Month: February 2021

“Show up for her.”

These are the words spoken by the Holy Spirit on December 9, 2014, regarding me. He whispered it to Jennifer, one of my precious friends and at the time, a ministry coworker. We were launching a new segment of our mentoring ministry on that date. Jennifer had told me several days before that she would not be joining me that evening and would not be co-leading with me because she had a lot on her plate and adding another commitment would be too much.

It was quite a surprise that night to see Jennifer enter the classroom just minutes before the session began. I walked up to her and said something to the effect of “I thought you weren’t coming?” She said, “I have a story to tell you after the meeting.”

As soon as we were able to talk, Jennifer told me her incredible story. That during her morning quiet time with the Lord, she looked out her window and through the fog, saw a lone bird perched at the top of a tree. At that moment, the Holy Spirit said, “Show up for her, even though she feels alone, she is not.”

Jennifer had taken a picture of the bird that morning so she could show it to me. I was in awe. My entire drive to church that evening—a forty-mile drive—I just prayed over and over reminding the Lord that I felt so alone and begged Him for someone to just show up for this new ministry launch.

Oh, I hope you understand how only God knew what was on my heart. I had not said a word to Jennifer about what I was feeling but He loves me enough—He loves you enough—to meet us where we are and remind us we are not alone. He is with us and He will show up for us! Halleluiah!

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Genesis 28:15

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 1:8

C. Deni Johnson

On New Year’s Morning, 2021, we woke to a very majestic site; everything was covered in a beautiful blanket of snow. My first thought was “it’s fleece was white as snow.” On this new day, the first one of a new year, we had a pure white beginning.

It is an understatement to say 2020 was a year filled with uncertainty, hostility, pain, loneliness, and isolation to mention a few. The year also ushered in loss of freedoms, a misguided sense of safety-ism cloaked as patriotism, riots, political upheaval designed to distract and confuse. Media fed on the issues facing Americans like flies on manure; and their biases exemplified their fly diet.

A year such as 2020 demands some adjustment in perspective. The normal cadence of life is disrupted and only a few people are telling all the people what they must and/or should do. Even common citizens self-appointed themselves as social police—calling out others over masks and social distancing.

Yes, a year like 2020 brings out the worst in some people, organizations, politicians and talking heads. However, a year like 2020 also brings out the best in people. It is the God-given, human spirit that overcomes the adversity and shows kindness, generosity and the love of Jesus to those in need.

Hopefully, 2020 allowed and made us focus on what is important and what is not. We had to slow down in some areas of our life and completely cancel so many plans. Everyone was affected by the pandemic and the fallout it created and continues to create.

That pure white snow on January 1, 2021 was a sign to me that my God likes fresh, clean, new beginnings. Although weary from the chaos around me and angry over the deception and corruption surrounding all of us, I believe we are on the brink of a new beginning. It is not what a lot of people believe—those who look at the secular world—but instead a redirecting, a full-circle back to what really matters in life.

Just like the first buds of spring, there are seeds taking root, sprouting and growing. Jesus is at work my friend—in you, in me, in countless others across this country and around the world.

Be strong! Do not Fear! Spring—a new day, my friend, is on the way!

Jerusalem, worship God! Zion, praise your God! He made your city secure, he blessed your children among you. He keeps the peace at your borders, he puts the best bread on your tables. He launches his promises earthward— how swift and sure they come! He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, He broadcasts hail like birdseed— who can survive his winter? Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring!

Psalm 147:12-18 (MSG)

If you look at any type of map relating to geography, you see the boundaries of continents, countries, states, cities and so forth. If you look at a plat map you see the detailed boundaries of each individual parcel of land or lot.

Boundaries are and have always been, a way for us to determine where we belong and where we don’t. They provide order in our lives. Wars are fought over manmade lines on a map.

Wars are also fought over personal boundaries. I’m sure you, like me, have faced a few folks in your life who believe they have carte blanche on your feelings. They are master manipulators who apparently thrive on tearing us down in order to make themselves feel superior.

I’ve had one such person in my life for many, many years. In the beginning, I found myself feeling shell-shocked by this person’s behavior toward me. I admit my personal boundary meter was a little low back then and honestly, I didn’t realize people didn’t just try to be nice to other people. It never occurred to me to be rude, unaccepting and manipulative to people. I expected to be treated as I treated others. I certainly have never been saintly in all my words and actions, but it is still shocking to see how people will treat someone unprovoked.

I have wasted a lot of time and energy trying to wrap my mind around why this person dislikes me so much. I really hate to admit that…but it’s true. I wish instead I could say I never gave all the manipulation and rejection a second thought but that’s a lie. I still seek a rational explanation even though there is nothing rational about this person at least when it comes to me.

I suppose I could take some solace in the fact that I’m not the only one who has suffered emotionally from this person. But honestly, that just makes me angrier. My strong sense for desiring justice compounds my frustration with this person and anyone who seeks to lie and manipulate in order to get whatever they want.

As a Christ follower, I know I am not to repay evil for evil or insult with insult (1 Peter 3:9). However, I do believe in some situations we must simply walk away. For me, it’s called self-preservation. The emotional beating simply is unacceptable, and a wall must be erected around my heart so to speak, to keep this person from doing anymore damage. Walls and fences are effective boundaries and if done in the right way for the right reasons, I believe they are necessary for our hearts when faced with heart-stompers.

Scripture tells us to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23) and Jesus said, from within, out of men’s (and women’s) hearts, come evil (Mark 7:21). So, we must guard our own thoughts and actions, thus keeping our hearts as untainted as possible. Heart-stompers are out there ready to spew their toxicity—that’s what they do. It appears that’s what they live for. I’ll never understand the evil that lurks in people’s hearts, but the good news is, I’m not required to. I am required to live my life as someone who reflects the light of Christ. As hard as it feels right now, I’m required to forgive my heart-stompers and pray for them, but I don’t have to subject myself to their depraved need to manipulate and control.

I’m a little tired of the popular catchphrase in our culture, “hurt people, hurt people.” Yes, I agree with the psychology of this expression, but I also see the excuse in it too. Trust me when I say I know what it’s like to be hurt, shattered into a million unrecognizable pieces and what that did to my relationships and personal countenance. I also know how I have shattered someone else’s feelings and how I felt after doing that and how I had to seek forgiveness from them and for me. However, I fully believe some people know exactly what they are doing, they don’t want to heal and might also believe they have the right to behave poorly. They deserve it—someone must pay for their pain. Self-deceit and denial are enemies of the soul.

I have no control over the heart-stompers any more than you do. But I know who does and I know Jesus is my shelter, my shepherd, and my armor who guides me through the mine fields of heart-stompers. Because of Christ, I can stand against the arrows that are flung at me. Because of Christ I can stand when falling apart seems so much easier. Because of Christ, I am loved—not because I’m perfect or ever will be—but because of His love that is enduring forever and ever.

Blessings,

C. Deni Johnson