Bible

The Golden Truth

/ 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.

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

/ 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.

 

 

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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.

 

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.

The Battle of Attrition

/ Gail Johnson

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37 KJV).

The word attrition means the act of wearing away or the state of being worn away, as by friction; constant wearing down to weaken or destroy (often in the phrase war of attrition) attrition. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/attrition (accessed: March 24, 2015).

Sword of the Spirit Gail Johnson

Sword of the Spirit
Gail Johnson

Attrition will do two things. Either it will work for, or against you. In the case of the oyster, the constant rubbing of an irritant inside the shell eventually produces a pearl. On the other hand, the constant dripping of water wears away the hardest stone.   The difference is the oyster (active) produces something, while the stone (passive) eventually wears away.   The lesson? The longer the battle, the longer and harder we must fight.

The Weapon of Fear

When facing battles, we are often confronted with fear. The fear that we are unable to win. The fear that God doesn’t hear us. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the darkened places. But God did not give us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).

The Greek word for power in 2 Timothy is where we get our word for dynamite, mighty, strength, a miracle itself. (Strong’s Concordance) We have the power through the blood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to conquer fear. If not conquered, fear can make us forget what God has already done.

And the longer we fight, the weaker our resistance becomes, and fear soon gives way to acquiescence. Acquiescence is acceptance without protest. Our struggles, whether spiritual, physical, financial or emotional become the norm. We define ourselves by what we are going through and not what the Word says about us.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37 KJV).

Conquerors: to vanquish beyond; gain a decisive victory. (Strong’s Concordance) Never give up! Wherever we are, God is there.

The psalmist wrote: If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me (Psalms 139:8-10 KJV).

God is with us! Keep fighting no matter how hard the battle. Be on guard for signs of surrender.

Warning Signs

When we don’t oppose, we settle. We circle the wagons and withdraw. Nothing gets in or out. We separate from fellow-believers. We become more vulnerable to attacks. Soon we become depressed and easily provoked. We become testy in waiting. Our tempers flare hot. We become the product of our circumstances.

Ever been there?

I have. Hindsight is 20-20.

The Solution

Remember His promises. …for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalms 37:23 KJV).

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8 KJV).

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1KJV).

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV).

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33 KJV).

Prayer

Lord, I pray for strength for the weary, health for the sick, salvation for the lost, and freedom for the captive. I know You hear the cries of Your people. Your eyes run to and fro throughout the earth. There is nothing hidden from Thee. Nothing is too hard for Thee. When hearts are overwhelmed, lead us to the Rock. Teach us to rejoice in the midst of our troubles. Help us recall Your past blessings. Remind us that You are omnipresent and there is nothing that can happen to us that doesn’t pass through Your hands. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.