Worthy Of Praise

April 21, 2015May 26, 2018 / Gail Johnson

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalms 107:8

Psalms 107 is a song of thanksgiving and an exhortation to testify of the many blessings of God.

Deliverance
Safety
Redemption
Healing
Guidance
Blessings

Spring is a season of renewal. The earth wakes from winter’s nap and burst forth in song.

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Everywhere I look, I behold the beauty of the Almighty’s hands. I see His handiwork in the heavens and in the earth. I breathe in His fragrance.

My faith is renewed. My spirit, uplifted. A joy like no other fills my soul. Do I have a reason to testify to friends and loved ones?

Yes!

When I read this chapter, I see that everything He promised, He delivered. If He did it then, He’ll do it now. Do I have reason to fret?

No!

From Genesis to Revelation, the writers testify of His faithfulness.

And when I dig past the circumstances, when I push aside the worries, when I call to mind all the times He has seen me through, I can praise His name!

However, praise, like water, will not flow from a dry well. It must be primed. When my mind is filled with clutter, and it seems I have nothing to praise Him for, I look to the cross.

He came looking for me when no one else did. He loved me when no one else did. He helped me when no one else could. He healed my wounds. He guided my steps. He blessed me beyond measure.

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He alone is worthy of praise.

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalms 107:8

When I praise His name in the midst of my trials, my circumstances change. He lifts me above my sorrows, eases my pain, and gives me strength to face another day.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

The Golden Truth

April 14, 2015May 26, 2018 / Gail Johnson / 5 Comments

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it (Proverbs 8:11 KJV).

Standing near the water’s edge, she stared at her reflection. A familiar excitement washed over her. Like a fever, it quickly consumed her. She scanned the shoreline, contemplating her choices. Not just, any place would do. No. Her heart burned for perfection. She reached for her pan and waded into the water until she arrived at the determined location.

She inhaled deeply, whispered a prayer, turned the pan perpendicular and plunged it to the bottom. Slowly, as not to lose anything, she lifted the pan from the watery chest and rocked it back and forth, swirling the contents. She smiled. The pan gleamed golden. She collected the precious nuggets and dropped them into a leather repository hanging about her neck.

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Searching the waters, she spied a large stone. Absent-mindedly, she pushed the obstruction out of the way, and continued her search for the more easily recognizable pebbles. Yet, her eyes were repeatedly drawn to the discarded stone. She picked it up and rolled it between her thumb and index finger. A golden sliver winked at her. She grinned. It wouldn’t be easy, but it could be done.

On the sandy bank, she unsheathed her knife and began scraping the outer surface. The stone proved impenetrable. Undaunted, she placed it in a vice and reached for her hammer and chisel. Several days and nights passed until finally, the treasure beneath was exposed.

Reflection

The deep things of God are never easily found. Just as a miner spends hours searching for that perfect nugget of gold, it takes patience and often years of searching the Word of God. For wisdom doesn’t depend on me, but God. He reveals Himself to me as I faithfully pursue Him. He chooses the where, when, and how.

Daniel said, “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” Daniel 2:22 KJV

If I’m to reach the deeper depths and greater heights, then I must search the Word as if panning for gold. I’m not to be satisfied with shallowness, but wade into the deeper waters and be willing to follow His lead when He places a nugget in front of me.

Paul said, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16

If I’m to grow then, I must eat a balanced diet.

Prayer

Lord, help me not to settle for the sweet, sugary offerings so easily obtained, snacking my way through the table you’ve spread for me. Help me partake of the meat of Your Word that I may understand the deeper things You long to share with me.

There Is A Well

April 7, 2015May 26, 2018 / Gail Johnson

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

In 1996, we moved our house to the middle of the family farm, down from the place we began as newly weds.

The movers cut the house into three sections, loaded it on trucks, carried it across a bridge, through mother-in-law’s yard, a hog lot, our old yard, and down a sandy lane.

Sorry for the long description. However, the point of this post is that anything worth having is never easy. In fact, the lane they pulled our house down, we have pulled cement trucks, electrical trucks, and a pool truck up that same sandy lane with a tractor.

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Once the house had been put back together, I was ready to move in. The problem: we had no water. So, I got busy. I called a man about a well. He promised me he could find water. Two holes later, he admitted defeat. The land was too sandy. The walls kept falling in. Rather than giving in to my frustrations, I called another guy. Nothing.

Most drivers that make the mistake of turning their wheels the wrong way usually get hauled out with the tractor. Yep, it’s that sandy.

Along about now, some of you are wondering why we waited to dig a well after we relocated the house. Two reasons. One, we weren’t worried about finding water. Our first well was just over 750 feet away. Two, we were on the mover’s schedule. When they said it was time to move, we moved. No excuses. No delays. We had just finished clearing the land when they called with an opening.

With no well, no water, and no way to move in our new home, we all began to worry. Pa-in-law, the thinking man that he was—bless his sweet heart—began to ponder the problem and came up with a solution. We have a well. Check. We were downhill from said well. Check. Running downhill, we should have excellent water pressure. Check. Why not try connecting to the old well? Why not?

By that time, we were willing to try anything. Ever been there?

The only problem was—that’s right—the well was over 750 feet uphill through a patch of dense woods loaded with oaks and pines. Ever tried digging around an oak or pine tree? Forget the ditch witch and the tractor. No room. Hmmmmm. Sigh.

It was a daunting task. Yet one that had to be done! So we drew out the plan and then purchased PVC pipe and glue.

Hubby began digging just outside the kitchen window, across the lane, and into the woods. Each morning when he left for work, my three-year-old and I would grab a shovel, an ax, and head to the woods to dig 25 feet. Then hubby would dig a few more feet when he came home. This was our schedule until we reached the well.

What seemed an unending task was well worth the effort the day we moved in. To this day, we have excellent water pressure and plenty of water. Ain’t God good?!

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Just as that physical well is my thirst quencher, Jesus is my spiritual thirst-quenching well. At times, my problems may seem daunting—unsolvable. But, if I take life one day at a time and follow His plan, soon the battle will be over, the victory will be won, and I will move into my new home.