1983, A Very Good Year

 1983

A Very Good Year

Twenty eight years ago, it was 1983.
It was a very interesting time. Let's take a peek at what was going on twenty eight years ago:

Lotus 1-2-3 (spreadsheet program) is released for IBM-PC compatible computers.

M*A*S*H (TV series) ends after 11 years and 251 episodes on CBS. The series finale, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, becomes the highest rated episode in TV history.

Swatch introduces their first watches. 

The U.S. Embassy is bombed in Beirut, killing 63 people. 

Strategic Defense Initiative: U.S. President Ronald Reagan makes his initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles. The media dub this plan "Star Wars."


Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space, on the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Tom Brokaw becomes lead anchor for NBC Nightly News. 

Vanessa Williams becomes the first African-American to be crowned Miss America, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Microsoft Word is first released. 

McDonald's introduces the McNugget.



There are a few of you who are reading this list and these have always been a part of your life, because you were born AFTER 1983.
Now for some, like me, you remember these things. And are probably thinking, "Wow,  I didn't realize it has only been twenty eight years!"

That is what I wake up thinking this morning. "Wow! It has only been twenty eight years!"

You see, as I look over at the man sitting next to me, watching the waves crash on the beach, I am reminded of what happened on 4/1/1983.
Twenty eight years ago, I was blessed to marry Larry Johnson. And for today, it seems like it was just yesterday.
It hasn't always been easy, but I can tell you, it has always been worth the effort of remaining committed to the covenant I made to God, and to my husband!

Here is to twenty eight more years of serving God side by side with the most awesome husband God could bless a woman with! As we begin a new chapter of ministry, wherever God leads, I will remain by his side, serving the King of Kings.
I love you Larry!



Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

Daily Devo- Luke 17:1-10 Temptations, Forgiveness and Servatude

17:1 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (ESV)

As I read this and meditate on it , my heart cries out to the Lord.

Lord please help me to remember who I am in relation to who You are. I never want to be the one who Satan uses to tempt someone to do wrong, especially the the little ones. Please keep my heart and my motives pure.
 

As I deal with people around me, Please let me 'Pay attention to myself". 

Let me always watch and be aware of what I do and what I say. And when someone sins against me, let me remember Your words, "You must forgive him'. If a person says they repent, I must take them at their word and forgive. There is nothing else that I can do. I must forgive. There are no other judgments I am to make. I forgive, it is then all turned over to You.

I find it interesting that in this passage right after the command to forgive, the disciples ask for their faith to be increased. I believe that it takes great faith to forgive people and then embrace and love them. If I forgive like you do God, then I must forgive and forget as you do. 

To say" I forgive you, but I will not forget what you did", is really just another way to say,"I don't really forgive you at all'. So please increase my faith so that I can learn to forgive like you.
 

The last part of this verse Lord is really the key. It is reminding me that I am just a servant. I am to serve you and expect nothing from anyone simply because I am doing what you have called me to do. I must be humble and my motives must be right. I pray that I never do anything to be seen of men, or for a reward or pat on the back. May all I do simply flow out of gratitude for who You are and what You have so graciously done for me.

From beginning to end, this passage is about my heart's motives and choosing to love like Jesus or not. It really is as simple or hard as that. Whether it is simple or hard, is my choice.

Today I will chase after your heart God, by how I love and forgive your children!

Chasing After Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

I'm Jesus' #1 Follower!

People boast about their faith in Jesus all the time. Sometimes I am one of the them. Ok. So a lot of the time sometimes I am one of them. Confused? Me too. Words can be confusing. Especially when our actions don't match up with them. Think about these things:

A husband beats his wife, then says: " It's just because I love you so much".

A college student says, " I really want to be a doctor!" But doesn't attend their classes or do the class work.

A woman says, " My husband is the head of our house." And yet at home, she undermines every decision he makes and will not submit to his authority because she can do it better. 

A church says " We are Pro-life! Abortion is wrong." But they condemn the young woman who finds herself pregnant, and trying to find God in the midst of it all. And allows her no joy in the celebration of her coming baby!

I say all these things because, I hear all the time, "I love Jesus!" And then nothing.

The biggest problem is, more times than not, those are my own words I am hearing. Every time I say "I love Jesus", and don't serve those around me, I commit the sin of omission.

James 4:17  Whoever knows what is right but doesn't do it is sinning.  But, I do what's right (in my own eyes).
I set the standard far too often for I think is doing right.

Listen to what Jesus says:

John 13:12-17  After Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothes, he took his place at the table again. Then he asked his disciples, "Do you understand what I've done for you?
 You call me teacher and Lord, and you're right because that's what I am.
 So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you must wash each others feet.
 I've given you an example that you should follow.
I can guarantee this truth: Slaves are not superior to their owners, and messengers are not superior to the people who send them.
If you understand all of this, you are blessed whenever you follow my example.


Jesus wants me to serve others. ( But He was talking to the disciples, did He really mean me too?)

If I am to become like Jesus, I must follow His example like He asked me too. He, and only He knows what is best for me.

James 2:17- 19( GW) says this,
  In the same way, faith by itself is dead if it doesn't cause you to do any good things.
  Another person might say, "You have faith, but I do good things." Show me your faith apart from the good things you do. I will show you my faith by the good things I do.
  You believe that there is one God. That's fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear.

My words do not mean anything if my actions do not match.

I'M JESUS' #1 FOLLOWER?

If I want to chase after God's heart, I need to serve like His Son. Everyone. Everywhere. Even my enemies.

Wow, I need to get busy!

Chasing Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson
womanaftergod@gmail.com
http://www.twitter.com/GlendaJohnson63
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