The Swamp

In 2000, my husband took his first located ministry in Roper, NC. It was right in the middle of the swamp and had mosquitos so big they could carry off a mini van. There were bears, water mocassins, and did I mention the mosquitos?

I would return in a New York minute!

Not for any of the reasons that are listed above, definitely NOT the mosquitos, but for the people. 

There in that little swamp of North Carolina, are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I was loved there in that little town. And I could love the people there as well. 

Of all the people that I fell in love with, one stands out just a little more than others.  He is Norman Furlough. I loved him like a father. He loved me like a daughter. He made me laugh and he made me cry.

My favorite memory of living there was when we were roofing the parsonage. It was really cold outside and many men came and went working on the roof. Norman was there EVERY day. One day I looked out of my window, and saw a sign that said, "Will work for coffee!", written on cardboard. Norman's face peeked around from behind the sign and smiled. 

There are many others there I love too. I get to go back and visit occasionally. I always say if I ever have a crisis in my life, Roper, North Carolina is the first place I want to run to. 

The sad part is, I have to wait until heaven to get to see Norman again. You see, Jesus came to take him home a couple of years ago. I miss him, but returning to see him one day on the streets of gold instead of the streets of Roper, is something I am anxiously awaiting!

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