Blessed with unique talents: Acts 10:28

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully loved as we are, Thursday!  Have I told you about our new puppy?  Remember back….Kim  adopted a Pyrenees puppy that he found in the pasture after being abandoned by its mother?  He named her Holina and they were instantly best buddies….inseparable !  He raved about her all the time, how smart she was, easy to train, not a pest, and just so cute….and then one afternoon….a few months after Holina had joined our family…..Kim accidentally ran over her.  He was devastated, swearing he would never do that again (fall in love with a dog), never ever have another dog!!!!!  And that was that!  It broke his heart to have to tell Cooper that his buddy was gone.  Well, wasn’t but maybe a couple of weeks later he started saying things like, “maybe Holina’s mom will have more puppies…..maybe we will have another Holina.”  And guess what??!!!  Yep on August 10^th, Holina Dos (two in Spanish that was Hailey’s idea) was born.  There were four puppies, two all -white and two with color on their faces just like Holina One had.  Kim was all excited and could hardly wait until she was big enough to take home.  The day actually came sooner than we had thought because once again mother abandoned two puppies, one was very weak and didn’t make it, but Holina Dos was strong and active!  I dug out all of Holina One’s toys….Kim was thrilled!  Of course, we both thought that Holina Dos would be just like Holina One……She does look just like Holina One, but her actions and behavior…..Not so much at all!  The other night we were watching TV, Holina Dos was destroying everything she could get her teeth on; Kim picked her up, holding her in his lap trying to love on her and she was just going crazy biting him, chewing his fingers, squirming all over….at that point he said, “She sure isn’t like her sister is she?”  I most definitely had to agree…..Holina Dos, was not Holina One reincarnated….she is in fact very different….We were bemoaning that fact when Kim made a great statement about us!  Seems that we, wanting so much to have Holina One back have been in fact quite unfair to Holina Dos…..Holina Dos is unique, a separate creation, she has her own personality traits and characteristics….we have been wrong trying to change her or assume that she will be just like Holina One…..At that point, Kim and I vowed to accept her, love her based on the puppy she is….not the one we thought she should be.  Later, lying in bed it occurred to me….Oh how blessed we are that our Heavenly Father created each of us uniquely…..HE loves each of the same……big or small, short or tall, old or young, rich or poor, shy or outgoing, mechanically inclined or all thumbs, good cook or fast food queen….Our Father LOVES us, accepts us…..blesses us with unique talents….that’s the way HE planned it!  How boring this world would be if we were all the same….Hmmm, if our Father sees us all the same….yep…..we must do the same.  Father thank you for loving each of us for who we are, help us to set aside prejudices and treat everyone as You would…..

 

Do to others as you would have them do to you.  Luke 6:31.  Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  John 13:15.  Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Hebrews 10:24.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10.  God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.  Acts 10:28.  To love God with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.  Mark 12:33.

Love you all!

 

 

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

Administrative Services

He makes all things brand new: 2 Corinthians 5:17-8, 21

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  I was so excited yesterday at the prospect of finally getting to come to work on CR 1600….if you reach back, you might remember I shared when it closed quite some time ago.  More miles and time for me, so I was so glad when I found out Monday night that it was open (well sort of).  I headed out early yesterday because of the rain, but I was excited about being back on 1600!  My goodness, what a difference, the old road was so rough, bumpy, and full of potholes….the new road smooth, wider and no potholes!  Just amazing to me what they can do with good equipment and man power…..an old road, “brand new.”  As I drove along a thought came to me…..we too can be brand new…..no matter how rough and bumpy we become, no matter how many potholes or how deep they are….we can be “band new” again too!  Oh  friends, my heart warmed as I felt HIS arms around me…reassuring me that through the blood, the death, and resurrection of His ONLY SON, JESUS we can be ‘brand new,” washed clean, free from our sin and guilt….from the bumpy, narrow road that we sometimes travel…….There’s always, always HOPE for us and those we love through JESUS……smile with me, thank our Father for HIS unending grace and mercy, and never give up on yourself or a loved one no matter how deep the potholes….Go to HIM, Be Still, lean into HIS embrace, Listen….Trust……Believe……HE Makes all things NEW….BRAND NEW.   Thank you Father!  All honor and praise to YOU!

 

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life…..for sin shall not be your master because you are not under the law, but under grace…..For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  From Romans 6.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.  God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5: 17-18 & 21.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  Psalm 103:12.  It is by grace you have been save, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the girl of God.  Ephesians 2:8.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20.

Love you all!

The Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12

Today at 10:27 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His Friday.  I have developed a bad habit….unconsciously….seems like I must be clenching my teeth in my sleep.  I do not have a clue that I am doing it, but when I wake up my jaws are sore, well my whole mouth, teeth and gums throbbing…..every once in a while I will wake up out a sound sleep and catch myself doing it….so I know exactly why my mouth is sore when I wake up.  Like I said it’s totally unconscious and I am sure it has to do with the stress I have been under lately, but I sure don’t like it.  This morning I got to thinking…..hmm, wonder what other things I do unconsciously that might make people around me feel uncomfortable……remarks that just spew out without thinking, rude facial expressions that cause pain…..all unconscious actions…..but definitely not reflections of God’s love shining through me.  God’s love shining through us is easily snuffed out if we don’t have our hearts and minds focused fully on HIM!  When we tootle along through life just doing as we please, we will do things unconsciously that may cause hurt to people around us….The Golden Rule comes to my mind…..we do want to be treated kindly, don’t we….well we must treat others just like we want to be treated…..simple enough, right??!!!  Nope, not if we don’t have God’s love in our hearts…..remember the other day we talked about “clothing” ourselves in HIS love…well, here you have it!  Oh and a PS…..I need to trust in HIS will a bit more too…..hold on tighter, be still, feel HIS peace and trust in HIS will….HE is in charge and HE will take care of every last detail….trusting and believing Father!  Please forgive us when we don’t shine for YOU…help us to find strength by staying close to YOU in Your word and prayer….staying close to YOU we will be OK!  Thank you Father!

 

Be kind and compassionate to one another.  Ephesians 4:32.  As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Colossians 3:12.  In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  Matthew 7:12.  Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; TRUST in Him and He will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him….Psalm 37:3-7a.  And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  To our Gd and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Philippians 4:19-20.

Love you all!

Happy lights!: Psalm 27:1

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God, Wednesday!  So, how about this weather….isn’t it wonderful, I love the changing of seasons, especially summer to fall.  I love putting up fall decorations, corn stalks, ornamental corn, beautiful colored leaves, but my favorite is my pumpkin and turkey lights…well actually, one strand of mini white Christmas lights that stretch across the front porch (now Cooper and Katy’s playroom) window.  Each fall I alternate hanging plastic jack o lanterns and turkeys on the lights…..and it’s the silliest thing, but when I go to turn them on for the first time, I am so excited….just happy….well heck joyful…..isn’t that silly!  This morning as I walked into the dark living room for my morning prayer time, I smiled as I flipped on my happy lights…..Oh my…..I felt our Father…..so close to me….His arms around me…..”Kathie, My precious child….you love those lights because of the joy they shed on the darkness.  This world is so often full of darkness, sadness, worry, stress……My LOVE is your LIGHT in the darkness, your HAPPY LIGHT…..I shine to bring you JOY…..HAPPY, knowing that I am with you always, through every turmoil…..know that your JOY will come through MY LIGHT.”   Thank you Father….forgive my times of doubt and weakness.  All Honor, Glory, and Praise to YOU my LIGHT and my SALVATION.

 

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.  The Lord is my LIGHT and my SALVATION—whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of life—of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1.  Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the LIGHT of the Lord.  Isaiah 2:5.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never wak in darkness, but will have the LIGHT of life.”  John 8:12. Restore us, O God; make Your face shine upon us.  Psalm 80:3. 

Love you all!

 

"Dressing for Jesus": I Peter 3:3-5

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!!  I have had so much fun the last few days going through 2 big bags of awesome hand-me-downs!!!!  I am so blessed to have a special friend that shares with me and there’s always plenty for me to share too!  Well anyway, back to the point….what fun going through all the clothes, trying them on, figuring out what I have to go with them, picking the right accessories, checking out the final product in the mirror and heading out proudly to show them off….Ugh…did I just say, “show them off?”  Well, you know the feeling don’t you…looking in the mirror with your new duds on and thinking….Hmmm, don’t look half bad.  Well wouldn’t you know as I sat down to spend some time with our Father in word and prayer, He directed me to 1 Peter 3:3-5, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. (ouch).”  Gosh that kind of hit me where it hurts as I thought of the outfit I had laid out to wear to work…all excited about sporting my new duds…..Of course, God wants us to look nice…He always wants us to do our very best at everything….but He really doesn’t care what we look like on the outside….1 Peter continues, “Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. “  Now, of course God loves the giving/gift of hand-me-downs….the giver is blessed by our Heavenly Father for her sharing spirit and the receiver blessed with new clothes and both blessed with the joy of a loving friendship.  However, our Heavenly Father does not want us to spend more time dressing our outside bodies than our inside, our hearts, our spirits….God says to us in Galatians 3:26-29, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  If we are clothed in Christ….it doesn’t matter what we wear!  We are all the same in God’s eyes…..and Paul has the best advice for us in Romans 13 when he says, “…clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  Just think how warm we will be from the inside out, clothed in Jesus’ love.  Father, forgive us when our priorities get out of whack.  Help us to dress our hearts and minds with the love of Christ, to Your glory!  And Father, thank you for the blessing of loving friends that share in so many ways….and thank you for hand-me-downs. 

 

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  1 Samuel 16:7.  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Proverbs 31:30.

Love you all!

He knows what's best for his children: Psalm 55:22

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!!!!  I had not been home very long last night when I got a phone call.  Caller ID said Kathyrn, but it was actually Katy and I could tell by her voice she was very upset!  When I realized it was Katy and she was upset, I said in my most sympathetic Nana voice, “Hi Katy, what’s the matter?”  She immediately began telling me that mommy wouldn’t bring her over to my house, the more she talked the more she began to cry.  Soon, she was full- on sobbing!!!!  She wanted to come to my house and that’s all there was to it….My heart was broken, I just couldn’t stand to hear her so unhappy….I could hear Mommy in the background, so I asked her why she couldn’t come over.  Mommy said, “I told her we are not going over to Nana’s tonight.”  She went on to tell me that Katy doesn’t always have to get what she wants…..now of course I know that’s true, but it took every ounce of self-control that I could muster to not go over and get her!  My heart was broken listening to her deep, painful sobs…..I wanted her to get what she wanted, but I knew that is not always the best for her……as I said goodbye, told her I loved her, and would see her soon, a sweet, calming peace came over me.  Oh my….my oh my…..if my heart feels broken because Katy is sad and what she wants is not best for her…..can you even imagine how our Heavenly Father feels  when we call HIM sobbing…..we really think we know what’s best for us, but……God in His infinite wisdom….knows….and will provide….but more than that…..He longs to comfort us…..He feels our pain and yearns to dry our tears……His arms are open, His shoulders strong…..He will embrace and comfort us.  Thank you Father…..for hearing our sobs, drying our tears….loving us beyond all human understanding.

 

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  Revelation 7:17.  Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage.  Ezra 7:28. The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Deuteronomy 31:8.  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.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11. 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.  Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22. I wait for you, O Lord; You will answer, O Lord my God.  Psalm 38:15.

Love you all!

Beautiful Stars : Nehemiah 9:6

Good Morning Friends!  Totally trusting in our Father’s love, Tuesday!  Last night after work I dove into unpacking and laundry from our trip last week.  Our little puppy is so very glad we are home….so excited that when we take her out to potty, she wants to play so it takes forever….Last night just before going to bed, I took her out for one last time….she was being crazy and I started to get impatient until I looked up, skyward.  The sky was breathtaking…..so dark, but totally a light with thousands, maybe millions of dancing, sparkling stars…..stars expanding from one side of Lula to the other all for my delight……I stood there gazing….in awe of God’s magnificence……I felt His presence in the expanse of the dancing sky and thought, who could ever doubt HIM…..doubt that HE is real, omnipotent and omniscient….I thought of the massive ocean we had seen in California…..like the sky expanding as far as the eye could see, continuous waves pounding the sandy beaches…..comprehending the water and sand….not possible….again I thought, how could anyone ever doubt HIM…..as Holina bit my toe, I jumped and swatted her…..immediately breaking the spell I was in, pondering God’s magnificence…..I thought of the horrid 4, 5, 6 lane freeways of Southern CA, the confusion and danger as we drove them….there was no peace….no awe there, only stress and chaos….the world’s chaos so often, so easily distracts us from the magnificence of  our Heavenly Father…..the magnificence of HIS creation…..the magnificence of HIS Gift to us….HIS ONLY SON….Father, forgive us when we let life distract us from YOU, keep us ever in YOUR presence in awe of YOUR MAGNIFICENCE. Help us to go there when life has us in a traffic jam.  Love you Father, all honor, glory, and praise to YOU>

 

You alone are the Lord.  You made the heaven, 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.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.  These are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him!  Who then can  understand the thunder of His power?  Job 26:14.  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. 

Love you all!