The Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12

Today at 10:27 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His Friday.  I have developed a bad habit….unconsciously….seems like I must be clenching my teeth in my sleep.  I do not have a clue that I am doing it, but when I wake up my jaws are sore, well my whole mouth, teeth and gums throbbing…..every once in a while I will wake up out a sound sleep and catch myself doing it….so I know exactly why my mouth is sore when I wake up.  Like I said it’s totally unconscious and I am sure it has to do with the stress I have been under lately, but I sure don’t like it.  This morning I got to thinking…..hmm, wonder what other things I do unconsciously that might make people around me feel uncomfortable……remarks that just spew out without thinking, rude facial expressions that cause pain…..all unconscious actions…..but definitely not reflections of God’s love shining through me.  God’s love shining through us is easily snuffed out if we don’t have our hearts and minds focused fully on HIM!  When we tootle along through life just doing as we please, we will do things unconsciously that may cause hurt to people around us….The Golden Rule comes to my mind…..we do want to be treated kindly, don’t we….well we must treat others just like we want to be treated…..simple enough, right??!!!  Nope, not if we don’t have God’s love in our hearts…..remember the other day we talked about “clothing” ourselves in HIS love…well, here you have it!  Oh and a PS…..I need to trust in HIS will a bit more too…..hold on tighter, be still, feel HIS peace and trust in HIS will….HE is in charge and HE will take care of every last detail….trusting and believing Father!  Please forgive us when we don’t shine for YOU…help us to find strength by staying close to YOU in Your word and prayer….staying close to YOU we will be OK!  Thank you Father!

 

Be kind and compassionate to one another.  Ephesians 4:32.  As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Colossians 3:12.  In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  Matthew 7:12.  Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; TRUST in Him and He will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him….Psalm 37:3-7a.  And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  To our Gd and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Philippians 4:19-20.

Love you all!

Philippians 2:13 - Do Everything Without Complaining!

Good Morning Friends! Thankfully His Tuesday!  I got up as usual this morning a little after 5; Kim was still asleep.  I had only been up for a few minutes when I thought I heard his phone ringing….oh dear I thought, ringing so early usually means a problem, of course my thoughts turned to his brother.  However, in just a few minutes he emerged from the bedroom fumbling, still half asleep trying to get his clothes on.  “Sheep are in Jason’s yard” was all he said.  I blurted out a big, “Oh no!  Good grief, for crying out loud, my gosh!”  Something to that effect expressing my disgust with the sheep that were causing him to have to get out of bed and go, in the dark to put them back into their pasture….hopefully before they got into the road.  I was surprised when he calmly, positively responded, “Well, it’s sure better than having them in the road.”  No cussing, grumbling, stomping or door slamming…simply got dressed, got on the four wheeler and headed up the hill to get the job done.  I was quite proud of his behavior, thinking to myself, don’t think I could have been quite so congenial in the same situation.  I couldn’t help but think about things at work, church, at the fire department that irritate me and I don’t always contain my not so pleasant thoughts……I thought of how my day was blessed by Kim’s pleasant reaction to an unpleasant deed…….Oh Father I am so sorry that I often react to situations with words and actions that are not pleasing to those around me, which I know Father means that You are not pleased.  Forgive me…..fill me with Your peace and love and guide me in every situation to respond to Your glory, to be a blessing to others for You.

 

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pour, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.  Philippians 2:13.  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.  We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He save us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.  He save us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, sot having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying.  And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.  These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.  Titus 3:3-8.  Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.  Titus 3:1-2.  Now may the God of peace….our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.  Hebrews 13:20-21.

Love you all!

August 3, 2013

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.

 

May 29, 2013

Good Morning Friends!!!!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  Remember I mentioned a few weeks ago that Cooper would be staying with Papa a few days a week since Hailey has gone back to Alaska?  Well, Katy is just not to fond of the situation….Kathyrn drops Cooper off about 6:30 and then she and Katy head on into town where Katy stays with Grami…..she really has a wonderful time at Grami’s two little girls her age to play with and 2 babies to love on all day, but when Cooper gets dropped off with Nana and Papa, Katy is not happy!  I don’t get to see her every morning, but this morning I was late getting in the shower, so I ran out to get some sugar!  Oh my….the look on her face was pathetic and that bottom lip stuck out…way out….there was no getting a smile out of her…nope it was a full on pout! Cooper was outside side running crazy with the dog….”Papa what are we going to do to today?!!!!”  Papa’s answer was the straw that broke the camel’s back!!!!  “Cooper, we have to go take puppies today!”  The pouty face, if possible, immediately looked graver and now tiny tears began to stream down her cheeks, Katy declared, “I want to go take puppies too!”  Mommy told her she was going to Grami’s and I tried for a kiss….but it was not happening!  Oh that just broke the old Nana’s heart…..As I got in shower I could not get that precious “pouty” face out of my mind!  Such a scowl and that bottom lip…..not a pretty picture…..Hmmm, then it hit me……my goodness……oh my goodness!  How often does our Heavenly Father see us with a “pouty” face……”I want……a new car, new furniture, bigger vacation, more clothes, bigger diamond, less hamburger more steak, I’m tired of working, gas is too high, too much work to do, I hate to exercise, I want to look like her, why do the neighbor have a nicer house…..” Get it!?  Oh Father, forgive us for “pouting” when You give us so much!  Oh goodness…..how yucky we must look to You when we stick out our bottom lips and whine…..Help us to get into our attitude of gratitude modes and give You glory and praise all the time!  And Father please be with my precious Katy as she adjusts to this new situation…..we don’t like her to be so sad! 

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5:19-20Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.  1 Timothy 4:4.  God will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and sound of singing.  Isaiah 51:3.  Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!  Revelation 7:12.

May 21, 2013

Good Morning Friends! Thankfully, no matter what the situation…His, Tuesday! Watching the news last night and again this morning, I feel so hopeless and sad….here in my area we have so far been spared from the extreme devastation that has touched so many….Praising God for our immediate safety, I am deeply humbled…..deeply….and my heart and prayers go out to for all of His children suffering. I had a call from Kathyrn around 7 am, urging me to leave really early because the rain was just terrible….she was only going 15mph….driving in the rain is stressful for me ever since my accident last year….so I grabbed my stuff, kissed Kim goodbye, told him I love him and headed out the door with a prayer! As I drove, my mind kept turning to people suffering from the storms….the rain was very heavy, hard to see the road and it was so dark…Oh my, I thought….how are they going to get through all of this pain, suffering and loss! I kept my eyes forward, watching for the lights in front of me…..with taillights in front of me, to guide me, I was able to stay in the right path…..Oh my….Yes Father……with Your light to guide them….that’s how they will see their way through this….With You…..Only with You! You can see us through anything….as long as we place our trust, our hope in You. I looked in my rear view mirror and could not believe what I saw….a car behind me….with no lights on….driving in the darkness….no light to guide them…..Father, we cannot make it without Your light guiding us, Your love holding us, Your peace comforting us, Your mighty power holding us…..Father, we do not understand devastating situations like these….Help us to put our trust and hope in You….letting Your light be our guide. Father, thank you for the comfort and care that YOU WILL shower on all Your precious, suffering children.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with and everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.” Jeremiah 31:3-4. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I stay close to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:6-8. 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. “Bless is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8. 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.

Love you all and prayers for safety.

March 26, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!  I was really sick with the crud this weekend, so sick that I couldn’t even make it to church….I hate to miss church and Sunday, being Palm Sunday, was even more disappointing.  I love our Palm Sunday processional, walking into church waving palm branches singing “Hosanna to God in the Highest.”  We are excited and happy because we know that indeed our Jesus did suffer and die…..but most importantly He rose from the dead…..for us!  Our Savior…..I picture Him that day……He knew full well what was ahead of Him….He could have turned and ran, but instead He rode into Jerusalem willingly…..He rode on a donkey…..a donkey……as I was out feeding my donkeys last night, I couldn’t help but notice that they are not what one might call “handsome”…….big heads and ears and their fur is so rough and ungroomed….no they are not much to look at…yet Jesus rode on a donkey…..proudly….He most certainly could have rode on a stunning stallion….a flawless steed, rather than a donkey……but, the thought occurred to me, that was not what our Jesus was all about……He came humbly into the world…..born in a stable, rode on a donkey, died on a cross with criminals, buried in a borrowed tomb!  Jesus was humble…..He willingly became HUMBLE for us…..so that we might live because of His death……Jesus wants us to be humble too….He tells us in John 13:15…..”I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  Being humble isn’t always easy.....maybe the next time we want to brag or showoff we should think about our Jesus on the back of that donkey….thank HIM and go out and show His love.  Father, thank you for the gift of Your Son…..help us to have humble spirits and willing hearts to show His love every chance we get.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:5-11.

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!

January 31, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!!!!  Although I have been a great advocate of the benefits of regular exercise for years, the last year I have been a bit of a slacker and my body reminds me every day!  So after lots of kicking myself, I am bound and determined to get after it and really work on some problem areas so I went to a sweet friend that is really an exercise guru!  After just a couple of emails, a few conversations, and a couple of demonstrations I am soooo excited about my new routine!  I printed out all my emails at home reading and rereading so I was ready this morning to give it a whirl…..it feels so good….a little change and I am rejuvenated!  As I sat in my chair early this morning, getting ready to spend some time with our Heavenly Father a thought hit me hard…..Maybe I have been a bit of a slacker in my spiritual life too….maybe I need some rejuvenating spiritual “exercises” to shape up my life as God’s child…..hmmm…I opened my study book and guess what verse popped out at me….”Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”  Romans 12:1.  Well me oh my….imagine that…….couldn’t be much clearer could it…..kind of like really looking in the mirror at the flab hanging from my arms……Oh Father, sorry I have been a spiritual slacker….renew by spiritual zeal through more time with You in word, prayer and Christian fellowship.  I pray that all I do will serve You and bring glory to You.  And Father I ask your blessings on my new physical exercise too.  Thank you.

But 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.  It is the Lord our God you  must follow, and Him you must revere.  Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.  Deuteronomy 13:4.   Pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.  Proverbs 5:1-2.  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Psalm 32:8.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5.  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!

December 21, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Forever His, Friday! A few weeks ago we decorated our front lobby for Christmas (remember I am the receptionist). We put up a big tree and as a final touch to the decorations we hung candy canes all over, our plan was to offer everyone, little and big a candy cane from the tree. Oh what a pleasure I have had offering young and old alike a chance to take a candy cane from the tree….bright smiles, sincere thank yous….simple pleasures….Christmas joy! Candy canes have been a part of Christmas for as long as I can remember….how about you? Did you know that there’s real thought and meaning behind the candy cane? The candy cane was invented by a candy maker in Indiana, his main purpose to make a candy that would really represent the true meaning of Christmas….a witness to our Greatest Gift….JESUS….THE REASON FOR THE SEASON….Here’s his analogy…..the first candy canes were all white to represent the virgin birth and the holiness of Jesus…..the candy is hard to represent THE SOLID ROCK of our faith. The candy, first is in the shape of a J….for JESUS; when you turn it over it becomes a cane….a shepherd’s cane to represent that we are children of the GOOD SHEPHERD….who takes care of us, nurtures and protects us and brings us back to HIM when we stray. Last, but certainly not least, he added the red stipe……red to represent JESUS blood shed for us…..no price for us….freely HE gave HIS life for us……We need only put our faith in HIM, the Good Shepherd, our Solid Rock! So in the next few days when you come across a candy cane….remember the candy maker from Indiana that shared so wonderfully the REASON FOR THE SEASON…..and share HIS PERFECT LOVE with someone…..Father, help us to remember the true gift of Christmas every day! Not just once a year...and help us to share the message of the candy cane!

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: He is Christ the Lord. This will a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in “swaddling” clothes and lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12. 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. 

 

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones….Love you all!

December 20, 2012

Good Afternoon (I was in class this morning) Friends! Thankfully His, Thursday! This morning, not far into my commute I saw….well smelled first, a skunk that had been run over…..Once I got over the smell, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the skunk was….shiny black coat with the bright white stripe….so very pretty to look at….but the smell, oh my goodness. As I drove by him, I had a silly thought…..I look like a skunk today…..all dressed in black and white…sure hope I don’t smell as bad as he does…..Well, my mind didn’t stop there….skunks are so pretty to look at, but they smell so bad and they will eat my chicken’s eggs and even kill the chickens…..so pretty to look at, but……not so pretty in so many ways…..Hmm….didn’t I just say I look like a skunk today…..Do we look prettier on the outside than what’s inside of us, inside our hearts and minds? Do we put off an offensive odor of arrogance, greed, or unconcern? Are we more concerned about putting up the biggest tree, elaborate decorations, and buying the fanciest presents, so that we “look pretty” rather than sharing simple acts of love…..Christmas is the greatest LOVE….God gave us HIS Son…..He does not care about how pretty we look on the outside…..He cares about what’s inside….inside our hearts and minds…..He wants us to ooze with the sweet fragrance of His love penetrating the hearts and minds of everyone around us, especially those that might be sad or lonely, hurting….in need of a sweet little Christmas miracle….a touch of love from our Heavenly Father from the inside! Heavenly Father fill us with Your love and faithfulness so that we are pretty for You on the inside.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that our your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gently and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. 1 Peter 3:3-5. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15:30. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun....Psalm 37:4-6

 

Love you all!

December 12, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His Loving arms, Wednesday!  Burrr….word of the week don’t you agree!  There’s no heat in our bedroom, so usually when it’s as cold as it was yesterday we crack the door just a little in the evening to cut the chill a bit.  For some reason neither one of us thought of it last night, so when I went in to get in bed….YIKES, it was freezing!  We have a memory foam mattress which is ordinarily quite soft and comfy, but last night with the room so cold, the bed was hard as a rock.  I had to laugh when I plopped myself down…..that thing did not give…..solid….hard, like I said, hard as a rock!  Good thing about the memory foam though,  is that it warms up real fast; wasn’t but just a minute and I was laying there warm and relaxed cuddled in the comfort of my cozy mattress.  As I lay there, dozing off to sleep, my thoughts turned to another ROCK….A favorite hymn came to mind…”On Christ the solid rock I stand….”   Snuggled there in my warm bed…..I thought gosh…..Christ is my SOLID ROCK…..I can “plop” on Him anytime, anywhere, for any reason and He takes me, all of me, body, mind, spirit…..His love warms me, relaxes me as He cuddles me in His loving arms…..Ahhh, Sweet Jesus……I feel You here with me……Thank you for being our Rock, warming and cuddling us with Your Perfect Love!  And I ask today, dear Jesus….please cuddle those around me that are sad or hurting….missing a loved one….troubled….stressed……depressed….Even though this is the happiest time of the year….so many hearts are sad…..heavy with this life…..Thank you for wrapping Your arms around them and filling them with Your Peace……You are our Solid Rock…..

Be at rest once more,  O My soul, for the Lord has been good to you.  Psalm 116:7.  Come to me, all you 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.  Matthew 11:28-29.  Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31.  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 43:5.  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us now birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  1 Peter 1:3.  May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all time and in every way.  2 Thessalonians 3:16.  Submit to God and be at peace with Him…Job 22:21.

Love you all!

December 5, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Warmly wrapped in the glow of His love, Wednesday!  Goodness can you believe the difference in our temperatures this morning!  Crazy isn’t it?!  I could tell when I went to my car at 5 yesterday the temp was dropping…got home to a chill in the house….I was happy to change into sweats after the last few warm days.  After a visit with Tucker, Kim and I settled in to have dinner and a little TV…”Hmmm,” Kim said, “bet we should light a fire, gonna be a lot cooler in the morning.”  We sat there a few more minutes, but as reached down to pull my blankie over my feet, I said to Kim.  “Yep, I think I will start a fire….could be quit chilly in the morning.”  There’s something about starting a fire that soothes me….crumpling the newspaper, a few pine cones, and then the logs….the glow of the fire soon warms the house…I like it.  As we headed to bed we tossed in a couple more logs so we would be sure and be cozy in the morning.  Sure thing, when I got up this morning it was 37, but the house was warm….after stirring the coals and adding a few more logs I settled into my chair to have my morning chat with our Heavenly Father……the light from the stove was comforting and the room was toasty warm……I chuckled to myself….”wonder if there was a fire, a comforting light in the stable the night that Jesus was born….”   Wow…….I had to laugh at myself I as thought of the tiny baby in the manger…wondering if there was heat and light for him…...SURE WAS… the brightest, warmest, glowing light there is….Jesus the LIGHT of the world…..Jesus the tiny baby in the manager that died on the cross for us…..Jesus’ light gives us life.  Thank  you Father for the gift of light and life through your Son Jesus.  Help us to shine with His love so that others will find their way to You.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12.  The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1.  “Arise, shine, for your LIGHT has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  Isaiah 60:1.  Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and rise your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:6.  Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.  Psalm 97:11.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4.

Love you all!

December 4, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Totally taken by His love, Tuesday!  Seems like so many conversations right now are all about Christmas shopping….what to get who….how much does it cost…..and then every other commercial is about some big old fancy Christmas gift and the stores and sale papers….gee whiz….easy to get stressed out.  We stress out over getting the perfect gift for our family and friends, the hottest new toy, or biggest tool, buying the perfect paper and matching bows…..people actually go in debt buying Christmas presents that they cannot afford……BAM!!!!  This morning it hit me……..each of us have already received the most perfect gift….many, many years ago……no it didn’t come from a high-dollar department store and wasn’t wrapped in shiny paper……didn’t cost us one cent….not one single penny……..This gift was born in a stable…..wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manager…..a stable….for animals….donkeys, sheep, cows…..now I love all my little critters but I night with Chloe and Eyore….no thanks.  This gift God’s Son, born in a manager for us, lived, died and rose again for us…..died that we might live…..Our Heavenly Father gave us the PERFECT GIFT….His only Son…..our Savior…..This Perfect Gift was a gift of LOVE…….unselfish……total LOVE for each of us.  The gift of LOVE, wrapped in swaddling clothes….The perfect gift comes from love……not how much money was spent or the name brand…….So go ahead finish your shopping, but remember the Perfect gift comes from love.  Father, thank you for giving us, the Perfect gift, Your only Son who died to save us from eternal death…..Fill our hearts with Your Love so that everything we do brings glory to You.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:11-12.  For 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.  John3:16.  This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  1 John 3:16.  We love because God first loved us.  1 John 4:19.  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!

December 3, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty is our God, Monday!  We have a little make-shift apartment on our property….started out as little individual rooms that Kim and I lived in when we first moved here.  They look like stores in an old west town; quite a few years ago when our son was coming out to live we pulled them down the hill side by side and built a porch all the way across.  Kim, put a little kitchen in the living room, the office became a bathroom/laundry room, and the bedroom got a closet (we had used our travel trailer for bathroom, kitchen, and closet).  Hence a make-shift one bedroom apartment!  After Shawn returned to California we had several different renters, the last ones moved out two years ago.  Kim and I got right on fixing it up…..well for a week or so, but then….well you know….stuff happens.  As winter approached, Kim turned the water off and swore he drained the lines…..Two years ago……Well, we have the apartment rented, so we had to get in there and finish up.  First thing Kim did was turn on the water……oh boy….guess what……leaks….yep…just a couple he thought not bad.  He fixed them, turned the water back on and dang it…..discovered two more spots leaking…..oh not bad he thought….but sure did think he had drained the lines.  Well yesterday after church he had to go to Home Depot and get more fittings, we had lunch and he headed back to Lula to get to work the leaks while I went to Walmart for some groceries.  I was standing in line when he called me….”Kathie, this place is full of leaks….everywhere!”  I could tell he was really upset, “behind the shower and toilet, in the walls…Kathie….it’s a mess!”  Poor guy, he was really upset and kept saying, “I know I drained the lines.”  I have no doubt that with a little hard work and perseverance that Kim will get all the leaks fixed, but the whole situation got me to thinking.  What happens to us when we just sit….unattended……we spring leaks….our faith weakens when our prayer life has leaks, when we are too busy to spend time chatting with our Heavenly Father and reading His word…..our hope gets weak….just like the water lines….we begin to see life dimly…..glass half empty…..we look at things with a negative attitude…Kim will fix the leaks in the apartment (up to nine), but our leaks can only be fixed by our Heavenly Father…..Kim goes to Home Depot for his supplies….we go directly to our Heavenly Father….when we go humbly before Him He fills our leaks with His perfect love.  He plugs the holes of sadness and anxiety with His peace…..He strengthens our hearts and minds with hope…Hope for better tomorrows….hope for life everlasting with HIM.  Father, forgive us when we let our spiritual life just sit……causing us to have leaks…..Father, bring us to You, fill us with Your Peace, encompass us in Your love.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23.  Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  Psalm 62:5-6.  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8.  I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints.  Psalm 85:8.  Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  2 Timothy 2:22.  Mercy, Peace and Love be yours in abundance.  Jude 2. 

Love you all

November 29, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Totally Trusting in His will Thursday!  A friend asked me how she could pray for me today and after I gave her a list of current and on- going frets she replied with this, “comes to this….praying for direction; trusting God and having patience to wait for His will.”  Well said don’t you think!  Definitely not easy, but straight and to the point....and exactly what I need to do…..I thanked her for listening and praying with me and then read the quote on my daily calendar….Wow…..”God orders your days and is the Lord of all your ways.  He is not only the Lord of time, but He is also the Lord of all timing.  His timing is always perfect as He works through circumstances and people to fulfill His plans for you.  He is never late in bringing His will to you, and He will never bring you things before their time.  He knows your heart, He sees your faith, and He will fulfill all things that concern you.”  Roy Lessen.   God knows our hearts….that brings me comfort….He knows what is bothering me and He is taking care of it in His time…He is the “Lord of all timing”…..just like my friend said this morning….now the waiting is up to me…..sure glad “He is never late”.  Thank you Father…..help me to be a good and faithful waiter.

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.  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…The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him to the one who seeks Him.  Lamentations 3:2-22, 25.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Romans 12:12.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy spirit.  Romans 15:13. 

Love you all!

November 28, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Wow, it’s a wonderful Wednesday wrapped in His love!  Seems like we spend so much time worrying about balancing….balancing our diet…..you know making sure we get healthy stuff go along with the junk.  Balancing our budget so that we make sure we can pay our bills before we buy a new dress….balance is important in so many ways in our lives.  Yesterday I was responding to a missionary in Turkey that our church sponsors; I was telling him about all the activities we were planning at church and Sunday School for Christmas and as I listed them, I began to feel overwhelmed……unbalanced so to speak.  I finished my email and as I hit send, my thoughts returned to all the things I had ahead of me, programs, costumes, decorations, Hanging of the Greens, shopping, decorations, wrapping, cooking, cards, letters……Oh my gosh….I felt like screaming.  That’s when “Balance” hit me……I need to do more than balance my diet and budget….I need to “balance” my priorites….my time…..Number one priority for this season of Advent and Christmas is JESUS!!!!  JESUS is the Reason for the Season!  Without our precious Savior there would be no season worth celebrating.  So without further ado, I am asking our Heavenly Father to help me balance my Christmas activities….after all, it’s all for naught without HIM!!!!  Without JESUS…..there’s no need for a tree….the tree points to heaven, reminding us where Jesus came from and the green represents the eternal life we receive from HIM…and the lights, well….HE is the light of the world!  So, as you shop for the perfect gift for loved ones….remember the perfect gift of Jesus life….Thank Him, Praise Him and love others as He loves us…..That’s the reason for all the fuss and muss……We will all be busier in the next month, that goes without saying….but with God’s help we can “balance” our business and joyfully celebrate the birth of our Savior…..The REASON FOR THE SEASON!”  Father, thank you for the gift of your Son and the joy of celebrating His birth….keep us focused Father on what is really important and Go Tell it on the Mountain!

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and place him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:6-12.

Love you all!

November 26, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  My goodness it’s a marvelous Monday!  Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.  We had such a fun day with family and oh what good food….truly blessed in every way.  Friday morning after breakfast we headed out to get our chores done.  Kim needed to go to Home Depot in Norman to pick up 2 air conditioners (should be the end of supplies needed for the big project); Ada store didn’t have any, hence a trip to Norman on the Friday after Thanksgiving!  Yikes!  I told him I would go with him, but might have to make a couple extra stops….if you catch my drift.  He also wanted to go by Sam’s and get his tires rotated, so we had a good day ahead of us.  First stop, lunch at I Hop (right next to Home Depot).  We had a great lunch and bravely headed into the store, knowing we would have to be patient because we were asking them to do something extra on such a busy day!  Well we were there a little over an hour, but really went pretty smooth considering….next stop Kohl’s where Kim stayed in truck while I went in to catch a few sales….oh my the line was long, but I had found just what I wanted so I decided to be patient and wait….glad I did went really fast!  Back to the truck and on to our last stop, Sam’s.  Once again a line, but not too bad, got the truck in and headed into store to shop a little while we waited.  In about 30 minutes truck was ready, so we checked out, got our key and headed to truck…we were both quite ready to be headed home!  Burr it hadn’t gotten cold out, I encouraged Kim to hurry and get the truck unlocked…Kim was using a key he had gotten made a few months ago, worked just fine in the ignition, but he never tried it in the doors…..he rarely has the need to lock…..Guess what!  Yep!!!!!  The key did not work in the door….we were locked out of our truck, after a long day in the city, and it was cold.  We had no options but to call a lock smith.  I headed back into the tire shop to see if they could recommend someone….they gave me a couple of numbers and Kim called the first one….said he would be there in fifteen minutes….now just the wait…in the cold….tired and hungry….Soon the guy showed up and in no time we were in the truck and headed home with a key that worked!  As I stood in the cold waiting for the lock smith I thought about a dear friend whose father had passed away on Thursday…I thought of her deep sadness and said a prayer for her…. That’s when it hit me….Prayer is our key and our Heavenly Father our perfect Lock Smith!!!!  He gives us the key, so that through prayer, sad, grieving hearts can be opened and filled with His Perfect Love, His Peace, the only Peace that comforts.  When there’s nothing else we can do, we have the best gift of all….the key….from our Heavenly Father….the Perfect Lock Smith.  Father, thank you for hearing our prayers….for comforting sad hearts with Your love and peace.  Help us to pray faithfully for those in need.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Matthew 5:4.  Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help.  Psalm 30:10.  I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.  Jeremiah  31:13.  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.  Psalm 23:4.  Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  Jude 20.  “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear, “ says the Lord.  Isaiah 55:24.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

November 20, 2012

Good Morning Friends!!!!!  Totally at awe in His love, Tuesday.  “Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above the Heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”   My husband and I were blessed… amazingly blessed… so amazingly blessed last night that I am beyond words other than “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…..”  Father thank you, for the blessing of such special people in my life…..pour Your love and blessing on them and help me to shine and share with Your love!

Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.  Psalm 95:2.  The pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.  Proverbs 27:9  Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work;  If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the one who falls and has no one to help him up!  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.  Love one another deeply, from the heart.  1 Peter 1:22.

Love you all!

November 16, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Forever loved by Him, Friday!!!  “That my heart may sing to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”  Psalm 30:12.   My goodness when I read this verse at 5:30 this morning I had no idea what meaning was in it for me today!  I felt good when I read it, you know it’s Friday, looking forward to going to our little cabin tonight, Thanksgiving is coming, weather is beautiful, it’s payday….you know, just the usual, little good stuff; the feeling continued as I drove into work, but something happened when I got here.  Funny thing is nothing happened….nothing but my attitude that is….and I really don’t know why, but I was definitely sporting a bad case of the grouchies.  Darned if I don’t hate that……!!!!!  So, here it is almost 11….I have wasted a whole morning, a beautiful morning  with a case of the grouchies……After my break I took out my bible, determined to find something to kick me out of my mood.  Wouldn’t you know it….my bible opened right to Psalm 30…….I began reading…..when I got to verse 12…….I had to hang my head and ask for forgiveness…….My goodness I was being silent……I have every reason to give thanks, loud and long yet….my heart was silent.  Forgive me Father for my “grouchies” for being silent on this beautiful day that You made for me……Help me to sing Your praises everyday….even when I think I don’t feel like it!!!!  Father, thank you for loving me so very much!

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.  I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all heart; I will glorify your name forever.  For great is your love toward me.  Psalm 86:12.     PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW…..

Love you all!  Enjoy your weekends!

November 15, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully loved by HIM Thursday!!!!  Well my Alaska girls are officially now “Cali” girls!  I guess “Cali” is the cool way to say you are from California.  Anyway they are officially, as of last night, in their new home….new state…..new school….new friends….new climate (we are talking it was -20 when they left Fairbanks-48 in CA right now, hi of 74 today and that’s the norm)…..new lifestyle.  Wow…..those girls put a lot of faith in their dad as they pulled out of Fairbanks in their truck and trailer…..faith that he made the right decision to move them all the way to California, faith that he would drive them safely on such a very long journey (we had no contact with them for 3 days while they were going through Canada)….faith they will like their new home, school, friends…..Brave girls I say!!!!  Brave and trusting children!  As children of our Heavenly Father, we can take some lessons from my girls!  They have faith that Dad is going to take care of them…..they lean on him…..Who do we lean on?  Do we follow the plans our Heavenly Father… where do we put our faith?  Do we lean on our jobs, friends, money to get us through or do we place our lives in the all-knowing, all-loving arms of our Heavenly Father?  Do we get in HIS truck lock, stock and barrel, trusting and believing in where HE is leading us…..faithfully following HIS decisions for us……?  Or do we question Him….”Oh come on Father, are you sure you want me to teach Sunday School?”   “Father, really, you want me to apologize to him…..?”   Hmmm……what is that our Heavenly Father says about the faith of little children….Father forgive us for questioning Your will for our lives…..increase our faith so that we listen, hear and follow YOU in everything we do.

But 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.  For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones.  They will be protected forever….  Psalm 37:28.  “According to you faith will it be done to you….” Matthew 9:28.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9.  The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:6.  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 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.

Love you all!