September 28, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His Friday!!!!  This is the day the Lord has made!!!!  Let’s rejoice and be glad in it!!!!  …….Wednesday, it was hot, dry and windy…..Thursday raining cats and dogs and cool…….today fogged in……Each day uniquely blessed by our Lord and Father…..each day His….whatever the “weather” we are still HIS, He will never, ever, ever, leave us or forsake us…..on the days we are “fogged in” HE is there…..we must just be still, be still…wait….watch for the break in the clouds……He is there…..He is watching over us….over our families and friends…….Be still…….quiet….listen……Hear Him….feel Him……Be still….swaddled in His arms……the SON will shine……we are not alone…..we are His children…loved.  Thank you Father, for being with us even when we are feeling fogged in.

And hope does not dis appoint us, because God has poured His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.  Romans 5:5.  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5.  Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.  Psalm 55:22.  Pray without ceasing.  1 Thessalonians 5:17.  The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?  The Lord protects me from danger—so why should I tremble?  Psalm 27:1. 

Love you all!

September 27, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  Each morning when I get in my car and start out the drive way I sing a little praise song…..You might know it, “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow”……familiar?  I’ve been doing it for a long time….think I started during a sad time in my life….a time I needed to be reminded that I am blessed and not alone and it just feels so good that I continued.  This morning it was starting to rain….I turned on the wipers as I sang and thought, “Oh yea….the blessings are flowing from the sky this morning!”  We really need the rain on our dry pastures and ponds, so the gentle rain boosted my morning mood……Praise God for sure, I thought…..for the rain……for the new day……for the gift of His Son……Praise Him for my wonderful raincoat on the seat next to me…….Praise Him for the joy of a granddaughter’s birthday today (Happy birthday Katy J) For all my grandkids…..Praise Him for a sweet hubby that makes breakfast everyday….Praise Him that the rain will pass and the sun will shine brightly……grass will grow…….” Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye Heavenly Hosts, “Praise Father, Son , and Holy Ghost.”  Praying you feel the blessings of His love overflowing in your life today.  Praise Him, Praise Him!!

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens.  From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise….Psalm 8:1-2.  I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O most High.  Psalm 9:1-2.  Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.  Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten stringed lyre.  Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for you.  For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.  Psalm 33:1-4  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14.

Love you all!

September 26, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!  Oh boy!  Check out this bible verse I just came across in Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter……”  Now, imagine that concept……I have been dealing with some long term prayer issues both for me and a friend too and we had just talked about how frustrated we are getting…..how we just don’t understand why nothing is happening…..Now this morning I read….."it is the glory….GLORY of God to conceal a mater…..”  My mind immediately started whirling with that concept, so I went to the study part of the chapter to see what it said about that verse.  Here it is….."to conceal a matter.” ‘God gets glory because man cannot understand His universe or the way he rules it’  “Man cannot understand”  well that makes everything perfectly clear to me!!!  No I am not insane, I may have finally come to my senses…..through God in His word….The situation in my life and the life of friends, that we just don’t understand…..well, that’s God’s will……When He is ready, when the time is right, when our loved ones are ready….we will know God’s plan ….until then…..FAITH……we must have FAITH in God’s will for us and those we love…..We must TRUST and BELIEVE that His plan will be revealed and it will be perfect!  To God be the GLORY!!!  OH Father, please forgive us when we tend to take things into our own hands, when we doubt that You are there…….still our hearts and minds of the worry and enable us to put our trust in Your will….To You be ALL Glory.

The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!  Isaiah 30:18.  Whoever give heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is He who trust in the Lord.  Proverbs 16:20.  Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.  Proverbs 29:25.  Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.  Jeremiah 17:7-8.  For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.  Psalm 25:11.  Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins.

Love you all! 

Kathie A. Johnson

September 25, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Totally wrapped in His loving arms, Tuesday!  “And she (Mary) gave birth to her first born child, a son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger.”  Luke 2:7……Ok, hold on to that thought and give me just a minute….Last night, Kim had a meeting in town so I heated us a bowl of his yummy chili verde along with a couple flour tortillas and sent him on his way.  As I was cleaning up, I decided I would share a bowl with my old neighbor, Bob…..I had not been to see him in way too long and he always loves Kim’s creations, so I fixed a to-go bowl and headed out the door for a visit with Bob and then a quick trip to Hailey and Clark’s for a pick- up and delivery!  Bob was home alone, so I couldn’t have picked a better evening to stop by.  I was greeted with a big hug….I thought to myself, why don’t I come by more often?  Anyway, I heated the food for him and visited while he ate…..what a pleasant chat we had.  I still had lots of chores at home, so I said goodbye and headed up to Tucker’s (I mean Hailey and Clark’s).  I was greeted by my granddogs, who were most happy to see me and then headed in the house.  Hailey was just buckling Tucker into his swing for a little nap.  I walked into the living room to take a peek.  There he was all wrapped up, snuggled in the cozy swing….only his head out.  Hailey said, “He loves to be ‘swaddled’.”   Heading home, seeingTucker so cozy, warm, and safe “swaddled” and in his swing, Luke 2:7 came into my mind…..picturing Mary “swaddling” baby Jesus, our Precious Savior, took on a whole new meaning.  I looked up the definition of swaddling….”to bind an infant with long narrow strips of cloth to prevent free movement.”  I would imagine that Mary did use strips of cloth to swaddle Jesus, while Tucker was swaddled with a blanket, but the concept is the same.  Babies being wrapped in a special way to keep them safe and comforted…My mind was whirling as I thought…..goodness I am such an infant in my relationship with my Heavenly Father, but I am His child……He wants to prevent me from moving in ways that are not good for me….He wants to comfort me and keep me safe, cozy in His loving arms…..Oh my……He “SWADDLES” me with His love……everyday over and over again…….Father, there are so many times in this life that we are hurting, sad, lonely…..You are always there to swaddle us with Your love, cradling us in Your healing arms…..open our hearts to allow full access…..clear away feelings that we can do it alone…..help us to give in to Your open arms and let You keep us safe.  Thank you Father.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.  Proverbs 8:17.  So we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  1 John 4:16. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.  Johns 16:33.  Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.  Jeremiah 32:17.  My soul is downcast within me.  Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:20-23

The Lord Bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon You and give you His peace.

Love you all!

September 24, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Magnificent is this Monday…loved by HIM! Ever since I got my little black car two tires have had slow leaks. Right after I got it we noticed that the back tires were both low, so one day I dropped it off at a tire shop and asked them to fix both rear tires. When I went to pick it up they told me they couldn’t find any leaks…..hmmm I thought, that’s odd, if there’s no leaks why the heck do I have to put air in them….Oh well…..took the car and figured I would go someplace else….well one week turned into another and another; oh I had good intentions everyday of getting it in somewhere but…just didn’t, then the wreck and it was in the shop and then the transmission…all the while the tires had to have air every couple of weeks! Well, I made a serious commitment to myself that as soon as I got it back with new transmission I was getting tires fixed and while it was there, balanced and rotated!!!! So off to another tire shop I went feeling quite smug! I dropped it off on my way to work with plans of having a friend take me to get it at lunch! About mid-morning, I got a call from the shop. “Mrs. Johnson, your car is ready. And we couldn’t find any leaks in your tires.” Oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe it…again! So I said, “well, then how come I have to put air in every couple of weeks??!!! He then explained that the leaks were so slow that they could not be detected by their machines……so slow leaks…..seemed a little crazy to me, but what’s a girl to do??? I just keep putting air in the tires which by the way are now on the front…..Slow leaks……undetectable….for now….The other morning I was once again squatting down putting air in both tires before heading to work and the thought occurred to me…..Do I have any slow leaks? Any habits that might not seem to be bad…..habits that are seemingly undetectable right now, that if left unattended could lead to habits that might be harmful to myself or others……habits that might, if allowed to get bigger, cause our Heavenly Father to be sad……It’s so easy for us to fall into little habits, routines in our daily lives that seem harmless…..oh, in the back of our minds we know that we “have a slow leak” but we just don’t want to get it fixed…….after all…..who knows…..Oh my…..our Heavenly Father knows…….Father, give us wisdom and strength in our daily lives to develop habits and routines that are pleasing to You a blessing to those around us. “When you live the kind of life that Jesus has planned for you, it will be a life that is lived without regrets.” Roy Lessin.

 

Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9. Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58. The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13.

 

Love you all!

September 21, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Forever living in His love Friday!!!!  Gosh I feel so up this morning…..I am almost always happy and upbeat in the morning, but today is one of those really happy, “Thank you Father” kind of mornings!!!  You see, I managed to get out of the house early enough this morning to go and see Tucker and he was wide awake and a happy camper!  I picked him up and started talking to him, he smiled a big ol’ smile and just cooed and wiggled!  Now that’s the way to start a day……babies are truly one of HIS most delightful blessings….yes, I think if everyone could have just a short visit with a precious baby every morning the world would be a sweeter place….bad moods disappear, gloom lifts, hurts diminish……all through the smile of a precious baby!  Just makes me want to sing one of my favorite Sunday School songs, ‘This is a Joyous, Happy Day!  We celebrate Your gift of life!  Christ is with us, joy surrounds us…..!”  Joy surrounds us every day….God’s joy is always there, it’s us that seem to close our hearts and minds at times to His precious, most abundant blessings……oh what we miss out on by letting the world’s stuff cloud our vision, close our hearts, and confuse our minds…….I pray the vision of Tucker’s smiling little face, will never be blocked from my heart and mind so that I will continually rejoice and praise our Heavenly Father for every unique, precious blessing that touches my life……”This is a joyous happy day”….today…..tomorrow…..and forever….as long as I am His child!  Thank you Father…..keep me ever mindful and close to YOU!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17.  Rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains in righteousness.  He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.  Joel 2:23.  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Psalm 100:1-2.  Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; his right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him…..Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord the King.  Psalm 98:1-2 & 4-5.Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His!  Psalm 100: 1-3.

Love you all!

September 20, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Trusting and Believing, Thursday!  I had to load a bunch of stuff into my car this morning so I opened the doors and trunk and headed into the house to gather up the things I needed to take with me.  Well, guess the open car was just too tempting for the flying insects because when I got in the car and started to work I was immediately greeted by pesky gnats and a couple of little mosquitos!  When I say pesky, I mean pesky!  They were buzzing all around me driving me nuts, so I got to smashing and before long all the pesky critters were gone!  I smiled and thought to myself that wasn’t so tough….wish all my problems could be fixed that easily!  All joking aside…wouldn’t it be nice if we could get rid of our problems with a swat of our hands….just smash them to smithereens and be done with it!  Unfortunately the problems, difficult situations, stresses that we encounter traveling through life don’t usually go away as easily as the pesky bugs did.  However…..we are not out there alone….we do have our own personal “Problem Exterminator”  we just have to turn our problems over to HIM and trust and believe that He is the Master!  But oh no, we are so stubborn, so into ourselves, we just can’t let go….we hang on and on, suffering, worrying needlessly!  Turning our problems over to our Heavenly Father does not mean that they will instantly disappear like the pesky insects…..His time is not our time, but HIS way is always the best…..He knows our needs……He loves us with the most powerful, all knowing, all giving love….a love so great we really cannot understand it……our job…..trust and believe…….believe He’s working even when we don’t see things happening…..trust that His answer to our problems is just what we needed!!!!!  Fill us Father, with a faith so strong that we never hesitate before giving our pesky problems to You! 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5.  The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?  The Lord protects me from danger—so why should I tremble?  Psalm 27:1.  Call upon Me in the day of trouble’  I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.  Psalm 50:15.  Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-17.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.  Philippians 4:6-7.

Love you all!

September 19, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Wondrously wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  Cruising down the country roads this morning, I spotted a young doe on the side of the road.  I slowed down, watching to see what she was going to do; she was beautiful, her coat shiny and thick, but she was obviously confused, unsure of which way to go…..I stopped, hoping no one would come from the other direction and hit her.  She darted back and forth on the road……definitely the wrong direction for her as she needed to hop the fence and get back into the safety of the woods.  Suddenly she stopped…..just for a brief moment and then confidently hopped the fence and disappeared into the woods.  I smiled to myself, and thanked God for keeping her safe and then my thoughts went to our meditation a couple of days ago about heading out in the wrong direction.  The young doe was dazed and confused, heading out in a direction that was very dangerous for her….back and forth she went, but it wasn’t until she stopped…stood still for a minute…..that she could figure out what she needed to do…..she had to be still to know….Oh goodness I thought, “Father that’s what you are always telling us……’Be still, my child, be still and know that I am your Heavenly Father….I will lead you and guide you and keep you safe…..but you must slow down…..stop…..listen for Me, feel  My loving arms around you…..holding you close, filling you with My peace….the peace that passes human understanding….the peace that takes you in the right direction.’ “  Are you feeling restless, confused, unsure what the heck you are doing anymore…..stop right now, this minute……be still……close your eyes, bow your head, deep a deep breath, and turn your thoughts to our Heavenly Father….tell Him…….everything……HE CARES, HE LISTENS, HE LOVES us!  No matter how hopeless we think things are……Our Heavenly Father can fix it, turns us around and take us out of danger…..if we go to HIM…..”Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Psalm 46:  Oh Father…..thank you for knowing us and loving us still…..

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, thought its waters roar and foam and mountains quake with their surging.  There is a rive whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  God is within her, she will not fall, God will help her at break of day……The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Psalm 46: 1-5 & 7.

Love you all!

September 18, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Totally loved by Him, Tuesday!  Last week towards the end of the week, my little car was acting crazy, kind of chug, chug, chugging along….I thought it had to do with the new transmission, which you can imagine upset me, but on Sunday Kim drove the car and after several chug, chugs, he stated quite confidently, “this thing needs a new fuel filter!”  He is such a smart guy that I was glad to think the problem was not the new transmission.  So yesterday I chugged to work, praying I wouldn’t quit completely and at lunch went and found a fuel filter!  I chugged home at five and Kim met me in the driveway….”Pop the hood” he said.  Poor guy had worked on the ranch all day and still had a work night at the fire house, but there he was to put on the new filter!  Within a few minutes I heard the engine purring……(got to note a special blessing here, so nice to have a hubby that can fix things);  Sure enough after a good test drive my little black car is no longer chugging!  The fuel filter was plugged…..I was so tickled driving in this morning….smooth ride….no chugging I had to smile and say a thank you prayer!  That’s when it hit me…….darn you know it…..our faith is like a fuel filter sometimes…….we let it get plugged up with the dirt of worry, stress, over-worked, bills, too many obligations…….too much time in the world and not with our Heavenly Father….He keeps our faith filter unplugged, He keeps us connected to a life in HIM and for HIM!  A plugged up “faith filter” can lead to depression…….and we have too much to be happy about to let a plugged up faith filter get us down and depressed.  We are children of the Heavenly Father, loved and forgiven through the gift of His Son, blessed with loving family and precious friends, homes and jobs….yes struggles will come…..but if we keep our faith filters unplugged with God’s help we will get through just fine!  Heavenly Father, when the grime of life gets us plugged up, so that we are chugging along, give us strength to come to you to clean our faith filter through prayer and Your word enable us to keep on keeping on giving You all glory!

Everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  1 John 5:4.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2.  Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  Romans 10:17.   The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.  In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.  Psalm 86:7.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7.

Love you all!   

September 17, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Mighty and Marvelous is our God, Monday! This morning as I headed out I couldn’t help but feel fall in the air….actually I thought to myself, “really looks like winter this morning.” Just then I saw a magnificent flock of geese in their awesome V formation fly over the car….ahh I thought again, winter is definitely on the way! Then it dawned on me…..the geese were headed north…….not south…..they were flying in the wrong direction for winter….Silly birds, I thought….looking magnificent, confident and strong, but headed in the wrong direction! Oh boy….I could feel the familiar tap of our Heavenly Father….”Yes Father, birds are magnificent, you did good!” “Now Kathie….you know I am not here to talk about the beautiful birds, but thanks. I wanted to give you something to ponder….” “ OK, Father, hit me!” “Well, you were thinking how silly the geese were flying in the wrong direction, that they looked so good, but didn’t seem to know what they were doing.” “Yes, Father, that’s right, soooo?” “Kathie, my child, how often do you head out in the wrong direction? People around you think you know what you are doing, but you are flying in the wrong direction because you are flying without ME. Kathie, how many times have seemingly simple things in your life turned into disasters because you flew out alone? How many days have you worried, stewed, and fretted causing yourself and others mental and physical anguish because you were flying without me? How many times have you done things that you later regretted or had to ask forgiveness for because you thought you were smart enough to fly alone….without Me…..you are headed in the wrong direction……I am here for you, always…..save yourself unnecessary pain and problems and fly with ME!!!!!” “OK, Father, thank you so much for the reminder…..help me to always come to you before I head out….Father….help me to start everyday with you……because a day without YOU will definitely take my life in a wrong direction.”

 

Your word is a lamp to m y feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105. God will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths. Isaiah 2:3. It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. Philippians 2:13. “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Psalm 31:3. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Love you all!

September 14, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Forever His, Friday!  Last night was the first night since early spring that we have been able to sleep with the window open (only one window in our bedroom so no cross ventilation), oh I slept so good!  When I got up this morning and headed to the bathroom I thought whoa….it’s actually cool out here.  I fixed my coffee and headed into the living room for my morning time with our Heavenly Father.  We had left the door and window open…..first things first, close them!  Next, don’t think I need the ceiling fan this morning….turned it off!  OK, settled in my recliner and cozied up under my special blanket, thanking God for the cool morning…..thinking to myself, I do believe the season is changing……I thought gee, wonder if I would appreciate this morning as much if we had not had the hot, hot summer…..Hmmm….God’s plan is perfect isn’t it….there is a time for hot days and cold days, for dry days, and rainy days…..”There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,  a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to morn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up,  a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time force.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  Time……not our time, but God’s time….God’s timing……His perfect plan….Trust and believe and bask in His bounteous blessings, His mercy and grace….His Perfect Love……His Son our Savior…..Thank you Father, for being with us in every season of our lives……To You be all glory!

This is the day the Lord has made let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it.  Psalm 118:24.  Rejoice Always; pray without ceasing; in EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.  Psalm 28:7.

Love you all!  Have a wonderful weekend.

Kathie A. Johnson

September 13, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  Yesterday I talked about situations in our lives, one in mine specifically,  where we might be feeling frustrated waiting to hear from our Heavenly Father…….remember from Proverbs, “it is the glory of God to conceal a matter.”  Ok, so by faith I can understand that concept…..but now what…..This morning, my meditation time sent me to  Philippians 4:4-9, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, 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.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.”  Rejoice, always??  But Father, I feel so helpless and my heart is breaking….and You  want me to rejoice…..I hear Him….patiently, compassionately speaking to me….”read on ……The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything….tell me about your worries…bring them to Me through prayer.”  But Father, you say, “with Thanksgiving.  Bring them with thanksgiving…..how can I do that Father?”  “You can with Me……you can if you fill your mind with what is pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy….think about those things and you will see how blessed you are….you will be filled with thanksgiving because you will know that I am  with you and I am taking care of everything and I will guard your heart and mind and give you peace, my peace which transcends all that you can understand.”  These words really hit me this morning……I feel renewed, thankful, and peace-filled…..Thank you Father, for everything…..help me to find Your true joy while I wait. And then to pass it on…to put it into practice.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame (boy this one really comforts me).  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.  Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.  The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crush in spirit. (Thank you Father).  A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.  AMEN!  Verses from Psalm 34.  Go out…show His love… filled with His peace! 

Love you all!

September 12, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!  Oh boy!  Check out this bible verse I just came across in Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter……”  Now, imagine that concept……I have been dealing with some long term prayer issues both for me and a friend too and we had just talked about how frustrated we are getting…..how we just don’t understand why nothing is happening…..Now this morning I read…..”it is the glory….GLORY of God to conceal a mater…..”  My mind immediately started whirling with that concept, so I went to the study part of the chapter to see what it said about that verse.  Here it is…..”to conceal a matter.” ‘God gets glory because man cannot understand His universe or the way he rules it’  “Man cannot understand”  well that makes everything perfectly clear to me!!!  No I am not insane, I may have finally come to my senses…..through God in His word….The situation in my life and the life of fiends, that we just don’t understand…..well, that’s God’s will……When He is ready, when the time is right, when our loved ones are ready….we will know God’s plan ….until then…..FAITH……we must have FAITH in God’s will for us and those we love…..We must TRUST and BELIEVE that His plan will be revealed and it will be perfect!  To God be the GLORY!!!  OH Father, please forgive us when we tend to take things into our own hands, when we doubt that You are there…….still our hearts and minds of the worry and enable us to put our trust in Your will….To You be ALL Glory.

The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!  Isaiah 30:18.  Whoever give heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is He who trust in the Lord.  Proverbs 16:20.  Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.  Proverbs 29:25.  Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.  Jeremiah 17:7-8.    For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.  Psalm 25:11.  Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.  Psalm 79:9.

Love you all!

September 11, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Totally loved by Him, Tuesday!  A few months ago Kim fixed up an old stock trailer he had gotten in a barter deal and put it for sale on a little lease pasture we have on Hwy 48.  He spray painted a big “FOR SALE” sign and hung it on the fence in front of the trailer with his phone number on it.  The trailer sat there for quite a while before it finally sold not long ago.  Of course we were quite happy about that!  Well, Saturday we were sitting in a restaurant in Claremore, OK having breakfast when Kim’s phone rang.  From my end I heard him say, “No, the property is not for sale, I had a trailer there, sold it and forgot to take the sign down.  I have got to do that.”  When he got off the phone I asked him what that was all about.  He explained that he had never taken down the “FOR SALE” sign after selling the stock trailer and someone thought the property was for sale.  We had a good laugh and went on with our day.  This morning as I drove past the lease, the “FOR SALE” sign sang out to me……Indeed, it does appear that the property is for sale……I thought to myself, well of course people would think the property is up for sale, why the heck wouldn’t they!!!  The sign is hanging on the fence and there is nothing in the pasture to sell…..so what else could passerbys think but that the land is for sale!  Hmmmm, now that thought got me to thinking…..When people look at me….when they are just passing by…..What do they see……What kind of sign do I wear…..Gosh, hope I don’t wear a sign that says, “don’t stop, too busy to talk” or “Too many bills, can’t help you out”  or maybe “Buck up and stop your whining”.  How about, “Who me, help out at Sunday School…No time”…..”I have enough problems of my own.  Take yours someplace else.”   Oh geez….I could go one and on, but I bet you are getting it…..What DO people see when they look at us?  Looking in the mirror isn’t going to answer that question….Looking into our hearts will…..Father, we want others to see YOU when they look at us.  Please fill us with Your love, give us willing spirits, and energize to live our lives to Your Glory!!   

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  Ezekiel 36:26-27.  We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10.  A happy heart makes the face cheerful. Proverbs 15:13.  Love one another deeply, from the heart.  1 Peter 1:22.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  Galatians 6:2.  Be glad and rejoice with me.  Philippians 2:18.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.  1 John 4:12.

Love you all!

August 31, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Forever His, Friday! What a week…..after Kim’s surgery and the extra stuff that came with it, I had to go and get sick….and I have so much to do and I just don’t have any energy and……this morning I was sitting quietly feeling rather sorry for myself, lamenting to our Heavenly Father….when He led me right to Isaiah 40:31, “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” He always knows just what I need…… I’ll wait Father because I know You are going to carry me and fix me all up, so I called my doctor for a check- up, took a sinus pill so my face will soon stop pounding, popped in a cough drop and smiled a thank you prayer! He is always right beside us, it’s us that veer off…..I see Him now as our Good Shepherd with His cane tapping me back onto the right path…..when I am herding our sheep with the cane I say “yip, yip, yip” and they come right along….Our Good Shepherd calls us my name…..lovingly….”Kathie, come on over here….everything will be ok…I will heal you and give you energy, I will give you wisdom so that you can complete all your projects……just be still, Kathie and wait…..” Thanks Father….Oh and Kim just called he just left the doctor from his post- op check up!!!! Doc says he is doing fantastic! So…….I am almost ready to put on my running shoes! Thank you Father….Oh Father, thank you so very much for knowing me, loving me, for lifting me, carrying me….forgiving me when I veer. Help me to shine for You!

Humble yourselves, therefore under Gods’ mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores m soul. Psalm 23:1-2.

Love you all!