What time is it?

By Gayle Johnson

 I'm a procrastinator. It's a character flaw (one of many). Why do today what I can put off until tomorrow?  There's always more time. Until there isn't any more time.
By not making a decision, you ARE making a decision. And it is always NO.Some things don't really matter. Like where to eat dinner. Other times it can be life or death. And one decision can cost you your eternal soul. Or should I say, one LACK of a decision. The decision to follow, or not to follow, Christ.Sunday at church I saw the reality of this for some people. One minute my friend Linda is talking about thanking God after asking Him for something. "Claiming the Victory". The next minute she was slumped over the table and we were calling 911. Now, my friend, Linda, is a strong Christian woman, and I know if she were to be called home by God at that instant, that I would see her again in heaven. Of that, there is no doubt in my mind.But it got me to thinking. What about YOU?  If your heart were to stop in the next few seconds, do you know where you would spend eternity?John 14:6 NIVDid you see that? NO ONE. Jesus is the ONLY way. I'm not being "exclusionary".
God wants all people to come to him. If I am invited to a fabulous party, but I choose not to go, are the ones throwing the party being "exclusionary" because I choose not to go?  Absolutely not! It's my choice. And, it's your choice."Today is the day of salvation" 2 Corinthians 6:2"Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed wants to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV
The choice is yours. But time is running out. Make the wise decision. Our elders would be happy to talk to you about this, as would I.

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A Mother's Forgiveness

By Gayle Johnson

Step between a momma bear and her cubs and you will wish you had never gotten out of bed that morning. It will ruin your whole day. Only, momma bears stop being so protective once the cubs grow up.

Not so with humans. This momma bear is not so forgiving. Threaten my children or grandchildren and fire will be in my eyes and smoke coming out of my ears. Game on.

This week, my daughter's life was threatened by a thug. He robbed her at gun point, stole her purse, cell phone, and threatened to kill her. He was attempting to to get her to open the store she manages in order to rob the store, when he noticed a man at a nearby bus stop watching him. After threatening to kill him also, he abandoned the idea and ran. I believe if he had gotten her in the store, he would have killed her.

Momma was not happy. I wanted this guy to pay. A lot. Right now. I was not in a forgiving mood. The longer the day went on, the more I realized how close my daughter was to loosing her life. But then God brought to mind the fact that she WAS alive and relatively unharmed. I pray daily for God's protection of my family. I realized that today and every day God has answered my prayers. While I would have preferred this not to happen at all, I realized that He is protecting us.

Ok, God. I AM thankful for your protection. But this guy must pay. Then I hear the song That was then, this is now by Josh Wilson.

"That was then, this is now. You're bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about. That was lost, this is found, and it's time to say goodbye to the old you now. So Go ahead put the past in the past, box it up like an old photograph.  You don't have to go back.  Cause that was then, this is now".

If I expect The Lord to forgive MY sins, I NEED to forgive this man too. I am grateful that I can box up my old self like old photographs. Then this verse comes to mind. 

Jesus isn't really talking about giving money. He's talking about not judging people. Giving grace. Forgiving. The forgiveness I give will be returned to me. I must forgive. I am trying. Lord give me your strength. And your grace to forgive.