the Second Coming, I have such hope. My hope is that I get to spend eternity with Him. I’ll have a new body, not one that doesn’t work just right, but a new one. There is hope in healing when we allow God to handle it. When we lean in and trust that He is in control. I love these words from Moses in Exodus 14, “... ‘Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.’” (Exodus 14:13b NLT). Those words for the Israelites are still pertinent today. Moses continues in his speech, “‘The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.’” (Exodus 14:14 NLT). Moses was telling the Israelites not to freak out when Pharaoh and the Egyptians were overtaking them, and God won that battle for them. The Red Sea was parted. I keep Exodus 14:14 on a sticky note on the bathroom mirror; it helps me to get centered most days instead of stressing about what’s next or what-ifs. I turn it over to God and seek His presence, trusting that He’s got it all under control. When I have hope in the Lord that He’s handling it, then I have peace. When I have peace, I find joy. Sometimes something squelches that joy, but constantly seeking the Lord in all that I do provides peace, which helps me find joy. Joy is not necessarily happiness. Joy is something more; it’s finding solace in the Lord. Many Psalms discuss joy and how you can find joy in the Lord. I find immense ‌joy in Psalm 28:7, which is a psalm of David: “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” (NLT). Every time I read those words, a smile appears on my face. Those words remind me I can do anything and everything because the Lord gives me strength. I can’t do it without Him. After all the gifts are given and the food is eaten, may you remember to leave Christmas within your heart each day of the year. Friend, life is hard. Holidays are hard, but I pray the Christmas spirit will live within you all year, the giddy love to grant kindness to others. The generosity and grace we extend — may it be continued throughout the year as well. I leave you with a prayer from Paul: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NLT). May your holidays and coming year be filled with Christmas in your heart.

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Photographer: Karen Ruhl

There is something to photography everywhere you go. Keep your phone or camera charged and snap away. - Karen

A working mine in the mountains.

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by Shara Bueler-Repka

We were having great fun—until their mama snorted and pushed her nose against the back of our tent. Bruce and I looked at each other and realized we could be in a precarious situation. But as she didn’t seem to be interested in trampling our tent, we again turned our attention to the thrill of the scene outside our little door.

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before and laid Your hand upon me”—Psalm 139:1-5.

We heard another ominous noise and were again pulled back to another uncertain situation. A humongous bull patrolled past us, swinging his head and grunting. And with every swing, he gave us the “stink” eye. Now I’ve hung out with animals, wild and otherwise, my whole life. I’ve never been afraid, but always respectful. But when I looked in that eye, instinct told me that this bad boy meant business.

Bison in the Badlands

The sound of thunder rolled in the distance, but there was no storm. Dust swirled into

Shara Bueler-Repka is the night sky, but there was no wind. We drove on through the South Dakota Badlands, enjoying life as a singer/ waiting for the unseen phenomenon to show itself. The darkness became a light shade songwriter/recording artist, of tan—we caught movement on the right. Huge shapes careened down the hills and freelance writer, and awardwinning author. She and her through the draws, crossing the road in front of us. Bruce hit the brakes as bison of every husband, Bruce, live in their size and shape flicked hrough our headlights like an old western movie. As quickly as the living quarters horse trailer stampede pounded through, it disappeared, leaving us awed and bewildered. We had and call “home” wherever truly come to a wild land.A bison stampede delayed us a bit, so it was rather late by the their rig is parked. Their mail- time we spotted the campground entrance. (That’s a cool story for another time.) base, however, is Hallettsville, Texas. She loves sharing Arriving at the campground very late and trying to be inconspicuous in our diesel truck, God’s Word through music with her husband, riding their we camped at the far edge where the tent sites bordered open land— wildlife abounded, horses (aka The Boys) in the and we wanted to be right in the middle of ‘em. Little did we know ... backcountry, and writing about God’s grace in their We woke up to a beautiful, crisp morning—and a mysterious sound of snorting, munching, various adventures on the and stomping. We wanted to see wildlife, but by the sound of things we were beginning trail less traveled. to think we had gotten a little more than we bargained for.

I opened the flap of our tent and stared out at a world from centuries past. Everything from the twenty-first century was erased from view—by a couple of hundred bison! They grazed everywhere and all around our tent and truck! Two little curious calves stepped cautiously toward me as I held my hand out through the opening. I tried to touch their noses, but that was a little much for them, and they scampered off.

Bruce and I shrunk back inside our tent and prayed that this brute would move on. After a couple of passes he finally did, as well as the rest of the herd, and we crawled out of our tent. We wandered over to the information post in the campground and found abundant literature, complete with warnings, about how dangerous these animals can be. Of course we read this stuff after the fact— ignorance was definitely bliss in our case. However, as I surely pushed the limits of my ignorance, I also thanked the Lord that my battery went dead as I tried to get a picture of the bull. If the camera bulb had flashed, that guy would have really been ticked off! True to our “trail” experiences, epiphanies abound with the stories, and this was no exception. God understands the “stampedes” of life that threaten to overtake us, but He protects us before we hurl headlong into the midst of the fray. Likewise, when we push ahead against sane wisdom because of momentary excitement, God’s gracious hand is evident when He brings our precarious plans to an abrupt halt, saving us from ourselves.

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Look For His Blessing! by Karen Bowling

Karen Bowling holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology for Christian Counseling from Liberty University as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from Bible Faith Global University. She currently ministers to others through the Speak Words of Faith website (speakwordsoffaith.com) where she maintains a weekly blog. She has a strong passion for women’s ministry, and a strong desire to see women healed, delivered, and set free from their emotional wounds from the past.

This morning when my alarm went off, a song by Brandon Lake popped into my head. It is called Blessings Everywhere. I believe it may be based on Deuteronomy 28:6:16 which speaks of being blessed everywhere we go. Many people are going through a tough season. When that happens, we become worn out and battle weary and can only see our present circumstances. The word of God tells us that we are blessed everywhere we go, and that there are also blessings in everything. James 1:2-4 tells us to ”count it all joy”. Where does our joy come from? It comes from the Lord! Psalm 43:3 (NLT) says, “There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy.” Some blessings are easier to see than others and we must wrench our eyes away from our situation and look toward the Lord to see them. I was watching a documentary on Charles Spurgeon a little over two years ago and what intrigued me was that in a time of darkness, he wandered into a church and heard the pastor quote Isaiah 45:22 (KJV) which says, “Look unto me and ye be saved.” He locked onto that simple yet powerful biblical truth which became a beacon of hope for him and was said to have launched him forward into his ministry. In Philippians 4:8, Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” In the darkest of times and the most difficult of trials, we can see glimmers of hope; we can see evidence of the Lord and His blessings if we look away from the source of our distress. For example, as I lay in my bed writing this, I realized that I have a splitting headache. I paused and closed my eyes and heard the chatter of birds that are nesting in a tree outside my bedroom window. I listened until they became quiet. Does my head still hurt?

Page 25 Yes, but my spirit feels lighter because I locked onto a blessing, their joyful sound. This may be small in comparison to what you may be dealing with, but we can still apply the same approach. Psalm 56:22 and 1Peter 5:7 tell us to give our burdens to the Lord. Matthew 11:28-29 and Psalm 62:1 tell us that He will give us rest. The Lord’s shoulders are great and mighty; He can carry the burdens of the entire world. We can trust in Him. He even sent His Spirit to abide with and in us! He has not and will never forsake us! I take comfort in Psalm 121 (NIV) which says, “ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” The beauty of a relationship with the Lord is that He always gives us a choice. We can choose how we spend each day. We can have a day filled with darkness and misery or we can have a day filled with hope, blessings and His light. I encourage you to choose hope in Him! Give Him your burdens, let Him do the heavy lifting and take your rest in Him. Receive His joy, even through your tears, for when we look toward Him, we will see the blessing! He is our blessing! Lord, we bless You! We thank You for Your love. We thank You for giving us the gift of free will. It is a beautiful sign of Your love and devotion, because through free will, we come to the place where we desire to enter into a relationship with You! When we choose You, we are loved and not forsaken; for Your love is an eternal love! Please help us trust in You, place our hope in You and always walk and live in your love, light and joy! We pray this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen!

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January Book Suggestions! By Karen Ruhl

Click on the book and support our local writers. The Inspiration behind the “Cafe’ Wells” writing journal In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul urges us to bring every thought into the captivity of Christ. That is uch a powerful command because while we associate that to be just the harmful thoughts, it is clearly stated ‘every’ thought. Why? Because thoughts become things; there’s incredible power in the words you hold within.

I am so excited to announce that I am working on two more Squack books with Nancy. These are books your kids will read over and over - click on the picture to go to Amazon and purchase.

Much like a rich morning brew, the act of putting pen to paper can help you sift through your thoughts, awaken insights, and bring clarity to the quiet corners of your heart. Whether whispered in prayer or poured onto the page, your words are powerful tools to process emotions, find clarity, and lift those spiritual aches to God for His transforming touch.

Stay tuned as Richard is working on another book with the Corn Dog Capers. Click on the books to purchase from Amazon.

Think of this journal as your sacred mug, ready for your daily brew of thoughts. When your mind feels frothy with distractions, journaling offers a settled focus—a quiet space to simply talk with God. Forget the pressure of “perfect” prayers or neatly organized thoughts. This is your space to get real. Just pour it out to Him. Cry out. Give thanks. Just as a deep brew can reveal rich, complex flavors, God can take your raw emotions—even your fiery “rants”—and transform them into something beautiful and true. Praying with you as you begin this brewing journey! Michael E. Wells

THIS WRITING JOURNAL IS BASED OFF THE MORNING COFFEE BOOK SERIES

I highly recommend Michaels new Writing Journal - Karen Ruhl Click to purchase.

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LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE By Linda Castro

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 ESV) “There you go again!” the young lady screamed at her friend. “Stop acting like you are erfect! Every time we have a conversation about the Bible lesson or Church, it’s like you think you are the only one who understands it!”. The Bible shares a lot of scriptures about us letting our individual light shine as Jesus teaches us by His example. But what does that really mean? Could it mean we are supposed to reflect God’s love in our actions with others? Could it mean we are supposed to be kind and willing to serve? Could it mean we are supposed to be generous and share what we have with those in need? As former owner and creative director of two advertising agencies, Linda has years of experience creating a public impression of a product through the media using television commercials, radio and print advertising, press releases, and marketing campaigns. Linda has been a caregiver for her son; a volunteer who travelled to Egypt and helped Sudanese refugees; a volunteer for a local food ministry, and a Creative Writing teacher for the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa for their Artists in the Schools program.

Could it mean our inner light is not something we boast about because we have the scriptures memorized, but instead, it is the Light of Jesus and our Faith in Him that creates the changes in our lives. To “shine” with the Holy Spirit inside us is to become less attention-seeking for our own accomplishments and benefits and to point out those good things in others. We are to pray for strength to promote peace and unity; forgiving those who have wronged us; and to take the time to listen to others who may just need someone in their lives they can depend upon. Another way we can “let our light shine” is a positive change in our interactions with others. Saying a friendly “hello” to a stranger we may pass on the street. We never know what that person may be going through. Perhaps a sadness or grief. Perhaps a difficult family situation. Perhaps a job conflict. And just to have someone smile, say hello, and draw their attention away from whatever it was that they were thinking about, even if just for that brief encounter, may have brightened their day.

But first, how do we receive the Light? We receive the Light of Jesus when we receive Him into our hearts as our Lord and Savior. How do we do this? Bible tells us in Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” With our salvation comes transformation. Receiving Jesus is receiving His Light. Our salvation is being saved from our sin and its resulting consequences. Our transformation represents the changes in our life and adds the desire to be more like Jesus and letting His Light shine through us! So, unlike the two young ladies at the beginning of this article, where one of them used her own knowledge to irritate the other one who perhaps also knew the same information, we are to simply be humble sharing our knowledge when we are asked to share it and receiving knowledge as others share their input. Matthew 5:14a says “You are the Light of the world.” God has a plan for each of us. (Jeremiah 29:11) He knows where we need to be, what we need to say, and how we need to embrace others with His love. So, let your light shine and never underestimate the power of the Light you shine into this world.

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Jodie Glardon

In Remembrance of a Loved One

You’ll never hurt again; you’ll never cry or weep, You left this world a legacy our grieving hearts will keep. Jodie Glardon is a college student It still felt way too soon, although it happened slow. and writer. She won several poetry But God knows best—He took His child, relieving you from woe.

contests as a child, and her more recent work has appeared in the Pure In Heart magazine. In her spare time, Jodie enjoys reading, hiking, crochet, and piano.

Sometimes I hear your voice, and think that you are near. I wonder what you would be saying if you were still here. No bitterness I hold; fond memories I retrieve Of who you were, and what you represented and believed.

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Passage of Time There is no time for arrogance, vindictiveness or guile; Our lives are short, thus must be trod with virtue on each mile. There is no time for unbelief; embrace the blessed Fount. Our days are numbered on this earth—to what will they amount? There is no time for idleness, for worldly pursuits of fun; The sands of time run out to bring lost sheep toward Christ the Son. Remember this each closing day, lest wisdom you depart. Entrust to God your future now—let faith renew your heart.

I know you were not perfect; no one mortal is. But every day, so trustfully, you put your hand in His. Your radiant smile, bright eyes, the million prayers you asked Convinced us all that, though you’re gone, this heartbreak cannot last. Though frames return to dust, your soul will be set free To fly on wings to heaven where you’ll spend eternity. God gave you a special gift of inspiring us anew I will pass on that gift received—in loving memory of you.

Photo by Karen Ruhl

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“Build On! ”

By Richard D. Waters “Every year around this time, many will be making their “New Year’s Resolutions.” I always make fun of this when people ask me what mine is. I always say, “To make it to next year.” And then laugh. Most people, when they make one, usually only make it until February and then it goes away. Never to be heard of again. Maybe 2025 was a rough year for you. Maybe there are a lot of things you wish you could change or wish would have never happened. For me, 2025 was a blockbuster year. There were so much good things to happened, I am standing in awe at what God has done in my life. That’s not to say that there weren’t any low times this year. There were definitely some tough times this past year. So, as we move on to 2026, let’s try and do a few things together. Number 1: Pray. Richard D. Waters lives in Hudson, North Caroline. He is a Youth Director at Calvary Advent Christian Church. He loves working with children and youth. His heart is to teach them about Jesus, and how Jesus loves them. Richard is a writer and will have his newest book published very soon!

Pray first that for the difficult times we had this year that God would use them to give us strength and to help us learn from them. I believe that every trial is meant to help us in some way. Sometimes it is hard to see that, but God will use these hard times in His own way to grow us. Pray secondly that we can build on our successes this past year. We have to realize that any success we had this past year is because God had His hand on them. It’s all because God allowed it. So, as we pray for God to build off these successes, give Him praise as well. And number 2: Build On! As we pray for God to help us build on our successes, let’s do just that. Let’s keep moving. Let’s keep striving. Let’s keep building on to what God has allowed us to do. Keep building. I pray you all have a blessed 2026.

I just wanted to say how blessed I feel to be coaching and publishing Richard’s books. We have been working together for several months and he has already finished 3 books with others on the way. Richard also writes articles for the magazine. I highly recommend the books for your kids. Thank you Richard!

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Depending on God (Part 3): The Faithfulness of God by Ron Moore God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

Rev. Ron Moore Jr (athj.org) is the associate minister at First Corinthian Baptist Church. You can reach him at revronmoore@gmail.com

I’m not one of those Old Testament theologians. Some of those guys can tell you what kind of clothes Moses wore on his 50th birthday. What I do see in the Old Testament is God’s faithfulness towards his people. Think about it. The Israelites were always doing something wrong. Idol worship was their never ending weakness. No matter how many times God helped them out of a tough situation, they seemed to always start to worship other Gods. Next, the enemies of Israel would gain the upper hand, and God’s people would begin to repent and cry for help. God would always show up to rescue them. This happened over and over and over throughout the Old Testament. Has God had to repeatedly get you out of the same ole’ trouble? Have you ever told God “this is the last time?” I know I have. The only problem is it wasn’t the last time. It wasn’t even the second or the third last time. When I described God as being faithful, I am talking about his faithfulness to always love us. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. (Isaiah 54:10)

In today’s world, whenever two entities want to come together it is usually accomplished with a contract. Obviously in the biblical days they didn’t have that kind of technology. However, they had something similar. It was called a covenant. For example, there might be one family that would be strong in farming and hunting & gathering. Their problem was that neighboring communities would declare war and take all of their food. Then there might be a family that would be strong warriors, but not have much food. One chief would go to the other chief and swear by a blood oath and those two communities would become one. Through the power of covenant all weaknesses have been and eliminated. For one family to betray the other they would have to cross that blood covenant. It was a big deal! In the same way, God cut a covenant with us. It was a blood covenant. When Jesus Christs’ blood was spilled on calvary it was God cutting a covenant with us. We know that God is faithful and he loves us. God is bound to us by the covenant of love that he has through Jesus. The Bible says that He would never leave us. Now we know why. He CAN’T leave us. GLORY!

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Photo by Karen Ruhl 2025 - This was taken in Newport Beach, California

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C O N TA C T U S . . .

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