A Fabulous Return To Simple

The thunder and lightening came rolling across the mountains.  The clouds began to pour out much needed rain on our dry mountain peaks and the valleys that surround them.

And then, the one thing we all dread; the power disappears with the latest crash of thunder. No lights. No internet. No stove.

Now what? The time to prepare dinner was rapidly approaching.  I had steak marinating, potatoes to cook and a veggie to serve.  I had 2 choices:
Cereal
or

THE GRILL!

My husband thought I had lost my mind because it was raining. I explained that it was just "spitting" outside now, and we needed to get the charcoal started.

Out on the grill, as I put my cast iron skillet on the grill to cook the potatoes, and waited as the coals became just right for the steak, something amazing happened.

My entire family gathered outside, and we laughed, played football, loved on the dogs, and watched the the storm clouds and lightening in all its glory. No one asked to play a video game. No one commented on a television program. No one desired to use the computer. (Except me, because I needed to write my blog).
We were unplugged! And it was nice for the couple of hours that it continued. We got to have some family discussions on how this was really close to the way most meals would have been cooked many years ago. A simpler time in many aspects.The kids really were enjoying the change of pace.

Gathered together, cooking dinner together, made me yearn for more, less tech driven time with my family.  I will make that happen.  I will not wait for the lights to go out before our family makes a return to a simpler way of life, and just enjoys being together.Quite possibly french toast on the grill tomorrow morning...:)

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!)

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

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

SHH! Hear The Whisper?

Hello! It has been 46 days since I have blogged.
I have missed writing.
Thank you to those who have written, commented and sent me messages saying you have missed the blog as well.

I have learned that sometimes, you have to be real quiet. (For those that know me, NOT AN EASY TASK!)
I have only rarely posted on Face Book and Twitter the last month and a half as well.

In my quietness, I have been listening.
Unfortunately, at times, I have been listening to the wrong voices.
I needed to quiet all the voices except One.

Like Elijah, I needed to here what God had to say to me. I needed desperately to hear God's voice above all the others that were shouting at me.

1 Kings 19:11-12  And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.


In that low whisper was God. I found I could only hear it when I stopped trying to listen and respond to all the other voices. I needed to quiet me.

And I did. And I listened.

God was there speaking all time. I had just chosen to allow myself to turn His volume down, so I couldn't hear Him as well.

Today, I am listening to the whisper. It is powerful. It will silence the untruths. It will bring peace.

If you are having a hard time hearing God over the roar of others, be silent. Don't answer. Don't fight. Just listen. See, you hear it now?
He is telling you He loves you. He wants the best for you. He will always protect you.
He alone, is the holder of your future.
Keep listening. He has a lot He has been waiting to tell you!

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson