Christ

Submitting to the Master

/ Gail Johnson / 6 Comments

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Baby TwiggyTwiggy came to us a skittish underweight two-year-old. Our first priority was her weight. The second was helping her become comfortable around humans.

Each morning when I entered the stall to feed her, Twiggy would stand in the far corner afraid. So, I changed tactics. I opened the door and waited. When she realized I wasn’t coming in, she took a few steps toward me. Every morning she came closer and closer until she began taking a mouthful of feed from the bucket. Finally, I was able to reach out and stroke her neck.

 

Twiggy

Fast forward nine months in the field with Susie, a thirty-year-old who loves attention, Twiggy has come to learn the wind in the trees isn’t so scary. Dogs can be fun. A person coming in the stall is normal activity. And if there is a problem the human will fix it.

She still has a long way to go. She isn’t broken, yet. She doesn’t know what a burden feels like. But she will. For only when she submits to a master can she be a useful horse.

TwiggyIt won’t be easy. But who said life was easy or fair? Life is what you make of it walking hand in hand with the Lord. Twiggy, just like me, has the choice to submit.

At first, she will fight the rope, hate the saddle, preferring to prance and run free. But hopefully, she will come to see there is freedom in submission. The Master honestly does know best.  And when we lay aside our need for control, we find His yoke is easy and His burden light.

 

TwiggyYesterday, I watched Twiggy as she ran the field, gaining speed, slowing down, whirling around trees, and stopping for a breath—her movements graceful and precise. (She has all four feet off the ground!)

It reminded me of the race we’re running. Some days we gain speed. Others we navigate the obstacles. And still other days, we pause to catch our breath. Yet, there is joy along the way if we know where the joy can be found.

 

Twiggy

To find that joy we must learn to cast our cares aside. Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understanding. Submit everything to the Master.

The secret: It takes love for the master before we can submit. Without love, we will always fight for control.

 

 

TwiggyFinally, realize life is more exciting if we keep our eyes on the joy before us and bask in His light until we reach home.

 

This race is too short to run it alone. Invite the Lord along and watch how weightless you will begin to feel.

 

At Your Word

/ Gail Johnson

They had toiled all night with nothing to show for their labor. The morning found them ashore washing their nets. Then Jesus entered Simon’s boat. At His request, Simon took the boat out from the shore.

The Miraculous Draught of Fishes ~ James Tissot (1894) public domain

The Miraculous Draught of Fishes ~ James Tissot (1894) public domain

After he taught the people, the Lord commanded Simon Peter to launch out into the deep and let down the net for a catch.

Peter replied, “Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But at your word, I will let down the net.”

Luke 5: 6-7 says the multitude of fish was so great they needed help to gather them to shore.

 

The difference?

Jesus.

Something to Ponder

When reading this story many questions come to mind.

What if Peter had not been willing to stop what he was doing and obey?

What if he had continued with the task at hand—washing his net?

What if he had refused to soil the net again?

What if he had ignored his visitor?

Something to Learn

As with every story, there is a lesson. When Jesus approached Peter, he first requested an action and then waited for Peter to respond. Today, He waits for my response.

Next, the Lord gave a command and waited. Today, He commands me through His word. It is my choice to obey.

For his obedience, Peter redeemed his losses from the night before. Today, I will be blessed for my obedience.

I always have a choice.

Never give up.

Be sensitive to His presence.

Mornings follow even the darkest nights.

Learn to recognize the voice of the Master.

Trust and obey.

It’s not over until it’s over.

Truth

At Your word, I will reap the harvest You have planned for me!

Memories

/ Gail Johnson / 2 Comments
Little Tykes Coupe

Little Tikes Coupe ~ Pixabay

As a toddler, my son loved his Little Tikes red coupe. Every day we would spend hours playing gas station.

The driver would Fred-Flintstone around the house and then pull up to the Little Tikes gas pump. There, the lady attendant pumped his gas, and he paid her in change from daddy’s jar. With his receipt in hand, he would drive around once more only to return for another fill-up.

One spring day, the attendant was in need of a break. With a destination in mind, she made a plan. The only problem was hubby had the only vehicle. And so, she looked around and spied the Dairy Queen one block over. At 2 pm, the parking lot was empty. An idea formed.

With coupe and boy in hand, she took the back street to her destination. Once they reached the parking lot, she pulled to the drive-in window and ordered a dog, fry-bite, and a coke. She pulled to the pay window and gave the lady her money while all the other attendants smiled at the grinning tyke in the driver’s seat.

Then a car pulled behind them, then another, then another. Sigh. The minutes began to creep as she waited. Her prayers were answered when finally, the food arrived. Now dreading the return trip, the “engine” sputtered. She couldn’t take the main road. Too much traffic. Determined it wasn’t about her, she turned the coupe around and rolled past the waiting cars. She smiled when the happy little tyke waved to each car and they returned the gesture.

Why did she do such a silly thing? Because she loved the boy that much, and memories are a powerful thing. They connect us. They often sustain us in hard times.

Remembering

While on their way to Canaan, Moses reminded the people what God had done for them. Just before his death, God gave Moses a song to teach the people so they wouldn’t forget.

“Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.” Deuteronomy 31:9 KJV

In Psalms 63:2, David cries, “To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” His soul was cast down in the wilderness. Yet, he recalled the sanctuary. He went on to proclaim that God’s lovingkindness is better than life.

Paul when remembering his life said, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Romans 8:38-39 KJV

Jesus also remembered. “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17:5 KJV

“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18 KJV

Yes, memories are a powerful thing. They stand as memorials and testimonies to others. My son remembers that day as a three-year-old he “drove” to the Dairy Queen. Some may have their doubts. But for a mom who, as a three-year-old, also has memories of swallowing a penny and the hoopla that took place afterward, I believe him.

Forgetting

Memories can also be debilitating. They can hold us captive. Yet God, through the work of His Son, has given us the ability to gain freedom. Today, I pray, if you are in a tough place, Beloved, remember from whence you came. Recall the times God has delivered you. Write it down and make a new memory today.

For you who struggle with memories. You are not defined by those memories. Don’t let the enemy dictate your future. Seize the promises of God. Know someone is praying for you. There is hope in Christ. Make new memories with those who love you.

Praying

Lord, for the child that needs a reminder today, I pray. Let them recall Your goodness. Let Your love, better than wine, wash over them. Put a song in their mouth to stir up the memories of Your faithfulness in times past. Let your peace that passes earthly understanding envelope them. Let them dance in joy.

For the child who needs to forget. It is by our Redeemer’s stripes we are healed. Touch the wound. Pour in the oil and wine. The chastisement of our peace was upon His back. You have promised to heal the wounds and restore health. Let them forget their misery and only remember it as waters gone by. You alone can do the impossible. Speak the Word and it shall be done. In Jesus’ name, I pray.