Birthday girl!!

Yesterday was my birthday.....and it seems like the older I get the more that day comes around quicker than expected.....but none the less, it must be celebrated because 1. I have children who now know about dates and celebrations that include lots of gifts, cake, ice cream, and treats which they have no problem indulging in no matter who's birthday it is and 2. another day/year to celebrate my life that the Lord has given me and 3. I like cake and presents too!

Soooooo.......that is what we did.....we went to church and then out to eat with friends at a hibachi grill which has awesome food and then went shoe shopping (haven't done that in a couple years!) and then home to eat cake. I got the most awesome gift from my good friend Bobbi. It is a leather-bond application study Bible, and it is my most treasured possession. I love it so much and am so excited to read it. The maps, the time lines, the charts and diagrams, the application notes, the cross-references, and so much more make this Bible so interesting to read and study....I get so excited just smelling the cover and feeling how soft it is...and running my fingers over the gold-plated pages....b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!

Sooooooo.....here's to my way past 3 decades of life! (by 2 years)....I look forward to growing and maturing in the Lord and to fulfilling His purpose for my life......I am so amazed at what God has accomplished in me already and can't wait to see what He has for me...."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and and come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity....." -Jeremiah 29:11-14.

Well I must go eat some more of this funfetti birthday cake while the kids are in bed....cuz when they get to it they sure won't be thinking about saving some for the birthday girl :)!

I must be completely delivered from myself...

Hello bloggers and friends,

We are looking forward to:
-warmer weather and sunshine
-which usually leads to less colds, flus and viruses
-celebrating spring and Easter
-my man coming home for R & R in a few days
-my birthday this Sunday!

So much blessings now and in the days ahead...thank you Lord for the big and little things you do for us "behind the scenes"....

And with that said (or typed) I want to write some things down that I was thinking about after reading the March 13th devo. on "God's Total Surrender to Us" in the My Utmost for His Highest book:

I like the powerful statement that says I must be completely delivered from myself. So how do I do this??? I must focus on loving God and loving others all day, everyday. I must heed the Spirit of God on a consistent, continual basis. I must practice the presence of God (love that book) continually. I must remember that God Himself is residing in me...His holy and perfect self. He has a perfect plan for my life and as I let Him be in control of my heart and soul He will lead me into that plan which is His will for me. I must get to the point where I trully believe "the consequences and circumstances resulting from [my] surrender will never enter [my] mind because [my] life will be totally consumed with Him." I will think about Him, serve Him, love Him, pray to Him, be lead by Him, make decisions through Him, rely on Him, have confidence in Him, trust Him, fear Him, and be totally consumed by Him. These things I cannot do with my husband or anyone else because if I do they will fail me....only with HIM!!! Dear Lord, Lead me today. I know that I can do nothing without You. I pray that I will boldly and fearlessly do what you want me to do and say what you want me to say. Help me today to stay focused on You and if I start to stray away from You bring me back to Your perfect will by giving me a "check" in my Spirit. I love You, I believe in You and I know you have an awesome plan for me. May I continue to stay in the palm of Your hand and may you guide me always into your perfect will for my life.... Love in Christ,your daughter

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