February 28, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully loved by Him, Thursday!  While I was talking with Hailey on the phone yesterday, Tucker woke up from a nap.  She got him up and was sweet talking him (makes me smile) when she laughed and said, “Tucker, look at your hair…..you got your ‘bed head’ from your Nana!”  She was laughing as she described his hair on the back of his head.  You see, in my family I am known for my “bed head” my hair just gets in a big ol’ mess on the back of my head when I sleep or nap…..it used to bother me but not anymore and especially not now that Hailey sees me in Tucker’s “bed head.”  Now that is a Nana’s ultimate delight…..of course as Tucker grows up I hope that there are some slightly more significant traits he gets from me, but for now……the “bed head” makes me happy!  Hailey sees me in Tucker…….We love for our children and grandchildren to inherit the good parts of us, we love to see ourselves in them….As I thought about this last night I couldn’t help but think about our Heavenly Father…..as His children….What does He see in us?.....Does He see His love in us, in our thoughts and actions…..how we treat others is a definite reflection on how we are loving HIM……Father, help us to shine with Your love so that we reflect You in all that we do.

The Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands.  Deuteronomy 26:18.  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.  We love because God first loved us.  1 John 4:19.  He has given us this command:  whoever loves God must also love his brother.  1 John 4:21.  Jesus said, “A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35.You yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.  1 Thessalonians 4:9.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father I heaven.  Matthew 5:16.

Love you all!

February 27, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wondrously wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!  I am sitting at my desk watching our house keeper wash the windows!  Wow, they look great!  All the finger prints, smudges, dirt and grime gone; the view outside is perfectly clear!  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could take some Windex and paper towel and wipe the smudges and grim from our thoughts….You know the stress, worry, frustrations…the envies, anxiety, worry, the over loaded mind, frustrations, stress, envy…..wouldn’t it be nice if we could wipe it away with some Windex and paper towel and see clearly….calmly again…..Oh my….feeling that familiar tap on my shoulder…”Yes Father, I am here.”  “Kathie, My precious child……come to Me…..be still…..close your eyes, take a deep breath, maybe 2 or 3…..let your shoulders relax….BE STILL and know that I am your God, your loving Father, you are My precious child….I will wipe away the smudge, the grime….come to Me and find peace.”   Oh Father…..Thank you!

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27.  May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  2 Thessalonians 3:16.  Submit to God and be at peace with Him….Job 22:21a.  Jesus said, “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.  The God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:9. 

Love you all!

February 26, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty is our God, Monday!  Saturday is always a manual labor day for me- kennels, fodder, feeding, you name it and I am always tired, maybe a back ache for a bit, but last Saturday…Yikes!  Kim and I were pushed for time, so we decided to divide and conquer rather than work together like we usually do.  This decision left one big chore that Kim usually does to me….it required me to step up and down on a chair, many times…..up, down….up down…..I finished just fine, actually quite proud of what I had accomplished all by myself!  My legs felt a little tired, but heck didn’t give it a second thought right….why I am not an exercise guru by any means, but I do take pride in working out several times a week at home, the gym, the office treadmill, so it never occurred to me that my chair adventure would get to me!  Stayed busy the rest of Saturday, had Hailey and Tucker for dinner and bath never thought about my legs again.  Yesterday, after church I fixed lunch and Kim and I took a little nap (my favorite Sunday afternoon treat)…Kim’s phone woke us…we had sheep in the road….again!  He jumped up and went to get them, I sat in the chair for just a minute and then got up…..Whoa!!!!  What the heck….I could hardly stand up the front of my legs hurt so bad!  I knew immediately that my chair excursion was to blame, but I was really quite surprised….after all…..I exercise regularly, right!  I shouldn’t be sore….Well, after hobbling around for a little while, feeling a bit appalled at myself the thought occurred to me…What a good reminder that we are never in as good of shape as we could be… you know we can always work to be better!  As I helped Kim gather up sheep and work on dinner for the kids my mind (well my legs were killing me…) continued to dwell on working harder…today when I go to the gym, I need to try a new machine, work a different part of my body…..Being physically fit is really important, but how about being spiritually fit!!!!  Sure couldn’t hurt to work a little harder at that could it!!!!!  Just because we go to church doesn’t mean we are spiritually fit…right…..there’s so much more we can do, so many spiritual machines to try for a good workout!  Lots of time with our Heavenly Father shapes us up, but we must never think that we know everything we need to know about Him and His love for us…..worship, bible study, prayer time……feeling better already!  Father, asking You to give us the motivation to shape up our spiritual lives and thanking You for forgiving us when we get a bit out of shape!

Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruity unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the braches…apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:4-5.  The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us t say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.  Titus 2:11-12.  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13-14.  Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever!   2 Peter 3:18. 

February 14, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully LOVED by HIM, Thursday!  “We LOVE because HE first Loved us.”  1 John 4:19.  Love is in the air today…..spread a little love…..So many songs about love, but my most favorite of all is , “Jesus Loves Me.”  What better reason could motivate us to “love” than the fact that Jesus us loves us so much He gave His life for us.  There is an excitement in the air today…..kind of silly I suppose, but what could be better than a little extra love, a day to put aside self and give to others….there’s nothing that says February 14^th is just a day for couples……I say it’s a day for love…..a little more love than usual…a day to stop and think what we might be able to do to, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10).   We don’t need a dozen roses to say love, how about a beautiful smile, an unexpected compliment, an extra minute to listen, maybe a hug, or a prayer, text an old friend, call your mom…..heck call your dad…..there’s no one that has too much love….even if they don’t reciprocate or seem happy about your “love gesture” you planted a seed and I guarantee you brightened a day….And that brings a smile to our Heavenly Father, who “…loved the world (us so much) that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16).  Now that’s LOVE…..”We love because God first loved us,” still does, always will, now and forever…..”Let us love one another, for love comes from God….God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8.  Father, thank you for LOVING us so much!  Give us faithful hearts and willing spirits to , “Keep on loving each other.”  Hebrews 13:1.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have  not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not rude.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth.  It always protect, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.  1 Corinthians 13:1-8.  Love one another deeply from the heart.  1 Peter 1:22.

Happy LOVE day! Love you all!

february 11, 2013

Good Morning Friends! Mighty and Awesome is our God, Monday!  Remember a week or so ago I mentioned the fodder factory?  Well, for those of you that don’t know what that is, let me give you a brief description.  Kim is growing wheat hydroponically (in water); every eight days he harvests 6 trays (20’ x 10”) of wheat, fresh green wheat about 8” tall with a thick mat of roots (kind of looks like sprouts).  The lush green, feeds each of our many animals…The whole system is automatic, set on timers that turn on water every few hours and also the lights for several hours each day.  All set up on automatic timers….easy right….Well, a couple weeks ago a couple of the cylinoids quit working…first one and then another on one side of the factory.  Kim had a couple extra for a part not set up for production yet so he put them on….then got on the phone to order a couple more, well actually think this happened twice….kind of weird we thought and so new they shouldn’t be breaking so fast.  Well, it was Thursday that he called to get a couple more ordered….well guess what!  FarmTek told him that there was a malfunction…duh….the wires on the cylinoid are not compatible with the timers…go figure, right!!!!!  They are working on the problem and hope to have new ones out in just a few days….in the meantime….well, just hope no more go out right!  Saturday morning as I finished in the kennels,  Kim went up to start in the fodder factory….the harvesting and planting process takes a little time, so he went to get started while I finished the kennels.  I had just gone into the house to get a bottle of water when he came in….fit to be tied.  Another cylinoid, on the other side had gone out!!!!!!  If we could not find one in town….well…no water….no wheat….Mind you we are talking 30 trays….20’ x 10” in various stages of growth…approximately 3000 pounds of feed that would go to waste without water!  Kim called all over town to no avail…..then he called FarmTek again….well they sure are sorry, but…..nothing yet.  We headed to the factory, knowing exactly what we would have to do…….Water by hand….all 30 trays…twice a day….Oh boy.   Well, I took the first shift as Kim finished planting on the other side…..back and forth, over and over watering with a fine mist so as not to mess up the freshly planted seeds….back and forth….tray after tray…..my arms were getting so tired to say the least and my back from all the bending over…….I was getting really bored and trying desperately to keep my attitude adjusted when and interesting thought came to me……What if our Heavenly Father got bored with watering us……listening to our gripes, healing our pains, supplying our needs, picking us up, wiping our tears, sharing our joys, taking care of our kids, listening….comforting…..loving……forgiving!  The good news!!!!  HE DOESN’T!!!!!!  Our Heavenly Father happily waters our every need…..each of us individually…..lovingly, happily, no attitude adjustment needed….Oh how loved we are!  Father, thank you for never getting bored with us and our constant need for watering!  We are sooooo blessed!  To You be all Glory!!!

Because You are my help, I sing in the  shadow of Your wings.  Psalm 63:7.  You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.  Psalm 16:11.  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.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  Psalm 33:21. Praise the Lord.  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 106:1. 

Love you all!

February 7, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully HIS, Thursday!  I couldn’t help but feel a little down this morning coming into work….the sky was so overcast…not really raining, but really wet, and it just kind of hung, kind of heavy over me….I know we need rain so badly, kind of wish it would just rain, really rain and stop this dreary drizzle stuff.  I drove along, like I said feeling a little down and then I noticed how green the sides of the road are turning….through the dry, brown grass fresh green grass is growing…showing through the dreary brown….as I passed a pasture there were several young calves frolicking playfully together while mama cows grazed nearby….they were grazing on what appeared to be…bits of green grass…..ahh….I was thinking about how beautiful the pastures are when they are plush with green and then I spotted a bunch of blooming daffodils at the end of someone’s drive….bright yellow, like the warm sun…..I had to lift my eyes to the heavens and ask our Father to forgive me for feeling so dreary when I have so much…..Thank you for precious reminders……green grass and calves…..new life…everlasting life for us through Your Son…..His Light, bright, like the daffodils…. and warm shining on us……lifting us….loving us.  All Glory to You Precious Father!

You alone are the Lord.  You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.  You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.  Nehemiah 9:6.  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.  Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.  1 Chronicles 16:8.  Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:7. Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:57.

Love you all!

February 6, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully filled with His love Wednesday!  The other day I was just getting in the car to leave the gym when a lady going in tapped on my window, pointed at my rear passenger- side tire and said, “Did you know your tire is low?”  I said no and started to get out, but she said it’s ok, just probably should get some air.  I headed straight to Super Lube to get some air; sure enough, darn thing was pretty low….way too low to drive on.  Well, I got my gauge and filled it, thankful that someone had taken the time to let me know.  I didn’t really think about it much over the weekend, but Monday I thought, maybe I need to check that tire……Yup!!  Good thing I did, almost flat….I mean just right there…..back to the Super Lube I went….I called Kim and asked him if he had any of that fix a flat stuff in a can and told him how low the tire was after just filling on Friday.  He told me in no uncertain terms to take the care to a tire shop and get it fixed!  So, yesterday off to the tire shop I went…..when I picked the car up at lunch my tire was good to go!  Hole patched and filled with air…..I drove off thankful and happy that I was good to go again and without incident, but I couldn’t help thinking how that poor tire looked so pathetic before getting fixed….all the air gone……flat…...Oh boy ….Sometimes…..oh gosh, yes…sometimes I plum feel flat!  I feel like all the air has leaked out and there’s nothing left of me…….spiritually, emotionally flat…like I drove over a pile of nails that punctured my spirit, leaving me flat.  I have to wonder about myself…..why do I let myself get so “flat”  when it’s so easy to get fixed…..refilled.  Our Heavenly Father can fix our leaks…He wants to…..We go flat because we don’t spend enough time with Him….everyday….no matter how busy we are….heck the busier our lives are the more time we need to spend with Him, plugging our leaks….before we become flat, exhausted, overwhelmed, depressed……Yea, if we can keep a conversation going with Him all day long we won’t need any fix a flat!!!!!  Heavenly Father, thanks for always being there to fix our leaks and fill us with Your love.

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.  With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.  Psalm 18:28-29.  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.  If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you;  the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. for you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:11-14.  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understand no one can fathom.  Isaiah 40:28-29.  Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.  Psalm 62:5.  Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us.  Psalm 80:3.

Love you all!

February 5, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty and awesome is our God, Monday!  Well, Kim’s trip to Kansas last week was productive….he got his cows….3 year old, black angus and all pregnant.  He was quite excited Friday evening waiting for them to be delivered.  The trucker called about 7 and said he should be there about 9.  Sure enough he called right about 9, so Kim and a neighbor meet him at the fire department so he wouldn’t get lost.  Kim came in about 10 all excited.  “We are going to brand them tomorrow!”  Just last week he got an electric brand he had ordered…he was quite proud of our lazy K-hanging J brand.  A good brand is really important for cattle owner’s protection.  We got up early, Saturday and got to work on our regular chores, so he could work the cattle in the afternoon.  About 1:30 I sent him off with a PB&J sandwich and some tea…..he was so excited-2 neighbors were going to help him, so I could stay home and get my work done.  He hadn’t been gone long when he called and needed me to bring some wormer.  As I walked up to the chute I could see Kim holding the hot brand on a cow.  One guy was helping to hold her while Kim held the brand….she did not like it…..you could tell it hurt her.  I knew it was important, but I hated to see her in pain.  I left the wormer and headed home, but my thoughts stayed on the cows being branded so they could be identified as ours.  Wow, we too are branded….branded with the cross that Jesus hung and died on for us……but our branding hurt HIM, not us….Jesus took all the pain of our sins and in turn branded us with HIS love…..We don’t walk around with a lazy K-hanging J for everyone to see….to identify us as HIS, but others will see that we are HIS by our actions, by our love….like the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”  Father, thank you for the gift of Your Son….the brand of Your love on us…..Your mercy, grace, forgiveness.  Help us to show others….and bring glory to You.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage our hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10.  Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:2.  Keep on loving each other.  Hebrews 13:1.  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.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.  Galatians 5:6. 

Love you all!

February 4, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!  I was already up this morning when I heard Kim get up, first thing he said was, “we are fogged in.”  Oh great I thought, but didn’t really stress about it because often times Kim over reacts about such things as fog.  A little later while I was eating breakfast, Kathyrn called to report….”It’s foggy, you better leave a little early.”  Well, great I thought, but still didn’t fret much….it wasn’t until I got in my little black car and headed down 1600 that I could no longer deny the truth…..It was foggy!  Well, I don’t know about you, but I do not like driving in the fog……ordinary things seem distorted, even the sounds of the road seem heavier, kind of looming…..driving in the fog is very disorientating to me.  So, needless to say, I was not particularly excited as I headed to work….especially on 1600 where there are no lines on the road….I felt much better when I got onto a road with lines….a solid white line on the right edge and the broken yellow lines in the center of the road.  With lines on both sides of me I was able to stay focused, I felt safer…..There was no break in the fog this morning……thick fog engulfed me all the way to work.  Sometimes our lives seem to be engulfed in a thick fog……bills, stress at work, health, children, lack of direction and motivation….the fog of life’s problems can get so thick that it’s like driving on a road with no lines…..we go blindly, alone, not knowing what looms around the next curve or how we will handle it…..This morning before I had lines on the road, I was so tense, I gripped the steering wheel so tight my knuckles were white…..once I had lines I relaxed some….the lines guided me.  When our drive through life is foggy, we are not alone…..we have “life lines” to guide us….First step to get through the fog….prayer!  Engulf yourself in conversation with our Heavenly Father…..He knows what you are going through…..lean on Him, feel your body relax……feel the fog lift as you read His word, praise Him for all that He has done for you, thank Him for all the blessings you know are coming your way….close your eyes and picture yourself sitting next to Him, His loving arms around you, listening….loving….now…..continue your drive filled with His Peace, that passes human understanding.  Father, we know that life will be foggy sometimes, strengthen our faith so that we take You with us to guide and protect us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5.  The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him.  Nahum 1:7.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that  He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.  1 John 5:14-15.  The Lord bless you, and keep you:  The Lord makes His face shine on you and be gracious to you:  The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.  Numbers 6:24-26.

Love you all!   

February 1, 2013

Good Morning Friends! Forever loved by Him, Friday!!!  My husband was out of town yesterday, so I had to feed all the dogs when I got home last night.  I had talked to Kathyrn in the afternoon and told her I would be feeding both kennels after work, well for heaven’s sake, when I got home she and Cooper, and Katy were there and almost done feeding….how sweet was that!   I hurried into the house to change so I could go out and help them finish; Kim called and said that the neighbor that had feed the big animals didn’t realize that we had feeder lambs that needed to be fed, so……honey you will have to feed them.  We just got them last weekend so he had to explain to me what and how much.  Kathyrn and the kids were happy to go with me;  first stop was the fodder factory to harvest one 5- gallon bucket of fodder….Cooper followed me out the door, but I was in front of him so I didn’t notice when he stepped full on into a mud puddle (remember Cooper is in a cast and wears that boot thing for a shoe).  I didn’t notice, but his Mom did and she was not happy….Poor Cooper, she picked him up, pulled off the boot, put him back in the car, and told him to stay there!  Oh my goodness, he was so upset, just cried and cried you know how it is when you are 3!  Of course, Katy went in to get the fodder with us, so that upset Cooper all the more!  We got our bucket full, loaded it in the car and headed up the hill to feed the lambs, once again, Mommy made Cooper stay in the car (it was cold and windy and he had no shoe…..).   And once again, Katy went with us and joyfully helped fill the troughs with hay while Cooper continued to cry…..a tare at Nana’s heart, pathetic, whimpering, whining, almost tears kind of cry……he never stopped.  No matter what I did or said to him he continued to cry.  Back at the house Katy came in with me to borrow some hot dogs for dinner and get a popsicle…..we could hear Cooper all the way on the porch.  I cut the popsicle in half, half to Katy and half to Cooper….NOT!  Cooper was way too busy being pathetic to even have a popsicle…a blue one at that, wrapped in a napkin so his fingers wouldn’t get cold….Oh my, now that is bad!  Poor Cooper…..later in the evening I couldn’t help but think how pathetic Cooper had been and how he missed out on fun times with me and all the animals because of it.  Cooper was simply feeling sorry for himself.  Ding Dong….I heard the bell……how often in our lives do we act like Cooper, feeling sorrow for ourselves, missing out on so many blessings…..so many happy times with friends and family…..even to the point of making ourselves physically sick because of our attitude.  Life does suck sometimes…..we do step in puddles…..get our boots wet….get stuck in the car…how we handle it makes all the difference…..If we snuff out the light of God’s love with a pathetic attitude we are only hurting ourselves….missing out on fun times with our Heavenly Father…..Let’s choose to be happy, positive uplifting…..not by ourselves, nope….can’t do it alone….got to Ride with our Heavenly Father….lean on HIM….give HIM the puddles and take the blessings!  “Don’t worry, be happy!”  Thanks Father for hanging in there with us when we step in puddles.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13.  I have learned t be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  Philippians 4:11-12.  I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Isaiah 41:13.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6.  Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O Lord.  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  Psalm 4:6-7.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson