What does He see in us?

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

 

The Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands.  Deuteronomy 26:18.  We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10.  A happy heart makes the face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13.  We love because God first loved us.  1 John 4:19.  He has given us this command:  whoever loves God must also love his brother.  1 John 4:21.  Jesus said, “A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35.You yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.  1 Thessalonians 4:9.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father I heaven.  Matthew 5:16.

Love you all!

I can do it myself!

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in HIS loving arms, Wednesday!  Well, how about this cold….I feel sorry for people that have to work outside like my husband and his buddy Cooper, who has been spending his days with Papa while school is out.  On Monday when it was sooo very cold Papa and Cooper had to head out the same time I did.  Well Cooper had come prepared, hat, ear muffs, gloves, long johns and the final touch, his insulated, camo coveralls!  The boy was determined to stay warm.  I was gathering up my things to head out and couldn’t help but stop and watch Cooper working so hard to get his coveralls on.  He really seemed to be struggling, so I asked him if he needed Nana to help him.  Quite adamantly he said, “No, Nana, I can do it myself!”   I said, “OK Coop” and headed out the door, chuckling.  Little stinker I thought doesn’t think he needs any help…..Oh boy……I could feel HIM next to me…..I paused.  “Kathie, My child, you are laughing at Cooper because he thinks he doesn’t need any help, when you know that if he just let you help him, the task would be so much easier…..Kathie, you are making me laugh because you are so much like Cooper at times.  So often you struggle so needlessly….worry and stress take a toll on you….when if you would just let ME help….You know that’s what I’m here for to help….carry your burdens, ease your stress, heal your pain, watch over your kiddos and friends, wrap My arms around you, comfort and protect you…..if you would just let go and LET ME….I love you.  No matter how big or small the issue is, precious child….I can handle it!  Call on ME!  Thank you Father, oh my goodness…..forgive me for trying to go it alone…..help me to simply trust and believe in YOU!

With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment.  Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow.  Proverbs 3:5-6.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for HIM.  Psalm 37:7.The Lord is good, giving protection in times of trouble.  He knows who trusts in Him.  Nahum  1:7.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Psalm 91:2.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18. 

Love you all!

He always answers!

Good Morning Friends!!  Totally, thankfully HIS, Tuesday!!!  Got in the car as usual this morning (on time, thank you Father) and headed to work…as usual I called Kathyrn….well not quite as usual.  I called her but it didn’t ring….I looked at the phone to see if I had messed up, but it said Kathyrn just wasn’t ringing.  So, I hung up and tried again, nothing…then I noticed I had a voice mail.  What the heck…So, I listened to the voice mail….Initially, what I heard made me smile, but soon I was sad.  The voice on the message was sweet Katy J she was happy, anxious to talk to her Nana, “Nana, Nana, Nana, Naannaa….” At first she was so happy, but soon, when I didn’t answer her, her voice got louder, worried, and sad….Poor Katy, did not understand why her Nana didn’t answer her…she wanted….needed to talk her Nana, but I was not there….OK any grandmas or grandpas will understand how utterly terrible that made me feel…my heart felt broken as I thought, “oh she must think I don’t love her anymore.”  As I hung up the phone a warm peace came over me…..a smile from the inside out….although I was sad for Katy because she called and I didn’t answer….I was happy, thankful for us...we never have to leave a message on an answering machine for our Heavenly Father….Never!  He is always there….always answers…..oh sometimes we might not hear HIM…but that’s because of us not HIM…He is there, HE hears, and HE answers…..HE LOVES US….is ALWAYS there for us…..Call upon Me, HE tells us, I will hear you and take care of you….whatever it is that’s on your mind….bring it to ME….I LOVE YOU!  Thank you Father for always being there for us…..Help us to come to YOU with PRAISE and thanksgiving.

 

  This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of HIM.  1 John 5:14-15.  The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and HIS ears are attentive to their prayer.  1 Peter 3:12.   “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,”  says the Lord.  Jeremiah 33:3.  “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear,”  says the Lord.  Isaiah 65:24.  Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and CALL upon ME in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor ME.”  Psalm 50:14-15. 

Love you all!

UPISH

Good Morning Friends!!!  Forever loved, Friday!  Via, big sister I heard that my 8^th grade granddaughter had a less than praise worthy progress report!  She is a very bright young lady, and extremely capable of good grades, but being the kid that she is…..well let’s just say….things happen…..In this day of texting, I don’t get to actually talk to her as much as I would like to, but last night was my lucky night!  After, I texted “Whatcha doin?” she actually text back, “I’ll call you in a minute.”  Now I get that promise fairly often, but last night she did!!!  Woo Hoo!  After a nice conversation about her trip with the band to Disneyland today, I matter of factly asked, “SO….are your grades up?”  Her response was “UPISH”   My first thought was, “hmmm, UPISH, interesting word…..”   Of course, I had to give her a bit of a Nana “you must do the very best you can” lecture, then helped her with a “teenage dilemma,”  told her to have a good time in Disneyland, exchanged “I love yous” and said our goodbyes.  Hanging up, I could not get “UPISH” out of my mind.  Upish, to me, means….yea, yea, yea….I know my grades aren’t so hot, I’ll take care of it…..Now maybe as the “Nana” I was putting too much into it….for goodness sakes she is 13….but I couldn’t help but think…..what in my life is just “UPISH”  when it could be so much better?   Hmmm….maybe it’s me that needs the “you  must do your very best you can” lecture…..UPISH….how about my bible study, prayer life, quality time with family and friends, long overdue cards and letters……unsettled tiffs,  exercise, bible study, prayer life….Oh goodness….so many areas of my life are in a “UPISH” state…..Time to get over myself and get to work….doing the very best that I can in everything and to God’s glory!  After all, HE deserves our very best!  Father, forgive us when we tend to be slackers….everything we have comes from You….we are so blessed….forgive us when we slack, energize us to do our very best to give YOU all Glory!

 

  Jesus said, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!”  Matthew 25:21.  My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Ecclesiastes 2:10.  I urge, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  1 Timothy 2:1-2.  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:23-24. 

Love you all!  Rise, Shine!!!  Give God the Glory!!!!

July 19, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His, Friday!  About 14 years ago my sister sent Kim and I some very special T-shirts; mine says, “Nana’s my name, spoiling my game” and Kim’s says, “Papa’s my name, spoiling my game.”  We loved them, and so began a tradition of wearing them to the airport when we went to pick them up for a visit and when we took them back to send them home!  Year in and year out each summer or winter visits to Alaska (I just put a turtle neck under mine) we wore our Nana/Papa shirts with love and pride!  The girls came to expect seeing us in them…….So last Tuesday as we were watching Hannah and Harper go through security at the airport, heading home after a wonderful visit, Papa and I were both shocked at Harper’s last words to us……”You didn’t wear your T-shirts!”  We looked at each other….horrified…..HOW COULD WE FORGET OUR T-SHIRTS!!!!!   They were both waving and smiling that, “we gotcha” smile as I said over and over again how sorry I was….Papa too!  As we headed back to the car, we both just shook our heads in disbelief….How in the world did we forget our T-shirts!!!  I truly felt like the worst Nana in the whole world, even though they both reassured me it was OK, I just couldn’t stop thinking about how disappointed they must have been….and then I got the most delightful idea!  While they were visiting, they talked their dad into sending me an old ipad that they no longer use because they have I phones…..Hannah got it all set up for me and taught me how to use it so that I could face-time with Tucker and them…..How special is that!!!!  So exciting for me and Papa!!!!  Wednesday was our first time….it was Tucker’s first birthday and to be able to see him crawling around, playing with his new toys and sing to him was a true joy…..a special blessing…..that happened because Hannah and Harper had a love-filled idea and acted on it…..and then we forgot our T-shirts…..oh heck, hang on….I know what Papa and I can do…..We can face-time them…..wearing our special T-SHIRTS!!!!  I was so excited to have a chance to make it up to them……last night was the special night….Papa and I got our shirts on and I called Hannah to see if they could face-time.  She said sure, so I connected on the ipad and WaLa!!!!  Hannah and Harper got a T-shirt fashion show!  I am not sure who was more excited the girls or me….I truly had the special “warm fuzzy” feeling….in my heart. I must admit that modern technology does have its plus side!  Warm fuzzies are a special blessing……Grandchildren truly are an endless source…..let’s learn from them and find someone that needs a “warm fuzzy” today…..I know our Heavenly Father will smile on us…..He is the Master of special blessings and warm fuzzies!   Thank you Father for filling our lives with special little joys that warm our hearts.  Help us to pass it on!

Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  Hebrews 13:16.  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.  Hebrews 13:2   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.  (and everyone loves a warm fuzzy).  Matthew 7:12…….the greatest of these is love….

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson