Growing towards the Light

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty and Marvelous is our God, Monday!  A couple of weeks after Christmas we put all the decorations away at church.  Someone had donated quite a few poinsettia plants, but didn’t want to take them home, so they were up for grabs.  I had wanted one for my office at work, but Kim and I were going to be out of town for the whole week, so I didn’t think I should take one.  One friend was pretty persistent that I take one, so I finally told her why I was so hesitant.  She said so what, just take it home, water it, and it will be fine; take it to work when you get back.  So I did….now February 8, it is still beautiful!  It’s beauty is amazing, but what I have really noticed about it is that it grows to the light.  I have it on a coffee table in our lobby, we have big double glass doors, so there’s lots of natural light.  When I put the flowering plant on the table it was straight….but in a week or so, it seemed like it was leaning towards the glass doors….the light.  I didn’t say anything, but just kept watching it pointing to the light. I kind of wondered if it was just me imagining, until a co-worker said to me, “Looks to me like the poinsettia is growing towards the light.”  Wow, I wasn’t imaging it, the beautiful flower is growing towards the light!  We made the joint decision to turn it around and see what happens.  I turned it, so that it was leaning towards me, rather than the light of the doors….It’s been less than a week….the flowering plant is now upright again, with just the slightest lean towards the light….I would say in just a day or two it will once again been leaning….towards the light.  WOW!!  All week I have pondered this plant…smart plant!  As I sit at my desk, admiring yet another beauty of God’s creation, I cannot help but think that I need to take a lesson from it….I too need to grow towards the LIGHT.  The LIGHT of the world….Jesus our loving Savior….our LIGHT and our LIFE…..He tells us in John 8…..”I am the LIGHT of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a good way to go!  Father, help us to grow to the LIGHT of the WORLD Your SON our SAVIOR.  Nourish us with light of Your word, so that we grow strong, ever faithful.

 

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.  See, darkness cover the earth and thick darkness is of the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.  Isaiah 60:1.  Your word is a LIGHT to my feet and Light for my path.  Psalm 119:105.  This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you:  God is LIGHT; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is the LIGHT, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His son, purifies us from all sin.  1 John 5: 5-7.  “…God is LOVE.”  1 John 4:8.

Love you all!

 

His most extraordinary, everyday blessings!

Good Morning Friends!  Totally, thankfully HIS, Tuesday!!!   This morning driving to work, I was thinking….”hope things are just a bit less hectic today….”  I was distracted when I saw cows in a pasture with grass at least a foot tall, poking their heads through the fence trying to get something on the other side….my gosh they had lush, green grass, in August right in front of them.  Couldn’t help but think dumb, greedy cows…they are so ungrateful for what they have!  I just couldn’t believe my eyes, but soon turned my thoughts back to a less hectic day….OH MY GOSH, BAM!!!!  DUMB and GREEDY….UNGRATEFUL!!  Those adjectives could easily apply to me…..for heaven’s sake….I am driving to work….First of all in these troubled times I have a great job!  Next, I am driving to it in my little black car….Yes, I live in the country and gas is high, but….did you hear me???  I live in the country, surrounded by lush, green pastures, tall trees, ponds and lots of critters….I live there….oh dear.  My job, is inside of a beautiful office, full of awesome friends and co-workers…My goodness, the friends I have made while at my job are such a huge blessing in my life…not to mention all the benefits…..After work, I go home to a loving, hard-working husband and our little dog Axle and almost always I hear from at least one of my out of state grandkids or maybe a visit from Cooper and Katy.  Last night I invited Katy for a Nana bath; Cooper was at firemen’s with Papa, so it would just be us girls.  They love their “Nana bath”  and it gives me so much joy….they are so grateful to have a bath at my house (of course I do have some really cool stuff for the tub)….a simple bath….Oh and it ended up firemen’s was short so Cooper got to have a “Nana bath” too and then we all sat on the porch and visited until the mosquitos ran us in.  While Harper was here one day Cooper asked her if she had ever had a Nana bath….how special is that?  He didn’t want her to miss out on the fun….shame on me for being ungrateful for even one second, when I have so much, my heart is so full…overflowing with HIS most extraordinary, everyday blessings!   Harper told Cooper, “Oh yes Cooper, I was having Nana baths long before you were even born!  Oh my, I have been blessed to be a Nana for a long time….Shame on me Father when I seem to be greedy and ungrateful for even a minute….I am so blessed by YOU and to be YOUR child…..Let my heart continually sing Your praises!

 

Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.  1 Timothy 4:4.  Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 118:1.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (every one, big or little).  12 Corinthians 9:15.  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 Christ.  Ephesians 5:19-20.  Amen! 

Love you all!

The smells of Spring

Good Morning Friends!  Warm in His love, Wednesday!  The other day when I got back to work from lunch, landscaping was mowing the lawn out front; oh my goodness it smelled so good!  So fresh and clean…… As I opened the door, I took a good deep breath relishing in the magnificent scent of freshly mown grass ……spring……it smelled like spring.  I was smiling as I walked in and sat down at my desk, thinking about spring coming…the wonderful smell was still fresh in my mind when a woman came in….she was smiling too as she said, “Oh my it smells so good outside….”  I replied, “Yes, like spring”  she said, “Yes, I am looking forward to spring…..it has been a long winter!”  I most definitely had to agree with her….we have had such a long winter…..snow, ice, cold….Utility bills have been so high and we have used 7 cords of wood!  That’s a lot for us!  As she left, I couldn’t help but think about spring, a time for renewing, planting, spring cleaning…..all things fresh and new after a long, cold winter….flowers blooming, gardens growing….softly, gently, I felt HIS touch…..I could hear HIM in the buzz of the lawn mower….”Kathie, my child”  spring is a wonderful time of the year….how about a spring time spiritually….You know, renew your faith by cleaning out bad habits and spending more time with Me.  Plant seeds of kindness, thoughtfulness, love and watch them grow and bloom more of the same!  Mow down angers, frustrations, anxiety and worry…..clean out those attitudes that bring you down and get in the way of doing your very best. Life’s winters can be so long and cold….come to Me let Me warm you with My love….let My SON shine on you, refresh you and give you peace.”   Thank you Father….whatever would we do without you!

 

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.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and wary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, the will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31.  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1.  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth……And God saw that it was good.  From Genesis 1.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.  James 1:21.  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness.  Galatians 5:22.

Love you all!

 

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

The Pitter Patter of Little Feet

Good Morning Friends!  Wondrously wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  As the receptionist for a pretty large office, I sit at a big desk in the reception area.  I am fortunate to have a great view of our world outside through the large glass doors; there is a long hall on each side of my desk and one to the right of me, pathways for co-workers coming up front to take care of business throughout the day.  During the time that I have worked here I have acquired the ability to recognize the sound of my co-workers footsteps as they approach.   They are surprised when I greet them before I can even see them…..not sure when I first realized that I knew who was coming before they got here, but it adds a special touch to my day!  One special friend tries to trick me by changing the way she walks…just one of the little things that brings an extra smile to our day!  The other day I was telling someone about being able to recognize footsteps and they were amazed; I chuckled and gave myself a slight pat on the back….at that moment I thought I heard something…..Hmmm, there it is again….at first, I couldn’t quite make out the words….then the LIGHT came on!  “Hi Father”  He didn’t have to say it…..I knew that I not heard HIM clearly because my head was too full of myself!  Gently, not chastising I heard His words….”Kathie (calls us by name) I know how many hairs are on your head…I knew you before you were in your mother’s womb…..your mind, hearing, perception are blessings from Me……”  “Oh yes Father!!!!!  Of course, You created us intricately, in Your image…..We are so blessed.”  Father, forgive us when we think we are on our own out here….making our own way!  Without You we are nothing!  Thank you for our amazing senses and enable us to use them to YOUR GLORY in all that we do!

 

Jesus said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  Luke 12: 6-7.  The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;….”Jeramiah 1: 4-5.  By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself?  1 Corinthians 6:14-15.  You alone are the Lord.  You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.  You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.  Nehemiah 9:6,  The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ.  1 Corinthians 12:12.  Who gave man his mouth?  Who makes him deaf or mute?  Who gives him sight or makes him blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.  Exodus 4:11-12.  For 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.  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him  Psalm 34:8. 

Love you all!