Our perfect first responder

Good Morning Friends!  Wow!  What a wonderful God is our God, Wednesday!  Last night sometime after we had gone to sleep….maybe 2 hours, Kim got a page! 

Oh, gosh what a way to get awakened from a deep sleep!  For me, I just tell him to be safe, say a prayer, roll over and go back to sleep (hopefully), but poor Kim, he has to get up, get his wits about him, respond to Central, get dressed, get to station and head out to emergency!  All in the middle of a deep sleep….well needless to say, last night he really was in that deep sleep stage when the page sounded….loud and clear, followed by…”Lula, you need to respond to a grass fire at……..”  He just couldn’t seem to get going, walked out of the bedroom, then back in again; I could hear him getting his clothes on and soon I heard the car head out the driveway…..but I couldn’t help but think he was a tad bit slower than usual.  Being the good wife that I am, as the car headed out the drive, I fluffed my pillow, pulled up the blanket, rolled over and settled in to finish my night’s sleep……as I laid there in the quiet darkness of the night, I felt myself smiling, relaxing knowing that when we sound the pager in need of our Father’s help….there’s no fumbling around….He does not have to be awakened from a deep sleep and get his bearings….Nope….quite the contrary!!!  Our Father, is Johnny on the spot all the time, day or night….no matter what the need…..big, small…serious or maybe just…well you know…..just need HIM to help you through a bad day….HE is there!  Thank you Father!!!  For being our PERFECT, GO TO, FIRST RESPONDER!  And Father thank you so much for all of our firemen, all emergency personnel, they have an important job here…bless their efforts and protect them. 

 

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.  This is what the Lord says…”Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”  Isaiah 43:1.  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.  Psalm 34:8.  Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.  Proverbs 29:25.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4. 

Love you all!

 

Batter up!

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His Tuesday!  Ran across a bible verse this morning that hit a spot with me….with a special T ball team…..from Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and glory of the Lord rises upon you.”   Last night, after several cancellations, we had another T ball game!  I was excited as I climbed into the bleachers with Katy, mom and dad….the other team was already on the field practicing!  Didn’t take but a few moments to see that this team…was pretty darn good!  For starters they looked like giants compared to our little guys and they could throw and catch, I mean really throw and catch….wow….dad and I chuckled at the thought of what we were up against!  Our kids took their places in the field, excited, thrilled and just proud to be there!  Well, bam….one hit, then another, and another, 1, 2 ,3 points and going crazy…our kids were so happy to have balls to chase, places to throw them if it wasn’t the right place….they were giving it their all!!!  This went on for three innings!  We, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were screaming and hollering, disgusted with how out matched we were….but the kids…..the kids….they were shining….Giving it their best, they played the game with gusto, enthusiasm, determination…..Our little team shined, no crying, stomping, pouting, no giving up!  They shined while us adults….we were rather pathetic at times….who cares that the final score was 18-1…..God doesn’t care one bit!  As I read Is. 60:1 I couldn’t help but think that His light had risen on them, they shined with HIS love…..Oh my, if only we could rise and shine in our faith like those kids did playing ball….”Arise, Shine….you and me, let’s get up to bat for HIM….HIS Glory is rising upon us…..HE loves us….verse 2 continues, “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, BUT the LORD rises upon you and HIS glory appears over you.”  Don’t worry how big the other team is…..Remember we have the PERFECT COACH!!!  Our Father rises out of the darkness and shines HIS everlasting glory on us….HIS PERFECT all powerful LOVE….Unending FORGIVENESS, MERCY, GRACE….Father, thank you for shining YOUR Glory on us…..help us to rise and shine for YOU!  Rise, shine….give God the glory!

 

Though I have fallen, I will rise.  Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.  Micah 7:8.  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.  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.  Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright I heart.  Psalm 97:11.

Love you all!

 

 

The joy of finding lost lipstick

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God, Wednesday!  I am on a hunt for a lost….well hopefully just misplaced cord to my camera!  This morning, in a fit of desperation I pulled out a bag I used to carry back and forth to work.  I knew I never had finished cleaning it out, so I thought maybe, just maybe I’d left it in the bag!  It’s a pretty big bag and I could tell there was definitely “stuff” in it, so I was feeling hopeful as I dug in, pulling out note books, pens, pictures…..but no cord….No cord, but wait….what am I feeling…feels like a tube of lip stick….Wow, it was not just any tube of lipstick….no siree!!!!  I was my favorite tube of orange lipstick given to me by a wonderful friend!  I thought it was gone forever…..and there I was holding it in my hands!!!!  I was so excited I could hardly stand it….poor Kim, just didn’t get it, but that’s ok!!!!  No, I didn’t find the cord, but in the process of looking I found something else that I had totally given up ever finding…I was so happy that I had decided to wear brown and orange today, so I got to wear my beautiful orange lipstick!!!!   As I headed into work, still a bit frustrated I hadn’t found my cord, I couldn’t help but smile about finding my lipstick….my thoughts were suddenly consumed with love…..the love of our Heavenly Father….Our Father’s love is an all-knowing love…..He knows what’s best for us and when…..how often we trudge off looking for the best job, or snazziest car, perfect house, classiest friends…..thinking we know what we need and where to find it…..but God knows better, He knows best for us….Thank goodness when we are looking for what might not be the best for us, He helps us find what we really need….We whine and cry, thinking God doesn’t hear us, or worse just doesn’t care….wrong!!!!  He cares so much, that He doesn’t want us to “find” the things that are not best for us…..He wants us to lean on Him for everything….to stay strong in our faith….to trust and  believe in HIS will for our lives….Oh might not always be easy.  He didn’t promise that, but He did promise to never leave us or forsake us.  Thank you Father…take our hands and lead us so that we find all that You have for us….trusting and believing in Your grace and mercy!

 

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6-7.  Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love for they are from of old.  Psalm 25:5-6.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there you hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast, O Lord.  Psalm 139:9-10.Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.  Psalm 9:10.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5. 

Love you all!

 

 

It's the little things

Good Morning Friends! Thankfully His, Tuesday!  Recently Cooper, soon to be five, learned how to open the chicken coop.  The latch on the coop’s door is a bit tricky so until just recently, Cooper was unable to work it.  Yesterday he had no school, so mom dropped him off to spend the day with Papa while she and dad were at work.  Each morning as I leave for work, I stop and open the door to the chicken coop, fastening it with a bungee cord so they can come and go as they please during the day.  Yesterday, as I was getting ready to go to work I asked Cooper to go out and open the coop door and hook the bungee to keep it open.  No biggie right….but it would really help me and for him what a major accomplishment!  He was proud to go out and take care of the task, no matter how small, because he knew it would make his Nana happy that he was helping.  And indeed it did make me happy for several reasons…..It’s a joy to watch our grandchildren growing stronger improving their skills as they grow, I was proud that he had learned to manipulate the tricky latch.  I was of course happy to have one less little chore to do as I headed to work, but most of all I was smiling inside and out,  pleased that Cooper wanted to do something for me….to help….a small thing, yes, but huge in the scheme of things in this busy, hectic world.  As I headed to work, still beaming thinking about Cooper’s task, I felt the familiar tap on my shoulder.  “Good morning Father, wasn’t Cooper cute this morning?”  “Yes, Kathie, he certainly was.  I was so happy to see him go out by himself and take care of the door in order to help his Nana.  Kathie, I know that you think the little things you can do don’t really make a difference….but, My child, you are so wrong.  There is so much pain and suffering, worry and stress in this world, it is the little things that can make a big difference in someone’s day….maybe more than a day….the little things can truly lead to hope in a sad, worn out heart or mind…refresh, renew dampened spirits….boost confidence….dry tears….the little things, can heal in big ways.  The little things you do make ME smile…..I am pleased to see your faith in action, no matter how small the task may seem to you….do it….I will do the rest……Renew your spiritual energy, strengthen your faith….through the little things…..Smile as you do My work…..it matters.”  Thank you Father, for the little things that lift our lives….enable us to never tire of serving YOU, no matter how little it seems to us!  To YOU be all glory and honor.

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people….  Galatians 6:9-10.  A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.  Proverbs 17:22.  There are different kinds of service, (some big some little) 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.  Be kind and compassionate to one another.  Ephesians 4:32.  Jesus said, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”  Matthew 10:42.  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service (not matter how small).  1 Timothy 1:12.

Love you all!

 

The open gate

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God, Wednesday!  Last night after a rather late dinner of chicken tacos, Kim said we needed to go up and check on a calf that had been born the night before.  He explained that all day yesterday, it laid in one spot and mama was not too close.  He was sure that mama would join him by nightfall, but just wanted to be sure the calf was not alone all night.  We were both tired, but knew we would hate ourselves if something happened to that calf because we didn’t go check.  So, we started up the little Isuzu and headed to the pasture where baby was last seen.  Sure enough, the little black calf was curled up sleeping in the same spot Kim had seen him off and on all day…..mom….well she was on the other side of the fence, not too far in distance, but too far for safety!  Kim got out and jostled him to his feet, mama was watching intently and headed towards her baby.  Soon they were face to face, however there was a fence in between; Kim thought the gate was open as we headed the calf that way so he could reunite with mama.  However, as we got closer we could see that the cows had pushed the gate shut…..What if we had not gone up there to check…..baby would have been alone all night, coyote bait for sure!  Silently thanking our Father that we had found the gate that separated the calf from his mama, I got out and opened the gate.  I hadn’t even made it back into the truck when mama and her shiny black calf were together again.  As I got back into the truck, my mind filled with the wonder of God’s creation, His magnificent planning….that mama cow knew right where her baby was, there’s lots of shiny black calves, but she knew hers and he knew his mama.  Amazing, there’s no doubt in my mind that she would not have come to get him before dark…..that’s God’s amazing planning….but what about the closed gate……what a terrible night they could have spent, separated by a closed gate.  Kim drove me around a bit more, showing off his new water system…the pastures green….the sky… shades of pink and purple highlighted the fluffy clouds as the light began to fade…..God’s breath taking handy work filled me with overwhelming peace….AHHHH, my heart and mind whirled…..There’s no closed gate that could ever keep us from our Heavenly Father…..no matter what the circumstances are that might separate us for a time…..He always yearns for us to come back to HIM!!!  He is our Good Shepherd, our Perfect Shepherd….He delights in pushing open the gates of our mess ups, frustrations, grief….OH Yes Father!!!!  How blessed we are to have a Father, a Good and Perfect Shepherd to open the gates to YOUR LOVING arms….wrapped in Your arms we have peace that passes all human understanding. 

 

From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him,  and His righteousness with their children’s children.  Psalm 103:17.  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 118:1.  Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7.  Submit to god and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.  Job 22:21.  The Lord 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.  Psalm 23:2-3.  The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7. 

Love you all!

 

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

Administrative Services

Division of Housing

Our Perfect, All Knowing Fix-it Man

Good Morning Friends!  Today, Tuesday, so very thankful to be His!  A while ago…..I would say maybe 2 or 3 months ago I noticed a musty, wet smell in the house.  At first mostly in the kitchen, but as time went on I could smell it all over the house.  My first thought, something’s leaking under the house….oh yuck….not the kind of thing one looks forward to addressing with the man of the house….know what I mean?!  But as time went on and the odor worsened, I knew what I had to do….So I began by just mentioning I had been noticing a wet…..kind of musty odor all over the house.  His initial response….”I don’t smell anything!”  Imagine that!!!!  Did I expect anything different!!!!  Well, this went on like I said, for a couple of months, me politely complaining while he ignored me or insisted he smelled nothing.  Remember a couple of weeks ago, I went to California for a few days?  Well, one of the first things Mr. Johnson had to report was…..”Uh…..I smell the musty odor.  Must be something leaking under the house!”  To which I wanted to reply, notice I said wanted to….”DUH!!!”  But I didn’t, I merely smiled and silently thanked our Heavenly Father.  His plan was to crawl under the house and check it out….definitely not an easy feat for an old, chubby man (I say that most endearingly).  The space under the house is so small and remember it had been leaking for quite some time……can you imagine.  I didn’t push him about it and in a few days, bless his heart he ventured under with his spotlight to see if he could find the problem, having me turn on different faucets.  Well, he found it…kitchen sink.  Step one…..next step, go all the way under and fix it.  He was quite convinced he would not be able to get under to do it, so he tried his best to find a slighter built friend to help him out…..I stopped using the kitchen sink on Friday to help dry it out a little, but finally on Sunday afternoon he had to suck it up and go under himself.  Remember this issue had been brewing for at least 2 months….drip, drip, drip, damp, damper, wet….puddled….by now a real mess!  Most unhappy and quite negative, he gathered the tools and supplies he thought he would need and headed in.  I could hear him grunting and groaning, struggling to say the least to make his way over to the kitchen pipes……wasn’t very long at all, and I heard him grunt and groaning his way out!!!!!!  He was covered in cobwebs and mud from head to toe, but the leak was fixed!!!!!!  Golly molly, was I ever a happy wifey.  In 3 hours I could actually do the dishes!  Later as I attacked the piles of dishes that had accumulated since Friday, so happy that the leak was fixed, the odor soon to be gone, I couldn’t help but think about the leaks in my life.  The situations, that could have been easily taken care of that I let drip with worry, drip with frustration, drip with stubborn attitudes about doing it my way….drips that turned into wet puddles of hurt, anger, financial issues….muddying up my life……why?  Because I ignored God’s direction, His wisdom, and guidance, thinking I can do it on my own.  In the end……muddy, covered with cobwebs of guilt and sadness……all over a little drip that could have been fixed pretty easily if I had just called on our Heavenly Father first!!!!  Our Perfect, All Knowing Fix-it Man…..just waiting to stop our leaks!  Thank you Father for bearing with us through our stubbornness, forgive us…..help us to trust and believe that YOU always know best for us and come to YOU first.

 

“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 plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11.  I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  Psalm 73:23-24.  I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.  When you walk, your steps will  not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.  Proverbs 4:11-12.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4.  Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts 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. 

Love you all!

Memories of a duckling and a chicken hawk

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in HIS loving arms Wednesday!  No friends, I am not crazy, started this yesterday and then found my services were otherwise required!!!!!  Hence……let’s add…..Thankfully loved by HIM, Thursday!  I was talking to my son, Shawn, the other day, telling him how cute our bunnies are.  “Oh yea,” he said, “there’s nothing cuter than baby bunnies and baby ducks. Do you remember when……?”  I knew immediately which memory he was about to share……Many years ago when the kids were young and we lived in California we decided we needed some ducks!  The boys, especially, loved animals and we always thought it was good for them to have the responsibility of caring for them.  Once we decided on ducks, we headed to the feed store; after careful examination of every duck, we finally agreed on the perfect  mommy and daddy ducks!  We fixed them a little shelter and filled a little wading pool for their swimming pleasure!  Oh so  proud of our ducks and beyond excited when we had ducklings, the whole family couldn’t wait for them to be covered in yellow baby- feathers and join mommy and daddy in the pool!  The boys were quite proud of their beautiful ducklings and mommy and daddy took good care of them…..Then one day, after school, Shawn and I went out to check on our family of ducks, fill the pool, check their feed…..we were happy as we walked out to the pasture, anticipating our family having fun in the pool.  As we got close we could see that most of them were indeed swimming, it was a beautiful spring day…..blue skies boasting of God’s wondrous creation….Then…..out of nowhere……Shawn and I, at the say moment, caught site of a…..oh no…..surely not…..no, please don’t let that be…..no, no……please no….but in fact there was a chicken hawk circling over the family in the pool….closer and closer….Shawn and I ran screaming towards the pool, hoping our screams would scare the vulture away…..our earnest attempts failed…..we were both sick and heartbroken as we watched, totally helpless…….the skilled hawk dived towards the pool and in one quick swoop snatched a tiny, precious baby duck, covered in fluffy, yellow-baby feathers, swimming happily with his family totally unaware of lurking danger.  Gone….in one fell swoop….Shawn and I were devastated as we stood silently watching the chicken hawk carry our duckling away….Ever since our conversation, the memory of that precious duckling’s fate has lingered in my mind……causing me to think how very vulnerable I am…..strutting through life as if I had everything under control……swimming in a pool of selfishness, misplaced priorities, edging on disaster at any time….unaware of the dangers because I am too preoccupied with today……me…..mine…..So vain, thinking no chicken hawk would dare swoop down and get me……HUH!!!!  Praise God, our fate does not ever have to be the same as our little duckling’s.  Our Heavenly Father is there watching over us, at all times…..ready to fell the hawks…..There was nothing the duckling could have done to stop his fate, but we….we have every opportunity to spend time with our Father, reading His word, growing in faith, finding comfort and strength through our prayers and conversations with HIM….He does not want us to be swooped up by this world.  No siree!!!!  He wants us as HIS very own, safe and sound, through life everlasting with HIM!  Thank you Father for loving us so much, for wrapping Your loving arms around us!

 

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am they God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  Isaiah 41:10.  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7.  Blessed are they that keep His testimonies and that seek Him with the whole heart.  Psalms 119:2.  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them:  for the Lord they God, He is it that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Deuteronomy 31:6.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

Administrative Services

Division of Housing