Penny J. Johnson's Blog, page 121
May 18, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: May 17, 2013
Soaring gas prices may cause summer travel planning to plummet. But, here is some spirit-lifting encouragement.
From Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
“I will never run out of resources; My capacity to bless you is unlimited. You live in a world of supply and demand, where necessary things are often scarce….Rejoice in my abundance.”
“Come to me with your plans held in abeyance….Subordinate your myriad of plans to My Master Plan….Do not blindly follow your habitual route….”
From Joan C. Webb’s It’s a Wonderful Imperfect Life
“What a relief to know our loving Creator thinks it’s okay for us to turn off our racing internal and external engines and rest.”
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
For we live by faith, not by sight.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
God says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
May 16, 2013
In the Wild Stillness
We whistled wow, wow, wow like Tundra Swan at the below freezing temperatures during last week’s fishing opener. May bouquets remained dormant, and tree buds stayed tightly closed. We opened our camper anyway, basking in the warmth of fake fireplace flames.
The weather seems as confused as the bat we saw flying in mid-afternoon. Temperatures reached a record high of 98 degrees on Tuesday. That’s bats!
One Good Thing Every Day: May 16, 2013
After purchasing my coffee and scones at my local coffeehouse and greeting the counter staff who knows my order down to the dark chocolate, I extended an invitation to another patron to share the largest table with me. Then, I read these quotations and scriptures that brought my maternal grandmother’s lifelong motto to mind.
Her daily prayer was in essence “Show me with whom You want me to share Your love today.” Whether on her daily two-mile walks, routine trips to the store, or luncheons at her favorite restaurant, she greeted everyone with her genuine smile and pleasant countenance.
Her trademark attitude lingered longer than her memory. I like to think that the more her mind drifted away, the more the Holy Spirit revealed His Presence through her life.
We cannot know for certain the number of our life’s sunrises and sunsets. But, as for me, I want to watch them as my grandmother did–with Jesus by my side.
“Instead of scanning the horizon of your life, looking for things that need to be done, concentrate on the task before you and the One who never leaves your side.” from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
“We don’t need to adopt our culture’s over-the-top viewpoint in order to powerfully impact the lives of others.” from Joan C. Webb’s It’s a Wonderful Imperfect Life
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
“to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
May 15, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: May 15, 2013
“When you feel Satan’s arrows of accusation, you are probably on the right track.” from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
One Good Thing Every Day: May 13, 2013
“As Christ followers, we have a responsibility to exemplify Christ to those around us. The faithfulness that we display in our walk with God could obstensibly lead others to Christ–or it could deter them from seeking a relationship with Him. Think of the eternal ramifications of that!” from A Jane Austen Devotional
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
One Good Thing Every Day: May 12, 2013
As a mother, I wish I could ease my children’s pain. Soothing wounded spirits is not the same as kissing skinned knees. How can I help them heal if I need my own spiritual heart health restored?
On this Mother’s Day, I celebrate God’s infinite parental protection. His healing surpasses surface solutions, those treat ‘em-street ‘em band-aids. He starts with the heart, bypassing sin’s clots, and prescribes His Presence for our aching souls.
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
“Instead of trying harder to help people through your own paltry supplies, become aware of My unlimited supply, which is accessible to you continually. Let My Love envelop your outreach to other people.” from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
One Good Thing Every Day: May 11, 2013
“A soft heart is like rich soil that produces bountiful yield, while a cold heart repels the good things brough to it…Strive to maintain a teachable heart. Let the lessons in your life shape you rather than harden you.” from A Jane Austen Devotional
“Most of the situations that entangle your mind are not today’s concerns; you have borrowed them from tomorrow.” from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
One Good Thing Every Day: May 10, 2013
This week is “Testing Week.”
As a home school family, we have the benefit of completing our annual testing in a comfortable, familiar environment. The results are seen by the testing administration company, myself, my husband, and my children. Yet, performance anxiety remains in spite of encouragement and assurances.
A year’s worth of knowledge bursts at the sight of the answer sheet’s bubbles. I feel the pressure, too, as my right brain cajoles and my left brain criticizes my efforts. How will the results of their learning and my teaching look to…us? Nevermind what the world, our friends, or our family think!
Our self-perceptions blind us from performing an accurate analysis of percentages, bar graphs, and statistics. We overlook the absence of last year’s tears over taking a timed test for the first time. A child who qualifies for adaptations completes the two hardest sections without assistance on Friday. How do we stay on task despite illness and busy schedules?
I see only one possibility. We close our eyes to our inner mirrors as God unveils His master portrait, reminding us of His unchanging, unfailing love.
“The desire to ‘look perfect’ is a driving force for many of us…when we grow frantic trying to get everything done and make it look easy, we sacrifice more than our own sanity: we miss out on seeing God glorified in our weakness….An unwillingness to allow yourself to fail at anything, or to let anyone else see that you have failed, is a key indication that your heart does not trust God with the outcome.” from A Jane Austen Devotional
“Becoming humble means seeing ourselves as God sees us: needy, yet liberated. We feel the private contrition associated with our neediness, accept God’s forgiveness, and then as for help.” from Joan C. Webb’s It’s a Wonderful Imperfect Life
“Although self-sufficiency is acclaimed in the world, reliance on me produces abundant living in My kingdom. Thank Me for the difficulties in your life, since they provide protection from the idolatry of self-reliance.”
May 9, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: May 9, 2013
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
“A woman who trusts the Lord for the outcome can laugh freely because she knows that the future is in His hands. No matter what happens, God can be trusted.” from A Jane Austen Devotional
“Look to Me in trust, anticipating that My infinite creativity can weave both good choices and bad into a lovely design.” from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
