by Macy Johnson
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and
His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.”
(Psalm 100:4 NIV)
Every time
I read Psalm 100 my mind transports me back to May, 1990. Parents and
grandparents were seated in the crowded lunchroom of the elementary school. The
lights dimmed and we watched in expectation as my son walked to center stage, leaving
his kindergarten classmates on risers behind him.
by Macy Johnson
“Jesus turned and said to Peter,
‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a
stumbling block to me;
you do not have in mind the things of
God,
but the things of men.’”
(Matthew 16:23 NIV)
Albert
Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must
keep moving.” And you must avoid dangerous obstacles. I used to ride my bike from
my family’s home in Warrington across the Bayou Chico drawbridge to Main Street
to Seville Square in the historic district of downtown Pensacola. Riding over
the railroad tracks at Main and Barrancas was tricky and hazardous with
oncoming traffic. Those train tracks embedded in the road were potential
stumbling blocks.
by Macy Johnson
“A righteous man is cautious in
friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them
astray.”
(Proverbs 12:26 NIV)
When I
first started writing my weekly blog, God Sightings, a well-known writer suggested
I post them publicly on Facebook. Little did I know the danger of that
simple suggestion. Several comments on my posts came from people who were not,
but wanted to be, my friends. I was tempted to believe their encouraging comments,
but the Holy Spirit warned, “These people are not who they say they are. Do not
accept them as friends.”
by Macy Johnson
“We have this hope as an anchor for the
soul,
firm and secure.”
(Hebrews 6:19 NIV)
Our son
and grandson visited recently for a week away together. One sunny afternoon we
took my pontoon boat out for a spin. Having a boat-lift affords us this luxury
during warm days in cool months. I chauffeured them around the lake, past our
special swimming sites, Midway Island and Ingles Cove, to our first-discovered
and most favorite spot, Lost Anchor Bay.
by Macy Johnson
“The secret things belong to the Lord
our God,
but the things revealed belong to us
and to our children forever,
that we may follow all the words of
this law.”
(Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV)
My parents
revealed God to us in amazing ways. They wanted to make sure my brother,
sister, and I followed our Creator’s laws. We were disciplined and spoiled with
tough love. I knew my boundaries and strived to stay within them, a “people
pleaser” on most occasions.
