King of the World

By Gayle Bragg Johnson

Why do sinners prosper and the righteous suffer? Why? Why? Why?  This is how I started my morning Tuesday, whining to God. Poor, poor pitiful me. Yes, I know I'm blessed. But.......am I doing something wrong?  I tithe, I pray, I listen to you and obey. Why DO the sinners who don't follow you prosper and I'm standing here holding the bag with no rewards?  Well, not the ones I wanted, anyways. 

I know following you is not about rewards, but when I see someone who DOESN'T follow you planning her 5th vacation in the last 12 months, I tend to get a little bent out of shape.   When is it going to be MY time??? 

Yes! These are things I say to God sometimes. I am not afraid of my Father. I think He appreciates honesty. I asked Him to forgive me of my pride, but the hurt is still there. And He answers. 

On the way to work that morning He answered, and put me in my place. The song "King if the world" by Natalie Grant comes on the radio. 

"When did I forget that You've always been the King of the world?  I try to take life back right out of the hands of the King of the world. How could I make You so small, when You're the one who holds it all?  When did I forget that You've always been the King of the world?"

The tears start flowing, and again, with a more humbled spirit, I ask Him to forgive me. And today, I am reminded of Job, who asked God pretty much the same thing. 

“Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”

‭‭Job‬ ‭38:1-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Read the rest of the chapter if you really need to be humbled. 

Who am I to question Gods plan and His timing? Do I not have everything I need?  Has He not told me that He is my strength and shield?  That He will never leave me or forsake me?  Will I choose to not believe Him, after all He has seen me through?  

"Be still, and KNOW that I am God" psalm 46:10. Or, as I interpret that, "Sit down (stop trying to fix it yourself) and shut up (stop talking, start listening) and watch Me do My thing". 

God is good. ALL the time. ALL the time, God is good!

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.