He Too Was Despised

By Anne C. Johnson –  

Through tears, my girlfriend shared her pain about her eldest son who was being labeled at school as being gay. “I’m glad he is following God’s calling to be a light, but this is too much,” she sobbed.

Having been home-schooled since kindergarten, it was a shock when her oldest son came to his parents with the request of attending public school for high school. He felt God calling him to step out of his comfort zone and share the light of God’s love with others.

Secretly I had my reservations. This young man has such a soft heart for the Lord, and a wisdom about him that can only come from a genuine faith and relationship with God and His Word.
As a home-school parent, I wanted to scream, “Don’t send him into that dark place, they will ruin him.”

But, it wasn’t my decision. And as a friend I felt the need to be supportive. I wrapped my arms around her as we knelt at the altar, secretly begging God to change His mind and calling on this young man’s heart.

One week later at the altar again, my friend shared with me, “They are calling him gay. All the kids are ganging up on him because he doesn’t do the ‘dating thing’ and isn’t girl-crazy.”

She questioned her decision of letting him go to public school. I knew she wanted to do everything in her power to help him and make this horrible situation go away. To erase his pain and soothe his troubled heart.

I found myself asking God, “Why this persecution? Why this torment?”

The answer came strong and clear. “This young man belongs to Me, and he is taking a stand in My name.”

Scripture says that Jesus was often called demon possessed or accused of witchcraft (John 8:48). In Jesus’ day this was the worst thing to be called. Today, the taboo word is gay.

In my daily devotional reading of A.J. Russell’s, God Calling, I came across the most fitting statement for my friend and her son’s current struggle, “Life with God is not immunity from problems, but peace in the problem.”

God’s word said we would be hated and despised. (John 15:20) Though it doesn’t always erase the pain we feel when the world seems turned against us, we know that God is for us, and that Jesus completely understands our hurts and pain. Running to Him during these moments is the Band-aid our spirit needs.

I pray through this lesson my friend and her son, as well as myself, will be strengthened by the knowledge that we are as much of a threat to the darkness around us as our Lord and Savior was during His sojourn on this earth. I pray God will give us all the strength and the patience to continue to love and the endurance to shine His love and light into this hurting and darkened world.

An Answer for the Weary

By Anne C. Johnson –

One morning I found myself weary of the long week and burdened by the day’s tasks before me. I closed my eyes and cried out to the Lord. At once I saw the cross; blood-stained and horrifying. I felt panic and fear creep toward me and overtake me. I wanted to close my eyes and hide, but I heard Jesus’ voice say, “Come.”

I recognized the soft yet commanding voice of my Savior. Beyond the cross a nail-pierced hand reached for me. Numerous times that week I had failed to take the hand offered to me. Instead I had looked behind, turned away, tried to do things on my own, or allowed panic and fear to conquer me and make me ineffective.

“No!” I heard His gentle spirit within me say, not today. “Come!”

I thrust my weary hand forward, praying I had heard right. Doubts flooded my soul, but Jesus’ warm hand pulled me to the other side. Brilliant light chased away the fear and smashed the panic to pieces. I fell to the ground at Jesus feet and confessed my sins, my failures, and my lack of faith.

Though I cried, my cheeks remained dry. When I looked up, I saw my tears glistening on His hands. His eyes searched mine. There was nothing in His gaze but love.

My sins and burdens had been carried far from my heart. I glanced over Jesus’ shoulder toward the cross and found to my amazement a sight of wonder. The cross was full of color and radiating with life. Christ had risen from the dead to raise those who call on His name out of our sinful and heavy lives and into a new life with Him. And as I rested my head on His shoulder I felt renewed, remade and refreshed.

“Return again,” He says to me.

My heart swelled and I realized Christ wanted me. He wants me to be close, to confide in Him, to seek Him. I am wanted. I am cherished. I am someone to the God of all things. And He wants me to be near Him, to come again and again.

As I opened my eyes, I realized my burdens of the week and the tasks of the day had faded in their importance and heaviness. I felt light and ready to take on a new day. Standing hand in hand with my Savior, Lord, Comforter and Friend.

Though I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, I realized the need for change in my life. I must daily spend time to press my hand into the one who can make all things new. To seek God constantly through the day. To walk and talk with Him and be renewed in my mind by His presence. To allow His strength to be mine.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).

Meeting A Need

By Anne Johnson –

My children reclined on my neighbor’s couch. After a thorough search through all the channels they finally agreed to watch Looney Tunes. My neighbor, Dee, and I took up our normal stations in the recliners.

“I suffer from A.D.D,” Dee offered.

“Oh?” I asked.

“Yes, I was really embarrassed last night and made my daughter take me home early from supper.”

“Oh, really? But why?”

“‘Cause of A.D.D,” she giggled, “you know, after dinner diarrhea.”

Our laughter startled the children. “What? What?” they shouted over our uproarious cacophony.

For over four years, I have been privileged to fellowship with Dee. Our relationship began formally with a simple, “Hi” or “Hello,” over the backyard fence. For over six years we lived side by side without really knowing each other.

One sunny afternoon, my children and I were in the backyard when we spied Dee sitting on her porch swing. Her normal cheerful disposition seemed masked by weariness and fatigue. She attempted a smile, but it appeared to drain the last bit of energy she possessed. She explained that her husband had suffered a stroke, and she was forced to retire to care for him.

Jesus preached to the people of His time that by meeting the needs of others we are caring also for Him. By giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, welcoming a stranger or visiting the sick, we live out Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35-36. So I asked Dee if the kids and I could bring over a meal and join her for lunch the next day.

The following afternoon, I warned the kids to be on their best behavior as we stood on the stoop of her house. From the moment she invited us in, we were blessed by Dee’s friendliness. Her warmth and kindness filled her home like the scent of fresh-baked bread.

The following week, my children asked when we were going over to our neighbor’s house and talk again. I didn’t want to seem pushy, but they persisted. What started as a gesture to visit the sick and welcome a stranger, turned into a weekly event. Our neighbor was adopted by my children and became “Grandma Dee.”

After her husband’s death, we continued to get together and “chin wag” as we fondly call it. While the children lounge on Grandma’s sofa, we share our hearts with each other. Nothing is off-limits. Our friendship is refreshing and rewarding. Grandma Dee is a true kindred spirit. Though there is quite a few years difference between us, we discovered we share a fondness for quirky songs, and when one of us begins singing a random song, the other pipes up too.

While Grandma shared her story with the kids about her A.D.D.(no details mentioned), I realized how important our “chin wag” dates had become to me. For over four years, we have shared our lives together and laughed our way through tragedies and successes. Through meeting the need of my neighbor I have been eternally blessed.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:35-36 NIV).

No Chisels Needed

By Anne Johnson –

The worship team began to sing. I stood reflecting on our pastor’s sermon. He had preached about developing a deeper relationship with God. The choir members’ voices filled the air, seeming to lift the roof right off the church and carry me into God’s heavenly cathedral. With eyes closed, I sensed in my heart the peaceful whispered words, “You should learn how to carve and whittle like a carpenter.”

In Matthew 13:55 I read that Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, was a carpenter. As Jesus grew, His father would have taught Him this trade. Was God telling me to take up a new hobby? In keeping with family tradition, was I to learn the trade of my distant spiritual relatives?

I know very little about wood. It comes from trees, and can be classified as either hard or soft. My dad worked with wood, and explained to me why he used certain types for each project he was building. But, my ability to carve or whittle or create anything out of wood is nonexistent. Not to mention, I lack the tools needed for such a venture.

I dropped onto the pew as the choir continued their song. What had God’s whispered words meant? Opening my Bible I was drawn to Matthew 14:23. I discovered that Jesus wasn’t only familiar with carving wood, but time, too. Early in the morning and late at night He would seek out a place to be alone with God. Withdrawing from the crowds and His disciples, He carved out private moments to commune with the Creator and Designer of all things. In those times God spoke His plans and desires to His Son.

Whistles. Bells. Shouts of joy. Once again, the Bible made clear in my spirit what God desired from me. He wasn’t expecting me to become a carpenter, rather He wanted me to learn to be a carver and whittler of time. Like Jesus, I’d been asked to carve out time in my hectic life to hear God’s voice and learn of His desire for each day.

It has been said that it takes up to six weeks to start a new habit. So, I have aspired to set my alarm earlier and carve out time each day to read scripture and journal my prayers. I hope this new whittling venture will be a daily experience.

I have enjoyed my new hobby immensely. Some mornings when my children oversleep, I am blessed to sit in the quiet stillness and absorb even more of God’s presence. The best part of carving out this special time is how smoothly my day seems to flow. Even on the most hectic of days, when I recall my morning solitude, a familiar peace calms my spirit and lifts me above the chaos.

I may never carve anything out of wood, but each week the whittled time I spend in solitude with God helps me develop a deeper understanding of His love and character, and gives me the tools to make the most of every day.

Forward! Crawl!

By Anne C. Johnson –

“It’s a girl!”

I glanced up and searched my husband’s eyes. Joy shined through his tears. “She’s beautiful,” he whispered.

The nurse placed our newborn in my arms. My daughter’s bright eyes gazed at me. Though I doubt she knew what she was looking at, she seemed to be taking in everything.

Our precious daughter filled our lives with joy and awe. Sleeping was her nemesis. She fought us every time we laid her down for a nap. My husband would swaddle her and place his hand over her eyes, and at the same time he would massage her eyebrows. This process sometimes took an hour, and for his effort she would sleep for an hour or less.

We spent hours on the floor playing, rolling around, singing and engaging our daughter. When she began to coo at us, we would talk and read to her. During the early years of her life our schedules and focus seemed to revolve around her.

When the magical day came for her to leave the rug and venture forth, we were ready with camera in hand. Up on her knees she started rocking back and forth. Our world would never be the same again. Then the unthinkable happened. Our cute girl went backwards. For months we heard her scream out her frustration, as once again she had backed herself into a corner.

Spiritually, I too find myself crawling backwards. Sometimes I scream out my frustrations. Instead of listening to what God says about me, I fall into the old trap of caring and believing in what others say about me. This straying from God’s word causes my focus to veer from God’s truth. I begin to rely on other’s opinions of who I am and what I am worth.

At times I allow my focus to stray completely away from God. It is then that I have a sense of being backed into a corner, surrounded by doubt and self-loathing. I cry out for God to rescue me and surrender to Him these false beliefs.

Time and time again, God’s word carries me out of the corner of despair. “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 NIV).

I rediscover that I am loved. I am a conqueror not a quitter and I matter to God. The chapter goes on to say that nothing can separate me from God’s love.

Like my daughter, I need to practice keeping my eyes trained forward on God and His truth. Inch by inch becoming proficient at crawling forward toward my Heavenly Father and away from the snare of depending on others for my self-worth. God’s word is truth, and He created and called me to be His own. Focused on Him, I can move forward with confidence knowing that I belong to the Creator of the universe, and He loves me. I am one of His precious girls.

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