Almighty God

Delays-Disappointments-Detours

/ Gail Johnson / 2 Comments

Gail Johnson www.centerofhiswheel.com

Dreams

Dreams are such fragile little things. We hold them close to our hearts daring to believe that one day our dreams will come true.

Dreams ignite hope. Hope gives us the courage to look to the future. Dreams help us to plan. Our lives are built on plans. We begin life by imagining the next adventure. Education. Driving. Jobs. Marriage. Children. Retirement. Heaven.

But then, things change. Sickness. Heartache. Job loss. Waiting. Detours. Delays. Disappointment. The loss of a dream often brings discouragement and hopelessness.

Delays-Disappointments-Detours

Physically there was no way Sarah could become pregnant.

No hope

Moses spent forty years in the desert before leading his people out of Egypt.

Delay

Joshua and Caleb, still carrying the dust of Canaan, watched as their dreams fell to the ground. Although faithful, they were sentenced to forty years in the wilderness.

Disappointment

Martha ran to Jesus and said, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

Loss of hope

Paul, a Hebrew of Hebrew, born of the tribe of Benjamin thought he had it going on until Jesus gained his attention on the road to Damascus.

Change of plans

But…

Don’t you love that word? I do when it pertains to the things of God, the author of our hopes and dreams. As the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), He is well able to keep His promises. And in the end, He alone will get the glory.

God is not behind schedule, and we are not late for the appointment. He knows exactly what He is doing. And in His time, everything will fall into place. All we have to do is surrender our dreams to Him, move when He speaks, and trust His heart.

Deliverance

Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Genesis 18:14

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. Genesis 4:12

Doubtless ye (the doubters) shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 14:30

Thy brother shall rise again. John 11:23

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he (Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. Acts 9:15

So, why the wait? Only God can answer that question. But one thing is certain. A circuitous journey prepares us for the destination. While passing through the valley or hiking over the mountain, let’s dig a well and claim the ground! Learn of Him, and collect every nugget along the way

Easy? Not by a long shot. Read the red. He promised troubles and trials,  heartaches and afflictions. Yet, He also promised to never leave us.

Decision

Delays, disappointments, and detours are nothing in His hands. God’s not behind. You’re not late. Trust His heart. He knows what is best.

 

Maple Pecan Ice Cream

/ Gail Johnson / 5 Comments

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV).

With July coming to a close, I’m trying to make every minute count! Seasons change. That’s an undeniable fact.

Children growing up is another fact. My kids are twenty-three and eighteen. These are precious days to me. And when they decide it’s time to leave and make their own way—maybe miles away—it will still be a precious time, but not like now.

So I cherish this season. And in the midst of all the changes, I hold to the Creator of all seasons. For no matter what the season holds, there is a purpose only He knows. And so, I will trust Him and show my love to all those in my care while I have the chance.

For who knows what tomorrow will bring?

 Today, I’m sharing my favorite. I warn you, this stuff is addictive. Again, this is half a canister. If it were doubled, I would eat it. 🙂 Not good for Gail!

ice-cream-2334323_1280Johnson’s Maple Pecan Ice Cream

2-14 ounces condensed milk

4 ½ cups whole milk

1 can evaporated milk

½ teaspoon Maple flavoring

1 cup pecans, chopped and roasted (place under broiler)

 

Directions

Mix condensed milk, cream, milk, and maple flavoring in the canister. Stir well. Add pecans. Place canister into the ice cream churn. Lock into place. Turn on the machine. If you wait, the ice and the salt can freeze the canister in place and it won’t turn. If this happens, you have to work until you get it to turn or start over. Bummer! So, turn on the machine and begin to layer ice and salt—1 part salt to 8 parts ice according to the salt box.

Layering is an art you learn as you go along. I like to add thin layers of ice with more salt. That way, the ice cream can be eaten when the churn stops.

If you like hard ice cream, drain the salt and ice when the churn stops, repack and allow to harden 1 hour, or pour ice cream in a freezer container and freeze.

This recipe makes half a canister because we like it fresh, not frozen. So we make enough for one afternoon and eat it all day long! If I were making a full canister, I would just double everything.

 

 

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God Is The Strength Of My Heart

/ Gail Johnson / 3 Comments

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. KJV

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. NIV

 

Someone is Praying

Someone is Praying

We don’t realize the extent of God’s blessings in our lives until something happens. It’s during those times, we catch a glimpse of the incredible power of our Creator.

I wish to share a friend’s testimony with you.

Recently, this precious man found he needed surgery for stents. Family and friends gathered and prayed for him asking for God’s covering. Later that week during morning devotion, I stumbled across the above verse and sent it to offer comfort in his hour of need.

During the surgery, they failed to place the stents due to a 100% blockage in the main coronary artery called the widowmaker. The surgeon informed the family it was a miracle he’d not had a massive heart attack.

 

God is the strength of my heart and my portion. How excellent is His name in all the earth! I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress. In Him will I trust.

 

He is now preparing for open heart surgery on the 24th of this month.

Would you, dear friend join me in prayer for peace to surround my friend and his family during this time of need?

Thank you.

Gail