The Wilderness

 by Macy Johnson

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

to be tempted by the devil.”

(Matthew 4:1 NIV)

 

My husband, Jeff, and I watched a documentary on Amazon Prime Video about an actor’s walk of faith with Jesus. As he revealed his story of wandering in the wilderness, I was drawn to my own wanderings. God provided for his specific needs in a dramatic way, so he videoed the process on his phone and brought his audience to tears with him. When all hope was lost, the angels tended to his needs in a miraculous way. God prepared this actor’s heart to meet his Savior on his knees. He surrendered all to Jesus in the wilderness.  

Penelope

by Macy Johnson

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you

great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

(Jeremiah 33:3 NIV)

 

It was a quiet evening by the campfire at Watson Mill Bridge State Park. Jeff and I discussed dinner plans when children on bicycles zoomed past our campsite. An older woman cycled not far behind. My husband observed the activity and remarked, “That looks like fun.” 

Southpaws

 by Macy Johnson

“Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred

chosen men who were left-handed,

each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.”

(Judges 20:16 NIV)

 

Amy, our church’s music director, was seated at the piano bench with me one night before choir rehearsal. We practiced a four-hand piano duet together. I suggested I turn a particular page, so she wrote my name at the bottom of the sheet in her music book with her left hand.

Selective Hearing

 by Macy Johnson

“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.

They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear

but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.”

(Ezekiel 12:2 NIV)

 

My next-door neighbor, Susan, and I belong to a small choral group that meets at a local nursing home. We sing every Wednesday afternoon for the shut-in residents there. During one of the songs I leaned over to her, held the open hymn book up to my face and whispered, “See the lady in the back of the room in the blue shirt? She sticks her fingers in her ears when we sing.”