He did not procrastinate our salvation

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His Tuesday!  How about this weather!  Yesterday everybody was talking about how beautiful it was on Saturday, and all the stuff they did outside, enjoying the weather.  Some went to the lake, lots of fishing, yard work, just fun being outside.  When I was asked about enjoying the weather Saturday, I had a different story to tell.  You see, Kim and I had a major project….paperwork…..in the office…..that really needed to get done!  We had made a deal that Saturday would be the day….all day at best.  We did go out and feed the sheep and calves, water the hogs, but that was it….as nice as it was already then and as tempted as we were to stay outside, procrastinating the paper work….we didn’t!  We dragged ourselves back into the house…..straight to the office….and dug in!  More than once during the day, Kim tried to lure me outside…it is so nice he said….we can do this later….NO!!!!  Let’s get it done and we did!  As I was finishing up on Sunday (yes was a two day project) filing the last pieces, I was hit with the greatest thought….made me smile…from the inside out…..Aren’t we thankful that our Heavenly Father didn’t procrastinate giving us His Son, our Savior Jesus, to wash us clean from sin?  To give us the promise of eternal life?  He sure could have….how do you think He felt when Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane…”My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Do you think He liked seeing His Son suffering, and then on the cross in the ninth hour when Jesus called out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  As a mom, I know to see your child in pain and sadness hurts my heart….I know that our Father’s heart ached for His Son, but HE did not procrastinate our Salvation….He gave HIS only Son…..for us….all of us….Jesus died for us, but most importantly, HE rose for us….eternal life is now ours….believe and you will be saved.  “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”  Ephesians 2:8.  Father, thank you for not procrastinating our salvation, thank you for YOUR Son, our SAVIOR.  Keep our faith strong.  And Father, we do so often procrastinate the things that are important in our lives…forgive us and give us Your strength and guidance to do what we need to do, when we need to do it!

 

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.

Love you all!

In everything give thanks

Today at 11:35 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!   Well, how about our crazy weather!!  Lots of whining going on….Hot one day, raining the next, then down right cool, hot, rain, and don’t forget the wind!  Good grief what’s a person to do!  One day people are in tank tops and shorts, the next jackets and long pants, heck yesterday I saw a young lady with a stocking cap on!  Lots of, “I’m tired of all this rain,”  “the mud is driving me crazy,”  “Oh I have so much work to do outside and it’s too wet,”  “the wind is so cold, I want to wear shorts but it’s too cold,”  I’m tired of this weather,” “last night I had the air conditioner on and now today the heater,”  “this weather is crazy.”  Any of these sound familiar to you?  Well, the other morning while reading God’s word, snuggled under a blanket, listening to the pounding rain, I ran across a portion of God’s word, that just really hit me; oh boy…really made me think.  From Philippian’s 4:11-12, “I have learned to 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.” (whether it’s cold and rainy or warm and sunny).  Seemed like it was pointed right at me lately…..so….if it’s cold…light a fire and put on a jacket.  If it’s raining….wear rubber boots and a rain coat…..If it’s hot turn on the air conditioner and put on your shorts….And if it’s all in one day….thank our Father that our lives are not boring!  Rejoice always (rain or shine); pray without ceasing; in EVERYTHING give thanks.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Today, I am giving thanks for the blue sky and sunshine!  Woo Hoo, thank you Father.  And last night, I sure enjoyed the fire in the wood stove and a delicious pot of soup, both prepared by my husband!  Thanks again Father and please forgive us when we whine….we don’t want to we are just weak….help us to give you glory with our words and actions.

 

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13.  Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  1 Timothy 6:6-8.  Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.  1 Timothy 4:4.  Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!

Love you all!

July 18, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  Gosh the weather was crazy here yesterday!  Sitting at my desk I have a great view outside through the front doors.  It was bright and sunny as I started my day and then about mid- morning I noticed it was getting really cloudy…I could see the clouds getting heavy and then just before 12 it just started pouring…..now I mean pouring!  The parking lot was flooded in just a matter of minutes and then, as quickly as it came…..it was gone!  Within a few minutes, the sun was shining again.  The clouds were gone, parking lot drained off….clear skies…..for a little while!  Just when you think it’s clear sailing…Bam…..the clouds moved in dark, heavy and burst into heavy downpours……this was the scenario all through the afternoon.  Clear skies turning to heavy clouds and pounding downpours!  A friend and I were discussing the crazy weather and I said….kind of like our lives isn’t it?  One minute we are cruising along happy as can be….not a care in the world, thinking Woo Hoo, life is grand….And then the next minute dark clouds move in…..hanging heaving over us…..clouds of indecision, financial burdens, family problems, health issues, broken relationships, stress at work…..the clouds get heavier until they are finally pouring on us…..We think we can’t go on……and then, the rain stops, clouds clear, and the sun shines on us again….The sun shines because we are never alone in the downpours!  This morning as I reading God’s word, I came across a verse in James 1 that really hit me as I thought about life…..the sunny times and the downpours…..”Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”  The next time I feel the clouds moving in…..and the downpours hit, I am going to remember these words….this promise…..If I love Him, I will receive His crown of life……definitely better than any umbrella….the SON is shining on and for us!  Thank you Father for the promise of a crown of everlasting life with You…keep us ever faithful.  Draw us to You in cloudy times and hear our Praise….sunny or cloudy!  And Father we do thank you for the precious rains You have sent to water our land…All praise to You!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4.  Just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  2 Corinthians 1:5.  Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.  Psalm 55:22.  Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.  Psalm 126:5-6.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4. 

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

March 5, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Trusting in His time, Tuesday!  This morning, everyone is talking about the strong winds that started blowing last night and continue this morning……trash cans, feed barrels and trash were strewn everywhere.  The big heavy doors of my office keep blowing open….fierce, cold winds……I was feeling tossed about by the winds of life this morning…everything around me blowing out of control…..fierce and cold….then I turned my calendar and read this, “Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what He promised.”  Hebrews 10:25.  Oh yes….the winds are blowing right now, but I have the perfect hope…..if I hold firmly.  He has promised to never forsake me, He has promised to carry my burdens……if I believe….I must trust and believe firmly in His hope because He says, “he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6.  The fierce winds are trying to toss me….but I am holding firmly to His promise because He tells me….”cast your cares on Me, I will sustain you:  I will never let the righteous fall.” From Psalm 55.  “It is God who …makes us stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set His seal of owner ship on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”  2 Corinthians 1;21-22.   If I put all of my trust in Him the winds will not blow me because, His word tells me, “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leave are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (even in the fierce winds).  Jeremiah 17:7-8.  “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32.  Thank you Father for taking my hand in the fierce winds of life and holding fast….I feel secure in Your flock.

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!