Thanksgiving

By Gayle Johnson

The past four years have been wrought with trials for me. I started out watching my father's health fail. I watched a strong and proud man become physically weak and humbled by the fact that he was no longer able to do the things he used to do by himself. During this time, I experienced an overwhelming tiredness that would not go away. An almost crippling pain in my left side prompted a visit to the doctor, which led to a CT of the abdomen. The results of the CT started a roller coaster ride of tests, biopsies and multiple doctors and office visits. 

I was thinking back a few months ago to all that I and my family has been through in the last 4 years. To make a long story short, I have had 5 surgeries, about 15 CTs, 5 ultrasounds, 4 biopsies, been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and lymphoma, 6 months of chemo, 5 maintenance chemo treatments, 2 heart caths and 3 stents, been told I've had a heart attack at some time, labs, labs and more labs, and a partridge in a pear tree. 

Looking back would give me a good reason to be depressed, and a reason to believe that God is mad at me. Yet through all of this, I can honestly say I have been blessed. I have continued to work throughout all of this, even during the worst of it. My husband, who is my gift from God, still loves me and continues to take care of me, without complaint. My children and grandchildren, also a gift from God, continue to love and respect me. They are very much in my life every day. 

Every trial I go through forces me to see and understand that God alone is in control. And I see that I am still here, still working, still going to church. I should feel waaaaay worse than I do. 

My faith has grown. God has given me a blog to sing His praises and I now teach the Sunday school class and I am being taught by the Holy Spirit himself. God is faithful!  Everyday!  He loves ME!   He knows MY NAME! It is tattooed on His hand!  I am acutely aware that I cannot do this on my own, and, praise God, I have stopped trying. 

Great is thy faithfulness is one of my favorite hymns. 

"Great is thy faithfulness, oh God my Father.

There is no shadow of turning with Thee. 

Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not

As thou has been, thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness. 

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed thy hand hath provided

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

Today I am first and foremost thankful for Father God's faithfulness. I can trust Him. He is true to His word. These trials have pulled me closer to God. And I am full of the peace that passes all understanding. And joy.  Don't forget the joy. I wouldn't change my life and go back to the relationship I used to have with Jesus. You know, when I knew who he was, but not really as a friend. Today, He is my friend. And He calls me friend. 

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27:1‬ ‭

“ If anyone attacks you, don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them, And if any should attack, nothing will come of it. I create the blacksmith who fires up his forge and makes a weapon designed to kill. I also create the destroyer— but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged. Any accuser who takes you to court will be dismissed as a liar. This is what GOD ’s servants can expect. I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.” GOD ’s Decree.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54:11-17‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Thank you Father God for trials. May I always remember how truly blessed I am.

The Legacy That We Leave

By Gayle Bragg Johnson

I was sleeping the other night and somewhere in the twilight between sleep and wakefulness, I heard the words "The legacy we leave". I started thinking about what I will leave behind when I leave this earth. What is MY legacy?

My father was a Christian man. From the time I can remember, he always took us to church. He TOOK us to church.  And yet, the man who took us to church when I was a child was not the same man whose hand I held as he slipped from this world. The old man was wiser, his eyes narrowed and moist with the tears of a life that was full, but he seemed to feel a regret. There was an urgency in his words, calling anyone who would listen to repent and follow Christ.   The regret? Not telling enough people. 

Everyone who was blessed enough to know him was affected by his faith. He was a quiet, humble man. But He was also a leader, a teacher, a disciplinarian and someone who, I believe, God would call a friend. He was easy to get along with, unless you dishonored his God, his wife, his family or his country (in that order). 

Most of my life has been spent in a Christian home. I never remember a time when I didn't believe in God. I knew He existed. No one had to try to convince me that there was a God. I accepted Him when I was 10. But following Him, well that was a different story.  I didn't want to go where He wanted to go. Until I realized that “Even the demons believe that (there is one God)--and shudder.” ‭‭James‬ ‭2:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬. Was I no better than a demon?

Jesus himself said to the disciples to "Follow me." (John 1:43, John 21:19, Mat 4:19). He called them to walk where He walked, do what He did, to associate with those He associated with. That's what He calls us to do. Get out of your comfort zone. Get your hands dirty and your feet wet. Follow Him. Wherever He leads you. I still struggle with that. But I am trying now. 

Faith, that is the legacy I got from my father. I cannot thank him enough. Dad made sure I knew he loved me. More importantly, he made sure I knew Jesus loves me. He made sure that I knew when I screwed up, that I was always welcomed back, like the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32) The legacy I leave my children and grandchildren? I hope they would say the same.