Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

cul-de-sac — February 17, 2026

cul-de-sac

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We live on a cul-de-sac – a French term which means, “place where vehicles turn around because the driver is too lazy to put his vehicle in reverse.”  Realtors tout them as places for folks who crave quiet and privacy.  Ours is more like the drive through at Chick-Fil-A at noon.

I suspect that Tripadvisor lists circling our cul-de-sac as the #1 thing to do in White Oak, Texas.  “Where’s Waldo?”  I’ve seen him here.  When the Christmas lights are up, I have watched people revolve around that circle three times to make sure they don’t miss a twinkle.

The actual French translation of the term cul-de-sac is, “the bottom of a sack.” Yep, that’s where I live.

A cul-de-sac is pretty much a dead-end – one way in and one way out. However, you almost never find a sign at the entry to a street with a cul-de-sac warning you that it is a dead-end. 

Which is why more than one person has unknowingly turned down our street, to eventually circle back to where they started.

That sounds a lot like a guy named Samson from the book of Judges.  He started life with two parents that deeply loved the God of Israel.  It is also said that the Lord uniquely blessed him (13:24-25).  Because of this, he was well on the road to success in life, but silly Samson frequently chose streets with cul-de-sacs instead.  

He wanted a wife but looked among women who did not share his faith.  He overruled the objections of his parents and guidelines of his God to get her.  But she betrayed him and then became the wife of his friend (14:1-20).  Samson pursued the cul-de-sac of sensual desire but then found himself alone.

Samson had a big ego.  He wanted to be regarded as witty, so he created a riddle.  He bet the Philistines that they couldn’t figure it out, but they outsmarted him. Samson was humiliated and wreaked revenge by killing 30 of them.  He pursued the cul-de-sac of his ego but found himself humiliated (14:5-20).

The Lord chose Samson to lead His people in the ways of righteousness, but Samson was more concerned with the cul-de-sac of self-determination.   His reckless self-willed behavior caused His people to reject his leadership and then deliver him over to their enemies (15:9-13)

Samson continued to pursue his dead-end cul-de-sacs until the Philistines finally captured him, gouged out his eyes and put him in chains (16:21-27).

If we aren’t careful, we too could naively end up on a street that gets us to nowhere.  The thoroughfare we really need is found in John 14:6, where Jesus said to us, “I am the way…”

Jesus is the way; the only way to the Father, and the only way to do life

When we choose Jesus as the way, we trust Him to forgive our sins and make things right between us and God.  But we also follow the path He lays out for us.  We don’t need GPS because we have His Holy Spirit, to guide and direct us and His Word to fill in all the details.   

It’s a narrow way to be sure.  Jesus said, “How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it! (Matthew 7:13-14)

And once the path is chosen we must not look back.  Jesus also said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”  Luke 9:62. But it is the way we need to go. 

Are you aware that Luke, in the book of Acts refers to Christians as people of “The Way?”  (Acts 9:2; 19:9; 19:23; 24:14; 24:22)  

I love that!  We are people of the Way – people who follow the Way.  No more dead ends.  No more crazy cul-de-sacs, just sure and steady progress on the highway of life that leads to heaven.    

A PRAYER: Lord, help us avoid the dead-ends of life.  May we walk in the Way.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scriptures passages are from the NETBible ®

armed with a song — February 11, 2026

armed with a song

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One of my Biblical heroes is a king named Jehoshaphat.  In fact, I kinda wish I had named one of my sons Jehoshaphat.  Can I do that retroactively?

The king had a serious problem, and yet isn’t every problem serious?  Some of them really are while others just feel like it.  We would like to trust the Lord to work out our problems.  But is there any evidence that we really and truly trust Him to do that? 

Well let’s consider Jehoshaphat’s problem as written in 2 Chronicles 20. A terrible trio of hostile nations were perched and ready to invade his Kingdom of Judah and things were looking grim. 

But the king had recently discovered that he mattered to God, and that God could be trusted to provide the security that he and his people needed.

So instead of seeking an ally, he called his people together to seek the Lord for help.  God’s spokesman answered saying, “You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!” (20:17).

They were told to meet the enemy, then passively watch as the Lord fought their battle.  They went to meet their foes and did what God told them to do.  They waited and waited but nothing happened.  It was as if God was waiting to see evidence of their faith.

So, Jehoshaphat, “appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor.  He instructed them to march ahead of the warriors and sing a song, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures” (21).

Unbelievable!  The king gathered the temple worship team and said, “I want you guys to stand at the front of the column and when you meet the enemy, start singing that song I really like – the one that goes, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.”

This song was used in the worship services of Israel.  This line was repeated at least 12 different times in the Old Testament in various Psalms   They knew it so well that they didn’t need a video projector for the words.

The singers were speechless, but they thought, “Are you nuts?  What about the archers and swordsmen?  Shouldn’t they go out first?  We left our camo at home.  King these hands were made for plucking a harp not a bow.”  But the King insisted.

So, the trembling tenors took their places at the front of the army, and the sergeant cried, “a one and a two and a…” and by faith they sang.

And then, “When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (22). 

When they began to sing, the three hostile armies were confounded and then destroyed each other.  They were befuddled and disturbed by Judah’s confidence.

I love this story. Standing and watching was God’s idea. Using the Levitical singers – that was all Jehoshaphat.  And it appears that God was extremely pleased with his decision.

When a problem comes to visit us, I am pretty sure the last thing we want to do is to sing about how good God is.  Our lips are locked; our hearts are numb and there is nothing within us that wants to sing to the Lord

But Jehoshaphat teaches us to meet trouble with a tune.  This is something I have learned to do when trouble comes. 

My heart looks to heaven, and I sing to Him a simple hymn or chorus.  What I find is that my attitude is quickly turned around; and once that has happened, my circumstances are not always but often turned around as well.

When a problem sticks to us, we need to sing to Him!  Solid evidence that we truly trust Him with the problems we face.

A PRAYER: Lord, please give us that kind of courage

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®

heads or tales — February 4, 2026

heads or tales

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I think it’s safe now to finally tell my story.  If Sister Aimee Julie is still alive, she would be about 121 years old.  She was my eighth-grade teacher.   If you are reading this post and looking at the picture, I’m not the one in the black habit.  I am the spindly guy next to her. 

From the front of the classroom, sister launched us into a song and then exited the door in the back of the room.  Mario and I sat next to each other at the front of two rows. 

Mario was very Italian.  I’m pretty sure he sprinkled garlic salt on his Captain Crunch, but we were buds because I could make him laugh.

Once sister was gone, I began singing in falsetto – like a girl. Mario cracked up and did the same thing.  Pretty soon the entire class was giggling.  I felt pretty good about myself. 

However, Sister slipped in the back door and saw what was going on, but Mario and I didn’t know it because we had our backs to her.  She marched up the aisle, took Mario’s head in one hand and mine in the other and bashed them together.  We were on the floor – the desks were spilled, books were everywhere and we were seeing stars. 

We picked ourselves up and sat quietly for the rest of the school year.  She had certainly altered my behavior, but not my heart.  I was seething inside.  Still am! I was wrong for sure, but her harshness compelled me to try to justify my behavior.

Though she was a religious person, she was so unlike God. Romans 2:4 says, “Do (you) not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?”

When God corrects us, His goal is more than changed behavior, He is after a changed heart.  Harshness hardens a heart and alienates the guilty one, whereas kindness softens a hard-heart and draws us near. 

It was the apostle Paul who recorded Romans 2:4, and no one knew the kindness of God better than he.

He was a persecutor of the early church, known then as Saul.  He delivered Christians to prison and rejoiced when they were executed (Acts 26:10). Saul had legitimately earned a good head-bashing – but the Lord chose to confront his meanness with kindness.

God sovereignly arranged for Saul to be present when Stephen eloquently delivered the good news of Jesus for which Stephen was stoned.  A powerful Gospel seed was planted, and God, like a patient farmer, kindly allowed time for it to germinate in Saul. 

On the road to Damascus the Lord personally spoke to him saying.  “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” – Acts 9:24. The Lord didn’t gossip about Saul to Michael the Archangel.  He spoke directly to Saul with his carefully worded concern. 

Nor did He attack him in anger but framed His words in terms of the impact of Saul’s actions.  He let him know that he was personally wounded by Saul’s choices.

He used a question not an accusation to start the conversation.  How wise!   Also, the tone of his words suggested that He spoke with sincerity rather than severity.

The Lord didn’t publicly embarrass Saul.  Those with him heard His divine voice but didn’t understand what was said.  His uncomfortable words were for Saul’s ears alone (Acts 22:9).

And instead of an unrelenting berating of Saul for his sins, the Lord gave him a grand positive vision of what he could and would be should he repent. (Acts 26:17-18)

Had Sister Aimee Julie sat us down and had a conversation like that, I would have responded appropriately and repented thoroughly, and I could have avoided my recurring headaches (just kidding about the headaches).  

She did not get the memo, but we have.  When the people in our lives hurt us, disappoint us, disparage us, betray us or even sing in falsetto, confront them with kindness. 

A PRAYER: Lord it is so easy to be cruel, help us to be kind.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com  

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible®

frozen with fear — January 28, 2026

frozen with fear

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Someone told me, “You need to get in shape!”  I said “I am in shape. Round is a shape.”

OK I admit I am a mess in more ways than one!  Case in point!   Years ago, my wife observed something odd about me. She asked, “Why do you swing your left arm when you walk, but not your right?” 

Sure enough, as we walked my left arm would swing front to back in sync with my gait, but my right arm was fastened to my side, but I couldn’t explain why.  When I run, both arms are working but not when I walk.

Eventually I came up with the most plausible explanation.  I was ambushed and beaten several times on the walk home from school during High School.  It was terrifying and traumatic.  

The gangs would find me and surround me, but I couldn’t outrun them.  They simultaneously would bust me with their fists and then flee.  And I would pick myself up from the ground, brush away the tears and go home. 

I needed to defend myself, so I began to carry a small bottle opener with a sharp tip.  I carried it in the palm of my right hand.  I deliberately did not swing my right arm when I walked, in order to hide my weapon.

But here it is 50 plus years later and I still walk with my arm glued to my side. Fear has frozen it there.

Some people fear swimming, others flying.  Some avoid crowds while others being alone?  Some avoid hospitals and others public speaking.   Dig deep and you’ll often find a difficult experience that cemented these fears into our psyches.  Christ the Counselor can help! 

His disciples were on a smallish boat at night which was battered by the wind and waves.  That was scary enough, but then an apparition on the water approached them.  Matthew says, “They were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear” – Matthew 14:26.

They were afraid of something they didn’t understand which is true of most fears.  And yet, that scary sight was Jesus.  He was right there in the middle of their fears.  

When we are afraid, we need to Know that Jesus is in the middle of the things that scare us.  There in the foreboding darkness is Jesus who wants to help us confront our fears. 

Jesus spoke to them, “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid” – 14:27. If they had known that their powerful Savior was there with them, they wouldn’t have been afraid.  Jesus’ presence is enough to assure us.   He said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you” – Hebrews 13:5.

Peter wanted to verify that it was truly Jesus, so he asked the Lord to command him to walk on the water to meet Him (14:28-29).  Jesus did, and Peter jumped out of the boat and tread the angry waves.  Once he knew that Jesus was present, he had the courage to walk towards the very thing that frightened him.  Likewise, We need to walk toward the fears that paralyze us.

Of course, we know what happened next.  Peter took his eyes off Jesus and locked them on the waves – and he began to sink (14:30-31). So, it is with fear.   Even when we have summoned the courage to walk on water, we will falter if we allow the thing we fear become our focus.  We need to fix our eyes on Jesus when our fears try to distract us.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer once said, “When we focus on the very thing that we are trying to get rid of, its power over us actually increases…But if your focus is on Jesus – on your obedience to Him, His power will flow through your whole being and drive away the fear.”

Hmm, maybe it’s time that I quit giving the Lord the stiff arm!

A PRAYER: Lord, I don’t want to be frozen in my fears.  Please thaw me out!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you always.

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

on-the-spot — January 21, 2026

on-the-spot

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It can be terrifying when life puts us – on-the-spot!

It was a gorgeous day for an outdoor wedding.  She was a Texan and he was a Chinese national.  They met on a mission trip and fell in love.  He moved to Texas shortly before they were married. 

I did the premarital counseling with them.  He could speak English well enough, but our culture was certainly a new frontier for him.  I was excited about officiating their wedding. 

He and I were together, waiting for the ceremony to begin.  He was pacing nervously, and I was in a mischievous mood, so I asked, “Are you ready to sing your song?”  Well, his skin tone flashed to pale white. 

“Song, what song?”  “The song” I said.  “You know, the one you’re supposed to sing to your bride just before the vows.”  “I no sing!”  “But it’s our custom. You must.”  “Out there?” “Yes!”

Pretty cruel – I know, but it was such fun.  I quickly told him the truth, however, before he tried to jilt the bride or needed a replacement pair of tuxedo pants.

It can be terrifying when life puts us on-the-spot!   But you know what that’s like…

– the boss unfairly accuses you

– your teen daughter asks to leave with her waiting friend to go to an iffy party

– the teacher looks at your test paper and says, “Is this all there is?”

– the doctor rushes in and asks, “do you want us to resuscitate your mother”

At times like those we need presence of mind, a pulse of less than 200 bpm, and a good dose of wisdom would be great – but all we got is, “Me no sing.”  

Nehemiah found himself in one of those situations.  He was a Jewish slave who was the cupbearer to the king who tasted every drink before it met the lips of the king.  Cupbearers were expendable.  Kings were not.

Nehemiah, however, was distressed about the poor state of his homeland.  He wanted to see Jerusalem thrive again, starting with the rebuilding of her fallen walls.

So, the day came when the King was parched and ready for a glass of Chardonet and Nehemiah was on the job.  And then this happened.  

He said, “I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill?” –  Nehemiah 2:1-2

Nehemiah was so downhearted about his homeland that his happy service to the king was missing.  It was noticed which is why he wrote, “I was very much afraid.” (2:2)

To serve the king required a person to stow their personal issues and provide their personal best.  In those days, failure to do so could have sent him to the executioner.

So, Nehemiah told the king why he was sad.  The king replied, “What is it you want?” (2:4)

Already in trouble for disturbing the king with his personal matters and now locked into a vise-like dilemma – withhold the truth and possibly die for it; or tell the truth and possibly die for it. 

But Nehemiah understood and trusted the God of whom the Psalmist wrote, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:10 KJV.  He knew Him to be an on-the-spot God.

So, Nehemiah whispered a very brief prayer to the Lord right there (2:5) and then asked for permission to return and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

He sucked in his breath and then waited until the king answered.  Nehemiah could write, “It pleased the king to send me” (2:6).

On-the-spot help.  Just a brief prayer, uttered to a God who Nehemiah knew to be an ever-present help in time of trouble.

When we are suddenly put on the spot – confronted with trouble, He will be there for us as well – just a brief prayer away.

A PRAYER: Lord, please remind me to pray when I am put on the spot

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you always

Scripture passages cited from the NIV unless otherwise noted.

when God says no  — January 14, 2026

when God says no 

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My grandson sideswiped the neighbor’s brand-new Ford Mustang with his bicycle.  His momma called her car insurance company to see if they would cover the damage. 

The adjuster asked for a description of the vehicle that caused the accident?”   My daughter told him, “It was a Blue Mongoose.” 

With stifled laughter the adjuster said no to the claim!

“No” may be the most ugly and painful word in the English language.  When we have a request, or an expectation of another – we do not want to hear the word “no.”   Especially when that “no” comes from the Lord.

It was early in the ministry of Jesus.  He had debuted His power in the town of Capernaum, where He had healed many of various diseases, and cast out demons (Mark 1:34).  It was a sensational start!   

From there He returned to His hometown of Nazareth and joined the faithful for the Sabbath service.  He read Isaiah 61:1 to them.  

He then said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled…” – Luke 4:21.  In saying this, Jesus asserted that He was the Messiah of which Isaiah had spoken. 

The folks of Nazareth were pleased.  “All were speaking well of him and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth” (4:22). The mood in that synagogue was jubilant.  Jesus had become an instant celebrity, and they were ready for Him to bring His healing powers to their little berg.

But they were also wondering, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (4:22). Jesus was a hometown boy from a small town (scholars say about 11-15 families) So those folks knew Jesus all too well.

They watched Him learn to walk, and even cry when He scraped his knee. They touched His calloused carpenter’s hands.  They wondered why his peers took wives, but not Him. 

He was, after all, Joseph’s son. He can’t be the Messiah – can He?   They wanted miracles but were not willing to embrace the miracle worker.  Jesus was aware, and with words that took about 46 seconds to speak, He essentially said no to them.  “I’m not gonna give you the miracles you want to see” (23-27).   

This is how they responded, 28 When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, forced him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff” (4:28-29).

Wow!  When the Lord said no – they went ballistic.  They wanted to kill Him. 

Here’s the thing, sometimes He also says no to us.  “No, I am not going to provide the $500 you are asking for; No, I am not going to heal you, at least right now; No, I’m not going to change your brother’s heart.” 

Sometimes He says no because we ask with the wrong motives (James 4:3).  Or because it would be detrimental for us to have what we ask (Matthew 20:22).  Sometimes as with the folks at Nazareth, He says no to our prayers because we want the blessing without the blesser.   

Some respond to His denial, by pushing Him off the cliff of our consciousness.  “I am done with Jesus.  If He were a good God, He would have said yes.  If He were all powerful, He could have answered my prayer.  If He were all knowing, He would know how badly I want what I am asking.” 

But He is a good God, He is all powerful and all knowing.  And when He says no, it is very much because He is a good, all-powerful and all-knowing God. 

When He says no to us, we would be wise to say to Him, “Lord I may not appreciate this right now, by I am trusting that You are doing what’s right by me.

Amen? 

A PRAYER: Lord tune up my prayers, and give me grace when You say no.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you

All Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

what can I bring? — January 7, 2026

what can I bring?

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My wife and I were racing across China on a ferociously fast train.  We finally entered Hong Kong where we were to catch a flight back home.  The doors opened at our station, and we were swallowed up by a multitude that rivaled the one at Wal-Mart on Black Friday.

And yet we had to quickly transfer to another train that would take us to the airport.  We plowed our way through the multitude, each of us dragging a very large piece of luggage. 

We finally came to our point of transfer, and I could see that the train was already jam packed.  So, I quickly ran ahead and stuffed myself in.

The doors began to close, but I was safely on board, or at least most of me was.  The doors closed on my arm, with my hand still on the suitcase outside.  Oops!  I had to let go or lose my arm. 

I looked through the window to see the look of panic on my wife’s face as she watched me disappear down the tracks to who knew where.  At the same time my fellow passengers viewed me with disdain, shaking their heads, making a “tch, tch, tch sound which I am sure if translated means, “What a doofus!” 

There is a parable about a guy who tried to do the same kinda thing.  He was a rich landowner who had harvested a bumper crop. “Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. and I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ – Luke 12:18-19 (NETBible®)

Sounds like a great life – only this is what God had to say to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” – 12:20

See – this guy had boarded the train to heaven, but his hand and his heart were still outside the train, foolishly clutching his financial baggage as if he could take it with him.  That’s a no go.  When we die, we leave it all behind.

Jesus concluded by saying, “So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself but is not rich toward God.” – 12:21 

I am reminded of the days we would take our kids to the arcade at the mall.  The games would spit out paper tickets that could be redeemed for fabulous prizes like plastic rings, or foam dice or a set of paraffin teeth

We ended up spending $30 dollars on games for prizes that were not worth 30 cents.   My kids are adults now, and I am pleased to say that they must suffer through the same arcade ordeal with their children. 

Most of us grow up and discover that arcade trinkets are worthless.  But some of us keep on collecting adult style trinkets like property, boats, jewelry, guitars and RV’s.  Nothing wrong with them per se, but they won’t make a difference in our eternity.    

Jesus said something about being, “rich toward God.”  That’s what we need.  We would be wise to use our wealth, our assets, and our opportunities to further the purposes of God in this life and to bless others as well.  That is the currency of heaven.  

It’s ironic.  I was holding a piece of luggage when I should have been holding the hand of my wife.  I could do life without a clean pair of underwear, but not without her.  Incidentally, we cannot take the material with us to heaven, but we can bring along the people we have loved and influenced for Christ.

Well, it turns out that the next station was the last station – also the entrance to the airport – and the next train that came brought with it 2 large suitcases and a somewhat furious wife.

A PRAYER: God help me to take what I have, and to use it for You

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

what’s his name? — December 23, 2025

what’s his name?

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I love a good last name.  In the old days they were derived from the family business – like Shoemaker, Potter or Baker.   I once had a job tending 2 llamas. Would this make me Jimmy Llama-Keeper?

People can be quite creative with the first names they give their babies. Some name them after consumer goods like Nike and Infiniti.  I considered naming our son Liquid Plumber but my wife did not approve.

Some 2,000 years ago there was a young couple in Bethlehem that needed to name their baby.  It had to be a good one, because a person’s name was extra significant in their culture. 

To the Hebrews, a name was not just a tool to distinguish a person.  It was regarded as the equivalent to the person themselves.   Their name signified their worth, character, reputation, authority, will, and ownership. 

In ancient Israel to speak in “the name of” signified authority (I Kings 21:8-10).    To forget someone’s name was to forsake them (Jeremiah 23:26-27.)   To act in someone’s name was to represent them (Deuteronomy 25:6).  To blot out someone’s name was to destroy them (Deuteronomy 9:14) and to believe in the name of a person was to trust them (John 1:12). 

Mary and Joseph had to choose a name that would fit their newborn child.  This would be tough because their child was not just another manchild.  He was the very Son of God, and the eternal Son of God has always had a name. 

In the Old Testament He was known as the Captain of the Lord of Hosts; the Star of Jacob; Adonai; the Rose of Sharon; the Scepter of Judah; the Lion of Judah; Wonderful Counselor; Almighty God; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace; the Son of David and the list goes on easily containing a hundred or more rich names – each one adding honor and a new dimension of understanding of the Son of God.

But the day came that the Son of God took on human flesh. This called for a new name.  The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary the mother-to-be and said, “You will… give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus – Luke 1:31.

The name “Jesus” meant “the one who saves.”  His name revealed His mission on this earth. 

Luke tells us when Jesus was given His name.  “At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb”-  Luke 2:21. It was the Jewish custom to postpone the naming of a male child until the day of His circumcision which took place 8 days after the day of his birth.  

This causes me to stand in even greater awe of my Savior.   When Christ became incarnate, He laid aside His rights and privileges as Deity.  He set aside the perks of being God.   The one who created the sea and the mountains would one day stumble up a hill called Calvary. 

He gave it all up – the power, the immunity from pain, the praise and adulation of the angels and eventually His very life.  But the one thing He was able to retain was His name.  He may have lost His privileges, but He was still somebody because He still had His name. 

And yet, He gave that up as well.  Eight days would elapse between the time of His birth and the time that His name would be officially bestowed. He existed 8 days without a name. He went from bearing the eternal title of Yahweh, to nameless obscurity.

Jesus gave up everything for us – everything – even His name.  He chose to be nameless, that we might be blameless. He gave it all up for us. 

So, what can we give to Him?  Perhaps this Christmas season we can remind our family and friends that Christmas is all about that baby boy who Joseph and Mary named Jesus.

A PRAYER: Lord thank you for giving it all up for me.  I praise Your most wonderful name!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always.

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®

christmas contemplations — December 17, 2025

christmas contemplations

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I have a wearable device. The watch monitors my health.   It frequently sends me digital messages about my pulse and sleep and exercise.  The most recent message I received was, “Please report to the coroner.” 

That is what is known as a paradox – a self-contradictory statement or situation.  When it comes to the Christmas story – it is preposterously paradoxical.

Mary was pregnant and yet unwed.  And yet, what was perceived as sin in Mary was actually a mark of virtue.  The angel said to her, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” – Luke 1:42. (KJV)

Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, “in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.” – Luke 2:5. (NASB) Mary was with child, and yet – the child was with her.   His name was Immanuel which means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22-23).

They were to register for the census (Luke 2:1-3).  The census was designed to count people, but while they were being counted – a child was born who would count more than any other. 

His future was to assume the throne of David and rule the earth.  Ironically the King of Rome (Caesar) called for the census that would validate Jesus as being of the lineage of David, and therefore legitimately in line to become the King of Israel (Matthew 1:1).

The infant was tightly wound in swaddling clothes (Luke 2:7). He was dressed in the same type of materials and in much the same way that He would be dressed for His burial.  

Mary dressed the baby, but in time the baby would dress her in His robes of righteousness (Romans 13:14).

The Psalmist wrote of the Lord, “Look! Israel’s Protector does not sleep or slumber” (Psalm 121:4). That was before God took on human flesh.  At Bethlehem He took His first nap snuggled in a manger (Luke 2:7).  

In the field, the shepherds were told by the angel to go to the child (Luke 2:12). Sheep were easily spooked so the shepherds tended to move in very slow and deliberate ways.   But, when the angel broke the news of the Son of God, Scripture says, “they made haste” (Luke 2:16).   

They tended the flocks that were being groomed to be sacrificial lambs in the temple nearby.  Little did they know they looked upon, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world“ (John 1:29).

The work of a shepherd caused him to be isolated from the rest of his community.   The folks who were typically the least to be considered and the last to know became the very first to know that the Savior of all men had been born. 

The law at that time forbade a shepherd from offering testimony in court of law and yet Luke 2:17-18 tells us they testified of more important things.  Luke wrote, “When they (the shepherds) saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished” NETBible ®

Christ, as pre-Incarnate God, illuminated the sky with stars (Genesis 1:16), and one of those stars shed its special light to guide the Magi to His side (Matthew 2:2).

The prophet Daniel said, “It is He (God) who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings” – Daniel 2:21. – NASU   Christ, as pre incarnate God, sovereignly arranged to set up Herod as King to rule the nation of Israel. The Lord chose to elevate the man who tried to eliminate the Lord (Matthew 2:16-19). 

The shepherds joyfully shared the news of the birth while Herod repressed it (Matthew 2:7).

Of course, the most significant Christmas paradox is the incarnation itself.  Almighty God took on frail human flesh on Christmas day.  As man He became capable of giving His life for us.  As God His sacrifice would have eternal impact. 

Jesus is the prince of paradox!

A PRAYER: Lord, how marvelous You are.  We bless Your Holy name

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of the Lord be with you, this Christmas and always

Christmas dressing — December 10, 2025

Christmas dressing

/pickleheavenpress

My clothes were in style when I was a teenager – in the style of the previous decade.  When I got married, my wife became my haberdasher.  She buys my apparel at Goodwill Dior.   

But what about the clothes that Jesus wore?  They say, what you wear says something about you.  So, what can we learn about Jesus from His wardrobe? 

Luke 2:7 describes His first ensemble, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes.” – KJV

The shivering baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Why would Luke include a detail like this?  Why not tell us if He was a small baby or a big bruiser?  Or what was His Apgar score?   Uh huh – I know what that is.   

What color was his hair?  Tell me it was red – please?  Was he jaundiced?   Did He look like his momma?

Why focus on swaddling clothes?  And what are they anyway?  In those days, when a child was born, the child’s arms were laid at its side, and the child was snugly wrapped in strips of linen or cotton.

The strips were 5 inches wide by 6 yards long.   A band was also placed under the chin and across the forehead of the child.   The wrapping completely immobilized the child. 

It was believed that by doing this, it would straighten the posture of the child who had been cramped within his mother’s womb.   There was no miniature Dallas Cowboys jersey for Jesus. 

The swaddling clothes spoke of Christ’s incarnation.  As God, Jesus descended to earth to wrap Himself in the flesh of a man.  And just as the swaddling clothes restricted the movement of the baby, the humanity in which Christ was wrapped, restricted his movement as God. 

He was required to lay down the independent use of His divine attributes.   He was tightly wrapped in human flesh as He lived out His life as a man.

That was His first outfit, but the NT mentions Christ’s clothing about 31 times.  Many of the references tell us something unique about Him.

A woman touched the fringe of his cloak and was healed (Luke 8:44). His cloak spoke of His incredible power. At the transfiguration, His garments radiated a glorious light which attested to His majesty (Matthew 17:2).

He was girded with a towel as He washed the feet of the disciples. It was a symbol of His servanthood (John 13:4). 

Herod dressed Him in a robe to mock His claim as King (Luke 23:11) and the soldiers cast lots over His garments at cross (Matthew 27:35) pointing to His complete humiliation.

After He was crucified, “then they took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes – John 19:40. – KJV

His lifeless body was tenderly covered – wound tightly with linen wrappings, much like a mummy.  The wrappings were imbedded with a mixture of myrrh and aloes. They were so tight it was impossible to escape them. They affirmed the certainty of His death.

But wait a minute!  The man wrapped in His burial clothes looked much like the infant, tightly wrapped in His swaddling clothes.  One seems to have foreshadowed the other.  It was like a linen thread that ran through Christ’s life.  

So, Luke deliberately focused on the infant’s swaddling clothes to help us understand that the Christ child was born to die. 

And we are so very grateful that Jesus did that for us.  But we’re also thrilled that He wore those grave clothes for only three days. 

John put it this way, “Then Simon Peter, who had been following him, arrived and went right into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, and the face cloth, which had been around Jesus’ head, not lying with the strips of linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself” John 20:6-7.  NETBible®

The empty wrappings spoke of the certainty of His resurrection.   What a truly amazing story His clothing tells!

A PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for telling the Gospel through your wardrobe.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with You