by Macy Johnson
“If it is the Lord’s will,
we will live and do this or that.”
(James 4:15 NIV)
My
daughter, Libby, approached me one day and suggested I write a daily devotional
book. She told me she likes to read something every morning, as I do, and
perhaps I could write one for her.
by Macy Johnson
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter
of talk
but of power.”
(1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV)
Oswald
Chambers wrote: “The moral miracle of Redemption is that God can put into me a
new disposition whereby I can live a totally new life!”
by Macy Johnson
“Who despises the day of small things?”
(Zechariah 4:10 NIV)
It was the
final rehearsal before the memorial service. Forty-eight former students filled
the choir of Fort Walton Beach’s First Presbyterian Church. A basket of stick
pins was passed around the loft. The pins had a beautiful silk yellow rosebud
attached. It was Phyllis Merritt’s favorite flower. I accepted the small rose in
memory of my high school choir director.
by Macy Johnson
“And my God will meet all your needs
according to his glorious riches in
Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:19 NIV)
One of my
favorite choral pieces I performed with the Morgan County High School Choir as
their accompanist was “He Never Failed Me Yet” by Robert Ray. I sang it with
the Madison Presbyterian Church choir and later accompanied the Madison First
United Methodist Church choir while they sang this popular piece. I now play the
piano for my church’s choir to sing this encouraging gospel anthem.
by Macy Johnson
“Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.”
(Psalm 27:14 NIV)
A former
boss once asked me, “Do you know how to eat an elephant?” I shook my head. He responded,
“One bite at a time.”
by Macy Johnson
“He said to me: ‘It is done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the End.
To him who is thirsty I will give to
drink without cost
from the spring of the water of life.”
(Revelation 21:6 NIV)
“I have come to bring fire on the
earth,
and how I wish it were already
kindled!”
(Luke 12:49 NIV)
In the
beginning, God created water and fire, essentials for life here on earth. They
are gracious gifts when they are properly used. Jesus is the Water of Life. The
Holy Spirit is the consuming Fire.
by Macy Johnson
“But Jesus knew what they were thinking
and said to the man with the shriveled
hand,
“Get up and stand in front of
everyone.”
So he got up and stood there.”
(Luke 6:8 NIV)
I drove to
a hospital auxiliary nominating committee meeting one sunny afternoon. The
slate of most officers for the next year had been determined. The current
officers had accepted renewal of their service, except for the Treasurer. When
asked if I would assume that position, I explained, “I am committed to serve as
the hospital gift shop’s manager.”
by Macy Johnson
“My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the utterance from my heart will give
understanding.”
(Psalm 49:3 NIV)
My
husband, Jeff, and I enjoyed a quiet Friday morning on our porch. I cradled
coffee in my hands and looked out over the calm surface of the lake as I
listened to Jeff’s “to do” list. We both had plenty on our plates before
our daughter and her family arrived that evening.
by Macy Johnson
“What I tell you in the dark,
speak in the daylight;
what is whispered in your ear,
proclaim from the roofs.”
(Matthew 10:27 NIV)
One of my
greatest joys is to be able to type on my computer. Several years ago, I was
diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my right thumb. Pain in my hand forced me to
give up a mouse and use my laptop’s touchpad instead. I wondered if someday I
would need to give up typing. I hoped there would be a technology at that time
that would allow me to speak and type words for me.
by Macy Johnson
“In my Father’s house are many rooms;
if it were not so, I would have told
you.
I am going there to prepare a place for
you.”
(John 14:2 NIV)
From the autumn
of 1969 through the spring of 1972, I was the accompanist and a singer with
Pensacola’s Escambia High School Rebelaires. Our director, Phyllis
Merritt, disciplined our twenty-four vocal ensemble members through incredible
musical creations. In 1970 we were invited to tour Europe and sing in
cathedrals and concert halls.
by Macy Johnson
“I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”
(Psalm 81:10 NIV)
My
husband, Jeff, and I watched cardinals flock around our bird feeder. Several birds
perched on nearby chair rails and we noticed a strange activity taking place.
One male cardinal leaned over to a female and put his beak inside her mouth. He
then leaned over to another female on his other side and repeated the process.
“What are they doing?” I asked Jeff.
by Macy Johnson
“Dear friends, now we are children of
God,
and what we will be has not been made
known.
But we know that when He appears,
we shall be like Him, for we shall see
Him as He is.”
(1 John 3:2 NIV)
I looked
out of my upstairs window after a rain shower one morning in July. In place of
a beautiful sunrise, all I saw was a fuzzy mist. The cool air inside my house
had caused condensation to form on the outside of my windows.
by Macy Johnson
“He brought me out into a spacious
place;
he rescued me because he delighted in
me.”
(Psalm 18:19 NIV)
The Lord
leads me to spacious places and helps me see Him more clearly. As I write this
blog, my husband and I are camping with our grandson, Carver, at Mistletoe
State Park near Appling, Georgia. It is one of my favorite campgrounds, because
it presents breathtaking big-water scenes over clear Clarks Hill Lake.
“Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the word of His servant?
Let him who walks in the dark, who has
no light,
trust in the name of the Lord and rely
on his God.”
(Isaiah 50:10 NIV)
My friend,
Susan, and I have experienced many struggles together in our community of
faith. Her patient listening and wise advice have kept me in line and looking
up to our heavenly Father. In response to one of my weary, negative texts she
encouraged me, “You can do it! Be the light!”
by Macy Johnson
“The lamp of the Lord searches the
spirit of a man;
it searches out his inmost being.”
(Proverbs 20:27 NIV)
The Holy
Spirit leads me to places where He wants to serve with me. He knows what others
need before I do. He searches their spirits and leads me to be a blessing to
them.
by Macy Johnson
“Make levels paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.”
(Proverbs 4:26 NIV)
I recently
camped at George L. Smith State Park near Twin City, Georgia. It surrounds a 412-acre
pond filled with stately cypress trees which reminded my husband, Jeff, of the
lakes he fished as a boy in Louisiana.
by Macy Johnson
“In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth.”
(Genesis 1:1 NIV)
Have you
ever heard of the Golden Ratio? My husband, Jeff, introduced me to it while
reading The Epoch Times newspaper one afternoon.
The Golden
Ratio is represented by the Greek letter phi and is approximately equal to 1.618.
This mathematical proportion is found in nature, art, and architecture. April
Holloway writes in the Epoch Times (“The Golden Ratio – a Sacred Number That
Links the Past to the Present”) this ratio is used by architects and artists to
“achieve a perfect aesthetic composition.”
by Macy Johnson
“In that day men will look to their
Maker
and turn their eyes to the Holy One of
Israel.”
(Isaiah 17:7 NIV)
My
husband, Jeff, and I watched a documentary about Terry Kath, a gifted musician
and an original founder of the musical group Chicago. His daughter,
Michelle, interviewed many who knew Terry. He tragically died in a handgun
accident when his daughter was very young.
by Macy Johnson
“Jesus, tired as he was from the
journey,
sat down by the well.”
(John 4:6 NIV)
While
camping at Florence Marina State Park, my husband, Jeff, and I visited nearby Providence
Canyon State Park. It was established in 1971 to preserve the unique scenic
beauty of Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.
by Macy Johnson
“He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.”
(Proverbs 21:21 NIV)
I pulled
our camper into Georgia’s State Park at Florence Marina on Lake Eufaula.
Arriving near the Alabama state line I felt like I was lost in space, hovering
between time zones. My cell phone received signals from a tower in Central Time
(Alabama), while I stood in Eastern Time (Georgia). The camper’s clock said 3:00
pm and my phone said 2:00 pm. Both times were correct.
by Macy Johnson
“The creation itself will be liberated
from its bondage to decay
and brought into the glorious freedom
of the children of God.”
(Romans 8:21 NIV)
A wise
person once suggested, “Only floss the teeth you want to keep.”
I wish I
had taken better care of my teeth. My wallet is seriously taking a beating now
because of my former foolishness. My mouth is home to four tooth implants. I am
thankful for my new teeth and the joy of a stronger and healthier bite.
by Macy Johnson
“If I speak in the tongues of men and
of angels,
but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a
clanging cymbal.”
(1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV)
I confessed
to the Lord while writing to Him early one morning, “Only you can reveal the
Truth. My words are gobbledygook.” Oxford Dictionary defines gobbledygook
as “language that is meaningless or is made unintelligible by excessive use of technical
terms; nonsense.” My words are fruitless without the Holy Spirit to interpret
them in the heart of the reader.
by Macy Johnson
“The infant will play near the hole of
the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into
the viper’s nest.”
(Isaiah 11:8 NIV)
A scrawny
deer suddenly appeared next to Jeff while we were enjoying a fire at our
campsite. It bent down to pick up and eat a large leaf that had fallen from a
nearby tree. The deer crept around the fire to my side. Its big black eyes
looked at me with anticipation of a morsel to eat.
by Macy Johnson
“For I am the Lord, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand and
says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you.”
(Isaiah 41:13 NIV)
One
morning while camping at Georgia’s Fort McAllister State Park near Savannah, I
read a devotional story about a boy hit by a car while riding his bicycle. My
husband and I planned to take a long bike ride that morning. It would be the
first time I got on my bike, Penelope, since the accident when I fractured my
pelvis. Was the devotional a sign?
by Macy Johnson
“But whoever drinks the water I give
him will never thirst.
Indeed, the water I give him will
become in him
a spring of water welling up to
eternal life.”
(John 4:14 NIV)
I imagined
my day to be like a glass filled with ice cubes. The activities ahead were those
cubes – touching each other and somehow connected. I imagined the Holy Spirit was
the cool, clear, clean water poured over the ice. Slowly throughout the day,
the ice cubes melted and became one with the water.
by Macy Johnson
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many
kinds,
because you know that
the testing of your faith develops
perseverance.”
(James 1:2-3 NIV)
Drip,
drip, drip. I was startled out of a deep sleep to the sound of raindrops splashing
inside on my windowsill. I rolled out of bed, shuffled to the laundry room, and
retrieved a beach towel. After placing the towel in the window’s casing, I fell
back into my dreams.
by Macy Johnson
“If you pay attention to these laws
and are careful to follow them,
then the Lord your God will keep
His covenant of love with you
as He swore to your forefathers.”
(Deuteronomy 7:12 NIV)
My credit
union recently changed its name. When I logged in online, I was asked to change
my User ID for the new platform. I falsely assumed I was asked to change my
password. The next time I tried to log into that account I was locked out after
three erroneous attempts. I called the credit union and the User ID/Password
confusion was successfully cleared. God got my attention.
by Macy Johnson
“The prudent see danger and take
refuge,
but the simple keep going and suffer
for it.”
(Proverbs 27:12 NIV)
I enjoy
watching college basketball games. I played basketball in school many years ago,
but practicing the piano took preference over other activities.
by Macy Johnson
“The Lord will guide you always;
He will satisfy your needs in a
sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered
garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.”
(Isaiah 58:11 NIV)
It is good
for me to abstain from events and things on a regular basis. Activities and
indulgences could grab me by the throat and not let go.
by Macy Johnson
“You need to persevere
so that when you have done the will of
God,
you will receive what He has promised.”
(Hebrews 10:36 NIV)
My
husband, Jeff, and I visited around our breakfast table when I noticed a new,
silver Jeep winding down our driveway. I assumed it was a postal service worker
on that Sunday afternoon, delivering Jeff’s Amazon order. “Go get your
package,” I suggested.
by Macy Johnson
“Each of us should please his neighbor
for his good, to build him up.”
(Romans 15:2 NIV)
I approached
a lady seated in a wheelchair at the nursing home. “I watched you sing with us
today,” I said, expecting a smile or some other acknowledgement of my words.
She stared at me and I sensed confusion. So, I followed up with, “You have the
prettiest eyes.” A glimmer of love shone on her face.
by Macy Johnson
“He will yet fill your mouth with
laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.”
(Job 8:21 NIV)
During a dominoes
game one afternoon, a friend recalled a conversation with another friend who babysat
her young grandson. She knew he was picky, so she asked him, “How does your
mother cut your sandwich for you?” In obvious exaggeration, he opened his
little arms and answered, “I am just a child! You are an adult! Don’t you know
how to cut a sandwich?”
by Macy Johnson
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord,
“I will rescue him; I will protect
him,
for he acknowledges my name.”
(Psalm 91:14 NIV)
We pulled
into the campsite and reviewed the checklist. When Jeff turned on the water at
the spigot, it leaked from the camper’s outside shower. He tightened the
plastic shower knob and it broke. While he called the dealer, I drove to the
camp office and returned with a list of local RV repairmen. We connected with
Chad’s Mobile RV. Chad and his assistant arrived in a few hours, fixed the
problem, and checked for other leaks. He was a godsend.
by Macy Johnson
“The Lord bless you and keep you.”
(Numbers 6:24 NIV)
I waited
patiently to lay down my last tile and win the hand during the weekly game of
Mexican Train Dominoes at the Methodist church. Just a few more players’ turns and
I could play my last piece. Then Tom, seated next to me on my right, stole my
play and blocked me from winning!
by Macy Johnson
“The Lord is God, and He has made His
light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the
festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.”
(Psalm 118:27 NIV)
The Sum
of Saving Knowledge (A Brief Sum of Christian Doctrine) was a thoughtful gift from my
husband. One morning as I absorbed its words of wisdom, I thought, “I am
walking on the path my heavenly Father has laid out for me.”
by Macy Johnson
“So you also must be ready,
because the Son of Man will come at an
hour
when you do not expect Him.”
(Matthew 22:44 NIV)
It was a frigid
January morning in Georgia. Ice floated on the lake forty yards out from our
dock. Three ducks swam between our property and the ice floe, diving
periodically and in sync. A squirrel scampered from his nest high in the tree
to gather dead leaves from branches nearby. He carried the mouthful up in the
frosty cold to make his nest cozy. Amid the rare, below-freezing temperatures,
life goes on.
by Macy Johnson
“Share with God’s people who are in
need.
Practice hospitality.”
(Romans 12:13 NIV)
A Cliff
Note is a summary or brief explanation of a long text or speech. Many
Cliff Notes in high school came to my aid for reading assignments.
Cliff made
his appearance while we set up our camper. As the campground host for the
month, he welcomed us to AH Stephens State Park. We soon discovered Cliff was born
seven days before me, had a wife with dementia, and was a former BMW Master
Mechanic.
by Macy Johnson
“Come now, let us reason together,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet
they shall be as white as snow.”
(Isaiah 1:18 NIV)
I woke up early
one Friday morning to a freezing chill and dreary skies. A wintry-mix had been
predicted for many days, but I skeptically scoffed at the weatherman’s report.
Several singers warned others of the pending “storm” during my church’s choir
practice the night before. I was scheduled to volunteer at the hospital that
morning, but non-essential personnel were urged via email to stay home. Maybe
someone knew something I did not?
by Macy Johnson
“His delight is in the law of the
Lord,
and on His law he meditates day and
night.”
(Psalm 1:2 NIV)
January brought
me a new “Word of the Year”: delight. Merriam-Webster defines delight as
“the act of taking great pleasure.” When do I take delight in God’s presence?
by Macy Johnson
“I
press on toward the goal to win the prize
for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians
3:14 NIV)
My
husband, Jeff, and I watched the Southeastern Conference Championship football game.
The announcer declared, “Football is a game of momentum.” I pondered this
revelation.
