Get Off That Fence!

Have you ever sat on a fence? I mean a real fence. One that separates two yards? It is hard to sit there and not fall off. Depending on how the fence is constructed, it is a difficult task to keep your balance. 

When you fall off the fence, you never quite know which side you will end up landing on. Which could be a problem. Especially if there is a ferocious dog on one side. Or a neighbors yard, with a neighbor who doesn't like trespassers. Or a big mud pit with pigs. Get the picture?

 

^{Joshua 24:14-15}

¹⁴ “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. ¹⁵ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua told the people of  his day, they needed to get off the fence they were sitting on. Choose whom they wanted to serve, because they could not balance on the fence and serve God and the false gods of the land. Make a choice he says. Or you will end up falling off the fence where you don't want to be.

 

 

The same thing applies to us today. Do you find yourself sitting on a fence. One foot dangling on the side of the world and the other on the side of the Lord?  You must make a choice. You WILL fall off of that fence, probably because the world will push you down, and you will not like the pit on that side you fall into. You, me, everyone MUST make a choice. We need to make it today. 

Throw away the false gods of this world and serve Jesus. Even if that is not the choice others make. We must serve the Lord. 

By the way, not choosing is a choice. You have chosen the world by default if you don't choose the Lord. 

So, as for me and my household, there will be NO FENCE SITTING! We will serve the Lord.

Chasing After Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

Time Is Ticking

Last week I blogged on my husband's uncle that left us way to early. A victim of cancer.
Tonight, the world is rocking with the news of the passing of Steve Jobs, another victim of cancer.
Sunday evening an elder in a church we previously attended was brutally robbed and stabbed. Praise God he is recovering.

I am once again reminded:
I do not have a guarantee of tomorrow.
Money cannot fix the most important things.
People are what matters.
People are NOT the problem, sin and separation from God is the problem.

Love God. Love people. Like there is no tomorrow.
Because there just might not be...

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

Daily Devo- Joshua 24:14-15 "Get Off That Fence!"

^{Joshua 24:14-15}

¹⁴ “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. ¹⁵ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 

Have you ever sat on a fence? I mean a real fence. One that separates two yards? It is hard to sit there and not fall off. Depending on how the fence in constructed, it is a difficult task to keep your balance. 

When you fall off the fence, you never quite know which side you will end up landing on. Which could be a problem. Especially if there is a ferocious dog on one side. Or a neighbors yard, with a neighbor who doesn't like trespassers. Or a big mud pit with pigs. Get the picture.

Joshua was telling the people of that day, they needed to get off the fence they were sitting on. Choose whom they wanted to serve, because they could not balance on the fence and serve God and the false gods of the land. Make a choice he says. Or you will end up falling off the fence where you don't want to be.

The same thing applies to us today. Do you find yourself sitting on a fence. One foot dangling on the side of the world and the other on the side of the Lord?  You must make a choice. You WILL fall off of that fence, probably because the world will push you down, and you will not like the pit on that side you fall into. You, me, everyone MUST make a choice. We need to make it today. 

Throw away the false gods of this world and serve Jesus. Even if that is not the choice others make. We must serve the Lord. 

By the way, not choosing is a choice. You have chosen the world by default if you don't choose the Lord. 

So, as for me and my household, there will be NO FENCE SITTING! We will serve the Lord.

Chasing After Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

Thankful? Really? Continued......#2

Remember as a child growing up saying your prayers? If you were like me, and even my kids now, it might sound something like this:
Thank you God for Mommy. Thank you God for Daddy. Thank you for my sister and my brother. Thank you for Grandma and Grandpa. Thank you for my whole family!
(As I got older, this was added)
Thank you for my children. Keep them safe. Help them grow up and and be good.

The words are so easy to say. Sometimes I forget that just SAYING I am thankful for something, doesn't necessarily make me a thankful person. So how do we get beyond the words?

I am so thankful for my family. What does that really look like? Being thankful is ... well...
a verb with an attitude! A great attitude! And lots of action.

It means respecting my husband. As a thankful wife I will meet his number one need for respect. If no actions go with the words, it really mean noting to say, "I am thankful for my husband".

Being thankful for my children. Hmm, how does that look?
It means I provide a happy, healthy place to grow up. I will prepare them to grow up and ..yes.. leave.

My job is not to keep them HERE, but prepare them for THERE! I am thankful to GOD for letting me have my children for the time that I am supposed to have them.

But, being thankful for adult children is a little different. It looks a lot like:

Being there when needed, but staying out of the way. Allowing them to develop a new family unit. Being available. Love and support without having to CONTROL the decisions!

I can tell God that I am thankful for the people He put in my family. He however, expects some action with appropriate attitude.

So, here's to respect. Training. Letting go. and being available.
All true forms of thankfulness!

Chasing Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson
womanaftergod@gmail.com
GlendaJohnson63@Twitter.com