devotional thoughts...

Here are some thoughts from "My Utmost for His Highest:

The Delight of Sacrifice (Feb. 24th)

The title of this devotion somewhat intrigued me as the human side of me sees no delight in sacrificing...

Yet the apostle Paul was a great example of one who delighted in sacrificing for our Lord and Savior.

How did Paul win people over for Christ? He became holy, and he allowed the Holy Spirit to work in his very being on a regular, consistent basis. He totally surrendered himself to Jesus and he gave of himself to the point of becoming a mere, humbled person and servant of God and he permitted the Spirit to lead, guide and direct him. All this that Paul did is readily available to any believer who surrenders him or herself to Jesus Christ....

We tend to be devoted to the things which allow us more spiritual freedom (like church, a mentor, pray meetings, places where we participate while others hold the position of Godly leaders) and not to Jesus Christ... Yet, freedom was not Paul's motive at all. Paul was in love with Jesus and that was all the motivation he needed.

So the question we need to ask ourselves is ...are we in love with Jesus Christ?
To be in love:
-you think of that person all the time...
-you talk to that person all the time or you at least want to talk to that person...
-you get "butterflies" or "happy" feelings when you think about that person or when you are around that person...
-you say I love you and other great things to or about that person..
-you do things for that person...

Can I do these things for Jesus and can I be in love with Jesus like I can with people that I am in love with now?

"Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength..." When I love God like that there is no room for sin. I love Him by serving Him, working for Him in everything that I do.....

a lovely love month

It is already February...which means:

-my man has been gone for almost six months....halfway through deployment...

-Lil' P is almost eight months old....he smiles alot...can almost sit up by himself...is scooting around...loves to stick his arm out when greeting someone or saying goodbye....is a one-breasted fed fella (loves my right better than the left)...and loves being around people...

-the girls are in their third week of school...they seem to enjoy being there and enjoy all the work they are having to do and they are so so so excited to get more work to do at home that they joyfully get right to it when getting home....(if you believe this, than you also believe that monkeys can fly!)

-one more month til my man comes home for R & R....looking forward to seeing him and the girls are excited to see daddy....

-cold days and even colder nights....looking forward to warmer weather....(although this cold spell is a great excuse for why I can't exercise outside, since I would have to take the kids with me...wouldn't want my precious youngin's getting frost bite!)

-focusing on loving more....this month always reminds me of the greatest commandment...love my Lord and Savior and love my "neighbor"...love covers a multitude of sin...without love we would surely fail....love my neighbor as myself...love is patient...love is kind...it does not envy...it does not boast...it is not self seeking...love...love...love....just love and I will not go wrong...

Much love to you in this lovely, love month....


me lovin on my lil' man:

rest, rely, and relieve

Many changes are happening in our lives right now (my children and myself!) I am excited to move and be led by the Spirit as we make these changes. Change can be a blessing but it can also be challenging too! When it becomes a challenge I easily take my eyes off of the One who is bringing the blessing in my life. Distraction takes me away from the will of God and I am learning to work through the challenges by operating continually in the Spirit and by continually praying without ceasing! Those scripture on prayer seem to come alive as I am working through my day...staying in close communion with my Lord and Savior through prayer helps me to remember that He is always here with me and within me to rest in, rely on, and be relieved from the problems and struggles of this world......God bless you all and much love from me!

Update

Hello everyone in blog world!!!

I am in MS right now, staying with friends. It is soooooo cold out here and we have a little bit of snow. The girls had fun playing in it....they stayed outside for quite a while!!

Here's a brief update of what we've been up to:

-We stayed in Columbus, GA for two weeks and spend Christmas with friends. I would love to post photos but am at the library right now and unable to do it. Post pics later...

-We celebrated New Years Eve at a friends church and stayed at her beautiful cabin...lots of fun. The kids went hiking the next day and I took the little ones on a walk around the woods.

-We have been going to AWANA here in MS and the kids have been doing some schoolwork and going to the library/storytime. I've been able to go to appointments and to the gym with one or two kids and leaving the others at my friend's house to play or take naps....

-Been learning how to "Hear the Voice of God", a book by Joyce Meyer...and continuing to seek Him as this deployment drags on.

-I hope to continue to work out here and join a worship dance group in NC when I get back.

Well I must go get the kids now. We have free membership at the YMCA because of P's deployment so we are gonna go there....

Hope to write more soon and post pics of our adventures here and in GA.

Love ya, MK

Merry Christmas to you all...

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

A
babe.
Born in a
manger.
He is Emmanuel.
God is with us!
How amazing that God became
a man and walked among us.
He was born of a virgin by the power of
the Holy Spirit. He came so that we might have life.
He is our Savior and we need Him to free us of our sin.
How awesome that He had this plan from the beginning.
A plan to radically change each sinful heart for His purposes and glory.
What a God! He came into the world in a lowly stable and humbled himself
by sacrificing His life for us. His ministry was short, but He forever changed the course
of history...He is Jesus Christ. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is our God, our Creator. All power
-ful, all knowing. He is not of this world and we did not recognize Him. He who knew no sin yet became sin for
us so that we might receive eternal life with Him. We celebrate Him today and every day after for His goodness, for His kindness and mercy
to us. His promise
to bring a Savior
into the world was
fulfilled and we are
rejoicing with the
angels on this day!


Merry Christmas to you and Happy New Year!!!! We hope to see you all in 2010.....Much love from the Johnson's

In Georgia

Hello Family and Friends,

We arrived safely in Georgia. We are visiting friends here right now through the new year. Found out last night that Lil' Phil has pnemonia so please pray for him to recover quickly. I will be writing more soon of our adventures here in GA....much love to you all and may you have peace and joy as we prepare for the birthday of our Savior!!

So thankful

A thanksgiving message way to late.

I am thankful for my husband who is serving our country and enduring so much over there that I have never experienced nor probably ever will experience in my life time.

I am thankful for my beautiful daughters and my handsome lil' son who have changed my life...they've added meaning and purpose where there was none....and joy and happiness....and have brought me a whole lot closer to my Lord and Savior.

I am thankful for family that have prayed and helped me over the years financially and emotionally. You have all been such a blessing to me and I am thankful to God that He has placed you in my life.

I am thankful for many more things....all my needs being met, my health, a car that works, lots and lots of blessings from the Lord.

Thank you Lord for every good and perfect gift is from above....(from the book of James.)