We are always His priority

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully HIS, Tuesday!  Last week, a new neighbor called Kim about having cows on his place….oh boy, Kim headed right over to our lease and headed out to find the hole!  This was new territory that he not been into before, he soon found a fence down and fixed it, thinking all was well.  That’s what he gets for thinking…..next day he gets a call from the neighbor again….more cows out…..so, once again, he drops what he’s doing and heads over to try and get the fence fixed once and for all.  He heads deeper into the woods, searching for the problem, the woods are thick, the bugs terrible, and the ticks…well use your imagination!  Plus, he has to carry t-posts and wire through the woods…once again, he finds a bad spot and thinks he has the problem taken care of once and for all.  The next day he heads out to do his regular work which he is now behind on because he has had to drop everything and head to the woods to take care of a more pressing matter!  This went on for 5 days….boy did he ever play catch up on Friday, but he did what he had to do!  On Saturday, we….well…he decided we needed to take down our old pool (it pooped out on us, no more patches) and put up the new one…..Oh boy, sounds fun right!  Well, we did have fun, worked hard, got the job done, but again, we had to let our regular Saturday chores go….and Kim always saves a few “special” chores for me on Saturday, so I knew my  Sunday afternoon would not be quite as relaxed as I like…We did get the pool up and were happy with the job, but of course, on Sunday afternoon we had to go out, in the rain and get our Saturday work done….Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the pool up and get chores done too….Monday morning as I stood in the shower, I was going over our weekend in my mind….we had to let Saturday work go to get the pool up, just like Kim had to let his weekly, regular work go in order to get the fences fixed and keep the cows in.  All of a sudden I started laughing!  Wow, I thought, I am sure glad that our Father doesn’t have to let my little needs go in order to take care of someone’s bigger, more urgent needs!!!!   Nope!  Not our Father, HE is all powerful, all knowing, and able to take care of all of our needs at the same time…..mend our broken hearts, heal our wounds, calm our anxious minds, feed, us, clothe us, guide us, love us….all of us…..all the time!  Thank you Father for taking care of each and every need of each and every one of us all the time!

 

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.  Philippians 4:19.  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:37-39.  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  (oh yes you are, all of us!)  Matthew 6:26.  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 3:1a.

Love you all!

Don't miss out on God's FUN blessings

Good Morning Friends!  Find HIS fun blessings, Friday!   Most of you know that I have 3 miniature donkeys, Cloe, Eyore, and baby Sky.  Their main home is a small pasture adjoining the front yard butting up to the chicken coop.  I like having them where I can see them from the kitchen window and be able to give them treats when I go outside.  A couple of weeks ago, we moved Eyore over to the fenced yard in the front of the house.  You can’t get the lawnmower in it, so we periodically put Eyore in there to mow, plus it gives the girls a break.  Well, the whole time he has been there, around 5:30 am, he lets out an ear piercing hee haw, keep in mind, he is right outside the living room.  Things are very quiet in the house at that time, as I am chatting with our FATHER and Kim is snoozing in his chair, so when the hee haw sounds, you can’t help but notice…and honestly usually I am a bit annoyed…..This morning however, when he started in with his serenade, I smiled, just couldn’t help myself, one of those oh gosh what a stinker, but sure glad you're mine, kind of smiles….Know what I mean, and I chuckled thinking of him out there by himself, wishing he was over with the girls eating hay…gosh darn silly donkeys, I just love them!  This weekend Kim and I are going to move all three of them to a pasture a ways back from the house.  I won’t be able to see them unless I take the time to walk out there, and the morning serenade will be no more…..I always hate it when we move them, but it’s necessary so that their pen can rejuvenate and grow some nice grass for the summer.  This morning as I sat in the quiet darkness, still smiling from our hee haw serenade, I said a thank you prayer to our Father for the fun blessing of Cloe, Eyore and baby Sky…..no matter how annoying at the time, I will miss my morning serenade, but look forward to the green grass growing so the little family can return to their home.  God blesses us with so many “fun blessings” but we must slow down to see them, hear them, even smell them…stepping outside right after the lawn has been mowed, geese flying overhead in perfect V- formation, babies laughing at my silly faces, stopping to look at a turtle crossing the road, fresh from the garden veggies shared by friends, counting how many green eggs with Katy, shopping at the $Tree for treats to send to Tanleigh & Tucker (affordable treats), hearing Tanleigh say “Nana”……fun blessings…in the hectic, stressful, hurry of life….take time to enjoy the fun blessings, the little things that God sends our way to brighten our day….and then share!  Thank you Father for the fun little blessings all around us.  Open our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to savor them, slow us down so we don’t miss out, bless us with attitudes of gratitude and joyful hearts singing praises to YOU.

 

Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.  1 Timothy 4:4.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift (s)!  2 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.  Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.   Psalm 111:2.  Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:7.  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24.

Love you all.

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!

The abandoned calf

Good Morning Friends, meet Homer…he’s in the middle, in between Cooper and Katy!!  Homer came to us last week…and that is the front yard at my house not a pasture!  You see, Homer’s mommy abandoned  him, but lucky for Homer Kim found him in a very weakened state, brought him to the house, ran to the feed store for milk replacer and a bottle (believe it or not we have not had to bottle feed a calf, so were unprepared) mixed up a bottle and attempted to feed him.  Poor Homer he was so weak, he couldn’t even suck….So, that meant Kim had to tube him…..put the milk in a squishy bottle with a long tube that goes down his throat into his tummy, direct nutrition…..the first couple of days were pretty bleak, Kim continued to try to get him to suck, but he just wasn’t interested, seemed weak….then all of a sudden he took the bottle….BAM!  Now less than a week later he is drinking like a champ and following us around.  This morning when I left, Homer was at the gate obviously wondering where his breakfast was!  Homer is gonna make it, thanks to Kim’s persistence!  Last night as I was taking my turn feeding Homer, my thoughts turned inward….to my heart…..How many times have I felt totally abandoned by the world, just at the breaking point, weak and alone and our Heavenly Father rescues me….Yep, picks me up, dusts me off….and tube feeds me…..from His loving arms to my broken heart!  He nurtures me with HIS grace and mercy, comforts me with HIS peace and wisdom…….Feeds me with HIS word….my strength returns….my faith grows…..I am HIS child, no matter what the world sends my way……all is well with HIM.  Thank you Father…..for feeding me……forgive me when I am weak.

This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.  Psalm 48:14.  With His is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding.  Job 12:13.  Do not afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Luke 12:32.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.  For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:1.

Love you all!

What was it really like that night?

Good Morning Friends!  Miracles in His love, Monday!  The other day I read an Advent devotion about Joseph…..all about his perspective of the things going on in his life with Mary and Jesus on the way.  Really got me to thinking that for sure, wasn’t all just a piece of cake for him.  The last few days our sheep have moved to a pasture right by the house, so as I leave for work I see them all there grazing (today one was stretched way up on a cedar tree, munching away) on the outside of the fence along the road sits a Pyrenees dog…..watching…..protecting the sheep.  Still thinking about the devotion on Joseph, my mind turned to the Christmas shepherds….guarding their flocks by night.  I wonder if they had guard dogs to help them…..do you think they were scared when the angels appeared?  Do you think the sheep scattered and the dogs took off barking trying to gather them up again?.......Do you think the shepherds stood, just stood calmly or took off running…..maybe they clung to each other terrified…..Can you imagine……I mean really, think about it……What if you were out in a field, in the dark, maybe coon hunting and all of a sudden….BAM!!!!   The sky lights up, brighter than any light you have ever seen…. You shield your eyes and look up…..you see….what is it….visions…forms like you have never seen….in the sky….and then they begin talking to you…..Things in the sky, brighter than any star or moon….talking to you…..think you might have wanted to run away and hide????  I can just imagine that at least some really considered it until the angels began to speak….”Do not be afraid”   Oh don’t you just know their voices oozed with calm…They were on a most important mission and really didn’t want the shepherds to be scared…..No, they wanted to tell them the good news….Jesus our Savior is born……I am sure the shepherds wasted no time finding the stable in Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph were wrapping Jesus in swaddling clothes and lying Him in a manger…..Oh my, there was so much more to that first Christmas, starting with Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah telling him that Elizabeth would have a baby, then his visit to Mary to tell her she would be the mother of God’s Son…..then sweet Joseph, his world turned upside down…..right to the shepherds….in the field….guarding their flocks by night….Friends, let’s ponder on these things…like Mary did……this week before Christmas let’s really try to slow down from the fuss…..relax in the glow of the Christmas lights and ponder on the Light of the World….JESUS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON……Father, help us to truly feel the emotions of that First Christmas and grow in our love for YOU.

 

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”….So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger… The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  From Luke 2.

Love you all!

 

Shine your light!

Good Morning Friends!  Forever in HIS LIGHT, Friday!  A couple days ago, Kim had a man scheduled to come from Bristow and buy a bunch of feeders that Kim and I had made.  They were so big that he was bringing a semi and Kim would have to load them with the back hoe; this was no biggie they were all in a nice easily accessible pasture and he was scheduled to be there at 2 pm.  Kim and I had planned to unload and stack firewood when I got home, however when I got home, the man was just on his way….Oh boy….another late night.  Well, he finally got there a little after 6, so Kim headed out on back hoe….me…..I pulled on my leather gloves and hit the firewood!  I had just been in the house for a little while when I got a call from Kim, they were about done, but he needed hydraulic oil for the hoe.  It was totally dark by then, but I found the oil and headed to where they were loading out.  Wow, it was so dark, how could they even see to get the job done.  I turned the car around and pointed the headlights where they were adding the oil.  I was so tired and still needed to cook, but my conscience wouldn’t let me leave them in the dark to finish.  Kim had to go into the pasture and load the feeders and it was dark!  So, I carefully pulled my little back car into the pasture, found the last of the feeders and positioned the car so the lights shined for Kim to see the feeders and safely load them.  Job done I headed back to the house to get to dinner!  As I pulled into the driveway, I felt the familiar tap on my shoulder, actually it was more like HIS arm around me pulling me close to HIM.  “Hi FATHER, what’s going on?”  “Well, Kathie sure glad you stayed and shined the headlights so the men didn’t have to flounder in the darkness……MY LIGHT….sweet child….is always there to guide you, to shine love on you, to keep you from being afraid….MY LIGHT protects you, there’s no need for you to ever flounder in darkness I am always there lighting the way, and MY LIGHT warms you, comforts you, shields you from the dangers of darkness….MY LIGHT shines endlessly, MY LOVE for you is eternal…Go, reflect MY LIGHT!”  I felt so warm and safe….Thank you Father for the gentle reminder of YOUR ETERNAL LIGHT of LOVE for us!

 

You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.  With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.  2 Samuel 22:29-30.  Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?”  Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O Lord.  You have filled my heart with great joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.  Psalm 4:6-8.  The Lord is my light and my salvation of whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1.  Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.  They rejoice in Your name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness.  Psalm 89:15-16.

Love you all!

HIS strength is never zapped!

Good Morning Friends!!!  Wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!  Yesterday after I got off work, Kim had a couple chores we needed to do….first, at long last we got to move Chloe and Eyore (my miniature donkeys) from wayyyyyyyyyy back behind the house back to their regular little home in the front yard where I can see them from my kitchen window.  At a certain point they run out of grass there so we have to put them out in another pasture and I miss seeing them and giving them treats every day.  So last night was the time, I was excited, but had not considered their temperaments after a lengthy stay in a big pasture….oh my goodness, did Kim and I ever have a run (literally) for our money!!!!  But finally, they walked right into to their pen…..darn stubborn donkeys.  OK, that done we headed to a neighbor’s house to get a hay ring made specifically for horses/donkeys!  I wasn’t sure exactly what “picking up” the feeder would entail, but was sure I was up for it.  Hmm, it was huge and quite heavy I might add and I was a bit apprehensive as I listened to Kim telling me how we would lift it up and slid on the back of the truck….alrighty then….here we go.  Not without some grunting and groaning we completed the job and headed home…..to unload it in the their pen.  Oh boy, I got out and got Kim backed up to fence, helped him unstrap it and took my position to help hoist it over the fence….Oh my gosh, this is so heavy and I am so tired….the thought ran through my mind, “good grief, this is no job to attempt at the end of a long day!  First thing in the morning ok, I’m all over it, but now, 7 pm, worked all day…..not sure I can do it.”  And Kim was not much better off than me, he had worked really hard all day and was ready to be done….take off his boots and relax!  Well, it wasn’t pretty, but we did finally manage to get it unloaded; Kim headed to the house while I went to feed rabbits and lock up the chickens….Gosh I thought, “sure am glad that our Heavenly Father never gets tired….morning, noon or the middle of the night!  No siree, HE is always up for the task, whatever it is that we might need….HIS strength is never zapped, HE’S never worn out from a long day, overwhelmed by too much to do….Our FATHER is on the job, all-knowing, all-powerful, all the time!  Oh Father, me oh my, thank you for never being too tired for us.  We are so blessed.  Increase our faith and gratitude to Your glory!

 

 

For Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of a the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.  Isaiah 25:4.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the stronghold of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.  He who fears the Lord has a strong fortress.  Proverbs 14:26. “ I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”  Revelation 1:8. 

Love you all!

 

Kathie A. Johnson

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!

Are you properly clothed?

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!   This morning I was reading in Colossians 3:12- 14, “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”  Bam!  The words clothe with and put on, really hit me…..quite distinct commands from our Father….God’s chosen people…..wow dearly loved……clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and gentleness and patience…not easy ones to carry out all the time are they…..and bound with love…..put on love….Really!!!??  Well, sure smacked me in the face, this command, the way God wants us to be with others, well it takes a little work….we have to be prepared, be connected to HIM through HIS word and prayer…If we are not prepared through a close relationship with our Father, we cannot clothe ourselves with theses virtues or put on love.  Saturday, Kim and I had to fix some fence in a lease pasture so that we could move a few fall-calvers there.  The pasture had not been grazed for a couple years, so of course it was very over grown, thick with brush and grass, weeds, over-grown trees….I grabbed some water while Kim loaded the four wheeler with tools and wire we would need….he was prepared for the job.  Me, on the other hand….I went in shorts, tank top, and no gloves!!!!  Thank heavens I had worn my boots, but I definitely was totally unprepared for the job….I did not put on or clothe myself properly…hence….I cut my hands on the barbed wire, and my legs and arms are covered in scratches and bites, blood on my shorts from my hands and I really was not as much help as I would have liked to have been…..because I was not clothed properly….I went out unprepared!  Father, yes I sure got your message for me this morning……I need to stay close to You so that my actions reflect Your love and give You glory.  Father help me to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…..clothing myself in Your Love!  Father I am so thankful to be Your child….dearly loved! 

 

We love because God first loved us.  1 John 4:19.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.  1 John 4:12. 

Love you all!

The open gate

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God, Wednesday!  Last night after a rather late dinner of chicken tacos, Kim said we needed to go up and check on a calf that had been born the night before.  He explained that all day yesterday, it laid in one spot and mama was not too close.  He was sure that mama would join him by nightfall, but just wanted to be sure the calf was not alone all night.  We were both tired, but knew we would hate ourselves if something happened to that calf because we didn’t go check.  So, we started up the little Isuzu and headed to the pasture where baby was last seen.  Sure enough, the little black calf was curled up sleeping in the same spot Kim had seen him off and on all day…..mom….well she was on the other side of the fence, not too far in distance, but too far for safety!  Kim got out and jostled him to his feet, mama was watching intently and headed towards her baby.  Soon they were face to face, however there was a fence in between; Kim thought the gate was open as we headed the calf that way so he could reunite with mama.  However, as we got closer we could see that the cows had pushed the gate shut…..What if we had not gone up there to check…..baby would have been alone all night, coyote bait for sure!  Silently thanking our Father that we had found the gate that separated the calf from his mama, I got out and opened the gate.  I hadn’t even made it back into the truck when mama and her shiny black calf were together again.  As I got back into the truck, my mind filled with the wonder of God’s creation, His magnificent planning….that mama cow knew right where her baby was, there’s lots of shiny black calves, but she knew hers and he knew his mama.  Amazing, there’s no doubt in my mind that she would not have come to get him before dark…..that’s God’s amazing planning….but what about the closed gate……what a terrible night they could have spent, separated by a closed gate.  Kim drove me around a bit more, showing off his new water system…the pastures green….the sky… shades of pink and purple highlighted the fluffy clouds as the light began to fade…..God’s breath taking handy work filled me with overwhelming peace….AHHHH, my heart and mind whirled…..There’s no closed gate that could ever keep us from our Heavenly Father…..no matter what the circumstances are that might separate us for a time…..He always yearns for us to come back to HIM!!!  He is our Good Shepherd, our Perfect Shepherd….He delights in pushing open the gates of our mess ups, frustrations, grief….OH Yes Father!!!!  How blessed we are to have a Father, a Good and Perfect Shepherd to open the gates to YOUR LOVING arms….wrapped in Your arms we have peace that passes all human understanding. 

 

From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him,  and His righteousness with their children’s children.  Psalm 103:17.  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 118:1.  Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7.  Submit to god and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.  Job 22:21.  The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Psalm 23:2-3.  The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7. 

Love you all!

 

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

Administrative Services

Division of Housing

Mending fences

Good Morning Friends!  Fabulous Friday, loved by HIM!!!!   A few years ago we had a really wet spring….so wet that the creek that runs through our property, filled to over flowing, breaking its banks and flooding a pasture.  The whole event was pretty strong, so when the flood waters broke loose they took down a quarter to half mile of fence bordering the creek.  I mean to tell you…plum flattened that fence, laid it down!!!!!  Now with the fence down the cows and sheep had total access to pastures on both sides of the creek…..not really the ideal situation.  Of course, my husband had good intentions of fixing the fence immediately…..however, life happens!  One year rolled into the next, big plans to get to it, but cows and sheep roamed where they pleased….each year more grass, limbs, leaves grew over the flat fence making a job that once would have been not easy, but very do able, now seemingly impossible!  Year in…year out….can’t tell you how many times I heard “I gotta get that fence up.”  So many times, that got to the point I really didn’t hear him….especially when he complained about the animals being where they were not supposed to be!  Tuesday when I got home from work, he was sitting on the screened porch, munching on chips and dip and sipping a nice cool beverage!  Remember how beautiful and warm it was on Tuesday, so I went in changed my clothes and put up my stuff so I could join him.   He shared his chips and even had a cold drink poured for me.  We chatted about our work days, enjoying our snacks, relishing in the beautiful spring-like weather.  I needed to take care of my critters, as I was heading out the door he hollered, “hurry up, we are going for a ride!”  When Kim wants to go for a ride on a week night he has a specific plan….something that can’t wait to have my attention.  Maybe a new tool in the shop, or the beginning of one of his creative inventions or maybe a set of twin lambs….well, I had no clue what he was up to on Tuesday.  As soon as I finished my chores we hopped in his truck and headed out!  First stop, the gate that leads into the pasture that had flooded….I hopped out, unlocked the gate and in we went.  Within just a matter of a few seconds I knew what he was up to!  No new tool, or baby…..the fence was up!!!!!  The whole length from one end of the pasture to other…..up…..in one day he had, with the help of a young neighbor, put the whole fence back up….one day….not even a whole day, he had done all his farm chores too!  I was quite impressed with his accomplishment and praised him for a job well done….we of course had to drive the whole pasture and check it all out, although not perfect the fence would definitely do its job now!  As we headed back to the house I couldn’t help but think how at times, we let the severe storms of life flatten us….our spirits, our moods, our finances…..flattened relationships…..we procrastinate…..let the messes in our lives get worse and harder to fix when we have the perfect tool with us all the time to get the job done!  Our Heavenly Father is there to guide us with HIS wisdom, support us with HIS love, wrap us in HIS comfort…..HE”S there 24/7……why do we procrastinate….allow ourselves to get depressed, emotionally and spiritually….we make ourselves sick with worry and heartache…..when like Kim, when he finally just did it, got the job done in a few hours…..we can get our fences back up by going to our FATHER, giving HIM our worries, letting HIM carry the load!  Oh Kim’s fence is not perfect nor will our “fences” in life always be perfect.  Life on this earth because of sin is just not perfect….but Praise God He sent His Son to die for us and promises to mend our fences until we get HOME with HIM!   Oh Father, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!  You supply all the tools we need to keep our fences up!!!!!

 

Just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  2 Corinthians 1:5.  Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  Romans 8:18.  Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.  Psalm 55:22. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  Isaiah 43:2.  The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him  Nahum 1:7.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11. 

Love you all!

 

July 30, 2013

Good Morning Friends!   Mighty awesome is our God, Monday!  Kim and I had some unexpected, as well as uninvited visitors yesterday morning!  A group of lawn mowers……trouble with them is they cut down flowers and all!  Have you guessed yet….Yep, as we got our coffee and headed to the porch we were greeted by about 30 lambs mowing our lawn…thank goodness I got to my flowers before they did…..stinkers they came a long way down the road….from green pastures to get to our house…..never happy….(remind you of anyone).  Well, no sooner than we sat down, they turned and headed back towards the road.  Shepherd Kim was not happy…..couldn’t let them go out to the road again…..30 lambs on the road spells disaster anyway you look at it.  So, Kim got the four-wheeler, gathered them up and headed up the road to their pasture.  He had me follow them in the car with my flashers on; mind you, I was just out of bed….not dressed or anything….yippee!  Shepherd Kim seemed to have everything under control, always there to take care of his lambs, guiding them to safety and lush pasture.  Everything seemed to be under control, getting close to their home when one lone lamb decides to head out on his own.  Shepherd Kim attempted to get him back with others a couple times, but then went on with the group….I too gave it a try but to no avail.  This young lamb was bound and determined to take off on his own, no clue to the dangers awaiting him.  As I turned in the road to lambs pasture, Shepherd Kim was already turning around and heading out.  I backed out of his way and watched him go right to where the young lamb had wandered off…..he patiently…oh so patiently,  coaxed him back, back to the flock….in safe lush pastures.  How often are we the wandering lamb…….How blessed we are to have the Perfect Shepherd to come back for us….take us into His flock….love us and forgive us!  Thank you Father!

 

He tends His flock like a shepherd:  He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.  Isaiah 40:11.  “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:  I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.  As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after My sheep.  I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.”  Ezekiel 34: 11-12.  Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  John 10:11.  “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”  John 10 14-15.  The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want……Psalm 23:1

April 23, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Totally wrapped in His loving arms Tuesday!  Last Saturday I was on a mission! I desperately needed  half a day in my house!!!!  So, I gave up breakfast with Cooper and Katy and headed outside to get my ranch chores done quick as I could, so I could get in my house and get to work….oh my what a mess I had.  Well, Kim and I worked hard and believe it or not I was back in the house by 11:30 and got right to work.  I was going gangbusters.  About 30 minutes later Kim called…..Oh boy I thought…..wonder what’s up.  He was frantic to say the least!  “Get the 4 wheeler and get up here now!  Sheep are out and all over the Beagles, going crazy, they’re acting crazy!”  I grabbed my jacket and a bottle of water, who knew how long I would be gone….started up the 4 wheeler and headed up the hill.  Kim meet me at the cattle guard and waved me to follow him, he was fit to be tied.  We went to the intersection at the top of the hill, our property on one side, the Beagles on the other.  Jumping out of his truck he hollered at me to stand in the road and make sure they went towards home, he headed down the side road to stop them, turn them around and head them home…..I stood in the road and waited and waited and waited……oh gosh, I thought this is not good….thinking he might need a little help, I said a little prayer.  Finally, I could hear the 4 wheeler, the sheep (about 150 with lambs) making a ruckus, and Kim hollering at them and me.  “Don’t let them go up that hill (if they got up the hill they would be out of my reach and would head the wrong direction…not good).  Well of course 5 or 6 head right up that hill too steep for the 4 wheeler and besides Kim was busy trying to keep the rest from doing the same thing.  No other choice, I had to head up the hill, glad I had on my good boots…..I got up just fine, before they got away….headed them back down and then….well let’s just say getting down the hill wasn’t quite as easy as getting up.  Kim was right; they were acting crazy, like they had been locked up in a dirt lot all winter, and the green grass had them crazy when actually they have eaten lush green fodder all winter…..150 sheep plus lambs acting crazy is not a pretty site on CR 1600 on Saturday…yes we did finally get them on 1600, but it wasn’t easy, Kim got stuck and they headed into the trees….finally got them out of the trees and heading down the road now….would they turn in where they were supposed to….could I keep them out of the neighbor’s yard……could I warn traffic in time to slow them down……I jumped in the truck and turned on the hazard lights just in time to slow down a car…..well we lucked out…..they turned in the right gate and headed out to pasture!  What a relief and Thank you Father!  We headed back to the house for lunch, shaking our heads, wondering what in the heck we were gonna do with them…..crazy sheep.  I didn’t think much more about them until Sunday morning in church when Pastor read the Gospel lesson from John 10:22-30.  Jesus was talking to some Jews that needed some proof that He was the promised one….He said I already told you I am, but you don’t believe because you are not part of My flock……”My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”  Oh my gosh, it was all I could do to not burst out laughing right in church!  I thought not always…..they don’t always listen or follow!  My thoughts returned to Saturday and our crazy sheep…..they had everything….green pastures, fresh water, dogs to guard them, mineral on demand, green pastures….and what did they do….tore up good fences and took off….no clue what was out there….no regard for the dangers outside the pastures….Oh no……Father…how frustrated you must get with Your sheep….us….when we tear down the fences…and head out to the unknown without YOU…..not listening to Your voice….not following You….looking for the greener grass when You provide us with everything we could ever need…..Protect us, forgive us, love us, comfort us, heal us…….Father, forgive us when we don’t listen to Your voice, help us to hear and to follow You.  Remember this song…”I am Jesus Little Lamb, Ever glad at heart I am…..”

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before m in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil’ my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23.  The God of peace be with you.  Philippians 4:9.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

February 7, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully HIS, Thursday!  I couldn’t help but feel a little down this morning coming into work….the sky was so overcast…not really raining, but really wet, and it just kind of hung, kind of heavy over me….I know we need rain so badly, kind of wish it would just rain, really rain and stop this dreary drizzle stuff.  I drove along, like I said feeling a little down and then I noticed how green the sides of the road are turning….through the dry, brown grass fresh green grass is growing…showing through the dreary brown….as I passed a pasture there were several young calves frolicking playfully together while mama cows grazed nearby….they were grazing on what appeared to be…bits of green grass…..ahh….I was thinking about how beautiful the pastures are when they are plush with green and then I spotted a bunch of blooming daffodils at the end of someone’s drive….bright yellow, like the warm sun…..I had to lift my eyes to the heavens and ask our Father to forgive me for feeling so dreary when I have so much…..Thank you for precious reminders……green grass and calves…..new life…everlasting life for us through Your Son…..His Light, bright, like the daffodils…. and warm shining on us……lifting us….loving us.  All Glory to You Precious Father!

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.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17.  Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.  1 Chronicles 16:8.  Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:7. Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:57.

Love you all!