Penny J. Johnson's Blog, page 130
February 25, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: February 22, 2013
There is nothing lower case about this command. Although nestled between “rejoice always” and “givie thanks in all circumstances” and set-off by commas, it contains no true pause. To “pray continually” is like breathing–automatic, sustaining, and essential.
One Good Thing Every Day: February 21, 2013
“Because you are human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience. But, the promise of My Presence limits how far down you can go.” from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
February 21, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: February 19, 2013
“Don’t try to fit today into yesterday’s mold.” from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
February 19, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: February 18, 2013
Today was a Renaissance Day. We studied Giotto, listened to music, and read The Shakespeare Stealer. I entered my equivalent of a tavern–a local coffee shop–with my twenty-first century quill and parchment–my laptop–and revelled in my bardic life.
February 18, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: February 17, 2013
This morning I sang “‘Til the Storm Passes By” by Mosie Lister with my brother accompanying me on the piano. While rehearsing, I was nervous, my voice cracking. I imagined myself where I sing my best–singing lullabies to my children. I remembered sitting on the piano bench next to my grandma, singing on Saturday afternoons. God made the song a lullaby for me and calmed my stormy nerves. May He receive all the glory!
February 17, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: February 16, 2013
Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.
“Is it okay if my two friends come to the basketball game with us?”
My consent to that question just before my second date with my husband-then-boyfriend marked the beginning of my many outings with “Dave, Dave, and Charlie.” Thankfully, we never did get kicked out of a Bridgeman’s, and I survived several viewings of Highlander.
Today, twenty-four years later, we sat around a table after the funeral for Charlie’s mom. What I failed to appreciate during those early years, I cherish now. Our families have encouraged one another through many joys and sorrows. We are more than friends. We are truly family.
February 14, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: February 14, 2013
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
February 12, 2013
One Good Thing Every Day: February 12, 2013
“The next time loved one is in a bad mood and you feel the urge to ‘take it on,’ step back emotionally and ask God for wisdom.” from Joan C. Webb’s It’s a Wonderful Imperfect Life
