January 31, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!!!!  Although I have been a great advocate of the benefits of regular exercise for years, the last year I have been a bit of a slacker and my body reminds me every day!  So after lots of kicking myself, I am bound and determined to get after it and really work on some problem areas so I went to a sweet friend that is really an exercise guru!  After just a couple of emails, a few conversations, and a couple of demonstrations I am soooo excited about my new routine!  I printed out all my emails at home reading and rereading so I was ready this morning to give it a whirl…..it feels so good….a little change and I am rejuvenated!  As I sat in my chair early this morning, getting ready to spend some time with our Heavenly Father a thought hit me hard…..Maybe I have been a bit of a slacker in my spiritual life too….maybe I need some rejuvenating spiritual “exercises” to shape up my life as God’s child…..hmmm…I opened my study book and guess what verse popped out at me….”Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”  Romans 12:1.  Well me oh my….imagine that…….couldn’t be much clearer could it…..kind of like really looking in the mirror at the flab hanging from my arms……Oh Father, sorry I have been a spiritual slacker….renew by spiritual zeal through more time with You in word, prayer and Christian fellowship.  I pray that all I do will serve You and bring glory to You.  And Father I ask your blessings on my new physical exercise too.  Thank you.

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.  1 Samuel 12:24.  It is the Lord our God you  must follow, and Him you must revere.  Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.  Deuteronomy 13:4.   Pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.  Proverbs 5:1-2.  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Psalm 32:8.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5.  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.  1 Timothy 1:12.

Love you all!

January 30, 2013

 

Good Morning Friends!  Wondrously wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  This morning on my drive in I was talking to Hailey; she said when Clark left this morning he called her and said, “look out the window at your duck and pig.”  She said, “Nana, they were all snuggled up together….Daisy (her duck) was laying right by Wilbur….like Wilbur was keeping her warm.”    Hailey was so touched by the fact that Wilbur…half wild boar and half pot-bellied pig….had no qualms snuggling with Miss Daisy (she’s a little crazy, the survivor of a hungry snake…her sister was not so lucky).  She said it was just so sweet….”Nana” she said, “it’s like Wilbur had no clue that Daisy is a duck….”  Immediately I said, “Yea….all God’s children.”  Hailey totally agreed and was just so proud of her critters.  We said goodbye and I got to thinking…..all God’s children….how pleasing it is to our Heavenly Father when we all get along, when we accept our differences in ethnicity, culture, opinions….and get along as God’s children.  He created each of us uniquely…some of us are Daisys and some Wilburs, but we are are all the same in God’s eyes and we each have something special to contribute…and most importantly we are…HIS DEAR CHILDREN!   Woo Hoo!  Let’s make our Heavenly Father proud of His “human critters” and love one another in peace and harmony.  Father, thank you for our differences, help us to appreciate others as Your Dear Children and love them as You love us.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!  Psalm 133:1.  Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  Matthew 5:43-44.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10.  Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Hebrews 10:24.  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 3:1.

Love you all!

January 28, 2013

Good Morning Friends!!!!  Mighty and Marvelous is our God, Monday!  Just to refresh your memory, Cooper and Katy spend their days with Hailey and Tucker, and of course Clark when he’s not at work or school!  Well, Hailey is such a creative daycare mom and always has such cool things for them to do, she never ceases to amaze me.  Her latest invention, over the weekend, I would say is the coolest (got to give Clark some credit too, he was a big help)!  Ok so I know you are on pins and needles to find out what they did……Cooper and Katy (3 and 2) love to help Hailey with the laundry….well me and mommy too…they just love to put things in the washer and dryer….laundry is their thing.  So, Hailey and Clark made them a washing machine out of a big cardboard box (see attachment).  The kids get to Hailey’s about 6:50 am and the first thing Hailey did was take them to play room to show them their washing machine; needless to say, they were delighted!!!! Kathyrn went on to work and Hailey started breakfast while Cooper and Katy were playing.  According to Hailey, they had not been in the play room very long when Cooper came out, stripped bare!!!!  “Cooper, why are you naked?!  Where are your clothes”  To which Cooper immediately and quite matter of factly, replied, “in the washing machine, I am washing them.”  Can you imagine Hailey’s reaction!  When she told me I just cracked up….kids!  She said, “Nana, who would have ever thought that he would do that.  You just don’t know what a kid is going to do.”  When we finished our conversation I couldn’t help but think about Cooper standing in the kitchen naked while his clothes washed, gosh what a good smile maker!  Then a thought occurred to me…..Hailey’s reaction…..”who would have ever thought he would do that.”  We never know how our words or actions are going to be interrupted by others….it never crossed Hailey’s mind that he would strip and wash his clothes…..to him it was just the logical thing to do!  I had to think about my actions at times, things I say to people without really thinking things through……gosh, think of the feelings that are hurt, ill feelings sprout, misunderstandings….gosh, we can really never be too careful with our words and actions…..we need to think before we act, put ourselves in the other person’s place and try to let our actions reflect God’s love!  Father, thank you for grandkids that can teach us simple, but important lessons.  Help us to speak and act according to Your will.

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.  Proverbs 25:11.  Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  Matthew 12:34.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:6.  He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.  Proverbs 13:3.  A gossip betrays a confidence.  Proverbs 11:13.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14.

Love you all!

January 25, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Faithfully, firmly following HIM Friday!  “The Lord is my Shepherd…...”  Everyone recognizes the first line of the 23^rd Psalm and most likely this awesome Psalm stirs things deep in each of us.  For me…..well, since Kim and I have been raising sheep, our Good Shepherd has taken on a most intimate meaning to me.  Last Friday, most of our 200 plus sheep and their lambs found a hole in a fence and decided to change pastures….without permission mind you!  Well, they couldn’t just go somewhere and mind their own business, NO….they had to go right to the pasture with our cows and their calves.  Now, this might not seem like a problem to some of you, but it makes it nearly impossible to feed…..The sheep, greedy girls, want all the food…..and it’s important that the cows and sheep get the proper amount…..Kim works hard to make sure that they are fed properly…..getting the nutrients that they need….not what they think they need.  Well, on Saturday Kim asked me to help him get the sheep out of the cows pasture.  While he got the four wheeler to herd them up I walked through some isolated spots that a few wayward ewes had found themselves….I walked them out of the pen and down the alley way out into the pasture.  Kim was going to herd them all up and move them through an open gate into another pasture.  The gate was right next to the alley way which has no gate……So, if you know sheep at all, you can just imagine how easily they might veer off the path to the open gate and head towards the alley way which would not be a good thing!  My job as my little red-headed shepherd’s helper was to keep them out of the ally way.  Now that might seem simple to most of you, but not the case with sheep….Oh no, one must be very careful in the process; if I stood too close to the gate they would head in an entirely different direction….most likely scatter and have to be herded again (that does not make a red-headed shepherd happy), but if I stood to far back they could get in and run me down…..being a shepherd is not all it’s cracked up to be……a tough job at times.  I finally decided to crotch down in the alley way and sit real still……I watched as Kim veered back and forth gathering them, making sure no one was left behind…..a couple of times he had to stop and pick up a lamb that had lost its mommy or couldn’t keep up……he was patient but firm with his special “Yip, Yip, Yip” gathering call…..as I sat there, enjoying the nice morning, my thoughts turned to the 23^rd Paslm….to our Good Shepherd…….Oh gosh, we sure do make it difficult for HIM at times….how often we head through the holes of sin wandering into “pastures” that are not good for us…..where we might mingle with people that are not good for us, head down alley ways of self-destruction, depression, greed…..like the lambs we can’t keep up….could be left behind in our sin…..but our Good Shepherd, is patient yet firm with us…..He guides through the right gates and leads us to safe pasture…..If the sheep will listen to Kim’s “yips” he will lead them to safety and provide them with everything they need…….Hmmm, oh my……..just like us…..if we will just listen to our Good Shepherd…..He will take care of us…..provide us with everything we need……and He’s always there with open arms to pick us up when we can’t keep up…..to comfort us, love us, forgive us….Thank you Father for never giving up on us.

Jesus said, “ I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down His life the sheep…..I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."  John 10:11 & 14. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 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 them.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; 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

Love you all!

January 18, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His, Friday!   My mom, left this earth for her heavenly home quite a few years ago, but if she were still hanging around she would be 93 today.  Gosh, after so many years, I still miss her;  today she is really on my mind, so this morning as I was browsing through some inspirational verses and came upon this quote, “Always remember, when God made you He did so with a purpose and a plan.  He saw all your days before you lived one of them and placed over you the covering of His protective love.  He has allowed nothing to come into your life that has not first been screened through that love.  His hand has remained upon you to this very day,”  my thoughts went immediately to my mom’s life.  My mom was a wonderful Christian woman…..she oozed with “Care-Isma” but she didn’t cruise through life trouble free.  No, actually quite the opposite…..her life was composed of lots of hard work, heart ache, after heart ache, at the age of 53 she suffered a severe stroke that left her disabled for the reminder of her life and  my dad passed away 6 months later…..I have just touched the surface of mom’s life, but I am sure you will follow my next point.  “He has allowed nothing to come into your life that has not first been screened through that love….”  When I read this, for one brief moment, I thought had all mom’s heartache  been screened through God’s love……how can that be?  Why would He…….then I smiled and thought of her faith….unshakable!  I have never known anyone with a faith as strong as my mom’s……throughout my life I was the beneficiary of that faith….watching her grow stronger through each heartache…..At that moment God’s words from Romans 5:3-4, came to mind, “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  My mom never lost hope and she most definitely was a character…..she persevered with dignity, bringing glory to our Heavenly Father.  Suffering is not easy, that’s for sure….but thinking about my mom….the lives she touched, the Care-Ism she shared for 82 years….I know that her life was planned through God’s love and so are ours….through thick or thin He knows what we are going through….heck He knows how many hairs we have on our heads……We are His dear children….Oh Wow How we are loved by Him!!!!  His hand is on us every day!  Thank You Father, for the faith of my mother, keep my growing and strong.

For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:10.  Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.  Psalm 55:22. Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  Romans 8:18.  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 12:5-6.  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 Crist. 

Ephesians 5:19-20.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

January 17, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  Yesterday I got to attend a Customer Service class at the beautiful Mc Swain Theater!  A major theme of the class was making a positive impact both at work and in our personal lives…..doing the best we can, going the extra mile, being a positive influence.  The theme word was “CARE-ISMA”  don’t you love it…..it’s all about caring…..After three action packed hours on ways and reminders for us to make a positive impact in all that we do, our instructor left us with this quote, “When you’re green you’re growing….when you’re ripe, you rot.”  Uhhs and Aww’s were audile all through the theater….quite thought provoking for sure.  We all left class, happy, laughing the afternoon was definitely positive and beneficial……most definitely thought provoking!  As I got in my car and headed home, my thoughts returned to the quote, “When you’re green you’re growing….when you’re ripe you rot.”  I had to think about myself….am I green or ripe and about to rot?  I know that our instructor wanted us to think about our actions….our Care-Isma or lack of, but cruising down 3W, I got that familiar tap on  the shoulder.  “Hi Father, Whatcha got for me today?”  Well, Kathie, that is an interesting quote.  I like it. “  “Yes Father me too, so go on.”  “Kathie, that quote has everything to do with your faith……you must always stay green and growing in faith……never thinking that you know it all, that you don’t need to worship, or read my word, or spend time with me in prayer….you can never get too much faith….you must keep growing to stay close to Me……and of course you want to stay close to Me, right!?  Because you know that, I am with you in times of trouble, I will never leave you or forsake you, I will be with you wherever you go, I am the strength of your heart, I love you and forgive you, and I will  bless you with peace.”  ‘ Oh Father, yes, yes!  I get it!!!!  Thank you!”  Father, please keep me ever green and growing in love for you, so that am a positive influence in the lives of those around me. Fill me with Your CARE-ISMA.  I love you Father, all praise, glory and honor to YOU.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 118:1.  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.  It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere.  Keep His commands and obey him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.  Deuteronomy 13:4.  The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Philippians 4:4.

Love you all!

January 16, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wondrously Wrapped in the loving arms of OUR FATHER Wednesday!  Gonna share a meditation I received this morning that so touched me in light of our Todays this week…..Oh to be His children…..children of the Heavenly Father.  “Blessed are all they that put their trust in HIM.”  Take a minute to sit with HIM today!  You know how our Daddy’s like that!  Love you all!

January 16, 2013 Daddy's Girl By Suzie Eller "He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17b (NLT) When my son-in-law walks through his front door, he throws his arms wide open and calls out, "Elle!" Two-year-old Elle races toward him in her awkward toddler run and throws herself into his embrace. He tosses her high in the air, then pulls her close, saying, "Elle, do you know how much Daddy loves you?" When I have the privilege of watching this scene, I always think the same thing: My beautiful granddaughter will always know she's her daddy's girl. A daddy's girl is loved even when she throws a tantrum and has to go to time out. A daddy's girl feels beautiful even when she's in need of a tissue and has spaghetti stains on her shirt. A daddy's girl doesn't need to search for love anywhere else, because her daddy has provided a safe and loving place in his heart. Maybe as you read this, you think of your own dad. Perhaps he was absent, destructive, or failed to provide a safe shelter for his girl. I understand that feeling. I met my biological dad briefly at the age of 13, again at 17, and at 40 years of age I stood beside his casket to say goodbye to a man I really didn't know. I will never be a daddy's girl in the sense that my granddaughter has experienced, but it doesn't mean I am exempt from a Father's love. In the New Testament, Abba is mentioned only three times—and is closest to our word "daddy." When Jesus used it to describe His—and our—intimate relationship with God, it offended those within earshot. They questioned how He could use a term so familiar to describe God. But I understand it perfectly. You see, regardless of an earthly father's love or absence, I'm still a Daddy's girl. And so are you. Our Abba Father delights and sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17). He adopts us as His own and offers a rich inheritance (Galatians 4:6-7). We walk into His waiting arms daily, and when we need correction, His love does not ebb. When we stand in front of Him with our sin-stained heart, or hold up tears for Him to dry, He remains our Abba Father. Maybe you've been longing to fill that empty place left by an earthly father. As a Daddy's girl, you don't have to search for love anymore, because your Abba Father has provided a safe and loving place in his heart. In fact, He's waiting with open arms. Dear Abba, I hold up the gaps left by an earthly parent, and thank You for pouring into those places until I overflow with confidence in Whose I am. In Jesus' Name, Amen.