Two Funerals and A Birthday

Two different churches.
Two different women .
Two different funerals.
One powerful message.

As I sat in the funerals services for two women I did not know personally over the last two weeks, I was moved in a very unexpected way.
One was 92, and the other 89. The both lived a long life.
As the women were remembered by family, friends, ministers, it occurred to me that their lives made a phenomenal difference in uncountable numbers of people.
Eternal difference.
I was moved to my very core as listened to the purpose with which each of these ladies lived out everyday.
And I began to wonder,
what is my life leaving behind?
Each day, as I am walking through my daily activities, what am I leaving in the wake of my life?
Is how I am living changing the lives around me for all eternity?

Yesterday I walked through my 48th birthday.
I realized something.
Unless I live to be 96 years old,
my life, here on earth, is more than half over.
I have already lived out, at least, half of the years I have to live.

This thought created a new sense of urgency in my heart for those around me.
Are they being pointed to Jesus by what is said and done?
I don't have a guarantee of  10 more years
to serve my family,
to point my neighbors to Jesus,
to be generous with the resources I have been entrusted with by God,
to remember to be filled with thankfulness.

This verse I believe was God's birthday present to me;


Colossians 4 
² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I am praying for open doors, opportunities, and grace and wisdom to serve people.
The rest of my life, no matter how few, or how many years, needs to be dedicated 100% to serving others like Jesus.
How about you?
Are you making the most of the very limited time you have?

I invite you to choose with me today, to chase after the hearts of all those around you for God.
After all, people are God's #1 priority, and He proved that when Jesus, His son, hung on that cross.

Chasing After Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

Today has been a day of:

Striving
To
Remember
Endless
Savior's
Security

As I went through the day struggling to hold on to the promises God has made in His Word, this very scripture the Holy Spirit lead me to:

1 Thessalonians 3:7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁷Brethren, for this reason, in [spite of all] our stress and crushing difficulties we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you [because of] your faith (the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence).

Stress comes and stress goes. 
It is good to know that leaning on God is the way for comfort during the stressful and crushing times in our lives.

God's Word; the true stress-buster!

Chasing After Hearts,
Glenda

A Place To Go

Every have a day when you just need someone who knows what you are are going through?
Someone to talk talk to?
Someone you can trust?
Me too. It can be very hard to find.
As listen and as I talk to people, I see a very common trend.
When you begin to share your story, some one will interject, " Well at least you don't have....yada yada yada, like I did".
I just want to scream! But I don't, I know people have lost the art of being a good listener. If I am part of this conversation as a third person, I try to re-direct it back to the person who is hurting and looking for compassion.
So where can we go, when we just need someone who completely understands and won't make our issue seem insignificant?

Hebrews 4
¹⁴Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus knows what you and I are going through.
Everything, we are going through.
He has been there. He has walked through it.
And He conquered it. For us.

Today when you need someone who will listen, love you, and give you their undivided attention, go to the One I am choosing to turn to:
¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

You will never be interrupted, and you will be enveloped in a warm hug of mercy and grace.

What will you choose today?

Chasing After Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

Becoming A Titus 2 Woman

Growing up, this little girl just wanted to be in the same room with someone.
She could talk non-stop, and just loved being around people.
As she grew, her intellect became so apparent.
In taking a test for gifted youth at Johns Hopkins University, she scored in the top 3% in the nation.
She loved to cook and at by the age of 10, she could plan and prepare a meal for the entire family.
Her love for music began to flourish in her early teens.
The piano and her voice not only filled her home, but also her college, and the church building.
Young children rapidly became her joy and passion as she used her giftedness to teach preschool children in Sunday School.
I watched as this young girl matured into a beautiful young woman who found her prince.

As she stepped in the role of being a wife, my role in her life was directed by this verse:

Titus 2
⁴ Then they (the older women)  can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I hear over and over today, that young women do not want to be taught anything.
This young women broke that mold.
I feel honored to have been the one who has been called upon to "trian" this wife, and now mother.

What has even been more exciting, is to watch as she becomes the "older" woman to younger wives and mothers. 

Who is the Godly, honorable, lovely wife and mother described above?

She is the daughter God gave me twenty-six years ago today.

Daughters are a blessing, and I thank God everyday for gift he gave me in my oldest daughter.

Happy Birthday Titus 2 woman, Tara.

Chasing After Hearts,
Glenda Johnson