I will give you rest

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderful to be HIS child, Wednesday!  Well, how’s everybody doing?  Is it just me, or does life just seem to be so crazy, hectic, busy, and so much turmoil in our world?   Sometimes, it all just seems to hit me and really weigh me down….I hate that, but sometimes…..like yesterday…..it happens.   Seemed like an ordinary morning at first and then bam….My husband and I got into a nasty screaming match, as a result, I left for work all upset…that started it…Darn, I really hate to leave for work like that, but I was really irritated.  My work day, was quite busy, which I like, but I felt like everybody was a bit off, like me…then in the afternoon, I had a call from a close family member very distraught…..at the brink of an emotional breakdown…..this person is precious to me, so my heart became heavy with worry….heavy….my heart, mind, and body felt heavy….worry, stress, anxiety taking over, stealing my joy….I try to be upbeat, positive, encouraging….I know I am a blessed child of God, but gosh…the day had me….heavy.  So on top of all that, I was mad at myself.  I was glad that Linda and I had car pooled, so I had someone to talk to on the way home….a good friend indeed to listen to me!  When I got home, Kim was still working, but when I talked to him he seemed to be in a good mood….that was good.  I had time to get some extra little chores done, plus get a head start on dinner before he came in.  Wow, when he came in, I could tell that his mood was so improved from the morning.  We talked, and calmly resolved the issues from the morning…what a relief….a little bit later, I got another call from my distraught family member….she had talked with her husband and got the support she needed and was in a way better place….oh thank you Father, I prayed…I felt lighter….then I got a text from a co-worker thanking me for the littlest deed….Oh Father…..I smiled as I closed my eyes, thanking HIM again, joyfully praising HIM for lifting the weight….asking for HIS forgiveness for carrying it by self in the first place…."Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28  Thank you Jesus…

 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Colossians 3:15.

Love you all!

Overflowing With Thankfulness

Hi friends, I reached back in my archives and pulled out our Today from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving last year….and there’s a thank you… modern technology!  I’m just so excited today, silly I know, but couldn’t seem to settle down with a new thought……so many thank yous running through my mind….I know that each of us have certain struggles going on, but for the next few days, let’s try to focus on the positives…..lift our hearts and minds in total praise and see what happens….let’s remember our prayers of comfort for those mourning, healing for loved ones with health problems, peace and rest for troubled minds.  Chiming in with apostle Paul in his words from Thessalonians….”Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks!  1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18.

 

Good Morning Friends! Thankful, oh so very Thankful to be loved by HIM wonderful Wednesday!!!  The Johnson family has always had a family reunion at Thanksgiving.  Kim and I have not attended since we moved to Oklahoma, but oh I have some great memories of our Johnson Thanksgivings.  As I sat in the quiet darkness this morning having my morning chat with our Heavenly Father, my thoughts went to Thanksgiving…..being thankful, grateful, I asked for a true attitude of gratitude, I felt so blessed and undeserving of all the blessings I receive day in and day out…..Thanksgiving attitudes should be everyday….Father forgive us when we forget in between.  Well, anyway the Johnson reunions kept coming into my mind and I thought about my sister-in-law, Rita.  Rita is from Germany, Kim’s brother met her while he was stationed there many years ago.  She is a wonderful, kind, unselfish woman….worthy of thanks!  Well, what I really remember about Rita at Thanksgiving is that she always cleaned the turkey carcass…..yes the most dreaded, awful job of the whole meal and Rita did it (sure she probably still does) every time, without asking, without griping… with a smile.  Rita would stand as long as it took and pick the meat off the carcass so we could make something tasty, she never missed one speck.  Lots of times we were done with the rest of cleanup and ready for pie and Rita would still be picking…..smiling, chatting with her heavy German accent…..love just oozed from Rita as she completed the most dreaded job of the day!  You know….we don’t have to do great things to serve……it’s what’s in our hearts…..Rita’s heart reflected God’s love as she worked on the carcass….she knew the rest of us hated that job, dreaded it, so she lovingly took the job from us….Rita knows what Thanksgiving is all about……Father help us see that there are so, so many ways to serve You, to show You how grateful we are for all you do for us.  Father thank you for Your greatest gift….Your SON… who took our sin from us.  Fill us with love and gratitude.  To You be all glory, praise and honor!  A quote from Roy Lessen, “It is not how busy you can be for the Lord that makes a difference, but what the Lord does through your obedience to Him that really matters.”  Father, help us to listen and obey.

 

Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:7.  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 118:1.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift (s)!  2 Corinthians 9:15.  May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.

Praying your Thanksgivings are blessed with His best. Love and peace to each of you.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!

 

Giving Thanks Day

 

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His love, Wednesday!  Well, better late than never, Kathyrn and I finally finalized our plans for Thanksgiving last night….Not a big crowd, but still good to be organized right!  Everybody is talking about their plans, all the sale papers full of ads for turkey, ham, cranberries, pumpkin, stuffing, you know all the good traditional stuff….Thanksgiving…….I was thinking this morning that the name of the day needs to be changed to “Giving Thanks Day.”  Giving thanks….oh how slack I can be in that department…..This morning I was reading in the book of Acts, Paul was talking to the people of Ephesus about his work there and encouraging them to carry on in the faith when he leaves…..it was the words of our Savior, he quoted, that got me to thinking, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Acts 20:35.  Blessed to give….think about it….These are the words of the GRANDEST GIVER of all time!!!!  He gave HIS LIFE for us….HIS LIFE…..and says, “It is more blessed to GIVE than to receive”  That thought is almost incomprehensible to me……We received the gift of Eternal Life and He is blessed…..I feel, sad at my smallness, but energized to GIVE more….starting with THANKS…..I am blessed with so much and yet so often complain, envy, feel discontent……I am giving thanks that for that I am forgiven for each of those….thankful that I have a chance to do better……thankful for food, clothes, a warm home, car that starts, a good job….especially thankful for the love and support of family friends in this life……thankful that I have so much to give…..and thankful that my giving will be blessed through the love of our Heavenly Father.  Father, help me to always be a cheerful giver, I simply share what you have given me.  Thank you Father for the GREATEST GIFT.

 

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful give.  (what more motivation do we need).  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written; “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”  2 Corinthians 9:7-9.  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gate with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100.

Love you all!

Blessed with unique talents: Acts 10:28

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully loved as we are, Thursday!  Have I told you about our new puppy?  Remember back….Kim  adopted a Pyrenees puppy that he found in the pasture after being abandoned by its mother?  He named her Holina and they were instantly best buddies….inseparable !  He raved about her all the time, how smart she was, easy to train, not a pest, and just so cute….and then one afternoon….a few months after Holina had joined our family…..Kim accidentally ran over her.  He was devastated, swearing he would never do that again (fall in love with a dog), never ever have another dog!!!!!  And that was that!  It broke his heart to have to tell Cooper that his buddy was gone.  Well, wasn’t but maybe a couple of weeks later he started saying things like, “maybe Holina’s mom will have more puppies…..maybe we will have another Holina.”  And guess what??!!!  Yep on August 10^th, Holina Dos (two in Spanish that was Hailey’s idea) was born.  There were four puppies, two all -white and two with color on their faces just like Holina One had.  Kim was all excited and could hardly wait until she was big enough to take home.  The day actually came sooner than we had thought because once again mother abandoned two puppies, one was very weak and didn’t make it, but Holina Dos was strong and active!  I dug out all of Holina One’s toys….Kim was thrilled!  Of course, we both thought that Holina Dos would be just like Holina One……She does look just like Holina One, but her actions and behavior…..Not so much at all!  The other night we were watching TV, Holina Dos was destroying everything she could get her teeth on; Kim picked her up, holding her in his lap trying to love on her and she was just going crazy biting him, chewing his fingers, squirming all over….at that point he said, “She sure isn’t like her sister is she?”  I most definitely had to agree…..Holina Dos, was not Holina One reincarnated….she is in fact very different….We were bemoaning that fact when Kim made a great statement about us!  Seems that we, wanting so much to have Holina One back have been in fact quite unfair to Holina Dos…..Holina Dos is unique, a separate creation, she has her own personality traits and characteristics….we have been wrong trying to change her or assume that she will be just like Holina One…..At that point, Kim and I vowed to accept her, love her based on the puppy she is….not the one we thought she should be.  Later, lying in bed it occurred to me….Oh how blessed we are that our Heavenly Father created each of us uniquely…..HE loves each of the same……big or small, short or tall, old or young, rich or poor, shy or outgoing, mechanically inclined or all thumbs, good cook or fast food queen….Our Father LOVES us, accepts us…..blesses us with unique talents….that’s the way HE planned it!  How boring this world would be if we were all the same….Hmmm, if our Father sees us all the same….yep…..we must do the same.  Father thank you for loving each of us for who we are, help us to set aside prejudices and treat everyone as You would…..

 

Do to others as you would have them do to you.  Luke 6:31.  Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  John 13:15.  Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Hebrews 10:24.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10.  God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.  Acts 10:28.  To love God with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.  Mark 12:33.

Love you all!

 

 

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

Administrative Services

May 10, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His, Friday!  Getting ready this morning…..thinking ahead to a special  day on Sunday, my thoughts turned to my sweet mom, long from this earth.  I decided it was a perfect day to wear a pair of her earrings, keeping her close to my thoughts all day.  I was thinking how, as I get older I am so like her in so many ways…..Some good, some not so good, as my husband loves to remind me.  One thing he hates that I got from her is….having to do one more thing before I leave!  I can remember my dad sitting in the car honking at her in the house….doing one more thing!  Mom, loved to send cards and always covered them with stickers….I have to laugh when I think of my box of stickers in with my cards…..Even with her stroke, she exercised everyday (better than me on that)….but my intentions are good!  We drink our coffee just the same and both loved to dunk our toast in our coffee!  My sister says, I am little but mighty, just like mom….not sure what that exactly means….Mom was a work-alcoholic and I have been called that a time or two…I say, she gave me a good work ethic.  Mom had a tendency to interrupt at times…..oops…..and pick food off families plates….ooops.  And lately, sometimes when I walk past a mirror, I think….Oh my goodness there’s mom!  Seriously, I cannot believe how much I look like my mom now.  Well, she had no wrinkles or gray hair at 82, sure can’t boast that!  There are things about my precious mom that I am glad I haven’t acquired, such as…she was notorious for saying exactly what she thought…..”you are gaining weight,”  “you have a big pimple on your chin,”  “that does not look good on you.”  I mean really mom!  As I finished my hair and put on the earrings….I thought…..none of us are perfect by any means!  We try to be good moms, grandmas, sisters, friends, employees, but sometimes we fail….we are human….but thank goodness there is ONE who is perfect…..Perfect, Holy….and most of all…HE is our Heavenly Father….loves us more than we deserve for sure….FORGIVES us, unquestioningly……PERFECT!  And we are HIS children!  Oh Father, we know that You want us to be more like You in everything that we do….in every action, thought, deed…..like You…Father, please help us, guide and direct us so that we grow in faith…grow to be more like YOU!

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.  He is our shield.  Psalm 30:18.  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..”  So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he create them.  Genesis 1:26-27.  We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good work, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Ephesians 4:22-24.  In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect trough suffering.  Hebrews 2:10.  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!   1 John 3:1.

Love you all!  Happy Mom’s Day to all  you moms out there……

February 28, 2013

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!

February 1, 2013

Good Morning Friends! Forever loved by Him, Friday!!!  My husband was out of town yesterday, so I had to feed all the dogs when I got home last night.  I had talked to Kathyrn in the afternoon and told her I would be feeding both kennels after work, well for heaven’s sake, when I got home she and Cooper, and Katy were there and almost done feeding….how sweet was that!   I hurried into the house to change so I could go out and help them finish; Kim called and said that the neighbor that had feed the big animals didn’t realize that we had feeder lambs that needed to be fed, so……honey you will have to feed them.  We just got them last weekend so he had to explain to me what and how much.  Kathyrn and the kids were happy to go with me;  first stop was the fodder factory to harvest one 5- gallon bucket of fodder….Cooper followed me out the door, but I was in front of him so I didn’t notice when he stepped full on into a mud puddle (remember Cooper is in a cast and wears that boot thing for a shoe).  I didn’t notice, but his Mom did and she was not happy….Poor Cooper, she picked him up, pulled off the boot, put him back in the car, and told him to stay there!  Oh my goodness, he was so upset, just cried and cried you know how it is when you are 3!  Of course, Katy went in to get the fodder with us, so that upset Cooper all the more!  We got our bucket full, loaded it in the car and headed up the hill to feed the lambs, once again, Mommy made Cooper stay in the car (it was cold and windy and he had no shoe…..).   And once again, Katy went with us and joyfully helped fill the troughs with hay while Cooper continued to cry…..a tare at Nana’s heart, pathetic, whimpering, whining, almost tears kind of cry……he never stopped.  No matter what I did or said to him he continued to cry.  Back at the house Katy came in with me to borrow some hot dogs for dinner and get a popsicle…..we could hear Cooper all the way on the porch.  I cut the popsicle in half, half to Katy and half to Cooper….NOT!  Cooper was way too busy being pathetic to even have a popsicle…a blue one at that, wrapped in a napkin so his fingers wouldn’t get cold….Oh my, now that is bad!  Poor Cooper…..later in the evening I couldn’t help but think how pathetic Cooper had been and how he missed out on fun times with me and all the animals because of it.  Cooper was simply feeling sorry for himself.  Ding Dong….I heard the bell……how often in our lives do we act like Cooper, feeling sorrow for ourselves, missing out on so many blessings…..so many happy times with friends and family…..even to the point of making ourselves physically sick because of our attitude.  Life does suck sometimes…..we do step in puddles…..get our boots wet….get stuck in the car…how we handle it makes all the difference…..If we snuff out the light of God’s love with a pathetic attitude we are only hurting ourselves….missing out on fun times with our Heavenly Father…..Let’s choose to be happy, positive uplifting…..not by ourselves, nope….can’t do it alone….got to Ride with our Heavenly Father….lean on HIM….give HIM the puddles and take the blessings!  “Don’t worry, be happy!”  Thanks Father for hanging in there with us when we step in puddles.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13.  I have learned t be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  Philippians 4:11-12.  I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Isaiah 41:13.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6.  Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O Lord.  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  Psalm 4:6-7.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson