Almighty God

Giving Thanks For The Small Things

/ Gail Johnson / 2 Comments

Some days I find, it’s easy to lose track of time and place. Easy to forget the small but important things.

Yet, every second my mind is collecting information through the five senses reminding me there is so much more than the daily routine if only I’d stop and enjoy the moment. And those are the moments when memories are made. Those are the moments I never forget.

I’m a reformed workaholic. I used to work from the time my feet hit the floor until I fell into bed again that night. Never mind the breaks. My motto was to work until the job was done.

But in 2007 that began to change. Physical problems kept me from going 24 hours a day. I had to take breaks, pace myself and know when it was time to stop. I learned the world didn’t end when the job wasn’t done at the end of the day. It was waiting for me the next morning. With my slower routine, I began to notice the little things.

  • The melodious song of birds outside my window
  • The different hues painted upon a petal
  • The tranquil beauty of waves as they wash ashore
  • The smell of a slumbering newborn’s cheek when stealing a kiss.
  • The touch of the Master’s hand

And then, there is taste. I thank God for taste buds. Experiencing a new taste for the first time and finding that you like it is pure joy! My newest delight is salted caramel gelato from Fuse on St. Simon’s Island. But my oldest delight is chocolate. And yes, I have thanked God, many times, for chocolate. Anytime I can add chocolate to an old recipe or invent a new one, I do.

The following recipe is one of my favorites. Chocolate Ice Cream! Need I say more?

As before, you can eat it as soon as the churn stops. But this flavor tastes better when poured into popsicle molds or a freezer container and frozen. This gives the flavors time to blend. If you are not a CHOCOLATE fan, you will want to freeze it.

When you take your first bite, remember, close your eyes, allow your taste buds the pleasure of the moment, and thank the Lord for the small things. Enjoy!

Johnson's Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

Johnson’s Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

Johnson’s Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

2-14 ounces condensed milk
4 ½ cups whole milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
¾ cups unsweetened cocoa
¼ cup (according to taste) brown/white sugar (your choice)

Blend the cocoa and sugar with the evaporated milk, removing the lumps. Add remaining ingredients to the canister. Place inside the churn and layer with 8 parts ice and 1 part ice cream salt. Churn and enjoy!

Reflection

Using your five senses—sight, hear, smell, taste, touch—what are some of your favorite small things? Why not offer a praise for them today.

Blessings

Gail

You Are God

/ Gail Johnson

Often when going through certain circumstances, I find myself writing. Dark blue words spill on tear-stained paper as my frustrations leave me on the floor. But, as I continue to write, something begins to happen. My prayers become praises when I am reminded of His Faithfulness.

Psalms 23

As the words flow, they become part of me, never to be forgotten. Then, when life, once again, throws me for a loop, the words and music come out of nowhere and brings peace to my troubled soul.

Do songs come to mind when you’re in the midst of trials?

Prayer of Praise

Oh Lord, how I love You. I will lift my voice in praise to You. You are Faithful. Your mercies are new every morning! In times of trouble, You are there. I am not alone. Though I walk through darkened places, You are my light. I will not fear. When the enemy rages, You are my shield and buckler. I am safe from harm. Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy love and mercy! Let Thy name be forever praised.

There Is A Well

/ 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.Image (25)

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.

 

 

IMG_0643

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.

 

 

ipod pix 278

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.

 

Allow me to encourage you, today. No matter where you are, whether it is sandy, rocky, or muddy, dig past the bedrock of the present circumstances until you reach the life-sustaining Spring. Thank Him for this season. I promise, you will find a refreshing drink of strength to carry on.

Where there is a Well, there is a Way.