February 26, 2013

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

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

February 4, 2013

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

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

Love you all!   

January 18, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His, Friday!   My mom, left this earth for her heavenly home quite a few years ago, but if she were still hanging around she would be 93 today.  Gosh, after so many years, I still miss her;  today she is really on my mind, so this morning as I was browsing through some inspirational verses and came upon this quote, “Always remember, when God made you He did so with a purpose and a plan.  He saw all your days before you lived one of them and placed over you the covering of His protective love.  He has allowed nothing to come into your life that has not first been screened through that love.  His hand has remained upon you to this very day,”  my thoughts went immediately to my mom’s life.  My mom was a wonderful Christian woman…..she oozed with “Care-Isma” but she didn’t cruise through life trouble free.  No, actually quite the opposite…..her life was composed of lots of hard work, heart ache, after heart ache, at the age of 53 she suffered a severe stroke that left her disabled for the reminder of her life and  my dad passed away 6 months later…..I have just touched the surface of mom’s life, but I am sure you will follow my next point.  “He has allowed nothing to come into your life that has not first been screened through that love….”  When I read this, for one brief moment, I thought had all mom’s heartache  been screened through God’s love……how can that be?  Why would He…….then I smiled and thought of her faith….unshakable!  I have never known anyone with a faith as strong as my mom’s……throughout my life I was the beneficiary of that faith….watching her grow stronger through each heartache…..At that moment God’s words from Romans 5:3-4, came to mind, “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  My mom never lost hope and she most definitely was a character…..she persevered with dignity, bringing glory to our Heavenly Father.  Suffering is not easy, that’s for sure….but thinking about my mom….the lives she touched, the Care-Ism she shared for 82 years….I know that her life was planned through God’s love and so are ours….through thick or thin He knows what we are going through….heck He knows how many hairs we have on our heads……We are His dear children….Oh Wow How we are loved by Him!!!!  His hand is on us every day!  Thank You Father, for the faith of my mother, keep my growing and strong.

For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:10.  Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.  Psalm 55:22. Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  Romans 8:18.  Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with Him.  Psalm 12:5-6.  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 Crist. 

Ephesians 5:19-20.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

January 14, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Marveling in His mighty love, Monday!   I usually buy groceries on payday Friday, but last Friday things came up and I just couldn’t get to it; so Kim and I decided to come into town late Saturday afternoon, get groceries, and then go out to dinner!  It was really cold, so I dressed appropriately…or so I thought.  Warm coat, gloves, stocking hat and my warm, all- weather, Ugg type boots.  About half way through our list it sounded like jet airplanes were right on top of us….was actually a torrential downpour!  By the time we finished shopping and headed to the car it was barely sprinkling, but of my gosh!  The parking lot was flooded….and it was cold!  I was so glad that I was dressed for the occasion (or so I thought)  feeling so smug in all my outer wear I drudged right into the flooded parking lot…..OH NO!  THERE’S NO WAY!!!  THESE BOOTS ARE WATER PROOF!!!!......or so I thought.  Within a matter of seconds, my feet were soaked…..my boots leaked….my boots that I was so sure were all weather…..leaked…..I thought I was ready for anything and my boots leaked….within seconds!  Later that evening after we got back home and I was removing my wet socks and trying to warm my feet I couldn’t help but think that the smug feelings I had about my “all weather” boots carries into my life.  How often do we carry on like we are untouchable….that will never happen to me….we go about our daily lives with little contact with our Heavenly Father, smugly thinking we are prepared for things on our own and then….BAM!!!!  In a matter of seconds our life feels like it is flooded with worry…..one minute we are smug and confident and the next minute “our feet are wet” with stress and worry……alone in the blowing wind and rain…..drowning…..in just a matter of seconds!  Good news!  Doesn’t have to be this way, nope!  We just need to stay dressed in God’s word, praying and talking to HIM daily….heck hourly…….That’s where we get our strength, our protection from the “bad weather” this world can dump on us……Spending time, regular time with our Heavenly Father we are prepared for the storms……Father, we know that life will always have its storms, but we are so thankful that You are there with us when we call on You!  Help us to stay “dressed” in You every day in every way.

For nothing is impossible with God.  Luke 1:37.  For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. Philippians 4:13.  The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him  Daniel 9:9.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.

Love you all!

January 7, 2013

Good Morning Friends! Magnificent Monday, loved by HIM! Seven years ago I was given a very special gift from a close friend of my daughter Stacy’s. It is an Italian charm bracelet; she had several charms on it for me. SRK, Stacy’s initials, HIK, my granddaughter Hayden’s initials, an angel and a heart…..a beautiful gift at any time for sure, but a most precious gift to me because it was given to me on the day that Stacy and Hayden were laid to rest…..7 years ago. Other than when I am working on the ranch, I have worn that bracelet almost every day! Silly, I know, but slipping it on my wrist gives me some kind of comfort. Yesterday, sitting in church, head bowed, my eyes focused on my bracelet…..I tenderly touched the charms….the initial charms are worn almost completely smooth…....have been for a while now….I thought about replacing them, but only for a fleeting moment; I really don’t need to see the letters to know what they represent…..they are in my heart. As I sat there, in God’s house, beautiful music coming from the organ, surrounded by loving Christian friends, I smiled to myself……silly thought once again…..my beautiful bracelet with worn out charms….is like our faith…….I have never seen God, but I know that He is there. I wasn’t there at the manager to see Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, or at the cross to witness His death, or there to see the empty tomb, but I know…..I believe that Jesus died and rose for me……God’s only Son, my Savior……my faith is rooted in Him without ever seeing Him……I gently rubbed the charms, thanking God for the gift of His Son and asked Him to keep my faith strong. Thank you Father, all glory, honor and praise to You.

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1. Thought 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.

January 3, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Totally trusting in His will Thursday! Happy New Year everyone! Although we never really know what even the next minute is going to hold for us, it seems that the beginning of a new year is always a time for reflection……things that happened in the last year and what lies ahead in the new. Times in our world seem to be unsettled…..stressed…..full of anger…worried about cuts in our paychecks….health care……world unrest…It would be easy for us to feel forlorn, depressed….but we are not alone, nor will we ever be…these are times we must truly draw on our faith, pull closer to our Heavenly Father…..hear His words…."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. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5-8. He is our refuge and strength……don’t leave home without HIM! Remember the sparrows I told you about the other day, frolicking in the rain puddles….not a worry in the world…..”Consider the raven: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Than the birds…..how much more are we worth to our Heavenly Father…..Oh friends, like the angles told the shepherds so many years ago, “Fear not!” We are not alone, for goodness sake….He knows how many (or not) hairs we have on our heads! We are His adored children….now and forever! Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of being with us every day in every way….helps us to totally trust and believe in Your will for us. This is the day the Lord has made……let’s get to rejoicing!

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:34. Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemptions. Psalm 130:7. I love Psalms, don’t you!

 

Love you all!