There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:36-38
Now, even though I refuse to answer to "Anna," and when called "Anna", usually respond with a loud "WHO IS ANNA???", I do gladly claim it ashalf of my name. So, as my half-name-giver, Anna is a real model of worship for me. Being the type of person who easily slides into slumps and festers in my frustration and depression, I’m thankful to have her as a model to try to live up to every day, as she lived the very attitude of gratefulness and worship I look for in times of sorrow.
I hate to use the word ‘probably’ so instead I’ll go with this: We can ‘conjecture’ that Anna was very depressed when she lost her husband, maybe even to the point where she could have felt anger with God. But instead of festering in her anger and depression, she found peace and never stopped worshiping her Father, whose will she knew she was walking in.
How great to have such peace through the hardest of times!!
My grandfather, Poppy, Papa, Spider, Tyrus, whatever you call him, is going on his third week in the hospital. He's VERY sick, stable to critcal condition, and needs an open-heart, mitral valve replacement surgery. The doctor's are waiting for him to get well enough to be able to have the surgery, and afterwards he'll spend some time in a rehab center recovering. Three weeks ago he was still going in to work everyday, and now he can't even feed himself. It's crazy to think about how fast this has all happened, the whole family is in a lot of shock, and just trying to figure everything out.
All of you are such prayer warriors for me and have shown yourselves faithful in the last few years as the Lord has done amazing things in my life. Today I ask you to please pray for the Buffington's and Galloway's in this hard time as we all look for the peace that Anna had. We know that Poppy knows the Lord and whatever happens here is deeply intertwined in His will for him. Please pray that the Lord gives us all an attitude of worship and gratefulness as every day that passes not only Poppy but all of us get one day closer to a beautiful eternity with Jesus! Pray for wisdom among the nursing staff and doctors, and peace within Poppy's soul as he's in the middle of all of this craziness and confusion.
Thank y'all so much! I appreciate your prayers so much and will never forget how good you've been to me over the years! I'll keep you updated on an individual basis if you want me to, just let me know!
I love you all so much!!
His,
Anna Kathryn
"I thank my God everytime I remember you!
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy!!"
Philippians 1:3&4
