When Trying Hard Just Isn't Good Enough

I am re-posting this today, simply because it is what is on my heart today, as I have ministered along side of husband in the Kingdom. It was originally titled

"I Can't Do This On My Own!" Thanks for stopping by today.

Enj

I sat at the beach one Friday in Ocean City, MD. The sun was shining, a cool breeze was blowing and the waves were gently crashing onto the shore. It was just wonderful. I could see water as far as the furthest horizon.

As I was looking over the ocean it occurred to me that while I am actually a very good swimmer, I would never get very far heading out to swim across it.  I would have as much success trying to swim across the Atlantic ocean as I would trying to keep the the covenant of the Law. Remember the Ten Commandments? They are the basis of the Mosaic covenant with God. Take a look:
Exodus 20:1-20

And God spoke all these words, saying,
 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
 "You shall have no other gods before me.
  "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
  You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
  but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
  "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
  "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
  Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,
  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.
  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
  "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
  "You shall not murder.
  "You shall not commit adultery.
  "You shall not steal.
 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."
  Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off
 and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die."
  Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin."

The problem is, no one could keep from breaking these laws, and therefore sinning against God. No one.

Romans 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God  
I might do alright for a little while, then, wham! Just like getting a cramp while swimming, I sin and sink again .
Then I find something kinda scary in Galatians;


Galatians 3:10

Certainly, there is a curse on all who rely on their own efforts to live according to a set of standards because Scripture says, "Whoever doesn't obey everything that is written in Moses' Teachings is cursed."

Not only do I have to keep God's commands, but I have to keep all of them. ALL OF THEM. ALL THE TIME. Like swimming across the ocean, it can't be done.

The great thing is that God's grace is bigger than the ocean, and bigger than my sin and inability to keep His law.

I am glad that the Mosaic covenant was just temporary. It was put in place to prepare God's people for the second covenant. It was there to show us we could not keep it and needed help.

We needed a Savior. So while we were still enemies of God, His great graciousness sent the only thing that could bridge the gap of the ocean size vastness of our sin, Jesus.

Always remember, God knows you cannot make it on your own in this world. His grace will provide everything you need. You don't (can't) have to go it alone.

Chase after His Heart!!

Chasing Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

A Shepherd For The Sheep

Baa. Baa. Running here. Running there. Sheep go to and fro, they need to be guided.
I raised sheep when I was a young girl. I love sheep.
I had breeding ewes, meat lambs, and always had babies aound.

All during my 4H and FFA years, I raised sheep to show and sell.  They are great animals.
But something I came to realize, if my sheep got separated from me or the flock, they didn't do well.
Shhh. don't tell anybody I said this, but they weren't blessed with common sense. Some might even say sheep are dumb.

They REALLY need a shepherd.

I find it interesting that Jesus calls his people sheep. He himself is our great Shepherd.
But He knew that His sheep, just like the sheep I had growing up, would need a shepherd to guide them as they go through life.
We, like sheep, sometimes lose our way. We wander from the fold. Get into danger. We need help.

Acts 20
²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

An Overseer.
An Elder.
A Shepherd.
When you look up that word elder, it is the same word used for shepherd, overseer and bishop. All the same thing.

A gift from God. A man who has chosen to keep watch over God's flock.
Not an easy job.
Not a job to take lightly.
A job with pretty tough qualifications.

Titus 1
⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. ⁶ An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. ⁷ Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.


I love the Shepherds where my husband serves as the senior minister. They are wonderful men who love their sheep. They care about the welfare of the people. They protect their sheep. They correct their sheep.

I love them all.

Tomorrow, a dear friend, will be ordained as a Shepherd, Overseer, Elder.
I have watched this man grow and mature in the Lord.
I am excited about his desiring to serve God in this way.

Adam Snow, I know you will faithfully serve Jesus, and I am blessed to be able to be a part of this special day.
Your new flock will be blessed by your love and guidance.

I am so thankful God gave the gift of shepherds to the church. I know as a wandering lamb, it is comforting to know that God has men watching over me and making sure no wolves attack!
Baa. Baa. Safe and sound in the fold.

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

Always in a Hurry!

It started about 5am twenty-seven years ago.
A few contractions, the mucus plug, and then I knew.
Today would be the day.
Almost a month early, but today, never the less.
But, wait, I wasn't ready.
So, I got up, did all the laundry.
Then I went shopping for the things I still needed.
Took my 2 year old to the sitter, and I was almost ready.
My husband, who was a paramedic student at the time, stopped by his office at the ambulance company to let them know what was going on.
After convincing all the medics there I REALLY did not want them to deliver the baby, off to the hospital we went.
6pm. Contractions continued.
I went to the hospital before most people would because, I had my first baby, who was almost 10lbs in less than 2 hours and I did not want to deliver at home!
6:30pm, Nurse: "It is going to be awhile, I think I am going to send you out, go have dinner, go shopping, and come back later tonight."
Me and Hubby (In unison): "This baby will be born on the street!"
7pm Nurse: " I will let you stay for an hour and then I will insist that you go."
7:45pm Me: "Go get the nurse! I have to push!"
7:55pm  Nurse gloving up, (she did not think the doctor needed to be call yet): " Don't push! Don't push! The doctor isn't here yet!"
8pm (as the dr is walking into the room) Me: "I am pushing NOW!"
8:05pm William Ray Johnson was born.
My second son.
The doctor held him up and looked at him and promptly said,"The plumbing works!" As he went to change his scrubs that were just peed on!
Twenty-seven years.
They go by fast. Really fast.
Now that same little, red, born early boy, still amazes his mom.

Grown up, with a family of his own, making me proud everyday.
A preacher, teacher, lover of people, and passionate about the Kingdom of God.
He was in a hurry to born, and today, he is in a hurry to get people connected to Jesus.
I love you Billy.
Everyday you look less like me,
and more like Jesus!

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

In Between Pain and Relief

My husband is the senior minister for a church. One of the lovely benefits of this position is the home we are blessed to live in that is right across the lawn of the church.
As I sit here tonight my heart is heavy. On the other side of me is a home that has a man that hurting deeply. His mother and sister were brutally murdered by his step father. The trial is coming up soon, and he is hurting.
I realize I live between a person who is hurting and needs compassion, and a building that represents to the world the ONE who can heal the hurt and bring hope.
Today I commit my home to being the bridge between the two.

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

Desiring A 0% Return

The Stock Market took a big hit again today. Many people expecting their investments to make them money have been devastated. The idea of investing money in the stock market is to make money as the stock rises in value. A return for the use of your money.

If you are trying to sell your home, you may invest in some upgrades to your kitchen so that the home will sell for more money. You hope to have a guarantee that the added value to your home will be a great return on the investment in your kitchen.

Employers send employees to training classes hoping that by investing in their skills and education the return to the company will far outweigh the cost of the additional training.

Sometimes we invest time into a friendship that we hope will bring us a benefit that we desire; maybe getting a membership into a club, a connection for a job, or just the status of hanging with that particular person.

Investing in anything really is all about the return we can get. Whether it is our time or our money, we want something in return for investment.

The problem with that view is that some of the most important things we can invest in, may never bring a return that we can see. This mindset is also very inwardly focused. It is really all about YOU.

What is the number one thing we can invest in? PEOPLE.

Investing in people with the attitude that they will give us nothing in return is a totally selfless act. It is also what Jesus did. After all, the Creator of everything, needs NOTHING in return from us.

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others

How can we invest in someone and not expect anything in return?

First, set your heart on the fact that it is NOT ALL ABOUT YOU.
Second, do it as an act of thankfulness for what you have received from God, not the person you are investing in.

Here are some examples I came up with:

Give some money to that homeless person on the street WITHOUT wondering if they are going to spend it on drugs.

Offer to tutor a struggling child in your neighborhood without charging. Better yet, go to the school in the BAD neighborhood and volunteer your time.

Go to the local nursing home and sit and chat with a lonely person who has no family.

Drop a bag of groceries off on the porch of someone you think might be struggling.

Offer to come alongside a couple who is having a hard time managing their money WITHOUT being judgmental.

Help a young mother who has multiple children clean her home.


These are just a few things we could all do with expectation of a 0% return.
Can you think of more?  Please share!

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

The Return To Normal

The Return To Normal…

September is here.

As I listen to conversations, the theme that permeates them all is;

“Finally. School is starting and things will return to NORMAL.”

Kids being home all summer can make for chaotic schedules for some households. I understand the situation of these families.

It just doesn’t apply to me.

My summer was NORMAL. We traveled from June to the middle of July with our kids so they could compete in Bible Bowl (www.biblebowl.net). We have done that every summer for the last 11 years. I wrote and directed a musical/drama at a camp for talented young people. I helped at other weeks of youth camp. All these things are NORMAL.

But, the rest of the year has NOT been NORMAL.

You see, last December, my husband chose to resign from his position at a church we had served at for almost seven years. (NOT NORMAL)

We moved from our NORMAL home, into a two-bedroom apartment. (A blessing, but NOT NORMAL)

My husband spent his days long term substitute teaching at a Christian school while looking for a preaching ministry. (A HUGE blessing, but NOT NORMAL)

 I worked 60 hours a week to help with finances. (Thankful, but NOT NORMAL)

I comforted, and ministered to my children as they grieved and hurt from seeing some really messy things happen at a place that is supposed to be safe. The Church. (NOT NOT NOT NOT NORMAL, ever)

So now it is September, and I am:

Settling into a beautiful new home. (Blessedly NORMAL)

Supporting my husband at an awesome new ministry in Glen Lyn, VA. (NORMAL)

Preparing my kids for a new home school year. Where I will be home and present. (NORMAL)

Blogging. ( NORMAL!!)

Being a preacher’s wife. (NORMAL)

Serving and loving a group of people, who are serving and loving my family and myself. (Becoming NORMAL, and I love it!)

As I return to NORMAL, I am reminded that even when things were crazy, and very out of the ordinary, there really was one thing that remained constant and NORMAL.

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus will always be who I return to for NORMAL!

Chasing After Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

I CAN Find My Way Home!

Don't be afraid. Don't be worried!
If we can just believe what Jesus has said.
There is a place that has been prepared for us.
Jesus would not lie. He could not lie about that!
How can we find it to that place?
Jesus has made the way.



John 14:1-7
14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (ESV)

Why do I let my heart become troubled? I need to rejoice in the fact that I believe in Jesus. He has never lied, never not kept a promise, and He is preparing a place right now for me! And for you! I read today something I had just glossed over before;

4 "And you know the way to where I am going"

Jesus says I need not worry about how to get to my final destination. I KNOW the way. It is through Him. He is The way. He has always been the way. He will always continue to be the way right up until that moment when He comes as my personal escort to lead me to the eternal home He has prepared. 


Today:

I will rejoice that I KNOW THE WAY!
I will be thankful I have seen God, because I have seen Jesus.
I will be aware of those who DON'T know the way, and point them to the ONE who can help them find their way home.

Chasing Their Hearts,

 Glenda Johnson

(The Picture today is from Gressier, Haiti taken in April 2011 by me!)

Look For The Light

I was reading John 1:1-18 this morning. I have read this passages hundreds of times. I even have it committed to memory. As I prayed for God to open my eyes and allow my heart to receive what His Word was saying, I realized something I had never thought about before.

Read with me:

John 1:1-18

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

I know Jesus is the Word. 

I know Jesus came from heaven and became flesh.

I know Jesus came so that I can be a child of God. 

I know that Jesus is the light in this world. 

It was the light, that really jumped off the page to me today. As I walk through difficult times, the darkness can creep in.The darkness can manifest its self in many ways:

Insecurity

Uncertainty

Depression

Anger

Lack of Purpose

Loss of enthusiasm

Feelings of betrayal

and many other ways as well.

But, there is One that has dispelled the darkness. John 1 says it so well. The darkness cannot overcome the Word. Jesus. He is the Light. That Light is what gives me life. Life free from from all those things that darkness brings.

The Light dispels the darkness in many ways. 

Comfort and truth from the Word.

Bringing people close to you to help point you toward the Light.

Even wisdom to know when you need help from a counselor or doctor to break through the darkness.

Jesus came and brought light. 

It is interesting, as I have struggled with some darkness of my own the last little while, as I read this passage and the Word ministered to my heart, just outside my window the sun is rising and dispelling the darkness. 

Thank you God for the awesome illustration I can see!

Today I am looking for the Light. When things start becoming dark, I will look to the only One who can totally bring the darkness to non-existence. 

Where do you need the Light to shine today? Where is there darkness for you?

Remember, darkness CANNOT OVERCOME THE LIGHT!!!!

Chasing Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

Post Holiday Blues? Praise the Lord!

 

It's two days after Christmas. Do you have that sad feeling? All the celebrating is done. Family and friends are leaving to go back home. (Some you may have wished wold have left before they came!)  So what do you do when everything is done and over? When you might feel alone and uncertain? Did you have a conflict over the holidays that is now unresolved and you can't stop thinking about it? 

So again the question what now?

Let's see what David says is his Psalm.

 

Psalm 103

Of David.

 ¹ Praise the LORD, my soul;
   all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the LORD, my soul,
   and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
   and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
   and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 ⁶ The LORD works righteousness
   and justice for all the oppressed.

 ⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
   his deeds to the people of Israel:
⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
   slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
   nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
   or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
   so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 ¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
   he remembers that we are dust.
¹⁵ The life of mortals is like grass,
   they flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ the wind blows over it and it is gone,
   and its place remembers it no more.
¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting
   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
   and his righteousness with their children’s children—
¹⁸ with those who keep his covenant
   and remember to obey his precepts.

 ¹⁹ The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
   and his kingdom rules over all.

 ²⁰ Praise the LORD, you his angels,
   you mighty ones who do his bidding,
   who obey his word.
²¹ Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
   you his servants who do his will.
²² Praise the LORD, all his works
   everywhere in his dominion.

   Praise the LORD, my soul. 

We need to praise the Lord!

Even when we have to search to find a reason, Praise the Lord!

Here are just a few reasons David gives: 

He forgives all our sins!

He satisfies our desires with good things!

He renews our youth!

He works righteousness and justice for the oppressed!

He is compassionate and gracious!

He is slow to anger!

He abounds in love!

He is not the accuser!

He will not repay us for what our sins deserve!

His love for me is as high as the heavens are from the earth!

He is a compassionate father!

He understands my limitations because He formed me!

He is ruling on high right now and forever without end!

There is no reason not to praise the Lord!

The way to kick the post holiday blues?

PRAISE THE LORD!

Chasing After Hearts,

Glenda Johnson 

Daily Devo- A Cardiovascular Workout

Today you might choose to eat a heart healthy diet. One that is low in fat and salt.
Today you may do a cardio workout to strengthen your heart and make healthy.
Today you may take a baby aspirin because your doctor said it was a good preventative measure.

All this is great. They should be done. It helps protect and guard your heart from disease and a possible heart attack.

If this is all you do to guard your heart today, you are missing something huge.

Proverbs 4:20-23

20  My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say.
21  Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart
22  because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body.
23  Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.

We must fill our today with the word of God. If we do not, our heart, our source of life becomes sick and defiled. We then contract "spiritual" heart disease. What does that look like? Mark 7 tell us clearly;

Mark 20: 20-23

 ²⁰ He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. ²¹ For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³ All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

So today lets guard our hearts. Let this be what fills us:

Philippians 4:8

 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I want to fight heart disease on EVERY level! Physical and spiritual. Both will require sacrifice. You can't live a full life if either aspect of your heart is diseased. 

So get up and we both can start chasing after the heart of God. His is the perfect heart. It will be exactly what we want ours to look like!

Chasing After Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

 

An Important Lesson From Cindy Lou Who

Every Who
Down in Who-ville
Liked Christmas a lot....
But the Grinch
Who lived just north of Who-ville
DID NOT!


Those words begin the well know work of Dr. Seuss "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". For me, it begins a story I have loved since childhood. I love the Grinch. I love the funny looking Whos. I love to watch the excitement over Christmas. And truth be told, the huge Christmas tree in the middle of Who-ville is my dream tree. *sigh*

Then a few years ago the Ron Howard version came to the big screen. And I fell in love all over again. You might be surprised as to why.
Jim Carrey does a fabulous Grinch.
The back story was really well written and answered a lot of unanswered questions.
Faith Hill's music has a powerful message.

But the reason I love this story is Cindy Lou Who.
I love her heart. She looks around and sees things that confuse her.
All the gift buying she finds "superfluous".

 She meets the Grinch. He doesn't quite fit all that has been said about him. He saves her life. She believes there is something good in him.

For those of you that have seen the movie, you know that Cindy spends all her time and effort to reach out to the Grinch. She believes he just misunderstood. He just needs to have some love shown to him. 

I love this. She sees someone that needs love.

She gives it. She gives it even though nothing was returned. She gives love even though the object of her love was seen as unlovable to everyone else. She expected that her love could make a difference in the Grinch's life.

And she was right. The Grinch's heart was changed. It grew. He learned to love. He learned to care. He learned to get rid of the hate and hard feelings he had been harboring for so long. 

That is my favorite part! Watching the Grinch change. Watching Cindy Lou Who look at the Grinch and say,   " Nobody should be alone on Christmas" and the Grinch realizing what it is was like for the first time to receive love. 

Cindy Lou expected a heart change. 

Are there those around you that you believe could never change? Their heart is just too hard? 

This Christmas season, as we gather around our manger scenes to rejoice over the birth of the Savior, remember why He came.

He came to change hearts. 

Be a Cindy Lou Who this year, and EXPECT to see hearts changed by the love of Christ!

Chasing After Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

Daily Devo- 2 Thessalonians " Hold On!!"

2 Thessalonians 1

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among Gods churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

5 All this is evidence that Gods judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(NIV) 

Lord I am so thankful for this passage in Your Word today! It reassures me of so many things. You show me that the things I am suffering here, are not necessarily a punishment. Just because You don't stop those who are persecuting me and those close to me, does not mean that I am outside of Your will.

You have said You will handle it all when Jesus returns. You have let me know that my standing strong during this time and season of suffering, I am growing and learning to love more abundantly!
My faith is becoming steadfast because I do run from trouble and I do not give up!
Thank you for Your love and Spirit that guides and enables me to hold on and keep walking during the tough times!
The way I handle trials You equate with being worthy of the Kingdom of God. Your Kingdom needs strong people who don't run at the first sight of tough times. We have an enemy who devours the weak, so please take my weakness and make me strong in You!!! I cannot serve and show others the way to You if I give up.

Today:
I will walk in God's love and Truth.
I will remember that God does not miss anything and He will handle everything in His own time.

Chasing After Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

Daily Devo- I Thessalonians 5:12-28 "God's To Do List For You"

I Thessalonians 5:12-28

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16

 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (ESV)

 Lord as I look at this passage, I see one thing after another that You have commanded I do. Not suggestions. Not things to do if I like and agree with someone, but commands. 

 to respect those who labor among you

I need to show respect for the preachers, elders, pastors, teachers, etc., who are working around me, The command to respect has NO qualifiers on it.
are over you in the Lord and admonish you

This tells me that I will have someone in authority over me. I must accept that
esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

I need to love those who are laboring for my very soul.
Be at peace among yourselves.

Stop fighting and being selfish! God says to be at peace. And He doesn't say, "Only if you get YOUR way"
admonish the idle

The lazy need to be told there is work to be done. They need to be shown that being a Christian is not about sitting in the pew for an hour, but a life of service to God.
encourage the fainthearted

Those that are frightened we must encourage to hold on.
help the weak

Those who are weak in their faith need to be helped along so they can grow. Not tossed aside and ridiculed.
be patient with them all.

There are no qualifiers in this command. That word ALL, means in the Greek, ALL. It applies to all those God has just talked about. Tough command. We must be patient with people. Reason? God is, Thankfully, patient with us!
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil,

This one really needs no explanation. If someone hurts you, do not hurt them back. Easy to understand. VERY hard to do because the world screams something different. People that are supposed to be Christians will scream something different too at times. God has the right way.
always seek to do good to one another and to everyone

This is what we do to the people doing evil to us. We do good to them. This is what we do to people who do good to us. This is what we do to people that do not know Jesus. We do good to everyone so that people see the character of Jesus. No BUT......'s allowed!
Rejoice always

 Rejoice no matter what. Find something to rejoice in. God alone is enough to make you rejoice. Jesus alone is enough to rejoice in. Just rejoice. It is a great substitute for complaining and anger.
pray without ceasing

Prayer time in a quiet place is awesome. But you cannot stay in that closet forever. Pray with every step you take. While you drive. While you work. While you are having a conversation with others. FYI: Your eyes can be open while you pray!!!
give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Be thankful for where you are. The situation you are in is God's will for you at that moment. What can you learn? How can you grow? If He is telling you to move then move. He will lead the way. (Clarification: In no way am I saying that God is calling you to stay in a dangerous or abusive place! That is NEVER the will of God!) Be content.
Do not quench the Spirit.

Listen to the Spirit in your life. That is why he resides in you. To prompt you. To teach you. To lead you in the ways of the Lord. Do not keep trying to snuff Him out of your life! You need the Spirit!
test everything

By God's Word. All of God's Word. Do not just look for a verse out of context that agrees with your position. You want to be in agreement with God's position!
hold fast what is good

Hang on to the good. Hang on tight. It is not easy. It is easier to hold on to the evil because it feels better sometimes. Hold on to God's Word, The Spirit, God's Church! Great starting place. Hold on tight!
Abstain from every form of evil.

Do not do what is against God's Word. Ever. There is never a reason to do something different than God says to do. The evil in the world will destroy you. Just walk away! Actually, RUN!
the God of peace himself sanctify you completely,

God and only God will sanctify you. That means He has set you apart for a special purpose. Only God can do that. You must believe he has done that, and done it completely.
may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

We must keep ourselves blameless. Our spirit, our soul and our physical body. God wants us to give ourselves fully to Him, to submit and be blameless!
He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

God is faithful. He will do what he says he will do. We must trust Him to do what he says he is going to do!
Brothers, pray for us.

Pray for the leaders. And each other. This is not optional. God commands it.
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

The word ALL is used here AGAIN. Greet each other like you love each other and are all in the same family and on the same team.
I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

It is YOUR responsibility to tell others what God says! Even the hard parts. This is a strong statement, "I put you under oath" these are things God wants people to know!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you

I wish I could say I was going to do this list perfectly today and everyday. I know better. I will try. I will be led by the Spirit, but when the time comes when I do mess up, I will cling to this last item on the list. The grace of Jesus will be right there with me. It will pick me up, dust me off and set me back on the right path to continue to do these things. Grace. We cannot LIVE without it. We need to know this, because we are called to show the Grace of God everyday!

Thanks for bearing with me. But this To Do list of God's had to be shared. 

I am off now to begin, will you join me? I hope so, for it is then you will find yourself chasing after hearts!

Chasing After Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

Daily Devo- Luke 21:1-4 "Where is Your Heart?"

Luke 21:1-4

21:1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Lord as I read this, I know that because I live in the United States, that I am among the richest people in the world. I may not be wealthy here, or in my neighborhood, but I know there are many who have much less than I do. I know you care about my giving. I know that it is a indicator of where my heart is in relationship to you. 
I do not want to give out of my abundance. I want to give sacrificially. I want my heart to desire to give beyond what I am able because I am overflowing in gratitude and love for You. I know that to do this I must put You first in all my thoughts. I have come to realize that I cannot give my life to You if I don't surrender all to You. 

This means my money too. Even at this time of year when there are gifts that HAVE to be purchased. Even when there are BILLS to be paid. Even when there are CLOTHES that are needed. Lord You must be first. 
Tomorrow is the first day of the week. I will assemble with the Saints to worship and praise You. 

When the offering plate is passed, may my worship show up there too and not just be when I am standing and singing.


Today:
I will make sure I do not make choices with money that will leave me tempted to not give to Jesus.
I will rethink what I really NEED verses what I really WANT.
I will keep forefront in my mind that where my treasure is, my heart can be found. I want it found in Jesus!

Chasing After Their Hearts,


Glenda Johnson

Daily Devo- Luke 20: 27-40 "Who Will I Be Married To In Heaven?"

Luke 20:27-40

27 There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”

34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question. (ESV)

Lord it is good to be reminded today that You are the God of the living. Death has been done away with by the resurrection!

It is also good and comforting to see that the things of this life, the things that consume so much of our time, will pass away when we step into eternity with You.

Marriage is ordained by You. It began in the Garden with the very first man and woman. Marriage is holy. Marriage is a blessing from You. What I see today is that while marriage is awesome and wonderful, there is even something that is better. Something that is so all consuming that we do not take marriage into eternity.
That something is You. I will be all consumed with the praise and worship that is given You.
While I wait for that day to come, I am thankful for my husband.

I am thankful as well that I am the bride of Christ and someday I will spend eternity with a different groom with no worries that are tied to this life on earth!
Thank you for being the God of the living!

Today:
I will know that death has been conquered and I will be resurrected to live with God for all eternity.
I will be thankful for the husband God has blessed me with that I get to spend my earthly life with.
I will remember that I am the bride of Christ and my groom is coming soon.

 

 

Chasing After Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

Why Is It So Easy To Believe The Lie?

I have been thinking a lot about the Garden of Eden. As a woman, I think about how blessed Eve was to have a perfect home. An abundance of the the very best food. The most perfect man on earth for a husband.  The confidence of knowing she was the most beautiful woman on earth! (Just ponder that in light of the messages young women hear daily today)

Interacting daily, face to face with God.  Not by prayer. Not by written word. Daily face to face with God.

Security is a woman's number one need. Eve had no lack of security. She had everything a woman could ever want in life.

So the question I have, and I know many others do too, WHY WAS IT SO EASY TO BELIEVE THE LIE?

The following comes from Genesis 3. The conversation went like this:

Satan: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?"
Eve: “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,  but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
Satan: “You will not certainly die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

You know the end, Eve believed Satan, and disobeyed God.
She believed the lie!
Why? Why didn't she just call out and ask God? Why didn't she just ask her husband? Why oh why did she just believe the lie?

Now before I am so hard on Eve, are we not the same way today, at least some of the time?  Someone tells us something, and we believe it, without checking the facts, without asking the other person, we just simply believe what was said. Or we choose not to believe what is written in God's word. God tells us to trust Him, and we go on ahead and do what we want. That is believing the lie that we know more than God. Hmm sound familiar?

As I looked at this passage and tried to figure out why she so easily believed the lie, this is what I found;

Satan is behind every lie. He is called the Father of Lies.(John 8:44) So whether it was Eve or someone today, if a lie is being told, Satan is where the lie originates.

The lie may have some truth in it, but it is still a lie."‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’"  .
That was not what God said. He said they could eat from all the trees except one.
(Genesis 2: 16-17)
 He twisted the truth enough to get her interest.

A lie is almost always entertained in a situation you shouldn't be in to start with. With Eve, why was she hanging near that tree she knew was off limits, and without the support of her husband? For us, why are we asking this person, this question at this moment? Do we want to hear the juicy stuff? Have we forgotten, that is gossip?

We almost always answer a lie with a half truth. In other words, a lie. 
"and you must not touch it" was not what God said. (Genesis 2:16-17) God just said not to eat it. Now she has chosen to twist the truth. A slippery slope has begun a downhill journey for Eve.
Have you ever found yourself saying " Well you know, I always wondered about that. What you say makes sense. I saw............." after you have listened to something someone has said? Have you ever twisted even a little bit of the truth in an answer you give in reply? Beware, it is a warning flag!

So what made Eve believe the lie? What makes us believe the lie?

There is always something selfish for us in a lie we believe.  Maybe it is power. The power of being "in the know". 
Eve could be "just like God". The lie.
The truth, she was as close to God as she could ever be in her current state.

Sometimes it is power over someone else. If we can destroy them with a lie, we can feel better about the position we are in ourselves.
Satan knew he had already been in trouble with God. His lie to Eve brought her down to his level.

Maybe we believe the lie simply because the in doing so we justify the fulfillment of a desire we have, even if it is wrong.  We want it, believing the lie gives it to us, so it is easier to believe it.

It always is based in selfishness. Each time we choose to believe the lie, there is something selfish rearing its ugly head in our heart.

I can hear it now. "What if I am unsure if it is a lie or the truth?"

Put it to the test:
Does it go against God's word? Are you wanting something that God has said "No" or "wait" to? Walk away, you are being tempted by a lie.

Why is the person telling you what they are telling you? What are their motives? If it is about someone else, have they done the Biblical thing and gone to that person one on one? ( Matthew 18; 15-17) And no skipping steps or insisting on being part of an attacking mob. One on one. If they haven't, you walk away, a lie is coming.

Just because several people say something, does not make it true. Could it be that they have been misled?

If you do hear something, weigh it against what you know about that person. Does it match up? If it does not, walk away a lie is coming. If you think it might, then Galatians 6:1 applies.
 
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 


If the reason someone is telling you something is to destroy someone not restore them to God, walk away, a lie is coming.


Eve believed the lie, and it cost her one of her sons in death.  It cost her the security of the garden. It cost her the face to face relationship with God.
Eve was called the mother of all the living people. Her believing the lie hurt all who would come after her. I am looking forward to hearing what she has to say about it some day in heaven. One thing I am sure of, if Eve could be here today, she would scream at the top of her lungs

DON"T BELIEVE THE LIE!

If we will but look in God's word for answers, seek restoration for everyone, and put our selfish hearts aside for what is in the best interest for everyone, the father of lies won't get a foothold. 
We won't get caught believing the lie!

I want to chase after God's heart, I can only do that while walking in the truth!

Chasing After their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson