The Lord Is My Portion

/ Gail Johnson / 6 Comments

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Lam. 3:24

Raindrop-2From time to time, it’s easy to imagine we are in control of our lives when in truth, we are not. For no matter how tightly we cling, or how carefully we plan, all can be lost in the breath of a moment. Therefore, the important things in life are not things.

I brought nothing into this world, and I will take nothing when I leave. What I do for Heaven and others will be all that matters. Truth and justice, hope and charity, grace and mercy, will remain long after I’m gone.

And when I look at my life through this lens of reality, I find I have only one hope.

Jesus. My Savior and Friend.

Knowing that He is waiting at the end of this high wire act of faith, gives me the courage to let go and walk the line.

Eyes closed.

Arms opened wide.

Head tilted back.

In Him will I hope!

 

 

Weeds and Flowers

/ Gail Johnson / 5 Comments

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalms 19:1

I built my patio nineteen years ago, when I was pregnant with Lindsay, from blocks obtained from an old utility room. For years, hubby has tried to convince me to rip it up, offering to build me a better one. I have refused every time.

DSC00827It may not be the prettiest thing, but it holds the best memories. My late father-in-law used to come for chats under the oak tree. My kids spent hours going ’round and ’round on their Little Tikes car and motorcycle. We enjoyed birthday parties, late-night talks around a fire, and grilled suppers on it. In the summers, I strung lights in the oak, and we enjoyed late-night swims. I’ve wept and prayed, written songs and verse while surveying the beauty of creation.

Every year finds me on hands and knees pulling the weeds from cracks. And every year, my family asks, “Why don’t you just spray the weeds?” I point to the flowers. They peer at the flowers growing between the cracks. They understand. They kneel and begin pulling weeds.

The weeds in this life are a nuisance. If I had my choice, I would choose a life without weeds. But the flowers often found among them are precious.

Trials and tests are like those weeds. I would often choose a life without them. But the blessings I have received among them are priceless.

How about you?

Would you choose a life without weeds if it meant no flowers?

When the Wind Blows

/ Gail Johnson / 9 Comments

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

I read a story this past week about a young man seeking employment on a farm. When asked by the farmer what he knew about farming he replied, “I know nothing about farm work, but I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Desperate for help, the old farmer hired the boy. One night a storm blew in, and the farmer ran to the young man’s room, and there he lay sleeping like a baby. Rather than waste time trying to wake him, the farmer ran to check the barn, animals, and the straw pile. All were secure. The farmer understood the boy’s statement.*

As I read the story, I thought of Jesus and the disciples on the storm-tossed sea. The Word says “the waves beat into the ship, and it was now full.”

The disciples were afraid.

Jesus was asleep.

On a pillow!

The disciples awakened Him and asked did He care if they drowned.

water-932284_1920He stood, rebuked the wind and spoke to the waves.

The winds ceased. The storm calmed.

Then He asked, “Why are you afraid? Why don’t you have faith?”

Ouch.

They were afraid and asked, “Who is this that even the wind and sea obey Him?”

Have you ever been there?

Speaking spiritually, I don’t always sleep when the wind is blowing, and the waves are rocking my world. But when I stop watching the horizon bob up and down and get my focus on the Master of the wind, my spirit calms.

Then I, like Jesus, can rest when the winds blow and the waves crash around me!

How about you. Do you ever have trouble resting when the wind is blowing?

 

*I Can Sleep When the Wind Blows ~ Olden Cook