Income Taxes

by Macy Johnson

“And He asked them, ‘Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then He said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’”

(Matthew 22:20-21 NIV)

My husband confidently hands over the responsibility of preparing our annual income tax returns to a retired CPA - me.

Scarcity

by Macy Johnson

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

(John 10:10 NIV)

I stopped in my tracks and took a double-take. There, in the cereal aisle of a small-town grocery store, I saw a man pushing a cart stuffed with packages of toilet paper!

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!