Originally Written on February 26, 2009
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:1-4
Could you imagine living in a prison cell for 8 years? Everyday, you wake up and put on the same clothes as everyone else. There are three meals a day prepared for you, and during visits, a vending machine is prized like a steak from Outback. Visitors come for weekly visits, but other than the guards and staff, there is little contact with the “free world.” Not to mention, there is a great separation between the two worlds. Actually, two 12-foot-tall fences with razor, barbed-wire defeat any hopes of escape.
About 4 and a half years ago, I was privileged to be connected with a man inside the prison through the Men of Valor prison ministry in Nashville, Tennessee. I did not know what to expect when I walked into the prison for the first time. Actually, I was claustrophobic, and the guards, metal detector, and sound of the two heavy-weight, metal doors frightened me. I knew I was on foreign soil even though still in Nashville. As I walked to the table where I was matched up with a numbered inmate, I realized the guy across the table looked so much like me. He was 25, and I was 24. Other than his clothes, I would have never pictured him as “one of them.”
He had made a mistake in his life. He sinned against God and man and was doing his time to pay for the consequences of his actions. Just this Tuesday, his sentence was up. After visiting him weekly over the past few years, I stood behind the barbed-wire fence and watched him walk into the building. With guards on both sides of him, I saw the radiance of his smile, the joy of his heart, and the first step in the newness of life. He even had brand-new clothes on. He left all the old ones behind. I waited as he cleared the portal, and we embraced for the first time as a free men. He had not seen a world without fences or guards. He had been confined but could now run free through the parking lot. He had been separated from family and friends, and now they could freely embrace and shed tears of joy and laughter.
The first thing he wanted was real food. His family and mine celebrated this amazing day, and I sat back and laughed within as I saw him devour an appetizer, gourmet burger and fries, and a huge piece of chocolate cake. It was a joyful day that I will never forget. I believe he has learned his lesson and will never return back to prison. There will always be risks involved, and the consequences of sin should never be diminished. However, every man needs hope.
There are so many people simply “doing time” these days. They are easy to recognize. They are confined only to this world in which we live, and they never give thought to eternity. They are entrapped and enslaved by sin without any hope in the world.
Unless… Jesus, who entered our world, lived a righteous life and died an atoning death, rescues them. I am thankful today that I am more than a number within the 6 billion-plus people in the world. The Lord knows them that are his (2 Timothy 2:19c). I am thankful Jesus and men who have preached the gospel didn’t overlook me as “one of them.” I am thankful that God initiates contact with sinners and delivers them from sin. I am thankful that Jesus wasn’t afraid of the shame and reproach He would bear on the sinner’s behalf, although he despised it (Hebrews 12:2). I am thankful He fulfilled Proverbs 17:15 which says, “He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.” I am thankful that Jesus is the door of salvation. I am thankful for the new clothes of salvation. May we ever wear a garment of praise to Jesus. I am thankful for His forgiveness and warm embrace which is peace to the soul. I am thankful for the good things God has given us to explore. I am thankful to be free…
Charles Wesley eloquently portrayed the joy of salvation and the newness of life in the last three stanzas of his hymn, “And Can It Be that I Should Gain:”
He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace,
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:'
Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Walking in Newness of Life,
Brian Johnson
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Catching Your Breath
Originally Written on February 18, 2009
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Isaiah 40:28-29
Have you ever been winded? I am talking about that feeling when you start walking up a flight of steps and begin losing your breath. Maybe, like me, you have not played your favorite sport in a while and find that you can’t move as fast as you used to. You used to be able to run like the wind, but now, you just need some wind. This is not to mention the day-after effects of strenuous exercise. Can you feel me now?
Why is it so hard to start exercising and get moving in the right direction? Honestly, it can be painful and involves sacrifice. We would rather sit and eat. It is comforting and nourishing, but are you ready to be empowered? I am not talking about just physically; we need to be empowered spiritually.
Jesus wants us to be healthy Christians. He knows we need rest, so He tells us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He knows we like to try to run ahead, so he tells us, “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD” (Psalms 27:14). He knows we have a hard time listening to instructions, so he tells us, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10a). He also knows we like to run away from spiritual responsibilities, so he tells his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23b). He knows right where we are, and He uses life to get us right where He wants us to be—like Him.
Getting healthy spiritually will not happen overnight. There is not a magic pill that can be taken to reduce the weight of mixed priorities or exercise for you. It takes daily discipline which is both personal and private yet public and practical.
Here are some ways to keep you from getting winded and out of shape spiritually:
· Read 5 pages each day in your Bible (if your Bible has 1500 pages, you can read all of God’s Word in less than 1 year). Whatever works for you.
· Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Make prayer as essential as breathing.
· Get encouraged by other believers at church. They may be winded too!
· Examine your heart for clogged arteries. Don’t allow unresolved conflicts to go unchecked which could be between you and God or someone else; the Great Physician already sees your heart.
· Give generously- Time, attention, money, talents
· Train others in following Christ- Teach unbelievers and believers the value of a cross-centered life!
· Focus on the goal! – “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1b-2).
It may be difficult to start exercising your physical body and your faith. Start off small and stay focused. You have a cross to carry one step at a time. Daily discipline can be demanding, but remember Psalms 34:5, “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”
Shaping Up,
Brian Johnson
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Isaiah 40:28-29
Have you ever been winded? I am talking about that feeling when you start walking up a flight of steps and begin losing your breath. Maybe, like me, you have not played your favorite sport in a while and find that you can’t move as fast as you used to. You used to be able to run like the wind, but now, you just need some wind. This is not to mention the day-after effects of strenuous exercise. Can you feel me now?
Why is it so hard to start exercising and get moving in the right direction? Honestly, it can be painful and involves sacrifice. We would rather sit and eat. It is comforting and nourishing, but are you ready to be empowered? I am not talking about just physically; we need to be empowered spiritually.
Jesus wants us to be healthy Christians. He knows we need rest, so He tells us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He knows we like to try to run ahead, so he tells us, “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD” (Psalms 27:14). He knows we have a hard time listening to instructions, so he tells us, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10a). He also knows we like to run away from spiritual responsibilities, so he tells his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23b). He knows right where we are, and He uses life to get us right where He wants us to be—like Him.
Getting healthy spiritually will not happen overnight. There is not a magic pill that can be taken to reduce the weight of mixed priorities or exercise for you. It takes daily discipline which is both personal and private yet public and practical.
Here are some ways to keep you from getting winded and out of shape spiritually:
· Read 5 pages each day in your Bible (if your Bible has 1500 pages, you can read all of God’s Word in less than 1 year). Whatever works for you.
· Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Make prayer as essential as breathing.
· Get encouraged by other believers at church. They may be winded too!
· Examine your heart for clogged arteries. Don’t allow unresolved conflicts to go unchecked which could be between you and God or someone else; the Great Physician already sees your heart.
· Give generously- Time, attention, money, talents
· Train others in following Christ- Teach unbelievers and believers the value of a cross-centered life!
· Focus on the goal! – “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1b-2).
It may be difficult to start exercising your physical body and your faith. Start off small and stay focused. You have a cross to carry one step at a time. Daily discipline can be demanding, but remember Psalms 34:5, “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”
Shaping Up,
Brian Johnson
Cleaning Up
Originally Written on December 10, 2008
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
When I was a kid, the worst chore I was ever given was to clean my room. You would think that I could have figured out that if I would attempt to keep things clean, dusted and vacuumed, that having that assignment wouldn't be so terrible. BUT, it was... Every single time, I would throw a tantrum at the idea of having to do it.
That phase lasted up until I was in middle school. I continued with the feeling of disgust over cleaning my room. Oh, and in high school too. I would have friends coming over, and at the last minute, I would be shoving things into my two closets and under my bed. It was an awful habit, I must admit.
The alarming part of this is that I still dislike having to clean. You would think the feeling would change what with having my own house and getting married and having a child on the way. BUT it hasn't. I could not tell you if you asked me to inform you on all the things under our bed right now. My closet is shameful, and the soon-to-be nursery closet is the most atrocious thing I have ever seen. You seriously cannot see the wall, carpet, or ceiling; it is packed that tight.
Life is like that sometimes. We have so many things we like holding onto rather than getting rid of them or just cleaning them out. We pride ourselves in hiding our dirt. It is sad but painstakingly true. In Psalm 24, it is evident that we need to get busy with cleaning up... "Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." I know I am taking it a bit out of context, but in all seriousness, I think it somewhat applies. How can we live clean lives if not ALL of us is clean? I just don't think it is possible.
With that in mind, I have started cleaning. Maybe it's because I realize I have a baby on the way and I've GOT to make room for him. Maybe it’s because I am tired of all the things I have held onto and realize it is time to make the break. Maybe it's because I have learned that THIS WORLD is not my home, and as the old hymn says, "I'm just a-passing through." The less I have here, the better off I will be when it is my time to go.
It isn’t just my house that needs cleaning. If I would be willing to admit it, I would have to say that my heart could use some dusting as well. My life is not as spotless as the recently-cleaned bookshelves. There are some relationships that need to be tended to, and there are emotions I have been carrying that need to be trashed. I want to be the one who isn’t just cleansed physically and emotionally, but spiritually as well. The person I am is not always the person God intended me to be when He cleaned me up that day on April 10, 1994. It is obvious that I have some housework and major heart work to do.
It's time to clean out the closets and clean up from underneath the bed. It's time to rid myself of things – feelings, emotions, tendencies - I do not need. It's time to realize that God has given me more than enough to live on, and there are those who need these things more than me. So, I'm giving in and cleaning up...
Coming Clean,
Jenna Johnson
To Our Faithful Friends,
We would like to apologize for not writing you sooner. The Lord has been giving us our own “words of encouragement,” and we are delighted to share them with you when the Lord allows. Please keep us in your prayers, as you and yours are in ours. Thank you for understanding, and may God richly bless you during this joyous holiday season.
Until We Write Again,
Brian and Jenna
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
When I was a kid, the worst chore I was ever given was to clean my room. You would think that I could have figured out that if I would attempt to keep things clean, dusted and vacuumed, that having that assignment wouldn't be so terrible. BUT, it was... Every single time, I would throw a tantrum at the idea of having to do it.
That phase lasted up until I was in middle school. I continued with the feeling of disgust over cleaning my room. Oh, and in high school too. I would have friends coming over, and at the last minute, I would be shoving things into my two closets and under my bed. It was an awful habit, I must admit.
The alarming part of this is that I still dislike having to clean. You would think the feeling would change what with having my own house and getting married and having a child on the way. BUT it hasn't. I could not tell you if you asked me to inform you on all the things under our bed right now. My closet is shameful, and the soon-to-be nursery closet is the most atrocious thing I have ever seen. You seriously cannot see the wall, carpet, or ceiling; it is packed that tight.
Life is like that sometimes. We have so many things we like holding onto rather than getting rid of them or just cleaning them out. We pride ourselves in hiding our dirt. It is sad but painstakingly true. In Psalm 24, it is evident that we need to get busy with cleaning up... "Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." I know I am taking it a bit out of context, but in all seriousness, I think it somewhat applies. How can we live clean lives if not ALL of us is clean? I just don't think it is possible.
With that in mind, I have started cleaning. Maybe it's because I realize I have a baby on the way and I've GOT to make room for him. Maybe it’s because I am tired of all the things I have held onto and realize it is time to make the break. Maybe it's because I have learned that THIS WORLD is not my home, and as the old hymn says, "I'm just a-passing through." The less I have here, the better off I will be when it is my time to go.
It isn’t just my house that needs cleaning. If I would be willing to admit it, I would have to say that my heart could use some dusting as well. My life is not as spotless as the recently-cleaned bookshelves. There are some relationships that need to be tended to, and there are emotions I have been carrying that need to be trashed. I want to be the one who isn’t just cleansed physically and emotionally, but spiritually as well. The person I am is not always the person God intended me to be when He cleaned me up that day on April 10, 1994. It is obvious that I have some housework and major heart work to do.
It's time to clean out the closets and clean up from underneath the bed. It's time to rid myself of things – feelings, emotions, tendencies - I do not need. It's time to realize that God has given me more than enough to live on, and there are those who need these things more than me. So, I'm giving in and cleaning up...
Coming Clean,
Jenna Johnson
To Our Faithful Friends,
We would like to apologize for not writing you sooner. The Lord has been giving us our own “words of encouragement,” and we are delighted to share them with you when the Lord allows. Please keep us in your prayers, as you and yours are in ours. Thank you for understanding, and may God richly bless you during this joyous holiday season.
Until We Write Again,
Brian and Jenna
A Constant Change
Originally Written on November 4, 2008
For I am the LORD, I change not…
Malachi 3:6
It did not seem like much at the time it was planted, but it has grown to show me how constant my Lord tends to be. As a friend left the bush beside our house, I never imagined it would actually do what he said it would... The small, green leaves seemed so insignificant that I doubted they would ever take change like he promised. Yet, I watched and waited, and last year, it did nothing. It remained the same, hunter green and never changed in size. I was almost disappointed when this "special" bush did not change before my eyes. Of course, I never took the initiative to water it or prune the plant, but I just expected something to happen.
I am not usually that fond of change, but at the same time, it happens all around me. I have changed hair colors, phone numbers, and cities. I have changed cars, jobs, and relationships more often than I will ever admit. I have made new best friends, began shopping at different stores, and completely changed the ways I think throughout the years. In just two short years, God has transformed me from a single, outspoken teacher to a married, stay-at-home, soon-to-be mother, and not all of these changes have been easy to accept.
Expecting change is one thing, but having it happen without knowing how to handle it is another. I am reminded of Abraham when the Lord told him that his barren wife, Sarah, would give birth in Genesis 17 and 18. He fell on his face, laughed, and doubted the change the Lord promised. Sarah also laughed within herself at the idea of becoming pregnant in her old age. Though they had been told, Abraham and Sarah seemed astounded when she bore Isaac (Gen 21:6-7). Never has change been an easy thing to accept, even when you are waiting for it.
Hannah prayed for change. Though her womb was closed, she went year after year praying for a child. Hannah even vowed that if the LORD of hosts would grant her a son, “…then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:11).” Did Hannah realize what she was promising? After pleading years for a child, would she willingly give it away? We all know that she did (in the latter portion of 1 Samuel 1). She begged for change and received it. She waited for change and cherished it. She longed for change and loved it.
No matter how change comes, it is never what we expect, and its outcome is not always what we planned. However, while waiting on our burning bush, which never seemed to bring forth the change I was hoping for, I have learned that God is in the midst of the changes we seek or are given. He promised that He Himself would never change. Daniel said, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons… He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:20-21).” Though things around us are changing, we can be confident in knowing that the Lord will give spiritual guidance to those who seek Him.
As I looked outside this afternoon, I saw the most beautiful thing… change. In it, I saw how faultlessly and timely the Lord moves. The leaves were a bright red, and just like Moses before his burning bush, I stood in awe of the wonder of change and the beauty of a constant God.
Finding My Consistency in Christ,
Jenna Johnson
For I am the LORD, I change not…
Malachi 3:6
It did not seem like much at the time it was planted, but it has grown to show me how constant my Lord tends to be. As a friend left the bush beside our house, I never imagined it would actually do what he said it would... The small, green leaves seemed so insignificant that I doubted they would ever take change like he promised. Yet, I watched and waited, and last year, it did nothing. It remained the same, hunter green and never changed in size. I was almost disappointed when this "special" bush did not change before my eyes. Of course, I never took the initiative to water it or prune the plant, but I just expected something to happen.
I am not usually that fond of change, but at the same time, it happens all around me. I have changed hair colors, phone numbers, and cities. I have changed cars, jobs, and relationships more often than I will ever admit. I have made new best friends, began shopping at different stores, and completely changed the ways I think throughout the years. In just two short years, God has transformed me from a single, outspoken teacher to a married, stay-at-home, soon-to-be mother, and not all of these changes have been easy to accept.
Expecting change is one thing, but having it happen without knowing how to handle it is another. I am reminded of Abraham when the Lord told him that his barren wife, Sarah, would give birth in Genesis 17 and 18. He fell on his face, laughed, and doubted the change the Lord promised. Sarah also laughed within herself at the idea of becoming pregnant in her old age. Though they had been told, Abraham and Sarah seemed astounded when she bore Isaac (Gen 21:6-7). Never has change been an easy thing to accept, even when you are waiting for it.
Hannah prayed for change. Though her womb was closed, she went year after year praying for a child. Hannah even vowed that if the LORD of hosts would grant her a son, “…then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:11).” Did Hannah realize what she was promising? After pleading years for a child, would she willingly give it away? We all know that she did (in the latter portion of 1 Samuel 1). She begged for change and received it. She waited for change and cherished it. She longed for change and loved it.
No matter how change comes, it is never what we expect, and its outcome is not always what we planned. However, while waiting on our burning bush, which never seemed to bring forth the change I was hoping for, I have learned that God is in the midst of the changes we seek or are given. He promised that He Himself would never change. Daniel said, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons… He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:20-21).” Though things around us are changing, we can be confident in knowing that the Lord will give spiritual guidance to those who seek Him.
As I looked outside this afternoon, I saw the most beautiful thing… change. In it, I saw how faultlessly and timely the Lord moves. The leaves were a bright red, and just like Moses before his burning bush, I stood in awe of the wonder of change and the beauty of a constant God.
Finding My Consistency in Christ,
Jenna Johnson
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