Nudges in the Night

by Macy Johnson

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

(Jeremiah 32:27 NIV)

One night not long ago I tossed and turned in bed. As I leaned over to take a sip of water, I glanced at the clock. Red numbers, large and bright enough for me to read, displayed 12:34.

I believe God speaks to me through numbers. So I silently answered back, “Cool, God! 1234! Are you reminding me that you are with me? Well, if so, then please do it again. Wake me at 1:23 and 4:56.”

Purple Martins

by Macy Johnson

“When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, ‘Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. Bring back some of the fruit of the land.’

(It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)”

(Numbers 13:17, 20 NIV)

Early one Sunday morning, during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place, I slipped out onto my balcony to absorb nature’s unfolding beauty.

Thick Darkness

by Macy Johnson

“The people remained at a distance,

while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”

(Exodus 20:21 NIV)

God reveals Himself in darkness.

“Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.”

(Psalm 97:2 NIV)

I like waking before dawn. I like the peaceful sense of isolated seclusion as I gaze out my window into the black abyss.

Shortcuts

by Macy Johnson

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’”

(Exodus 13:17 NIV)

The Israelites were forbidden to take a shortcut to the Promised Land. God knew they needed to be trained and disciplined before they crossed over the Jordan River into their new home.

Did Jesus ever take a shortcut? I believe He knew the fastest way was not necessarily the best way.

Jake the Snake

by Macy Johnson

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

(John 3:16 NIV)

Jake is not a snake. He is our neighbor’s incognito black Labrador Retriever.

When he was a puppy, Jake would gallivant over to visit and filch whatever loose item he could find. Nearly every morning my husband discovered tools, gloves or shoes missing from our porch. We knew who the culprit was – Jake the Snake!

Fill in the Gap

by Macy Johnson

“And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill,

ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.”

(Exodus 35:31 NIV)

God gave us skills to fill in gaps, to do needed work at the right time in the right place.

Aaron, high priest and Moses’ brother, stood in the gap to stop the impending annihilation of God’s rebellious children in the desert.

“He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.”

(Numbers 16:48 NIV)

Stay Out of the Trees!

by Macy Johnson

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.”

(Psalm 73:23 NIV)

Sarah Young wrote, “You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today.”

During a ski trip in 1998 I read the fourth chapter of Proverbs in my Bible and penciled a note in the margin next to verse 25 – “Stay out of the trees!”

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.”

(Proverbs 4:25 NIV)