April 30, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!  Today is a Cooper day;  he arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed a little after 6:30!  Papa and Cooper immediately began discussing their “wok” day and I returned to the bathroom to finish getting ready for work.  A couple of minutes later, Cooper came in the bathroom, so excited he could hardly contain himself!  “Cooper” I asked  “whatch doin?”  He stammered a little, wiggling back and forth, big, cheesy-grin on his face and said, “I gonna sing a song for you Nana.”  I expressed my delight and away he went…..singing like a precious angel…Jesus Loves Me!  He was so excited, hands on his hips, but he couldn’t keep still, couldn’t contain himself as he sang every word of Jesus Loves Me!!!  His faced shined with God’s love….he glowed from the inside out as he sang.  He was so excited that his little feet were dancing as he stood in front of me….singing…..Jesus Loves Me….from beginning to end!  Smiling and dancing with delight because of Jesus’ love….and sharing that love, proudly, confidently, joyfully…from the inside out!!!!  Oh my sweet Cooper, now I know why Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell  you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:16-17.  Cooper’s childlike love…faith….his sheer delight….jubilance….eyes focused on me never wavering this way or that…Oh Father, thank you for Cooper’s example of how to love you……to shine for you.  Fill us with childlike faith so that we too share Your love with others jubilantly! 

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Psalm 100:1-2.  May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “Let God be exalted!”  Psalm 70:4.  Though you have not seen Christ, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:8-9.  Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4.

Love you all!

April 25, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  From my desk, I can see out the front doors of the office and it’s a hub of activity!  The landscaping department is here in full force with a truck load of flowers…..yep, beautiful spring flowers…..planting love, that’s what they are doing for more people than they could even imagine.  To them, it’s their job, load the truck with flowers, make sure they have the tools they need, head to the site and plant them…..to me and so very many others their work is an act of love…..beautiful flowers in a rainbow of colors…..God’s creation…..our Perfect Creator….Artist Extraordinaire! Green grass, blooming trees, and rainbows of flowers…..how can we not feel loved….I will make a point to thank the landscape crew, but how often do we miss a chance to let people know what a great job they are doing, how what they have done has blessed our day….taken a chunk out of the hectic and replaced it with a smile….peace…..There are so many opportunities in a day for us to share a little bit of God’s love…..we don’t have to plant a 100 acres…..one flower, one little blub or a tiny seed can blossom and change a day deemed for gloom into a day in a garden of love….Sharing God’s love….planting His seeds…..Growing love…..Now that’s a happy thought isn’t it…..Growing in God’s love and then transplanting it to others……till with kindness, fertilizer with a smile, water with buckets of joy……Oh gosh can’t wait to harvest our gardens!  Father help us to plant your love wherever we go….even in the most unlikely of places…there’s always someone that needs a little love…..Help us to be tools of Your work.  To You, our Heavenly Father, all glory, honor, and praise!  Thank you for loving us so much!

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 proud.  It is not rude, it’s not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails……And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:1-8 and 13.

Love you all!

April 24, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully loved by our Heavenly Father, Wednesday!  God is great, God is good let us thank Him for our…..we always said this prayer before meals…let us thank Him for our food!  This morning I want to say….God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our flowers…..and the special people that planted them and the special pots that my Hailey left for me to have and made arrangements for my Kathyrn, Cooper, and Katy to fill them with flowers!!!!  The little blessings that mean so much, and He sends them when we need them the most.  Monday, I came home from work quite tired….having a terrible issue with my teeth, such pain, and missing Hailey and family, I was just not in a great frame of mind…..as I pulled in the driveway, heading for the carport, I couldn’t believe what I saw!!!   Not only were my old flower pots filled with spring flowers, but the pots that Hailey had to leave behind were there and full too!!!!!  My goodness…..how my mood lifted instantly……the flowers were beautiful….but knowing that someone cared enough for me to do that……well, made my old heart soar!  I called Kathyrn immediately to thank her, couldn’t you just see her there with Cooper and Katy planting flowers for Nana!  She said , “Your welcome!  You know, Hailey asked me to bring pots down and fill for you!”  Double blessed….for sure….from Fairbanks to Lula…..blessed with a special, “love blessing.”  Thank you Father for spring flowers, but most importantly thank for the people in my life that “plant love” shining their lights!  Your blessings are new every morning!  We don’t need flowers to “plant love”  we only need the love of God in our hearts….Where can you “plant love” today….where can you bring a special love blessing to someone that just might need one…..

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another about yourselves.  Romans 12:10.  Love one another deeply, from the heart.  1 Peter 1:22.  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.  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.  Colossians 3:23.  Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  1 Thessalonians 5:14.  Keep on loving each other.  Hebrews 13:1.  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 your heart and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.

Plant a little love today…..love you all!!!!!

April 23, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Totally wrapped in His loving arms Tuesday!  Last Saturday I was on a mission! I desperately needed  half a day in my house!!!!  So, I gave up breakfast with Cooper and Katy and headed outside to get my ranch chores done quick as I could, so I could get in my house and get to work….oh my what a mess I had.  Well, Kim and I worked hard and believe it or not I was back in the house by 11:30 and got right to work.  I was going gangbusters.  About 30 minutes later Kim called…..Oh boy I thought…..wonder what’s up.  He was frantic to say the least!  “Get the 4 wheeler and get up here now!  Sheep are out and all over the Beagles, going crazy, they’re acting crazy!”  I grabbed my jacket and a bottle of water, who knew how long I would be gone….started up the 4 wheeler and headed up the hill.  Kim meet me at the cattle guard and waved me to follow him, he was fit to be tied.  We went to the intersection at the top of the hill, our property on one side, the Beagles on the other.  Jumping out of his truck he hollered at me to stand in the road and make sure they went towards home, he headed down the side road to stop them, turn them around and head them home…..I stood in the road and waited and waited and waited……oh gosh, I thought this is not good….thinking he might need a little help, I said a little prayer.  Finally, I could hear the 4 wheeler, the sheep (about 150 with lambs) making a ruckus, and Kim hollering at them and me.  “Don’t let them go up that hill (if they got up the hill they would be out of my reach and would head the wrong direction…not good).  Well of course 5 or 6 head right up that hill too steep for the 4 wheeler and besides Kim was busy trying to keep the rest from doing the same thing.  No other choice, I had to head up the hill, glad I had on my good boots…..I got up just fine, before they got away….headed them back down and then….well let’s just say getting down the hill wasn’t quite as easy as getting up.  Kim was right; they were acting crazy, like they had been locked up in a dirt lot all winter, and the green grass had them crazy when actually they have eaten lush green fodder all winter…..150 sheep plus lambs acting crazy is not a pretty site on CR 1600 on Saturday…yes we did finally get them on 1600, but it wasn’t easy, Kim got stuck and they headed into the trees….finally got them out of the trees and heading down the road now….would they turn in where they were supposed to….could I keep them out of the neighbor’s yard……could I warn traffic in time to slow them down……I jumped in the truck and turned on the hazard lights just in time to slow down a car…..well we lucked out…..they turned in the right gate and headed out to pasture!  What a relief and Thank you Father!  We headed back to the house for lunch, shaking our heads, wondering what in the heck we were gonna do with them…..crazy sheep.  I didn’t think much more about them until Sunday morning in church when Pastor read the Gospel lesson from John 10:22-30.  Jesus was talking to some Jews that needed some proof that He was the promised one….He said I already told you I am, but you don’t believe because you are not part of My flock……”My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”  Oh my gosh, it was all I could do to not burst out laughing right in church!  I thought not always…..they don’t always listen or follow!  My thoughts returned to Saturday and our crazy sheep…..they had everything….green pastures, fresh water, dogs to guard them, mineral on demand, green pastures….and what did they do….tore up good fences and took off….no clue what was out there….no regard for the dangers outside the pastures….Oh no……Father…how frustrated you must get with Your sheep….us….when we tear down the fences…and head out to the unknown without YOU…..not listening to Your voice….not following You….looking for the greener grass when You provide us with everything we could ever need…..Protect us, forgive us, love us, comfort us, heal us…….Father, forgive us when we don’t listen to Your voice, help us to hear and to follow You.  Remember this song…”I am Jesus Little Lamb, Ever glad at heart I am…..”

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 my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before m in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil’ my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23.  The God of peace be with you.  Philippians 4:9.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

April 18, 2013

Good Morning Friends! Thankfully His, Thursday! Now that Hailey and Clark have moved to Alaska, Cooper will be spending his days between daddy and Papa. Today is a Papa day; Cooper bounced in about 6:30 this morning…ready to go to “wok” with Papa! Bless his heart…..he came in talking and was still talking when I left for work. “What’s that Nana, what are you doin, Nana, Papa, what is that, why are you cooking that, what’s in the pot, Nana why are you wearing that, why do you go to work, me and Papa go to wok, Papa, why we go to dogs, we gonna shave them, I want to hold a baby puppy, where’s Holina, what’s that, Nana can I help you, I want to do it, Nana, why you go to wok? You get the picture I am sure, and of course he is right beside us the whole time…..as I kissed them both goodbye and headed out the door, I was smiling to myself….thinking oh that boy has a lot of questions…why this, why that, bet Papa will be worn out by the end of the day…hope he has all the answers!….And then the thought hit me and I had to laugh out loud….Our Heavenly Father is badgered with questions and pleas from all of us day in and day out……and just think, He never gets worn out, or losses patience with us (I wonder if He laughs at us once in a while…). And…HE DOES have all the answers!! And HE LOVES us to come to HIM with everything…..So blessed we are to have 24 hour access to our Heavenly Father…..no worry that He will be cranky, or impatient, or too busy! Father, thank you for attending to our needs all day long. Help us to be more like You in every way! And Father, thank you for grandsons full of questions, eager to learn and help. What a joy-filled blessing! Guide our time with them, enable us to be patient and loving like YOU.

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; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:1-3. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He bestows rain on the earth; He sends water upon the countryside. The lowly He sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. Job 5:9-11. My God will meet all your needs (answer all your questions) according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10. Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22. The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him Nahum 1:7. Praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. Daniel 4:37.

Love you all!

April 17, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!  Yesterday afternoon Kim and I took Hailey, Clark, and Tucker to the airport in Dallas…..from Dallas to Fairbanks, AK…..the first leg of a new adventure in their lives…..moving back to Fairbanks.  The last couple of months, knowing that they were leaving have been quite difficult for Papa and I.  Of course, we love them so very much, and always want what’s best for them, but I must admit my first reaction was more selfish than loving.  Yes, at first I even questioned our Heavenly Father…asking Him why He would bring them to Lula to live, bless us with Tucker and then BAM!  Take them away……Alaska is a long ways from Lula!  We listened to their reasons and their plans, teased them endlessly about staying and then helped them pack up, and finally yesterday took them to the airport with lots of great big bags!  It took all of us to get everything checked in, my job…..taking care of Tucker!  Finally the moment had come, we had to say goodbye.  I found someone to take our picture, lots of hugs and kisses…..tears…..and the final goodbye.  Kim and I walked silently to the car, tears streaming down our faces wondering how long it would be till we see our precious Hansen family again.  We got in the car and headed out of the airport towards home, silent at first and then Kim broke the silence….”Well, at least they got to have the country experience for a while.  They have really grown and matured.”  I agreed….and then….peace….do I feel peace?  I asked myself…..I think I do…..but I just put my first-born granddaughter, her sweet husband, our grandson, Clark and our first great-grandson on an airplane to Alaska…to live.  How can I feel peace?  I am devastated, broken hearted, sad…..peace…..there can’t be any room for peace in my heart…Oh wait….”OK Father…..I feel you…..I hear you…..Yes, forgive me….I know You supply peace beyond human understanding…yes that’s what I am feeling!  I just have to let You in don’t I?  But Father they will be so far away and I worry about them…..Oh Ok, OK…..yes…..I do know that You are with them…they love you and You will guide and protect them…..Thank you Father…..Thank you Father for the blessing of having Hailey, Clark, and Tucker in Lula with us for almost 3 years.  Gosh we are so blessed!  Father thank you for finding me and filling me with Your peace when I am wallowing in self-pity.  Forgive me.

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7.  The God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:9.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.  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.  To everything there is a season, and a purpose to everything under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Love you all!

April 16, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!  Last night Kim had call a phone call from our grandson Brayden in California.  Brayden was reading Papa Kim the very first report he had ever written.  The subject….pick your hero and write about him/her.  Well, guess who Brayden wrote about!  Yep, his Papa Kim….he read, “My hero is my Papa Kim……because he is a fireman.  He is a fireman, he helps his community,  and he saves lives……that’s why he is my hero!  I am proud of my Papa Kim.”   I didn’t hear the whole report, but that is what I could get from Papa Kim…….He was so proud, beaming like a bright light, smiling from ear to ear, so he could hardly speak.  Gosh, can you just imagine…..a tribute like that from your 7 (8 tomorrow) year old grandson.  His hero, Papa Kim.  After his call I started thinking who I would write about if I was given that assignment…..people in my life came to mind first…my mom, my brother Sam, my husband…..then I thought of some biblical persons….David slaying Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, how about all the apostles dying because they would never deny their faith……dying…I thought of Brayden’ s report….how Papa Kim saves lives……..yes Papa Kim and all firemen do have the opportunity at times to save lives and I am so thankful for all the people that risk their lives for others in their jobs…..And then the LIGHT came on….the LIGHT of the WORLD is my hero……Jesus our Savior, our Good Shepherd, our Best Friend….HOLY…without blame….born in a stable…..DIED FOR US!  He didn’t risk HIS life….HE GAVE IT…..WILLINGLY!  For you and for me…….Really, Hero is not nearly BIG enough to call our JESUS!!!!  We are so blessed!  By grace we have been saved……Father, my goodness how we so miss the LIGHT so often, forgive us!  Thank you for YOUR gift to us…YOUR only Son, our Savior…….Father, thank you for precious grandchildren that help us to see the LIGHT and bless our lives in such very special ways.  All Praise, Honor, and Glory to You!!!!!

God so loved the world that He GAVE His ONE and ONLY Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16.   Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for You name’s sake.  Psalm 79:9  Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.  You ha e filled my heart with great joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  Psalm 4:6-7.  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.  Romans 8:16—17. 

Love you all!

April 15, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty Awesome is our God, Monday!  This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Whether we feel like it or not……!!!!  Gosh seems like we are in one of those spells, when you think nothing else could go wrong and then….it does!  Sitting here feeling sorry for myself, my thoughts turned to David….and his words in Psalm 40.  I am not sure what had happened that led David to write what he did, but I get the feeling he was in a spell like we are, but he starts out…”I waited patiently for the Lord;” gosh it’s hard to do that sometimes isn’t it….he continues, “He turned to me and heard my cry.”  Can you hear me Lord?!!  I’m crying, like a big baby…..hear me?!  “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”  Ah…..a solid place would be nice….Lord, give me courage to step out in faith and feel You, solidly beneath me…hold onto me as I get through the mud….David goes on to say, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”  Hmmm, a new song….that’s what I need…..how about the laughing song….Do you know that one?  “ho, ho, ho hosanna, ha, ha halleluiah, He, He He saved me, I have the joy of the LORD!”  A joyful song because I know that He hears me, loves me and cares…..I can rejoice with David because, “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust….”  I do trust You Father……Thank you for lifting me out of the mud…….forgive my weakness. 

The email below was sent to me by a sweet friend, I thought it was really worthy of a share….God bless you all.  Love you

The Holy Alphabet- Although things are not perfect Because of trial or pain Continue in thanksgiving Do not begin to blame Even when the times are hard Fierce winds are bound to blow God is forever able Hold on to what you know Imagine life without His love Joy would cease to be Keep thanking Him for all the things Love imparts to thee Move out of "Camp Complaining" No weapon that is known On earth can yield the power Praise can do alone Quit looking at the future Redeem the time at hand Start every day with worship To "thank" is a command Until we see Him coming Victorious in the sky We'll run the race with gratitude X alting God most high Y e s, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but... Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad! "I AM Too blessed to be stressed!" The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Love and peace be with you forever, Amen.

April 10, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!  My oldest California grandson, Brayden has a birthday coming up….the big 8!  So, the other day I called mom to get some good ideas for his gift.  She said, “Oh you know him, anything to do with cowboys, horses, bulls….”  The boy, even though he lives in LA loves anything cowboy/country!  After a little more yik yak, Mom said…”Oh I know what he would love, a real cowboy belt buckle!”  …… guess you know what I am on the hunt for.  After talking with Annie about Brayden, I got to thinking about a story she had told me a while back when they were in the doctor’s office.  Mind you, this is in the big city, in a Kaiser facility…..big!  Brayden had seen the doctor for something and was heading down the halls when the doctor asked him what he was going to be when he grew up….he suggested a basketball player.  Annie said that Brayden bucked right up and said, “No, I am going to be a bull rider!”  The doctor chuckled and said, “Not many bulls around here, young man.”  To which Brayden responded, “My Papa Kim in Oklahoma has lots of bulls for me to ride!”  That was a couple of years ago and he hasn’t changed his mind yet, he is determined to be a bull riding cowboy!  He just loves it when the PBR comes to Anaheim (and a special blessing was getting to take him in OKC a few years ago).  Well, of course Brayden is young and who knows if he will be a bull rider or butcher, or an electrician, school teacher, contractor, fireman, maybe even a basketball player…..only our Heavenly Father knows…. most importantly, for Brayden, for each of us is that whatever we do we are doing according to God’s plan.  I was reading an article the other day and found a quote that had such a good perspective for us, “Not God’s plan for my life, but my life for God’s plan.”  Oh my…..what a wonderful thought….my life….little old me….little old nana from Lula….my silly, crazy, life for God’s plan…..If my life is following His plan….it’s got to be good!  To Him be the glory!  Father, it seems impossible that you could want us in Your plan, but we are so thankful that you do.  Thankful that you love us so much that we are forgiven through your Son’s death….washed from our sins so that we can follow your plan.  Father, open our hearts and minds to really hear, know, and follow…..and do the best we can….To Your glory!

And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28.  For 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.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  1 Corinthians 12:5.  Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.  1 Samuel 12:24.  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.  1 Timothy 1:12. 

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

April 8, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty is our God, Monday!  So, remember a few weeks ago when I told you about the mouse in my house…..well, as a result of that story, a friend with lots of outside cats offered to give me a couple.  I jumped at the offer….she said if I could bring her a carrier she would catch a couple for me and we made arrangements to meet at the mini mart close to my church on Sunday.  However, one thing after another it wasn’t until yesterday that we finally managed to get together.  Church was a little long, so she was waiting for me while enjoying a sausage biscuit.  We sat and visited a minute and then went to our cars for the big transfer!  Poor cats were not happy about their confinement….there were three of them and they growled and hissed all the way home.  Kim had put out food for them in an old chicken coop…a really good place for them to call “headquarters”.   I stopped and unloaded them before going to the house….I knew they were ready for their release!  As soon as I opened the door out they came they all 3 scaled the wooden walls of their headquarters.  Well, that’s the last I have seen of my cats….Yep, it’s true, have not seen hide nor hair of them since their release….when it dawned on me this morning that I had not seen them, I thought, oh gosh….hope they didn’t run off…..but then I thought about the children’s sermon I had for the kids yesterday.  I put a glass ostrich in a box, told them what was in it (well I told them an ostrich)  and asked them if they believed me….without seeing the ostrich….did they believe it was in there?  The point being…..Thomas, without actually seeing our risen Jesus, did not believe his fellow disciples when they told him that Jesus was alive…….Jesus response when He confronted Thomas, “you believe because you have seen Me, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have not seen.”   Wow….I think our Heavenly Father sent me a little faith reminder….a little faith boost….perhaps a “practice what you preach” tap.  Yes, at times……I must admit, I am a bit of a doubting Thomas….Forgive me Father.  You know what!!!  Even though I have not seen the cats, I know that they are out there hunting….they are going to keep the mice out of my house!!!!!!  I am sure of it!  Father, sometimes I question my faith….question what’s going on in my life because I don’t see what I think I should.  Forgive me….help me to never be a doubting Thomas when it comes to Your will in my life!  And Father thank you for sweet friends that share their cats with me!

Then He (Jesus), said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my . Stop doubting and believe.”  Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  Then Jesus told him, “because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded n tis book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.  John 20:28-31.  Though you have not seen Christ, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:8-9.  We live by faith, not by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

April 4, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  Well, how about this rain!  So funny, out in our neck of the woods there’s always so much hype about the weather….you know the men…..they all have their input on how much rain, how cold, how dry….you know.  Well, Monday was their firemen’s meeting and when Kim got home he had lots of rain stories to tell!  One said,  gonna get 4.5 inches, another no not that much gonna get about 3.5 inches…..another 2-4…everybody boasting that their predictions would be the one!  My husband, sporting his doom and gloom attitude, said “it’s gonna miss us! Not gonna get anything.”  So, we did get something didn’t we!  You know what we got?.......Bottom line?   We got the amount of rain that our Heavenly Father wanted us to have!   No meteorologist or fireman could predict the exact amount of rain that our Heavenly Father would send to us….or how it would come……we must simply trust and believe that it will rain and thank Him…..oh yes, even in times of drought we must THANK HIM FOR THE RAIN…..the rain that’s coming!   Oh my…..that’s the message for our lives……we must trust HIM…..sometimes it seems like one yucky thing after another comes our way…..we begin to wonder…..doubt that our Heavenly Father really cares about us….that’s when we must reach deep into our hearts, holding tightly to our faith and trust…..and thank HIM…..Oh yes my friends, He tells us to give thanks in all circumstances…..that means…..even the yucky ones.  God is always working for us….Always loving us…..in HIS way….in HIS time….and as hard as it is….we must work diligently to not question HIM.  We must, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; and in EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. At times, we might not see God’s love with our eyes, but close your eyes and see His love in your heart…..Oh yes HIS love is always with us…..His arms are always open….waiting for us to come and be refreshed…..reassured that the blessings will come.  Father, gosh sometimes life makes us wonder….forgive us when our trust in You, Your love, for us weak…..bring us to YOU for comfort.  Thank you Father.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Psalm 9:9.  My soul fins rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.  Psalm 62:1-2.  Jesus said, “ 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.”  John 16:33.  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.  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am you God.  I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with  my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10.

Love you all!

April 2, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!  I didn’t realize that it had rained during the night, but when I got up I could hear it on the metal roof of the porch….I said a thank you prayer.  As I drove into work the rain was steady….not too hard, so visibility was ok, but steady enough to be a good rain….I said another thank you, grateful for the rain for our dry pastures and low ponds…..My thoughts turned to the pasture Kim and I had checked on Sunday….I smiled as I envisioned the fragile, green- grass yearning to emerge through the dry grass…..I felt my shoulders relax and even though when I left the house my husband was worried and anxious, I could feel a smile forming in my heart….yearning to break out in joy…….My heart and mind were consumed with the many blessings our Heavenly Father rains on me every day…..doesn’t have to be a torrential down pour, the gentle blessings are so wonderful too….you know…..lunch with an old friend…..a call from a grandchild…..fresh coffee delivered to your desk…..dying Easter eggs with grandkids and then hunting them……something you really need going on sale……a visit with family you haven’t seen in a long while…..notice of on-line donations to Rely for Life popping up on computer…..fresh eggs from the chickens you thought never would lay…..homemade ice cream…friends that pray faithfully for and with you…..new tires……the Good Will Store……volunteer firemen…..sweet puppies….good jobs…..French toast made with rye bread and powdered sugar…cold water in the fountain at the touch of a finger…an unexpected box of goodies in the mail from your sister…….gentle rain falling on the pastures…..sunshine that follows the rain……green grass…….Thank you Father for the good little blessings that bless us every day.  Forgive us for being too busy, too dry to appreciate our steady blessings……to Praise and Thank you with grateful hearts….Shame on us Father….Thank you for loving us still!  All glory, honor and praise to YOU!!

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;  we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100.

Love you all! 

April 1, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty and Miraculous is our God, Monday!  Christ is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!  Praying that your Easter celebrations were as blessed as ours were!  We headed to church early for our annual Easter breakfast before Sunday School; what a wonderful array of breakfast casseroles, muffins, delicious monkey bread and luscious fresh fruit!  The kids had the tables decorated with baskets they had made from empty plastic containers and several different styles of decorated eggs, and of course let’s not forget the lovely green Easter grass and candy!!!!  Spirits were high as we joined in celebrating the resurrection of our Jesus, our Lord and Savior!  The kids, well me too….had a blast in our egg rolling contest…you know roll the egg, like the stone was rolled from Jesus’ tomb!  And then we headed over to Sterling House with a box full of beautiful vases that the girls had made from empty glass jars, we filled them with beautiful silk flowers, and with special Easter greetings from the Sunday school kids, handed them out to residents.  Really not sure who enjoyed it more the residents or the kids….my heart was warm with the love of Easter as I watched the kids shining brightly with the love of Jesus!  After a nice nap, Kim and I headed out on the four-wheeler to check for new calves and check a lease pasture that’s been empty for a while to see if there was any grass growing.  The sun shining so warmly, I climbed on behind Kim and thanked God for the beauty of His creation.  As we approached the lease from the road we were not encouraged; the pasture was thick with dry, brown grass…..from the road, no sign of any green….new life….food for the cows….we continued down the road, opened the gate and headed in for a closer look.  We hadn’t been in long when we could indeed see green peeking through the dead grass…..even where the dead grass was very thick, looking close you could see the tender, green, grass….hope…..the green of life coming through the dead, dry, brown.  As we covered the pasture we felt quite hopeful that in a couple of weeks there would be sufficient grass for the cows.  As Kim and I headed home, the thought occurred to me that our lives, at times, are thick with the dead, dry, grass of the world…..dry grass that wants to choke out the hope of new, green, life…..I thought of earlier in the weekend when something that happened wanted to choke us with stress and worry….and then my thoughts turned to our church service…..the joy of Easter consumed my thoughts…..Jesus died….but the world did not choke HIM out, no HE rose on the third day……Alive, like the green grass….Jesus is our hope for LIFE everlasting…..no matter how dry the world might get, as HIS children, we are never ever without HOPE….without LOVE….without LIFE.  Father, thank you for YOUR SON, our HOPE…..for life everlasting with 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 your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.  Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.  Psalm 42:11. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new Birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  1 Peter 1:3. 

Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!

Love you all!