Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: Galatians 6:2

toilet troubles — October 29, 2025

toilet troubles

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I had toilet troubles.  No – not that kind!  The water valve that fed my toilet was leaking. 

I have made this kind of repair before, BUT I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it again.   So, I began to debate with myself? 

These were the Cons: I would need to use a propane torch in a confined area.  Not sure I wanted to burn the house down.  Sweat joints make me sweat.  I am less patient and careful than when I was younger and most of all – working with a toilet is icky!!!!

As to the Pros: I would save some money!  But the Cons prevailed so I called a plumber.  Then I told my wife about it, and she replied in the most peculiar way.  She said, “I am proud of you!” 

OK wait – so you’re proud of me because I didn’t fix something and expected somebody else to do it?   Hmm – I used to leave my dirty socks lay on the floor and expected her to pick them up.  She didn’t seem very proud of me then.

But she understands me.  I was raised with a do-it-yourself mindset.  If anyone else can do it, I can do it too.  It may take 4 times as long to get it done and I may get bloody knuckles along the way, but I get it done.  Plus, I hate hiring someone to do something I can do. 

That mindset has generally served me well, but I will admit that it has been an unlikable liability at times.  With every problem that comes along, I find myself saying, “I must do this” as if it’s all up to me.   

But that’s not really true, is it?

– I can call upon the Lord

The Psalmist wrote, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” – Psalm 46:1. – KJV  Our God is not far removed.  He is present with us.  The Psalmist even emphasized the fact that He is, “very present.”  He is with us – to help us.

Jesus also said, “Apart from me you can accomplish nothing” – John 15:5a. This was spoken concerning our ability to bear spiritual fruit, and yet it was phrased as a blanket statement that seems to cover virtually every facet of our existence. 

Without Him we can’t do marriage, or parenting, or succeed at work.  We can’t feed our families or fend off temptation.  Without His enablement I can’t even tweak my toilet.   Without Him, we can do nothing! 

         There is a second resource I have when I face a problem

– I can call a friend.

The apostle Paul strikes me as a fellow “do-it-yourselfer” and yet he wrote, “Carry one another’s burdens” – Galatians 6:2.  The apostle understood that life can overwhelm us, and we therefore may need the help of trustworthy Christian friends to assist.

He practiced what he preached. His burden was to spread the Gospel, but he couldn’t do it alone.  So, he invited others to assist like Timothy, Titus, Silas and many others.

Check out his memo to the Philippian church, “But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need” – Philippians 2:25.

Are there struggles in your marriage?  Pray, and talk to your pastor or a reliable counselor.  Did your furnace quit?  Pray, read the manual, call an AC person.  Does your toilet leak?  I’m sorry but don’t call me!

We do not have to do life alone!   When faced with a prickly problem, always call upon the Lord and feel free to call upon one of the handy human beings God has given to help us.

I called a plumber, and my wife was proud of me.  I suspect the Lord was too.

A PRAYER: Lord, we need you to crucify our do-it-alone mindset.  Would You?

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavrenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture citations are from the NETBible® unless otherwise noted.    

in the fog — January 22, 2025

in the fog

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My little family and I once lived in a trailer house that sat right next to an industrial plant.  Many mornings we would arise and find ourselves enshrouded in a fog.  I’m not talking about being drowsy. it was a soup-thick fog which was generated by the plant. 

It was an, “I can’t find my hand in front of my face” kind of a fog and we lived in it and breathed of it.  I was told that they manufactured formaldehyde there.  So, if there is a plus to this, it’s that I won’t need to be embalmed for my funeral.

To drive in it was impossibly difficult.  But you know what that’s like.  You have had to move through your own fog experiences.  And some of those experiences have had nothing to do with suspended water droplets. 

Ben just lost his job.  He was already behind with his bills.  The rent is due, and his wife has some big medical bills.  He just can’t see the way forward.

Ken just learned that his son is a frequent meth user.  Ken had no idea how it happened, nor what to do to fix him.

Annie’s husband was in his recliner watching TV.  She returned from the store, and he was still there – but a heart attack had stolen his life.  After she buried him, she spoke of a numbness that gripped her heart and soul. 

The trauma of the moment numbs us and fogs our senses, and we run the risk of having it become an enduring way of life. 

When trauma comes, we can find our way forward in much the same way we drive through the morning fog.  

I pump the brakes and slow the car down.  I turn on the headlights so that they illuminate the road ahead of me.  I become more alert and depend on my ears more than usual.  I might not be able to see a vehicle passing me, but I may be able to hear it. 

And though I usually don’t appreciate my wife’s directions when I drive, I lean on her to help me be aware.  She watches for wandering deer and looks for turns that need to be made.

So how does that work with traumatic loss? 

– Slow down.  Crisis tends to make us want to go faster as if by doing so we can get through it all more quickly.  It doesn’t work that way.  Slow down.  Be deliberate.   The prophet said, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” – Isaiah 40:31 – KJV

– Use your headlights.  Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to walk by and a light to illumine my path.”  The Psalmist spoke of the Bible of course.  He tells us that it has the incredible ability to illuminate the obscure path before us, to give us insight and wisdom so that we don’t hit a tree or run off into ditch. 

– Listen more intently.  I tend to keep myself so busy that it’s hard to hear the voice of God.   The fog of trauma can be a blessing in that it forces me to slow down and tune my ears to what God is doing or may be saying to me.  James wrote in his epistle, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” – James 4:8.  He is always available to us, but we need to move toward Him especially in times of trauma. 

– Lean on others for help.  It’s easier to drive through the morning fog when you have someone with you to help.  Unfortunately, trauma tends to cause us to withdraw, but what we need to do is engage, to draw from and lean on one another.  This is something we are expected to do.  Paul wrote, “Carry one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2)

Do these things and it won’t be long before the sun breaks through and burns off the fog. 

A PRAYER: Lord, please prepare me for the fog to come.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you.

Scripture references are from the NETBible ® unless otherwise noted.