I know in today’s society we have been taught this invisible underlying formula that states if you:
Work hard + put in the time + have patience + keep the faith + do good work & good deeds = BIG PAY OFF IN THE END!
Well I really hate to pop your bubble but unfortunately that is not how our heavenly Father GOD works! See He is not into formulas, equations, mathematical predictions or anything along those lines. When you are a child of God you will undoubtedly go through many, and I do mean many trials, tribulations, tests, upsets, letdowns, turn a-rounds, and put-downs. But as His children we have to remember one very important promise God did make; that He would never leave nor forsake us. He also promised He would never put more on us than we could bear!
Some where along the way we were taught that we are meant to pass every test that God will put us through, but I have learned through my own trial and errors that that is simply not the truth. It was not until a few Sunday’s ago that I really realized that it was never meant to be like that. With each test we face in life, be it illness, financial situations, strongholds, sins, or any area we may not always PASS it but we will ALWAYS learn from it and grown. (If we so chose too, and not continue to keep going around the same mountain!)
In this Christian journey we will not pass every test God gives us, we can look at some of the most memorable leaders of the biblical times for example. For instance; Moses pass many test with God and God used him in a mighty way but Moses still did not pass the rock test. (Numbers 20 (New International Version) We can look at Abraham and the promise of a child. Abraham and his wife became impatient with God in awaiting for a child so Abraham’s wife told him to conceive a child with the maid(See Genesis 16 (New Living Translation). We can look at David and Basheba (2 Samuel 11 (New Living Translation) and how David failed that test. Point being in our Christian walk we will have times where we are extremely close to God, I mean we can feel Him all around, see Him working on our behalf, and know without a shadow of doubt that He is there. Then there will undoubtedly be times when we feel we need to stand on top of the building and scream from the top of our lungs “Father GOD can you HEAR me? Do you SEE me?, Do you LOVE me? Are you STILL HERE? I mean for real can I get SOME HELP PLEASE?”!!! But I have learned that God NEVER moves, I mean NEVER but WE MOVE!
Life becomes more and more challenging with every new day we face, if someone is not dying, someone is deathly ill, if your not broke, something breaks that you have to pay and replace, if your not hungry your light bill is twice the amount it normally is, if your not lonely your spouse does something completely irrational! Point being something always seems to happen or occur that we never saw coming. A ‘new test’ from God as we love to say! LOL However you chose to look at it, life comes fast and hard and you have to be focused in on the correct things in order to make it through.
I have learned the more I examine myself, the more I need JESUS (as I love to say), the more un-like Jesus I really am, the more one-on-one time I need with Jesus, and the more I need my Heavenly Father’s help & assistance to make it through my journey down here on earth. I now know and understand that I will NOT pass every test that God puts in front of me but I now understand that passing isn’t the important part; but taking the test, learning from the test and seeking Him for comments, concerns, suggestions on how to pass next time. Don’t let the unknown scare you away, don’t let the fear of “I might not pass” keep you from taking the test, don’t let “I’ve never done this before keep you from doing it! Remember God said, He would never leave nor forsake us and never place more on us than we could bear so slow down, listen for His soft & gentle voice, stop comparing yourself to others, walk YOUR walk He gave YOU and reach towards the mark of the higher calling Christ Jesus!
May the peace of God surround & be with you;
Love you all;
Linda M. Johnson
Torion & I
Fall 2009
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
A Love Story Worth Sharing
In the spirit of St. Valentines Day I wanted to share this awesome love story I heard about. It’s a story about a love affair that out weights all love affairs.
As it was told to me there was this man who was so in love with this person that he scarified his one and only son. I mean he loved this person so much that he actually sent his son into a place where he knew the people would hate him, talk about him, plot to kill him, and eventually take his life.
Now I know your asking your self “how does this tide in with love and St. Valentines Day?” but it does. This man was a man like no other, I mean he gave his own sons life for the sake of this person and the best part about the love affair was that this man loved this person unconditionally! I mean this man did not care where this person came from, what they had done, how many mistakes they had made or any of that jazz. This guy was head over hills in love with this person and all he asked for in return was, you guessed it their love back! How awesome is that? I mean really how many times in today’s word do we hear about true love like this? Hardly ever, right? But hey it’s a true story, just like the snow falling down in East Texas at this very moment! Take my word for it, its 100% true!
But here is the sad part, even though that awesome guy loved this person so much that person sometimes takes full advantage of his love! Can you believe that? I mean someone loves you enough to give their one and only child and you can’t even do right by them? I mean who wouldn’t love someone like him, someone who gave up something so precious and dear to him, that’s just cold hearted, right?
But the sad part of the story is that person actually thought they were loving this guy back, and doing right by him. They thought because they would give him a little time here and there, told a few people about him, respected him sometimes, spent alone time with him when it was convenient, and replied on him to bail them out when they were in trouble that their relationship was good! Boy where they wrong, I mean who wants to be with someone who only calls them when they need something, comes to visits only when it’s convenient for them, and only respects them sometimes? I don’t know about you but I don’t!
But I must confess that this awesome guy is the one and only true living GOD, that is right GOD is who I have been describing this whole time! And the person He’s deeply in love with is YOU! He loves you so much that He gave his only son. See 1 John 4:9. As you celebrate St. Valentines Day remember that 1 John 4:8 stated “. . . God is LOVE . . .” To say you have known love but you don’t know GOD is invalid but to say you know love and you know GOD is truth! (1 John 7-8)!
But let me leave you with this if someone says “. . . I love God, but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters” (1 John 4:20-21).
I know from personally experience the “LOVE” thing is very challenging but it is a direct commandment given by GOD and remember 1 John 5:1-3 (The Message) states: 1-3Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten. If we love the One who conceives the child, we'll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God's children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.
So this St. Valentines Day ask yourself “Am I having a love affair with GOD?” “Am I keeping His commandments, am I walking in love (forgiving others, caring for others, lending a helping hand, being unselfish, and not self involved) and am I allowing GOD to be GOD in my life for others to see His presence and wonderful glory?
Be blessed by brothers and sister and Happy St. Valentines Day!
Linda M. Johnson
Copyright © 2010 pending
As it was told to me there was this man who was so in love with this person that he scarified his one and only son. I mean he loved this person so much that he actually sent his son into a place where he knew the people would hate him, talk about him, plot to kill him, and eventually take his life.
Now I know your asking your self “how does this tide in with love and St. Valentines Day?” but it does. This man was a man like no other, I mean he gave his own sons life for the sake of this person and the best part about the love affair was that this man loved this person unconditionally! I mean this man did not care where this person came from, what they had done, how many mistakes they had made or any of that jazz. This guy was head over hills in love with this person and all he asked for in return was, you guessed it their love back! How awesome is that? I mean really how many times in today’s word do we hear about true love like this? Hardly ever, right? But hey it’s a true story, just like the snow falling down in East Texas at this very moment! Take my word for it, its 100% true!
But here is the sad part, even though that awesome guy loved this person so much that person sometimes takes full advantage of his love! Can you believe that? I mean someone loves you enough to give their one and only child and you can’t even do right by them? I mean who wouldn’t love someone like him, someone who gave up something so precious and dear to him, that’s just cold hearted, right?
But the sad part of the story is that person actually thought they were loving this guy back, and doing right by him. They thought because they would give him a little time here and there, told a few people about him, respected him sometimes, spent alone time with him when it was convenient, and replied on him to bail them out when they were in trouble that their relationship was good! Boy where they wrong, I mean who wants to be with someone who only calls them when they need something, comes to visits only when it’s convenient for them, and only respects them sometimes? I don’t know about you but I don’t!
But I must confess that this awesome guy is the one and only true living GOD, that is right GOD is who I have been describing this whole time! And the person He’s deeply in love with is YOU! He loves you so much that He gave his only son. See 1 John 4:9. As you celebrate St. Valentines Day remember that 1 John 4:8 stated “. . . God is LOVE . . .” To say you have known love but you don’t know GOD is invalid but to say you know love and you know GOD is truth! (1 John 7-8)!
But let me leave you with this if someone says “. . . I love God, but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters” (1 John 4:20-21).
I know from personally experience the “LOVE” thing is very challenging but it is a direct commandment given by GOD and remember 1 John 5:1-3 (The Message) states: 1-3Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten. If we love the One who conceives the child, we'll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God's children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.
So this St. Valentines Day ask yourself “Am I having a love affair with GOD?” “Am I keeping His commandments, am I walking in love (forgiving others, caring for others, lending a helping hand, being unselfish, and not self involved) and am I allowing GOD to be GOD in my life for others to see His presence and wonderful glory?
Be blessed by brothers and sister and Happy St. Valentines Day!
Linda M. Johnson
Copyright © 2010 pending
God will set You BACK for a Set Up!!!
6 months ago (June 30, 2009), to the day, I was in Memorial Hospital's E.R. laying on that stretcher listening to Dr. G. tell me that I have congestive heart failure, & that they are not sure how someone of my age got such a sever case but I'm being admitted to IMC. As I laid there listening to him, the nurses, hearing the phone ring & all I slowly looked up with tears in my eyes asking God "Lord what did they say? Did they say Heart failure? No not heart failure, I'm only 25 Lord! No for real what did they say cause it couldn't be that!! "
I looked over to my husband & my mother with tears running down my face, trying to find words to say but none would nor could come out! I sat there with thoughts ponding in my mind saying "I mean seriously I just graduated with my masters, I have dreams/plans Lord, clearly I didn't see this in the forecast. Oh wee help me Lord for real I don't know about this ,this is too much for me"!
I remember my mama left out to go tell my father, who was in the waiting room, what was going on. As I looked into my husband's eyes I began to cry and I remember him trying to comfort me but what he didn't know nor could he see is what was happening.
I heard God speak directly to my heart and to me and say "You can either roll up your sleeves and fight, (meaning you will trust me, have faith in me, rely on me, let me lead you, guide you) or you can give up and die"! Then He went on to say "there will be many who will be there, many who will not but all you need is me, allow your faith in me to guide & protect you but you will have to walk this journey alone. Though others will try and help NO ONE can do this but YOU"!
Quite naturally I was crying a river by this point, Torion thought it was because of the news I had just gotten but it wasn't, it was because my God had not forsaken me. At that moment I knew I had to trust God and rely on His grace & mercy to see me through! Little did I know at the time the next 1/2 year would bring about MUCH pain, sorrow, heart ache, sadness, life-threating, heart breaking times. You see my friend I have literally faced death eye to eye! I have even been evaluated for a heart transplant and all! I haven't been able to work nor use my master degree that I just got in May '09 but never the less my God is still a good God.
Though death tried to steal my peace of mind, my faith, my life, my hopes/dreams I heard my God when He told me "this sickness is not on to death"! I also heard Him when He said "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you & not harm you, plans to give you hope & and a future"!
So you see I give God ALL the glory for this story, His praises shall continue to be in my month! Yes 6 months has most certainly brought about change in my life, I am now currently taking about 8 medications daily, I had surgery to have a defiburaltor implanted into me in case my heart stops, and I am on a very strict heart patient diet but when I went to be evaluated for the heart transplant, even though I meet the parameters for it, the doctor said "umm I want to wait on putting you on the list" she went on to say "yes your very sick and would be a perfect candidate for a heart transplant but I just want to wait" I looked at her and said "okay by me (with a big smile)"! You see that was nothing but the Lord & His grace and mercy.
So my purpose in sharing ONLY SOME(trust me there is a lot more I could share) of my testimony is this:
1. Maybe You don't know Jesus nor God as your personal savior NOW is the time
2. Maybe you know Him but you don't fully trust nor rely on Him, now is the time to trust & believe
3. Maybe you have gone away from Him, now is time to come back
4. There's a lot of maybes but this is the point, ask God for forgiveness, believe in your heart
Jesus died & ross, pray and accept Jesus as your savior! Then you start reading His word, find a bible based church, and keep praying and seeking for God and He will show you Himself! I pray this was a blessing to ALL who will take time to read this!
Written by: Linda Michelle Johnson
I looked over to my husband & my mother with tears running down my face, trying to find words to say but none would nor could come out! I sat there with thoughts ponding in my mind saying "I mean seriously I just graduated with my masters, I have dreams/plans Lord, clearly I didn't see this in the forecast. Oh wee help me Lord for real I don't know about this ,this is too much for me"!
I remember my mama left out to go tell my father, who was in the waiting room, what was going on. As I looked into my husband's eyes I began to cry and I remember him trying to comfort me but what he didn't know nor could he see is what was happening.
I heard God speak directly to my heart and to me and say "You can either roll up your sleeves and fight, (meaning you will trust me, have faith in me, rely on me, let me lead you, guide you) or you can give up and die"! Then He went on to say "there will be many who will be there, many who will not but all you need is me, allow your faith in me to guide & protect you but you will have to walk this journey alone. Though others will try and help NO ONE can do this but YOU"!
Quite naturally I was crying a river by this point, Torion thought it was because of the news I had just gotten but it wasn't, it was because my God had not forsaken me. At that moment I knew I had to trust God and rely on His grace & mercy to see me through! Little did I know at the time the next 1/2 year would bring about MUCH pain, sorrow, heart ache, sadness, life-threating, heart breaking times. You see my friend I have literally faced death eye to eye! I have even been evaluated for a heart transplant and all! I haven't been able to work nor use my master degree that I just got in May '09 but never the less my God is still a good God.
Though death tried to steal my peace of mind, my faith, my life, my hopes/dreams I heard my God when He told me "this sickness is not on to death"! I also heard Him when He said "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you & not harm you, plans to give you hope & and a future"!
So you see I give God ALL the glory for this story, His praises shall continue to be in my month! Yes 6 months has most certainly brought about change in my life, I am now currently taking about 8 medications daily, I had surgery to have a defiburaltor implanted into me in case my heart stops, and I am on a very strict heart patient diet but when I went to be evaluated for the heart transplant, even though I meet the parameters for it, the doctor said "umm I want to wait on putting you on the list" she went on to say "yes your very sick and would be a perfect candidate for a heart transplant but I just want to wait" I looked at her and said "okay by me (with a big smile)"! You see that was nothing but the Lord & His grace and mercy.
So my purpose in sharing ONLY SOME(trust me there is a lot more I could share) of my testimony is this:
1. Maybe You don't know Jesus nor God as your personal savior NOW is the time
2. Maybe you know Him but you don't fully trust nor rely on Him, now is the time to trust & believe
3. Maybe you have gone away from Him, now is time to come back
4. There's a lot of maybes but this is the point, ask God for forgiveness, believe in your heart
Jesus died & ross, pray and accept Jesus as your savior! Then you start reading His word, find a bible based church, and keep praying and seeking for God and He will show you Himself! I pray this was a blessing to ALL who will take time to read this!
Written by: Linda Michelle Johnson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
