FIRM FOUNTATION

Over and over and over in my lifetime God has proven to me that there will be disappointments at every turn in this world. Nothing here is worth depending on. Nothing here is of any value that can be looked at as worthy. Nothing will ever satisfy. I can dream. I can have great expectations, but I will never find anything that will make me feel fulfilled. Nothing but Jesus Christ, my Rock can do that. And still I raise my hopes and expectations with worldly things, only to have them dashed unceremoniously. When will I learn? When will this believer put her complete trust and hopes in the only Truth and satisfaction that anyone can have? 1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. Hebrews 11

When I'm Gone by Joey Rory

A bright sunrise will contradict the heavy fault that weighs you down In spite of all the funeral songs The birds will make their joyful sounds You wonder why the earth still moves You wonder how youll carry on But youll be okay on that first day when Im gone Dusk will come with fireflies and whippoorwill and crickets call And every star will take its place And silvery gown and purple shawl Youll lie down in our big bed Dread the dark and dread the dawn But youll be alright on that first night when Im gone You will reach for me in vain Youll be whispering my name As if sorrow were your friend And this world so in the end But life will call with daffodil And morning glorious blue skies oull think of me some memory And softly smile to your surprise And even though you love me still You will know where you belong Just give it time well both be fine When Im gone

The End of The Crossing

 On October 6, 2024, our congregation met for the last time. Our pastor and family are retiring to the mountains of N. Carolina, and the rest of us will find a new home, a new family. 

It was heartrenching. 

We began with a time of worship in song with these: He Has Paid the Highest Price, Thank You Jesus for the Blood Applied, No One Like Our God, (a song written from Hannah's prayer in Daniel, by our Worship leader), What a Beautiful Name, and Goodness of God. Notice that, as was the rule, none of these songs have 'me' or 'i' in them. the focus was always about Him.

Women of the Late 20th Century

 just thinking about how labels have changed in my lifetime. when I was a girl I was Miss Shirley Johnson, my mother was Mrs. Merril Johnson and my dad was Mr. Merril Johnson. then I became MS Shirley Johnson, my mom became Mrs. Lucile Johnson and my dad Mr. Merril Johnson. now I am (if I hadn't changed my name) Shirley Johnson, my mom is Lucile Johnson, and my dad Merril. nobody gets a title. i forgot to mention the Master for young boys.

anyway, what's the point? I am not sure, but seems to me that the one that changed most is the women. they're just never satisfied in this generation. now that they've stripped themselves of all identification, where do they go from here? they've also gone from wearing dresses, universally, to almost all in pants. is the point to be more like men? or is it to display their charms more dramatically?

they also have publicly stripped themselves of clothing, not to mention wearing what they do wear tighter, whereas I've not seen that dramatic change in the males. what it seems to come down to, in my generation, is that women just can't seem to get enough exposure and change.

demanding little snits trying to steal the show. whatever. just thinking.

My First Pair of Jeans

Today looks and feels (atmosphere-wise) like the days i spent in Minnesota in September on the lakes with my dad and mom. a tad warmer (70) but still reminds me. i was 10, 1957 or so.

we drove up and we got all the way into Minnesota before my mom finally talked my dad into stopping and buying me my very first pair of jeans. i heard her say under her breath, "you can't expect her to go out on a boat in a dress in weather like this, Merril Johnson." (mom seldom, extremely seldom, talked back to my dad.) Next small town we came to he pulled into a parking place and i got a new pair of jeans. i'm not sure i was ever allowed to wear them again after we left the state.

Hope for Tomorrow

I've referenced Hebrews 11: 1 a couple of times this week, and my mind stayed on it a bit each time. It's almost 40 years ago, but i can still remember what my mind set and attitude was like before i accepted Christ. I thought about my kids, and then about me. My kids would leave home some day, and I was mortal. So, i had pretty much no hope for this life except to "get as much as I could for as long as I could". Still, I came up empty. Hebrews 11: 1 answers that, and when I had Christ, I learned that without that faith, without Him, I had no hope. That faith is the firm foundation upon which this life is worth living. Without it, life stinks. With Him, I have hope for tomorrow.

AND THE JOY WE SHARE AS WE TARRY THERE, NONE OTHER HAS EVER KNOWN. It's not a laughing fest. It's not a jump up and down exercise. It's not walking around with this huge smile painted all over your face. It's sitting quietly and peacefully, feeling a warm sense of being loved and held tightly and safely, completely calm while your whole world around you is caving in.

ENOUGH

One of my favorite singers is a woman who I believe is THE voice of the twentieth century, Linda Ronstadt. Ten years or so ago she was diagnosed with super nuclear palsy, a form of Parkinson's disease. She lost her voice, her career, and very quickly her motor skills.

Every now and then when I feel a little sorry for myself, I will listen to her music and then read for the hundredth time all her struggles to live as normal a life as possible. I always realize how fortunate I am to have what health I have left.

It's very important to remember that there are thousands, millions of people out there that are worse off, hurt more, in a much sorrier state than you are. I'm in God's hands, and that is enough!

LOVE GROWS HERE

I arrived at their house in early afternoon. They were out at their pool and had left the front door unlocked for me to go in. The sign on the door read, "Love Grows Here", and that stopped me in my tracks. I thought for a couple of seconds before I entered. Yes. I know this couple well enough to know that it wasn't just a sweet sign on a door. This was a very true statement for this couple of 42 years.

The sign has haunted me since. Truthfully, I could not hang that sign in my entryway. But, what would my sign say? "Love is Here If You Look for It." "Love is in Here Somewhere." "We Try to Get Along." "I Guess We Do Love One Another." Wow. It stabs me in the heart to think of this sign.

What a beautiful statement after 42 years. I told this to my friends while we lounged in the pool. The husband stopped for a moment, then with a smile said,  "Yeah. It does." She leveled her gaze at me and said, "What a nice compliment."

I wondered how many of us could make such an assertion. We certainly want our friends to think it so, but, do they? Does it matter? Why does it matter? "Reside Here"? Probably. But, "Grows Here"?

Somehow, thinking of the difference between, "Love Grows Here" and "Love Resides Here" makes me sad.

Annie Johnson Flint

God hath not promised skies always blue,Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way;
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

Annie Johnston Flint wrote this song, If you don't know her story you need to look it up and read it. she was bedridden with arthritis, boils, sores, on and on and on for most of her life. she started out an orphan. she was stricken with more pain and suffering than i could ever imagine, and in her bed she wrote many songs like the one above. people ask me how i got through some of the things i've been through and i always tell them, Everybody's Got a Story. i'm not the only one who has problems. i'm not alone. you have a story. and i believe we all need to remind others that God is the One to turn to when we suffer. we suffer because of sin in the world. we pray and turn to God because He's the only place to go for hope and peace through it all. we read this at my mom's funeral because she lived this. she was a woman who suffered much, and laughed through it all because she had turned to the Father of hope.

Small Group Comes Through Again

Ron and I are celebrating our Thanksgiving today at our home with our small group. 

Have I mentioned that I love my small group? For the past couple of years, the leader of our group and his wife have invited us to be with them and their family. This year they were invited out, and knowing that Ron and I have no family to spend our holiday with, they asked if we could all get together on the day after to celebrate it together. Pretty sweet, huh? So I said, come to our house, we'll supply the turkey, and y'all can bring the rest. 

Some people won't get involved in small groups, and I don't understand that. It's the closest thing to family we have here. Of course, they are family because we are all the eternal family of God. It's a pretty good idea to get close to those you're going to spend eternity with. 



So the roast is in the oven, and the turkey is resting on the counter, ready to go to the oven. I'm pure thankful for whatever, whatever, God gives me or decides what I should go through. He is all-knowing and knows each of us through and through. 

I'm thankful He saved me. I'm thankful for Ron and my family. I'm thankful for my friends, and thankful for my small group.

Chic-fil-a

Seems the controversy just goes on and on. Chic-fil-a is slammed by many for pulling support to Salvation Army and Christian Athletes. 

Thankfully they seem to be leaving the Christian Athletes alone. However, the Salvation Army is slammed for having a special page devoted to gays and lesbians on their web site.Just goes to show you that there are many people out there that really don't understand not only what the Salvation Army stands for, but for what every Christian should stand for, and that's reaching out to the lost and to the needy. 

Our faith doesn't teach us to discriminate when it comes to need or someone searching for God's Truth. Christ taught us with His own life that no one was beyond His love, and we are to do likewise, with love and true friendship.

Bad Attitudes

BAD ATTITUDES ARE UNATTRACTIVE, AND THEY SOIL YOUR SOUL.

I'M CHANGING MINE.

Honoring God

Chad Aukland says, If you are busy, embrace it! Use your busyness to honor God! 

I agree.

And I say, if you're not busy, find a way to get busy and honor God. 

If I didn't have dr appts I wouldn't be busy, and I like that. But being sedentary causes us to look for entertainment or self-satisfying activities. I need to find things to do to honor God, so I volunteer my time when I can, and I make my craft and donate in different ways. 

It's little stuff. But it's our hearts giving to honor Him that matters. We have neighbors we can pray for and help. God doesn't need riches or great gifts. all He wants is our obedience and hearts.

I Can't Win!

I always thought that it's great that I can watch and hear the tv while I'm fixing dinner, that is until the Hallmark channel started showing their Christmas shows.....in May. So now I have to suffer through having to listen to them because Ron loves the Christmas movies. He even watches the ones on Lifetime, sometimes flipping back and forth between them. Then today, he's flipping back and forth between Lifetime, Hallmark, and the football game. 

i decided, fine, I'm going to my room where i can watch the game. Now, for some odd reason my tv was tuned to Hallmark when I turned it on, and because i had seen some of it in the living room I found myself lost in the plot. Before I knew it I had been watching this silly movie for 15 minutes! OY! It's a trap! What's worse, Wisconsin is losing to osu. Now I have to find another game!

A Strong Woman

Back in the '70s  when Ron took me home to meet the fam, they met a strong-minded woman who believed women could and should take over the world. I was not exactly what momma and daddy had in mind for their sweet little boy, and it was apparent I was not going to fit in well with them. Nor did I want to. I believe his family and friends gave us two chances for a lasting marriage.....slim and none. Yet, of the 4 sons, Ron's and my marriage is the only one that lasted over the years. 

God, and only God the Father made that happen. He changed my heart about how He wanted me to be as a woman. The strong, in charge woman was out, and I fought it tooth and nail, don't think I didn't. 

Did you know that in the bible God gives the man instructions that he should love his wife, just as Christ loved the church? But the wife is only instructed to respect her husband. How does a woman respect her man if she is giving the orders? It's just not possible. 

It's still not easy for me, but Ron definitely has the last word here. I submit to him. And the only way for me to please the Father is to respect my man.

It's Just a Game!

Since moving to Georgia I have become a bit of a Falcons fan, though the Kansas City Chiefs will always be number one in this midwesterner's heart. I've enjoyed the quality of offensive talent for Atlanta, and trying to take my love for football to the local area, I regularly watch them play.

At our church, we have two friends that work for the Falcons franchise, and I've been careful this year since they were knocked out of the playoffs not to say anything about the end to their season. That is, until today. I am afraid that I owe my dear friend, K___ an apology for a lapse in my mental process. K___ came up to give me one of the huge hugs that he gives from his 12' (almost) frame, and as he walked away, without thinking, I said innocently, Go Chiefs! 

I think his chin scraped the floor as he sauntered away. And, just like the Falcons, I had no defense.
                                                   

Don't Quit

A few weeks ago a friend and I were discussing, or should I say lamenting, how our advanced age and physical shortcomings have taken its toll, and that we no longer have the physical abilities and strength to serve in the church as we have in the past. She and I both like working with kids and helping with activities. It's easy to pull away and do nothing, perhaps wallowing in your resentment or afraid to try anything. The conversation went something like this:

My friend: Yes, well at our age it's more difficult to do all these things. I do what I can and leave the rest to the younger ones.
Me: There are still things that you and I can do. We can always pray and be diligent to let others know we care. We can encourage them, the young and the older, with words of love and support. If we listen carefully, God will still give us work to do.

She agreed, and we prayed about that very thing right there.

Later, when the pastor had finished his message, everyone began to file out, and I stayed seated, waiting for the clear path. I felt an arm around my shoulders and looked around to see our pastor's wife. I  make handmade greeting cards, and she asked me to make some blank note cards for some middle east women she would be speaking to soon. I was thrilled. God was answering our prayer so quickly!

I went home and looked up the country of these women. I read of its history, its religions, its people. Then I looked at the images of the women that lived there, and I set their faces in my mind. And as I made each card, four to a pack for twenty women, making eighty beautiful blank cards, I prayed for these women, crying and seeing their faces in my mind, learning to love these beautiful people that I would never meet or know. While making small gifts for others, God had given me an enormous and wondrous gift, a love for mankind that live far from me, physically and culturally. But we share a love for the Father that has brought us together in love.

So, today I am celebrating, well, just acknowledging, my seventy-first birthday. Many are still very active and healthy at this age, running marathons, walking briskly through life, able to participate in so many outdoor activities with their grandchildren. I'm not one of them. I walk with a cane most of the time after having two knee replacements, one not turning out so well.  I've had some bad experiences with some surgeries and mistakes by doctors. But I'm exercising and doing as much as I can to stay active. I am not complaining. I see many each day that are far worse off than I am. I've had a good and active life, and so I am winding down a bit slower than some.

No matter where you are in life, you still have much to offer. The greatest thrill for me is to be able to help others with love, encouragement, wisdom, and as long as I can drive, I can help my friend get to the doctors. But, I will always remember to keep pushing and keep listening to my Lord for guidance. It would be great if I could give you that famous quote, "Don't quit." from Winston Churchill. But, in reality, Churchill never said that. He never made that speech that history has tried to attribute to him. But, he did say some very eloquent lines with which I will leave you.

If you're going through hell, keep going.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

Never, never, never give up.

Can We Be Civil and Kind?

I witnessed two people having a conversation about a large facility being converted to a hospital for drug addicted people. They were vehemently against this move. They felt, very strongly, that the building should be used for "better" purposes, i.e. a place for homeless veterans. Their opinion of those addicted to drugs was that they had brought their situation on themselves. No one forced them to use drugs, they were the "scum of the earth", and they deserved to rot on the streets. The opinion of these two was that drug addiction was not a disease, it was a choice, and the taxpayer should not have to foot the bill for their care.I was incredulous at their attitudes, but even more shocked that they thought, no, they were positive, that addictions were not diseases. I showed them articles of proof to the contrary, but their response was to call me names. Saddened by this whole conversation, I set down a story that portrayed my thoughts. I have no knowledge that they have read it, but I hope someone will read it and learn from it.......................................There once was a young man who thought he was invincible. He sat on the wall of a deep well and looked down into it. No problem, he said. I won't fall off, so I am safe. The next thing he knew he slipped and fell in. He struggled and tried over and over to climb out, but he just couldn't make it on his own. He cried out for help, but no one helped him because they said he shouldn't have sat on the wall in the first place. He was lonely, miserable and sick, but no one would help. He was left to die because the people were too hard-hearted and full of hate to help him. What a disgusting and disturbing story, that people are so unkind that they won't help those in need, but think they know all the answers, when in fact, they've never been down in the well!

Ma

Hate is one of the worst diseases of mankind. We certainly don't have to look very far to find it. We laugh at those we consider less intelligent or overweight. We make fun of people who make a mistake in speaking or perhaps fall. We think it's funny if someone is hit in the face with an object. We pretend we're better than others because we have made a few good choices, or we're prettier, healthier, not blond. Evil is alive and rampant, and we call ourselves civilized. We're pathetic! Alcoholism, drug addiction, over-eating, self-mutilation, mental illness, are all diseases and need help to overcome. Nothing is fair in this world, but we could at least be civil and kind.

Who Do You Trust?

There are many people in this world that are followers of Christ but find it very difficult to share their burdens and their problems with their Christian brothers and sisters. These people are either very private or they have had the misfortune of being betrayed by someone they have trusted with their heartaches. These are usually the ones who ask for "unspoken" prayer requests. What a shame that we can't trust those in the family of God!

Other Christians not only share every heartache they have or have ever had, 

but they tell everyone they come in contact with. They seem to have no 

problem with everyone knowing their problems, but one would think they 

would become weary at some point. We must understand that some just 

have this need to talk through things.

Then we come to the third Christian. This one is selective about who they talk

to about their burdens, and tells only the ones that are believed to be trusted

to pray about it, which is the main reason to share. This is where yours truly 

fits in. 

I once was a long time member of a ladies' weekly bible study group. I was a 

new Christian, and also the youngest in the group. The rest of the ladies 

were older, wiser, and some had faced some of the problems that I was facing

at the time. I relied greatly on their insight and spiritual wisdom. There was

an average of about fifteen women involved in the group, so it was clear to 

me that I was taking a bit of a chance by telling these very personal problems.

One day I was passing the pastor in a hallway and we stopped for a short 

visit. At some point, I said something about asking for prayer in the group

about something. Pastor hesitated a moment, then said, "Shirley, I think you 

tell too much."

"Why do you think that?" I asked him.

"Well, you can't always be sure things stay within the group. And 

then sometimes they might discuss between themselves what you have

told them." You could tell he was trying to be as careful as possible not

 to accuse anyone, but just to caution me.

"I'm very aware that that could happen," I confessed, "and I've given it a lot

of thought. If anyone in the group feels the need to talk about me or 

my problems, and if they want to talk about me when they are together, I have 

no problem with that. Actually, it's not for me to deal with. What they do or say

is God's problem, not mine. I need prayer. My family needs prayer. So, I am 

going to share my problems where I should be able to share them, in my 

church family. I hope they pray for us. I think I know the ones who will, and 

the ones who won't. But, I trust God to remind them, and I know the faithful 

ones will pray."

"Well, I thought I should mention it."

And, of course, he should have. But, I will always be saddened by the fact that 

he needed to do it. It's very important that those of us who are believers 

remind ourselves that none of us has arrived yet. We are all still striving to 

attain that goal, but we won't be there until the day He takes us home. 

So, let's cut each other some slack, and then focus our minds on being

as Christlike as we can be. Taking care of me is quite enough work.

If you wish to keep your problems to yourself, then you should do so. 

But hopefully, you will find someone to whom you can share and ask to pray 

with you. If you choose to tell many, or all you know, again, fine. But, maybe 

just a little discernment would be enough relief. The question we should 

address is Am I Trustworthy? not Who Can I Trust? When we sweep our 

own front step, as my mother always use to say, then it's the first step in 

getting the whole world clean. If I'm taking care of me, and you're taking care

of you, that's when we are better prepared to pray for each other and share

our strength in support.

(As always, there are always exceptions and "what ifs" to deal with. Who you 

trust must be your decision.)