It's not "all about me"

Today at 8:55 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Take time to be grateful, Thursday!  Yesterday was a Cooper day for Papa, so about 6:50 am Kathyrn flew into the drive way to drop him off, then proceed to Grami’s, dropping off Katy, before heading into work.  All summer long, when they arrive, Kim and I both go out to say hi to Katy only to find her with a sad, pouty face….she is always sad/mad because she wants to stay with Papa too…..poor sweetie just cannot understand why she can’t stay and “work “ with Papa like Cooper does.  Cooper always jumps out of the van and runs to the house with his backpack happy and raring to go to “work.”  Yesterday, however, was a totally different scenario…the exact opposite to be exact.  Cooper had the mad/pouty face and barely attempted to get out hanging onto Mommy, his blankie clutched tightly.  Katy, on the other hand, was happy as a lark!!!!  You see, Grami was taking Katy and her other granddaughters to the movies and Cooper was mad because he wanted to go!!!!  We tried to explain to him that Katy is always sad because he gets to stay with Papa and she doesn’t, so now it was her turn to do something fun that Cooper didn’t get to do…..OH boy, how do you think that went over?  Cooper did not get it….he could care less about Katy’s feelings….nope it was all about him…..and he was mad because he didn’t get to go to the movies!   All about Cooper…..we all had a little chuckle at him as he stomped into the house, but as Kathyrn and Katy pulled out I felt the familiar tap on my shoulder.  “Good Morning Father,  thank  you for this beautiful day!”  What’s up?”  “Well, Kathie….I was watching you all with Cooper and I know you think, shame on him for being jealous of Katy and being all about Cooper, but Kathie…..maybe you need to stop and examine your thoughts and actions at times.  Just saying…..times when you ignore the feelings of a friend or family because you are all wrapped up in yourself….”all about you.”  How about times when you whine because someone got a new dress or went somewhere and you can’t afford a new dress…..how about that closet full of dresses, skirts, pants, tops, sweaters….just saying my child…..Cooper has pointed out actions that you, as an adult, need to avoid yourself.  So, let Me help you produce an attitude of gratitude;  I didn’t promise you could have everything your little heart desires, but I do promise to give you everything you need, to be with you in good times and bad, to give you rest and peace…..and I ask you love your neighbor (or sister) as yourself.  Kathie, please, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks. (1 Thess.5:16-18).”  Oh Father…..thank you for the tap….I am so very blessed in every way, thank you….forgive me when it’s “all about me.”

 

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5:19:20. 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.  Philippians 4:11-12.  God made her desserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and sound of singing.  Isaiah 51:3.  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. Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!  Revelation 7:12.

Love you all!

Potholes

Today at 8:38 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully loved by Him, Tuesday!  We sure had a great time with Harper while she was here!  One of her favorite things to do is practice driving on our country roads.  Friday evening we went out for a final cruise before she went home on Saturday; she had gotten pretty good at dodging the many  potholes on our road and others around us too.  There are spots where it is almost impossible to miss the annoying holes, no matter how hard you try, but Harper  did a heck of a job.  Friday as she was meticulously maneuvering between/around the potholes, I couldn’t help but chuckle and say to her, “DRIVING 101 IN LULA—LEARNING TO AVOID POTHOLES.”  We had a good laugh and headed home for her last dinner in Lula, tacos!  Working on dinner, I was smiling thinking about the fun times teaching Harper to drive…..especially dodging potholes….Hmmm, suddenly I had a clear thought… my goodness, the roads we travel in our lives are so often full of potholes too…..holes of envy, anxiety, depression, greed, self-centeredness…..we definitely need to learn to dodge those potholes….the potholes I have to deal with in my car, if I’m not careful, will cause damage to my car….tires….front end….you name it…potholes are hard on a car!  Potholes of envy, anxiety, depression, greed, and self-centeredness are hard on our faith…..our hearts and minds are damaged when we hit those holes…..we sink into a place that is not good for us or those around us…..We definitely are not giving glory to our Father  when we constantly hit the holes…..But it’s not futile….Soon road construction will begin on our road, yea!!!  We are very excited about having a road without so many potholes, a smoother ride will be great….Our ride through life is not always smooth, but we do have help anytime….we are not alone….Our Father will smooth the bumps for us…..He will fill in the holes of hope, love, joy, and compassion offering us strength through His grace and forgiveness.  Father, thank you for forgiving us when we hit the potholes….fill us with Your gracious love so that we avoid the potholes of attitudes and actions that are reflections of YOU!

 

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  1 Corinthians 10:13.  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Mark 14:38.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and You shall find rest unto your souls.  Matthew 11:29.  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17. 

Love you all!

 

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

Administrative Services

Don't make a wrong turn

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!  Like I said yesterday, our granddaughter Harper is here for a visit, she lucked out and got a cushy babysitting job for the granddaughter of a friend here at work.  I am dropping her off on my way in, it’s a little off the beaten track so we are leaving a little early.  This morning, after a nice breakfast prepared for us by Papa, we headed out a little after 7.  We were jabbering away about who knows what when I saw the sign for our exit, ½ mile….I thought OK, there’s our exit coming up, too make sure I didn’t, out of habit, pass it by.  I never ceased to jabber….nope not for a second….until…..Harper said, “Nana, isn’t that where we needed to turn???””  OH MY GOSH!!!!  Of course it was….was being the optimum word!!!!  For one split second…..one fleeting moment I thought about trying to make the exit….In my heart I knew there was no way…..no way I would be able to safely make the turn at the speed I was going…..OH MY GOSH!!!!  Now we would have to go up to the next exit and cut back…..I didn’t want Harper to be late, making my friend and I both late to work…..All because I was so busy jabbering, not paying attention to the road….the way to my final destination.  I was busy berating myself to Harper, trying to come up with some legitimate excuse for my mess up when I felt the familiar tap on my shoulder…..”Hi Father, I really blew it this morning didn’t I?”  “Oh Kathie, My precious child….yes, you did mess up this morning, but you were able to turn around and get on the right track again….In this world, Kathie, it’s important that you are diligent in paying attention to the road…the road to ME.  My directions, will guide you to your final destination….life everlasting with ME!  Oh Kathie, I know that sometimes life is so very difficult, full of stress, financial burdens, worry, grief, pain…..but don’t make the wrong turn when things get rough….pay attention, don’t let life distract you from the road ahead…the road to ME!  I am there for you all along the way…..through every detour….just call on Me…follow the light of My word to guide you…..listen for Me in the wind and rain, see ME in the sunshine and moonlight….trust ME…..lean on ME…..follow ME….I will not disappoint you.  I love you!!!”  “Oh Father, gosh thank you for loving us so much, for leading us with the light of Your love through every highway and by- way.  Forgive us Father when we become distracted from YOU….turn us around, bring us back on track…..lead us to YOU.”

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my pat.  Psalm 119:105.  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.  Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.  Psalm 89:15.  He brought His people out like a flock; He led them like sheep through the desert.  He guided them safely, so they were unafraid.  Psalm 78:52-53.  God will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.  Isaiah 2:3.  “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.  These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them, “ says the Lord.  Isaiah 42:16.  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.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5. 

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist

Administrative Services

Division of Housing

the Chickasaw Nation

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!

Lord of the flies

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God Wednesday.  Last evening when I got home from work Kim and the boys were in the pool.  I walked over and said hi, then went in, changed my clothes and joined them.  I didn’t feel like getting in, but I happily sat on the deck sipping a cold drink enjoying watching my boys.  There was one problem…..the flies were terrible!  I mean tons of them all around, sticky ones landing on me and all of our drinks.  I covered up the boys cups with a towel, but the nasty flies were everywhere and bound and determined to annoy me, pushing me to the point of being angry…..As I sat angrily swatting at flies my thoughts were drawn to Pastor’s sermon on Sunday.  He read from Matthew 10 where Jesus is giving His disciples instructions as they go out and do HIS work….HE warned them that it wouldn’t be easy, mentioning Beelzebub (Old Testament)…New Testament, Beelzebul the word for devil…..the meaning of Beelzebub, “Lord of the flies.”  How apropos is that!!??  Oh my gosh, as I sat there getting more and more agitated with the nasty, pesky flies puking on our cups, undoubtedly leaving their brown specks everywhere I couldn’t help but acknowledge the definite connection between the devil and flies….OH how clever our Father is to name the fallen angel, “Lord of the flies.”  The devil does his best to agitate us, to provoke us to no good….and he is everywhere just like nasty flies.  He tempts us with all the things that our Father hates….sticky and nasty just like flies.  However, Jesus didn’t just drop them into the devils hands to fend for themselves…NO WAY….nor does he leave us on our own…No, Jesus tells us to watch out for the devil in 1 Peter 5:8-11, but declares He is with us….”Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion (or a nasty fly) looking for someone to devour (agitate, frustrate….)Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”   Our God loves us, “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.”  Yes, we will be tempted, pestered, agitated, frustrated, but if we stand firm in our faith, we will get through….Father, as you instruct us in Matthew 26:41, help us to, “Watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation.  Our spirits are willing, but our bodies weak.”  Thank you Father, All glory and honor to You.

 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strong hold of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.

Love you all!

Popping a little leak...

Good Morning Friends!  Forever HIS Friday!  This morning in my still half asleep mode I turned on the water in the kitchen…hmm I thought, Rural Water District must still be having problems, not much pressure.  I didn’t mention it to Kim because I figured since RWD had been having some problems this week, it was just them, so didn’t give it another thought until….We were sitting on the front porch just like every other summer morning, me reading God’s word and praying, Kim dozing; as it started to get light I could see a big puddle of water in the driveway.  I hadn’t heard it rain during the night, so I was surprised.  I asked Kim, “did it rain in the night?  There’s a bunch of water in the driveway.”  He sat up and looked outside….”Or we have a water leak.”  At that moment I thought about no water pressure…gently I told him…”There wasn’t much pressure this morning.”  At that point, he jumped up and looked out.  “Yep we have a leak, either out here or in a kennel.  GOOD MORNIG!’  And at that he stomped out the door to check it out!  In a few minutes he was back from a completely flooded Kennel….leaks, not a good way to start the day.  I went in the house to pack my lunch and get things ready for breakfast (fresh fruit smoothies for me and the boys), as I opened the frig I was not happy at the sight that greeted me…..oh my gosh, another leak!  The zip lock bag of wild berries the boys had picked had leaked all over the frig.  Dark purple juice everywhere….I had to chuckle just a little bit thinking of the leaky morning!  Well, only one thing to do….get to cleaning so, I soaked up, wiped off, moved things and cleaned under them and pretty soon…Well for goodness’ sake….look how nice and clean the frig is….been a long time.   As I finished my lunch, happy to have a clean frig, the thought came to me…..Leaks don’t necessarily have to be all bad!  Nope, that leaky bag of berries resulted in me having a clean frig…We are blessed with so much from our Heavenly Father, loved beyond our imagination, blessings of food and clothes, jobs, friends, family….the list is endless….Aww yes, I do think we could pop a few leaks….Leaks of love through unselfish acts of kindness, sharing, time, patience, listening, gratitude and thankfulness….leaks that give honor to God…little leaks will be just fine, little acts add up to lots of love puddled up all over, just like the berry juice!  So, friends how about joining me in popping a little leak!  Father, thank you for the bounty of blessings you shower on us every day in every way, instill us with hearts of gratitude, so that we leak your love where ever we go, to Your glory!

 

Give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds.  Psalm 107:21.  Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.  Matthew 5:42.  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.  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.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself (leaking) through love.  Galatians 5:6.

Love you all!

 

 

Who do you say that I am?

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully, I am the child of the ONE TRUE GOD, Thursday!  This morning during my quiet time I found myself reading from Mark 8, Jesus with His disciples, verses 27-29 really struck a note with me…..”Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi.  On the way He asked them, ‘Who do people say that I am?’  They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’  ‘But what about you?’ he asked.  ‘Who do you say that I am?’   Peter answered, ‘YOU are the Christ.’ “  On Saturday we flew home from California with our grandsons Brayden 9 and Dane 7.  This was the first time we had ever flown alone with grandkids so the whole process was a bit well…..use your imagination…LAX two boys and red neck Nana and Papa…As we went through the TSA security check, I led the way, boys right behind me and Papa bringing in the rear.  The agent check my ID and boarding pass first, then the boys.  In a gruff voice he said, “Who is Brayden Torrence?”  I pointed to him and said, “He is.”  The agent responded in the same gruff voice, “I need them to answer for themselves!”  Well, alrighty then I thought and stepped back a little.  “Who is Brayden Torrence?”  the agent asked.  Brayden, just a little nervous replied, “I am.”  The agent then pointed to me and asked him, “Who is that?”  Without hesitation he said, “NANA.”  The look on his face told a story, who in the heck do you think she is, Mister…..The process continued with Dane.  The agent asking who is Dane Torrence, then pointing to me  asking, “who is she?”  Dane’s response was quite similar to Brayden’s, with a are you crazy Mister, look on his face he confidently said, “Nana Kathie.”  At that point he let us through the gate.  At the time I thought, well I guess it’s good to make sure that they do belong to us and we are not kidnappers….but not until I read Mark 8:27-29 did I really get it.  The boys knew who I was and were not afraid to tell the stranger…..Oh that I can be so confident and bold to name our Lord and Savior….He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, He died for us……don’t be crazy….believe in HIM and have life eternal!  Father, help us to step up and boldly declare that we are your children….loved and forgiven….help us to never be shy confessing You, but rather help our actions to reflect Your love, so others will want to be Yours too!

 

The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is the word of faith we are proclaiming.  That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the  same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Romans  10:9-13.   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.