Gobbledygook

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.

Still Learning

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.

Penelope 2.0

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?

Ice Water

 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.

Water Damage

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.

Living in the Now

 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.

Step Back

 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.

Monthly Fast

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.

Second-Hand Spirit

 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.

Heavenly Joy

 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. 

The Best Medicine

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?”

Provision and Protection

 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.

Blessings

by Macy Johnson

“The Lord bless you and keep you.”

(Exodus 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!

The Process

 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.” 

Life Goes On

 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.

Cliff Notes

 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.

White as Snow

 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?

Delight

 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?

Momentum

 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.