The flames of life's temptations

Good Morning Friends!  Must remain in HIM, Monday!!!  Kim had really been wanting to burn one of our pastures, but had to wait until weather conditions were just right, most importantly the wind.  Gosh we have had so much wind lately and it is just too risky to start fires if it’s windy.  Looked like maybe Friday evening would be good….he called the firemen to get some to come and help him and then waited….finally about 5:30 he had enough men committed to come help and the wind was calm, humidity good, so he made the big decision to light it up!  A little after 6, Kathyrn and the kids came over….Cooper is all about the firemen stuff you know, so he was all suited up in his wildland gear and Katy too in brother’s hand-me-down fire suit.  Cooper couldn’t contain himself….”Nana we have to go up to the cabin and see the fire, Nana please, please…..”  Mom and I both tried to convince him that he could see better if we stayed at the house, but he wasn’t having it at all!!!  “We Have TO GO!”  We walked outside and showed him where they had started to burn, that just made him want to go more!  So, we loaded into the van and headed up the hill.  We went as far as we thought was safe and we wouldn’t get stuck, then headed up the hill on foot towards the cabin.  When we got there small fires were burning all around the cabin; they were out making a fire line.  Cooper was thrilled….fire!  In a few minutes the guys all showed up and were ready to head out again; Papa was on the 4-wheeler and invited Cooper to go with him, oh yea, Cooper was gone in a flash, of course poor Katy was crying, “I want to go….”  Papa promised he would be back for her, so Kathyrn and I settled in on fire watch at the cabin….the flames were getting bigger and Kathyrn and I were getting cold and really wanted to go to the house, but Katy would have no part of that….pretty soon she was crying and I convinced her to come to the house and have a “Nana bath” and cheese pizza.  So off we went, gosh it was so dark by then we had a time getting to the car and the fires were really popping up all over the pasture.  Kathyrn and I talked about the fact that it is really so pretty to watch it burn, the colors in the flames so brilliant, we drove past some that were so big, gosh they were amazingly beautiful.  From the house the pasture seemed to be dancing with flames, it was truly a magnificent site….beautiful yet at the same time so dangerous.  The next morning the first thing Kim and I did was drive the whole hill checking for hot spots.  Wow, the whole hill was black…Kim was pleased because he had gotten a good burn.  I was in awe with all the black….the beautiful flames from last night had turned the pasture black……black and bleak….As we drove slowly through the pasture, I couldn’t help but think of the black like the black of our sin…..the flames of life’s temptations….the flames so very beautiful in fact caused the black….so very beautiful, but so very dangerous.  Oh Father, how often the things of this world that seem to be harmless, actually tempt me away from you…..away from the life you want me live….greed for things that we think we must have, but only led us to more greed and selfishness….Father, temptations are all around us…appearing harmless and attractive….Father give us strength to resist temptations that will led us away from you….we need your help to shine for you.

 

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.  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.  Matthew 26:41.  Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.  Luke 11:4.

Love you all!

Our perfect first responder

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

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

 

So we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him.  1 John 4:16.  This is what the Lord says…”Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”  Isaiah 43:1.  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.  Psalm 34:8.  Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.  Proverbs 29:25.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4. 

Love you all!

 

Warmed by His love

Good Morning Friends!  Totally trusting in His care, Thursday!  Tuesday evening, I was disappointed when I got home and discovered that Kim hadn’t kept the fire going doing the day; he did have his reasons, but none the less, the house was cold.  While I changed, did my evening chores, cleaned up the kitchen, you know the drill, Kim worked on getting a fire started.  As soon as I could, I got into the living room and gave the fire my special “hurry  up and get hot” touch, all the while complaining about the cold.  As I poked and prodded, adding wood, Kim asked if I wanted him to start a fire in the stove in the kitchen.  No, I said, mumbling and complaining more about how cold it was in the living room, not to mention the kitchen my gosh…how in the heck was I gonna get dinner cooked in the ice box!  Again he asked, “want me to start a fire in the kitchen?”  Again,  in  my stubbornness I said, “NO!”  Just didn’t want the hassle.  Well, this scenario went on for a while longer, me poking and prodding the fire, complaining about the cold and Kim suggesting a fire in the kitchen….Finally….I shrugged off the stubborn and conceded!  Kim got up, brought some wood into the kitchen and within a few minutes had a nice fire in the old stove…..few more minutes I could feel the chill being overtaken by warm, cozy heat; my body relaxed, my toes thawed and I was energized to go take care of dinner!  As I was cooking I thought to myself….why am I so stubborn?  Why did I fight so hard against lighting a fire in the kitchen, when I knew it was the best thing to do…when I  knew the agony of a cold house would be gone if I just let him light the fire?  Why did I waste so much time complaining when if I would have just listened to him….given up my stubborn attitude and let him start a fire……Oh my Father…..OK, OK, I get it…..what needless worry, stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, grief, worry, stress, grumpy moods, hateful attitudes, anxiety we inflict upon ourselves because we fight YOU…..fight against YOUR WILL for us…..fail to TRUST and Believe, surrender, pile it all on YOU, when all we need to do is sit back, listen and be WARM….Warmed by YOUR PERFECT LOVE, INFINITE WISDOM, MERCY, GRACE and YOUR DESIRE to take care of us…guide us….comfort, and forgive us.  Father, thank you keeping YOUR FIRE of LOVE burning for us and please keep on prodding us when we are stupidly stubborn!

 

I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11.  God will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.  Isaiah 2:3.  The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!  Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is He who trusts in the Lord.  Proverbs 16:20.  He who trusts in the Lord will prosper.  Proverbs 28:25.  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.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

Crocodiles in My Kitchen: Believing in what you don't see

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in HIS loving arms Wednesday!  You all remember Cooper and Katy right (in case you don’t Cooper 4 and Katy 3 are our “adopted” grandkids.  They live nearby)?  We live in an old farm house that we heat with wood.  We have a good air tight stove in the living room that for the most part works well, but sometimes when it is really cold we have a fire in the old stove in the kitchen…..until this year we had not done that for years.  Well, quite some time ago, Cooper took a keen interest in that stove and since we never used it we let him open the door and look in.  Well, way over a year ago, one day while playing with his new flashlight upon opening the stove door he discovered crocodiles residing there!  He was quite excited and of a course Papa and I played along with him, admiring the lovely crocks and offering pretend food for him to give them.  The next time Cooper was over, found his flashlight and went right to the stove to check his crocks….and each time we all took a look, playing along with his imagination.  This went on for month after month until finally his sister Katy had her own flashlight and was big enough to join in….Cooper opened the door and showed his sister the crocodiles.  His excitement was uncontainable and Katy joined right in with him.  Now this has been going on for over  a year, never ever do those kids come to our house whether together or alone ,that they do not check on their crocks.  We just smile and thank God for the blessing of children!  Remember the big snow and awful cold we had before Christmas?  Well, I was off work, but Coop and Katy’s mom had to work so Papa and I were keeping the kids.  It was so cold that morning that Papa thought maybe he better light a fire in the kitchen.  I cleared the top of the stove off and he built a nice fire…As he was getting it going it hit me the crocodiles!!!!   What would those babies think if they came over and a their crocks were all burned up….I asked Papa, “think I better get the crocks out and put them in something else?”  At first he laughed and said no and then decided….”yep, you better.”  So, I found an empty trash can and got a towel to cover the top….carefully (lol) I moved the crocks from the stove to the trash can!  When the kids got there we immediately explained that we had a fire in the stove, it was very hot, so they had to stay away…..but…before they could get upset….I showed them where I had moved their crocks!  They were delighted.  Immediately taking the towel off, checking them, holding them…of course we all did and then covering them up and placing them in a perfect place in the kitchen.  Sometime during that day………oh my gosh…..the discovery was almost too much for them!!!  The crocodiles had babies…..precious little baby crocodiles!  What a glorious day in LULA!  I have tried upon several occasions to move crocks and babies back to the stove, but with no luck!  For some reason they like them in the trash can in the middle of the kitchen!  I was telling my sister the croc tale the other day, gramma of 2 four year olds and a three year old, she totally understood and relished in their imagination.  I said to her, “I have been trying to figure out how to get a today out of this wonderful story.”  Immediately she responded, “Faith is believing in what you don’t see…..”  Wow!  Why didn’t I think of that??!!  Those precious children set a perfect example for our “faith” life.  We cannot see God, but with Holy Spirit filled faith we KNOW that HE is our ALL in ALL!  We cannot see HIM with our eyes, but we see HIM through the wonders around us, nature, kindnesses of others, special little blessings….the imagination of children…..Father, keep our faith strong so that we believe without seeing….trust without answers……forgive as you forgive us……LOVE others as YOU have shown us to LOVE….to remember….”Faith without works is dead…”  James: 2 17.

 

Though 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.  It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8.  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. 

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!