by Macy Johnson
“Seek
the peace and prosperity of the city
to
which I have carried you into exile.
Pray
to the Lord for it,
because
if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
(Jeremiah
29:7 NIV)
My
favorite place to visit early in the morning is our porch. After spending time
with Jesus in my studio and writing love notes to Him, I step gingerly down the
stairs and brew another cup of coffee in our Keurig machine. I put on my jacket
and step out of the porch door.
“I consider that our present sufferings
are not worth comparing with the glory
that will be revealed in us.”
(Romans 8:18 NIV)
No matter what I will face today,
I know it will bring me one day closer to seeing Jesus face to face. Just a few
more steps, a few more breaths, and a few more thoughts before I can say
“adios, sayonara, auf wiedersehen, au revoir, so long” to this failing body and
mind. I look forward to something much better down the road. I hope you will,
too!
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom;
all who follow His precepts have good
understanding.
To Him belongs eternal praise.”
(Psalm 111:10 NIV)
I still hear the voice of the
angel say to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid! I bring good news!” As I look
out my window on the changes in nature, right before my eyes, I am reminded God
IS in control. His plans are so far above my own. This little speck of dust can
trust the Triune Creator. I hope you will, too!
“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Psalm 46:10 NIV)
The echoes of my children’s
voices to their distraught mother to “breathe” still linger. Raising two
teenagers while working full time was hectic and stressful. My only hope was to
be still and know I did not need to have my act together. I only needed to
trust and obey. I will seek to keep pace with my heavenly Father today. I hope
you will, too!
I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in me and I in him,
he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:5 NIV)
God gives and I receive, as a
branch grafted into Him. I did not choose Him. I would rather choose to be the
master of my own life. God reveals Himself to those He chooses to use in His
kingdom. He gives them life through His Son, Jesus. What a difficult and
amazing Truth! I choose to be confident in my Savior. I hope you will, too!
“Who despises the day of small things?”
(Zechariah 4:10 NIV)
The first word of a prayer. The
first step on a walk. The first thought when I wake. All firsts are necessary
to move me in the right direction. I must choose firsts wisely. It
is a discipline that takes a lifetime to develop. The key is to start
something, be “pro-active” as my mother would say, and make a difference in the
world around me. I will start today on the path with Jesus and walk by His
side. I hope you will, too!
“Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may
bring forth.”
(Proverbs 27:1 NIV)
What a sobering thought on the
second day of a new year! I will not be discouraged at a slow start or overly
excited about a jump start to this blessed experience. Tomorrow has morphed
into Today. Whether I trudge through muck and mire or glide effortlessly on
air, I will soberly face each day as a gift from my heavenly Father, to be
enjoyed solely for His glory. I hope you will, too!
“See I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive
it?
I am making a way in the desert and
streams in the wasteland.”
(Isaiah 43:19 NIV)
Happy New Year! Look around you
and rejoice in the fresh, new start today brings. I thank my heavenly Father
for a renewed look at all His blessings through nature and those I love, near
and far. Every day is an adventure into the unknown. Yesterday is gone,
tomorrow is not yet here, so I will live today fully for His glory. I hope you
will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into
gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy
instead of sorrow.”
(Jeremiah 31:13 NIV)
All the
way home from church I pouted. I had messed up the choir’s anthem accompaniment
and dreaded the Christmas Cantata service just six hours away. Mark Hayes’
“Gloria” had taken a big bite out of my pride. Nine pages of music got the best
of me. I had spread the pages out, but was confused and lost my way. Thankfully,
recovery was swift.
by Macy Johnson
“But seek first His kingdom and His
righteousness,
and all these things will be given to
you as well.”
(Matthew 6:33 NIV)
I read a
devotional about a writer who ran for public office in her community. She lost
the race and was despondent. All her year-long plans to help others crumbled.
As she slipped into depression, she sought counsel and thus discovered new ways
to serve.
by Macy Johnson
“And Jesus said to them,
‘I tell you the truth, some who are
standing here
will not taste death before they see
the kingdom of God come with power.’”
(Mark 9:1 NIV)
I received
a text message from a Tennessee cousin one early December afternoon. Her mother
had just passed away. My aunt was a very special lady. When she came to visit
us, we did things with her that we never would have done with my parents. Aunt
Joy always brought joy into our lives.
by Macy Johnson
“He looked up and said, ‘I see people;
they look like trees walking around.’”
(Mark 8:24 NIV)
During my
morning devotional I read about how Jesus healed the blind man near Bethsaida. The
story reminded me of zombies.
My husband
was a fan of the television series The Walking Dead for a long time. I
refused to watch it with him, thinking it was a waste of time. The zombies were
dead, but they did not know it. They attacked living people in order to
survive.
