I'd Like A Super Taco Please

Jack in the Box.
A childhood memory. A very GOOD childhood memory.

Not the toy, but the fast food restaurant. Oh how I long for a "super taco". Those aren't even on the menu anymore. They do still have tacos though. And the Jumbo Jack with cheese. Maybe the Ultimate Cheeseburger. And lest I forget, onion rings!!!

Depending on where you live, you might be thinking, "What's the big deal?'.

I have lived on the East Coast since 1987. The furthest east there is a Jack in the Box is St. Louis, Mo. Many, many, MANY years of it only being a very occasional treat when visiting AZ.I craved "super tacos" when I was pregnant. I loved, loved, LOVED that restaurant!

Thursday night, I came into ST. Louis about 11:00pm.

And there it was, the sign!
It was like an angelic choir began singing.

My husband smiled, and asked, "Do we stop?"

Now the dilemma.

I had already eaten.

It was late.

 To save money, we had packed food, for our trip so we would only have 1 meal out.

I have been working REALLY hard on losing weight' and this was NOT a health food stop.

Hubby asked again, "Do we stop?" After all, it IS the first stop we make after getting off the plane in Phoenix.

I realized I must depend on the return of discipline to get me through this moment.
So I said no. Keep driving.

Then we passed another. And another. AND ANOTHER! Actually five in total that I said "NO!" to, as we drove.

And it felt good.

A very close friend of mine and I came to a conclusion several years ago. Every issue we have, from the spiritual to the physical, has to do with discipline or lack thereof.

Money Issues- The discipline to not spend more than we make, and only make wise choices to get out of debt or not to incur debt.

Weight Issues- The discipline to not eat what is unhealthy, and over-eat, and to choose to make time for exercise.

Spiritual Issues- The discipline to read God's Word and pray daily, and trust and obey what we have read.

Housekeeping- The discipline to clean and pick up daily, sometimes hourly, or just as we see things that need to be handled instead of putting them off.

Raising Children- The discipline to be consistent, and present, and adhere to the biblical way of doing things when the world view is more popular and seems easier.

Discipline. For now, it is residing with me. No Jack in the  Box.

Yet.

It will be what's for dinner tonight. But that is ONE meal, instead of what would have been 4 by now.

What in your life could change if you let discipline return, or show up for the very first time in that area?
 Your waistline, bank account, or even your eternity might just look very different!

"Simply let your "Yes, be yes", and your No, No." Anything beyond this comes from the evil one." Matthew 5:37 (NIV)

Give discipline a try.

Chasing After Their  Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

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

Betrayal Returns

 
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

What Did He Say?

Living in a new area and a new culture takes some getting used to. Somethings are more difficult than others to adjust to.

I have decided that I will continue to look for the positive things that make it wonderful to be in our new home.

While shopping at a new grocery store, I experienced something that I thought was long gone in our world today.

I had finished my shopping, and to be honest, I was a little exasperated. Finding items in a new store can be frustrating. Looking for the brands you are used to, figuring out  how the store sales work, it can just be overwhelming.

I walked up to the check out line, and had one person in front of me. The clerk was doing as much chatting with the customer as he did ringing up of groceries. Have to admit, I was a little irritated. After all, my time was being wasted. You see I had moved from an area in the east where everyone is at a fast run all the time!

This was unacceptable!

My turn FINALLY came, and the young man said, " How are you today?"
I just smiled a little with my head down as I continued to put my groceries on the belt. Where I came from, that is just a greeting by cashiers as they begin to check you out. An answer is NOT expected.

Then I noticed that this young man was not ringing me up yet. He was looking at me, now making eye contact. As I looked at him, he repeated, "How are you today?" And he waited for an answer.He really wanted to know.

I answered and then began a delightful conversation with this young man. You know, as much chatting as checking...

It was refreshing to have a young man, (17-22), who was polite and caring. He had obviously been raised in a home, and a culture where this type of behavior was emphasized and encouraged.  It was lovely, and made me glad to be living in this community.

As I walked away, he said, "Honey have a great rest of your day. Please come see us again real soon!" And he meant it.

I thought, he called me "honey", how sweet.

Then I realized, people, including me, tend to call older women "honey".....hmmmm...

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

Déjà vu Returns

 

I am having ANOTHER colonoscopy tomorrow. I had one in 2002, and apparently, the doctor thinks I need another one. So my day today has been filled with a joyous cuisine, that really is only staying with me about 30 seconds. This is entirely due to the "magical water" I drank at 10am today. Only one hour before I get to drink more "magical water" .

The event that topped it all off today was the nurse that called to tell me what time to be there tomorrow. "Why?', you might ask. Well, let me digress just a moment. I am a preacher's wife. The nurse is a member of our congregation. For me it is Déjà vu.

Why is it that my husband tends to be called to serve God where the nurses all work in the colonoscopy department??

So I decided to rerun my blog post about this very thing. Enjoy. And Stacey, if you are reading this; I really actually feel much better knowing you will be with me tomorrow!

 

The Secret Life of a Preacher's Wife- The Test

My name is Glenda.
I am a preacher's wife.
And I have a secret.
As a matter of fact, I have a secret life, that only God and other preacher's wives see.

And I am going to give you a peak inside.
Everything I am about to say, is the truth. (Though my friend, and fellow preacher's wife Mandy Richmond says you won't believe it!)
I hope if you are reading this and you are married to the man in the pulpit, you will get a chuckle and know you are not alone.
If you are not married to the man in the pulpit, (please don't desire to be, but that's another blog post) I hope you get a glimpse of the life of the woman that is probably sitting alone on the second pew.

So here we go.


My husband preaches that we are not to just read and know scripture, but to live it out. This is about the day Romans 7:15 became my nemesis.

My husband was preaching is a small southern town. I mean population of 2000 and that includes counting the college students that they lump together with this towns population. And the college has 1000 students. So that leaves about 1000, (and I think they are counting flies) to establish small.
I loved that congregation. Lovely people. We knew everybody in town. And everybody in the Church.

So the stage is set. For my colonoscopy.

Now most you, if you have to have this test done, you make an appointment, show up, get some feel good medicine so you don't remember, wake up, talk to your doctor and go home.

For me it goes like this; I make my appointment. The head nurse of that unit tells me on Sunday, "Oh I see you are coming to see me next week!".
Ugh. Remember, this is a colonoscopy.
The day arrives, I go back and  am introduced as the preacher's wife. Patient hat comes off, Preacher's wife hat comes on. I greet and chat with everyone in the room as I am prepped. Don't know why I changed hats, no one was looking at my head! Ugh.
The nurse member of our congregation gives me something to make me forget what is going on. As I am getting this medicine I am told I will be awake, I just won't remember anything.

This is where you and I might differ some. I begin praying fervently, "Lord, please let me be nice. Please don't let me say anything that might not be appropriate. Please let these women see Jesus (although I was sure they WERE NOT going to find Jesus where they were looking at that moment)!

Sometime during my procedure, the meds starting wearing off, and I began a conversation in my head with myself that went something like this:
"Oh that hurts"
"This really needs to stop NOW"
"Ok, be nice Glenda. be careful, don't say anything you shouldn't"
"Ok ladies this needs to stop"

I then said quietly to the nurses, "Umm, ladies, excuse me but that hurts." They looked at me , rolled me over to my other side and started pushing on my tummy. Not the response I was looking for.

Then Romans 7:15 comes into play.
 "I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate."
In my head again, " This has to stop now or I'm going to take someone out!!"
"Jesus, God, Church, Husband is the preacher."
"Ok say it louder, but nicely!"

I spoke aloud again. Quite loudly to make sure they heard me this time.

"LADIES! This really MUST stop now. I have had quite enough!"

My nurse who goes to our church, must have heard me then because she came up to where my head was, and gave me some more meds because the next thing I remember is waking up with my husband and the doctor.
I started to get panicky because I wondered if I was rude, or mean to the nurses. After all, a preacher's wife cannot do that!

I saw my nurse at church the following Sunday, and I asked her, " Was I rude or mean to you or your staff when I had the test done?" She was confused at the question but said no. I then recounted my conversation with her and she looked horrified.
"You aren't supposed to remember that!"
I smiled at her,winking and said, "That's ok, there are a few things from that day I hope YOU don't remember!"

Such is the "Secret Life of a Preacher's Wife".

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson

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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
 

Do You See What I See?

He approached the front of the auditorium this morning with his guitar.It has been a long time since he has stood in this same place.  As he began to read a scripture and then pray, I was deeply moved. He began to lead the congregation in the first song, then the next, the voices began to rise and this worship leader did what he is so uniquely gifted to do. Using his musical talents, and showing his love for Jesus, the congregation was blessed by an awesome time of worship.

But, do they see what I see?

Can they see beyond the talented man standing before them, to what is really happening right before their eyes. Do they get what happened this morning, or do they just appreciate the wonderful sound?

Not too long ago this very man made some poor choices. Committed a crime, and went through some very tough times. Very public tough times. His story does not stop there. He paid the consequences for his actions. He returned to Jesus. He repented publicly and asked for forgiveness. He changed his ways. His family has been healed.

Do you see what I see?

This morning was not about a man returning as the worship leader.

This morning was about what God is all about. It is the story of Jesus. It is the story of how someone messed up really bad. How Jesus forgave him. How a church family showed grace and forgiveness as Jesus has called them to do.

Do you see what I see?

I see grace flowing freely, not just being academically talked about.

And it is beautiful.

Chasing After Their Hearts,
Glenda Johnson