Little leaks lead can to big problems!

Today at 11:15 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty awesome is our God, Monday!  I was anxious to get the water bill for the fire department this month (I am secretary/treasurer for fire department) because last month it was really high, more than double the usual amount…the reason, a leak.  A leak somewhere, but where?  That was the important part….where was the nasty water leak that was causing the water bill to soar???!!!  So the search was on, it was finally determined it was the flapper in the women’s toilet….a dumb little flapper caused that big of an increase….I was skeptical.  My husband fixed it right away…then the wait for the new bill.  That’s why I was so anxious to get the bill…..I was not as sure as him that that was the cause….for heaven’s sake a stuck flapper….a little leak in the toilet caused that huge bill!  Well, I knew the bill probably came on Saturday because ours did, so on my way home from church yesterday I stopped at the fire department to get the mail.  Sure enough, the water bill was there and….well for goodness sakes…..the bill was the usual minimum……so obviously the toilet was the problem….a little leak….a big bill!  As I drove home contemplating the leak situation, a thought came to me.  I wonder how many “little leaks” I have in my life that left “unfixed” could create big problems…..Seemingly  trivial gossip about a co-worker…..a grudge that stays stuck in my attitude…..cards and letters long over-due…..hasty judgment on a friend’s situation…..occasional skipped prayer time……habitual tardiness…..just little “leaks” right!  No big deal right!!!!  “OK Father, I get it!  “Little” seemingly harmless actions and attitudes can cause big problems for others….pain, anxiety, pulling us away from a life that makes You smile….a life that does not bring glory to Your Holy Name!”   OH Father, forgive our little leaks…..we want to do our best for You, but we are so weak….we mess up so often.  Father, fill us with the desire to live closer with You, so that You can “prevent” us from leaking so much!  Thanks for forgiving us when we mess up!  To You be all glory!

 

Jesus said, “My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:12-13.  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.  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4:8.  Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  1 Thessalonians 5:14.  Jesus said, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”  Luke 6:37. 

Love you all!

 

Kathie A. Johnson

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 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!

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