Have You Told Someone They Are Beautiful Today?

 The earthquake of January 12, 2010,  had totally wiped out anything standing in this already poverty stricken area of Haiti. We were at a school there that served these very poor children. One of the Pastor's wife teaches there on a daily basis. She loves these kids, points them to Jesus, and helps them to learn to read and write. We came there to do what is called the "Popcorn Ministry".  We brought a plastic contractor's trash bag FULL of popcorn to this school.

We then went out through the village and handed out food and other needed items to the people and invited all the kids to come to the school for some fun.

We easily had 70 kids in a big circle. They were led in songs by their teacher and one of the other local pastors. Then one of our preachers, through a translator told the story of Daniel and the lions den. Charles did a great job. Then we handed out popcorn to the kids. They all had a great time.

As the kids were hanging out still in this big circle, I took picture of the kids. I always ask before I take anyone's picture, simply out of common courtesy. These kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have their picture taken. They also LOVE to have you show them the picture on your camera.

Then I met Melinda. She was a little girl who was about 8 or 9 years old. She shied away from me and hid her face. As I looked closer I could see she had some kind of issue with her skin. When asked if I could take her picture she said no and pointed to her face. I saw a young girl who was in pain from  being made fun of, and feeling ugly. As I looked at her, I told her she was, "bel" which is beautiful in Haitian Creole. She relied with no! No Bel!

Then she ran and hid behind some other children. My heart was breaking for this precious little girl. As I watched her, she never smiled. I kept feeling the prompting of the Holy Spirit to go and speak to her again. I took the young preacher there with me so he could interpret.

I knelt down in front of this image bearer of God, and with help from the interpreter, I told her,
"Jesus made you. He only makes beautiful things. He wanted me to tell you, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. He loves you very much. I love you too, because you are such a beautiful creation of His!" And then I walked away.

A few minutes later she returned to me, and had a smile on her face and was speaking very fast. I could not figure out what she was saying. The preachers wife standing close by said,"She is saying she loves you very, very much." Then Melinda said something I understood very well, "Photo!" and pulled me close indicating she wanted a picture taken with me!

A very simple thing. Telling a young woman she was beautiful. It made all the difference to her. Forever.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecc 3:11a (ESV)

Is there someone that needs to hear they are beautiful today? Seek them out. Share with them. They will never be the same.
Neither will you.
Melinda and her smile is forever part of my heart.

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson
 

Daily Devo- I Thessalonians 5:1-11 "What Are You Wearing Today?"

 

 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (ESV)

Lord thank you for the reminder that You are coming back. This can either be frightening or comforting. I find great comfort in it, but also a sense of sadness for those who have chosen not to know You.
May a fire be fanned into flame in my heart today for those who do not know you. Please give me opportunities to point them to You.
 

I am dressing today with the breastplate of faith and love and putting on the helmet of the hope of salvation. 

Wearing these things I have protection and comfort and security no matter what comes my way. It also enables me to share the gospel with those who You put in my path today!
I'm dressed, and my heart is ready Lord.
Even so Lord Jesus come quickly!  

Today:
I will look for opportunities to share the gospel message with those God has put in my path.
I will encourage and build up other believers so they can do the same.

 

Chasing After 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
http://www.facebook.com/BibleBowlGlenda

But He Betrayed Me!

http://www.Freefoto.com

Today I am home. I should not be. I should be with Body at the church building. The flu, however, chose to invade my body and keep me home. But it did not keep me from Jesus.

As I was in fellowship with Jesus in His word I was struck by something.

Betrayal.

It seemed to permeate everything I read this morning. It shouldn't surprise me. Betrayal is everywhere.

I talk to women everyday that feel betrayed. By husbands. By children. By friends. By employers. By the church. Some betrayals are deeper than others, but betrayal is still, just that, betrayal.

So what do you do when your husband betrays you?
When a child betrays your trust?
When the church, that is supposed to show God's love and truth, betrays you?

Run to Jesus. He has been there.

Mar 14:18  While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me!"
Mar 14:19  Feeling hurt, they asked him one by one, "You don't mean me, do you?"
Mar 14:20  He said to them, "It's one of you twelve, someone dipping his hand into the bowl with me.


A close friend, one that Jesus hand picked, one he has shared three years of his life with. Betrayed him. And for all those three years, Jesus knew the betrayal was coming.
He loved him anyway.

Ok, Ok, so Judas HAD to betray Jesus for the plan. Maybe, maybe not. But just in case you need something else.

Mar 14:29  Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else abandons you, I won't."
Mar 14:30  Jesus said to Peter, "I can guarantee this truth: Tonight, before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me."
Mar 14:31  But Peter said very strongly, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don't know you." All the other disciples said the same thing.

But Peter did just that. Betrayed Jesus that very night. All the other disciples ran away. In his darkest hour, those closest to him, left him alone and betrayed.

So what does this mean for you?

When you are betrayed by those closest to you, you get one step closer to being like Jesus.
That's what the purpose of life is to be, right? Become more like Jesus and point others to him.

So what do you do when you are betrayed? Let's let's see what Jesus' last words were after his betrayal:

Luk 23:34  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing."

It all lies in forgiveness.

Who do you need to forgive in your heart today? Talk with the One who has been there, then do it. There is a new day waiting for you free from the bondage betrayal puts on us.

You can beat betrayal with love and forgiveness.

Jesus did.

Chasing Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson
twitter.com/GlendaJohnson63

Fall -A Time to Change

I know it is contrite, but fall seems to be the time of year I find it easiest to make changes in my life.  As I watch the leaves change color and give us a true pallet of beauty, I am inspired. Then, as the leaves change their location, from the branch to the ground, I realize, movement was meant to be.

So, I embrace change with a passion, and bravery like never before…

WHO AM I TRYING TO FOOL?

There are major changes going on in my life and I am scared to death! But I am inspired by my surroundings.

Let me share the “fall” of my life.

My oldest daughter is expecting her second child. We have already been blessed with a 16 mo. Granddaughter from her.  It should be a time of rejoicing. We are trying. You see, she has developed a subchorionic bleed. She is on bed rest, with a 16mo old that means Granny’s house. The change of having more people at our house is not a problem. The waiting and wondering if this bleed will end in a loss, premature labor or placental abruption is the change in my life that has me blowing around some days like the fall leaves.

My husband will also be having 2 surgeries over the next couple of months.  The first one is next week. It is a fairly complicated surgery requiring both a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic surgeon to complete it.  Suddenly, all my fall leaves seem to blowing in a crazy wind storm and I can’t seem to recognize where I am.

So, I am faced with caring for possible 30 more weeks my pregnant daughter and my recovering husband.

Oh, did I add that I home-school 3 other children still at home AND own a business?

Something needs to change. I may be Wonder Woman but I am not God.

So, I now find myself “falling” into some life changing decisions.

1^st- I must close my business. My family comes first. Always.

2^nd- I have 4 blogs and 2 books that need to be written. I keep complaining I don’t have time because of the time requirement of my business. 

Sometimes changes come about to help us reprioritize our lives.

This fall is my time to change.

I am “falling” into line with God’s will for me. Being a wife and mother are what I am called to be. Writing to encourage those other people God brings across my path can no longer be put on the shelf.

Here’s to change. It can actually be quite pretty, just look out your window…then into your heart.

What do you need to change this fall?

Chasing Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson