Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: god

bray without ceasing — September 16, 2026

bray without ceasing

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New neighbors have moved into our neighborhood – a couple of mangy mismatched donkeys.  They saunter up to the back fence whenever they hear us. 

My wife is ecstatic.   We have taken out a loan to keep them supplied with carrots and grain pellets.  They also crave animal crackers which ironically include donkey shaped crackers.  Clearly a case of cannibalism? 

They insist I give them my attention when they see me.  The bigger one brays (which is donkey speak for screams).  He, in fact, brays without ceasing – continually – non-stop, and unfortunately, he sounds like he has swallowed a flip-flop. 

He knows that I have the power and means to feed him and he won’t let me forget it.  I am annoyed and yet I marvel at his persistence.  He puts my prayer life to shame. 

Indeed, the Apostle Paul tells me that I am to, “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thess. 5:17.  – KJV.    What?  The only thing I do without ceasing is to breathe.  And I have sleep apnea so I can barely do that.  

So, does Paul really expect us to pray non-stop?  Well, that’s what he did.  In multiple places Paul used the word “always” to describe the way he prayed. (Phil 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess 1:11; Col 1:3).

And he told us that a guy named Epaphras prayed in the same way (Col 4:12).

What does Paul mean by this?  The words, “without ceasing” are translated from one Greek word (adialeiptos).  In other literature of the day, this word was used to describe the payment of taxes, a nagging cough, repeat military campaigns and the production of fruit on a tree. 

The word isn’t an “every second of the day” kind of scenario.  The book of Acts makes it clear that Paul did lots of other things than just pray.  This word carries the idea of doing something on a regular basis as a matter of habit.   It is constantly recurring, not continuously occurring.”  (Wiersbe) So…

– To pray without ceasing is to make prayer a regular part of our lives.

We should pray daily when we meet with God and read in His Word.  We might keep a prayer journal to hold us accountable to the commitments we make to others to pray.  Because my wife and I use a prayer journal each evening, we could say that we pray for many people, pastors and churches without ceasing.  We should pray when we gather with others at small group, or church. 

         But there is more to this. 

– To pray without ceasing is to live in conscious dependence on God. 

We know that without the Lord we can do nothing (John 15:5)   If we truly understand this, then spontaneous verbalized prayer will naturally and appropriately happen.  We will give thanks throughout the day when we see evidence of His goodness and pray when we encounter challenges.  When we wake up in the middle of the night and worry – we will naturally seek Him.

Jesus captured this so well.  He was extremely busy with so many things, and yet we find Him deliberately pulling away at times to pray (Mark 1:35).  

At other times He would stop and abruptly pray right the middle of what He was doing (Luke 10:21).  He was dependent on His Father, which made it natural for Him to pray as needed.  This kind of prayer isn’t limited by time or place.  The right aptitude is not required for prayer, but the right attitude is. 

For most of my Christian life I have enjoyed the regular habit of prayer, but its only as I have aged that I have begun to experience this attitude of prayer.  

I am very aware of my desperate need for the Lord and His intervention and grace in my life.  Sometimes I think prayers to that end and often give voice to them as well.  And yet I still feel like I fall short when I hear my neighbor, “bray without ceasing.”

A PRAYER: Lord help me do what is important to You.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavnpress.com

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

be prepared — September 9, 2026

be prepared

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I believe it was Woody Allen who said, “I am not afraid of dying, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”

Like it or not, death is the single most certain factor we can expect in this life.  We know it’s coming – so should we prepare? 

The prophet Isaiah would say yes.  He was the spiritual advisor to Hezekiah, King of Judah.  Hezekiah had made some foolish choices that came with a foul consequence.

Isaiah 38:1 says, “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”   

Isaiah probably needed to improve his bedside manner.  He spoke the Word of God to the King – the dreadful news that he would die but Hezekiah was also given the opportunity to prepare for it.  Evidently time was provided for the King to do that.  The Lord could have taken him home instantly but decided it was important to give him time to prepare.  

It would seem that we also have that opportunity to “put our houses in order” before we should die.

But what about the years that precede death, when we are unable to earn an income?  Again – we need to prepare.  Solomon wrote, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!… it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” – Proverbs 6:6-8.

I currently serve as a hospice chaplain.  I am really sad when I meet a patient who is unprepared for their latter days – and there are a great many!  

As of today, 45% of older adult households aren’t able to cover their basic living expenses. 80% don’t have the resources to cope with widowhood, serious illness, or long-term care.  (National Council on Aging).

And yet retirement and death are always on the horizon of this life.  So, what can we do to put our houses in order?

– We begin with Faith Preparation

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” – John 3:36.  We need to receive Christ’s gift today – if we are to have a bright tomorrow.

– And then there is Family Preparation

A shocking number of the elderly people for whom I care, are alone – often divorced, or widowed and even at odds with their kids.  They have little to no family support at a time that it is most needed.  

Scripture says that family should provide care for their aging parents.  Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:8, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  

Financial help would be great, but far more important is the relational/emotional support that is greatly needed.

So, before you start going grey, make sure to nurture the family that God has given you.  Love them, affirm them, and be sure to forgive them.  Do that and they will be there for you when you need them.

– And then of course there is Financial Preparation.

Again, I am shocked to meet and care for many who had prospered in their earning years and yet end up barely subsisting on Medicaid.  They are shuttled off to sad nursing facilities because they lack the finances for anything better.

Live below your means today so that you have the means to live comfortably in your senior years.  Take the difference you save now and carefully invest it. 

There are a multitude of other steps you can take to turn your current income into a comfortable retirement.  Check out Dave Ramsey on the net for help!

An ordered house, is a comfortable place to live.

A PRAYER: Lord, we are behind.  Help us make up for lost time. 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

Scripture passages are taken from the new International Version

to the end — August 12, 2026

to the end

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I had a good friend who had a terminal disease.  His immune system was shot, and the doctor ordered him to remain at home to avoid people who might infect him.  But then my wife happened to run into him at Wal-Mart.

She asked him why he was out.  He said, “I don’t want my tombstone to say, ‘He was cautious!’”

Like my friend, there are some of us who are very aware that our time on earth is almost done.  Some can’t sleep because they fear they’ll never open their eyes again.  Others try to reconcile with distant family members.  Some rest in peace before they die because they know they are secure in Christ. 

Christ also lived in the shadow of His death.   What was on His mind during those days?   

John 13 begins the telling of the Last Supper.  This, of course, was the last meal that Jesus would share with His disciples before His crucifixion.  His execution would take place only hours later. 

The Apostle John wrote, “Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father” – John 13:1. No question here, Jesus clearly understood that the time of His crucifixion had arrived.  

John continued saying, “(Jesus) Having loved his own who were in the world…”   

That is quite an amazing statement.  Jesus loved – who?  Well, those who were gathered around that table. 

They had left everything for Him.  They shared countless adventures together; they saw the glory of God penetrate the gloom of Israel; and together they suffered rejection.  They were a tight bunch, and Jesus had loved them well. 

Then John completed his sentence by saying, “He now loved them to the very end.”  His end was near, but His mind was focused on this group of people that he dearly loved.  This is quite amazing for at least two reasons.

One: Jesus was thinking of others when most would be centered on themselves.

And Two: Those disciples were going to disappoint Jesus over the next few hours.

They eventually left the supper that night to retreat to an olive grove called Gethsemane.  Jesus took His inner circle: Peter, James and John with Him, and asked them to watch while He prayed and wrestled with the Father over His crucifixion. 

It would be incredibly stressful for Jesus and He wanted them to be with Him and to pray for Him, but they fell asleep instead.  Jesus was deeply disappointed, but His love for them persisted.

Judas had been present at that meal.  But at Gethsemane he would betray the one that loved him with a meaningless middle-eastern kiss on His cheek.  A heartless betrayal, and yet Jesus would love even that man to the end. 

Jesus was apprehended in the garden and His hands were bound as they led Him away like a sheep to slaughter.  The disciples vanished like roaches when the lights come on.  It was every man for himself.  And yet Jesus’ love for them endured to the end.   

And then of course there was Peter, who covertly slipped into the courtyard of the home where Jesus was on trial.  Three times Peter denied knowing His master, when in fact he probably knew him better than most anyone else. But even Peter was loved by Jesus till the very end.

Jesus threw caution to the wind and loved His own – His ungrateful, unreliable, unpredictable own – until the end.  How comforting it is to know that He loves you and me with that same unrelenting love. 

Paul wrote, “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 8:38-39.

A PRAYER: Lord, thank you; thank you; thank you for such love.

God bless you!

Scripture is quoted from the NETBible ®

a soothing aroma — August 6, 2026

a soothing aroma

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Our granddaughter is in second grade and she is ridiculously cute.  Her auntie found a sweat shirt at an estate sale that she thought she might like.  Her grandmother, whom she calls Mammo, ran it through the washer and then gave it to her.

The top was too big for her, but she chose to wear it to a school event anyway.  When asked why by her mom, she said, “I like the way it looks, and it smells like Mammo.”

She treasured the familiar smell of someone that she loved.  Did you know that this is true of God as well? 

In the Old Testament era, God’s people would present “offerings” to Him.  The offering might be for the purpose of covering sin, or restoring fellowship with God, or maybe a freewill offering solely to demonstrate one’s love for Him. 

A variety of gifts were offered: bulls, goats, lambs, oil, grain, even wine.  But the offering always represented a heartfelt financial sacrifice made by the presenter. 

The offerings were placed on an altar of fire and as the smoke rose to heaven, the Lord metaphorically inhaled it and regarded it as a “soothing aroma.”    

The first instance of it in the Bible is found in Genesis 8:20-21.  Global sin was the order of the day, and God reluctantly brought global judgment because of it.  Noah and his family were spared, and once the waters had receded, we read, “Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind.”

God found the offering to be a soothing aroma.  An aroma is a fragrant scent that is pleasant to the nose.  To soothe is to calm a person’s emotions, to relieve, or to refresh them.  Noah’s offerings did that for the Lord.  

But then the phrase “soothing aroma” was used 38 more times in the OT to describe the burnt offerings that were made and the way they were received by the Lord.  When something is repeated 38 times, it must be important. 

It fascinates me – that a person is capable of giving to God, something that soothes and pleases Him – something that inclines Him to look upon us with pleasure.    

Does God still enjoy a soothing aroma?  He does. 

The Lamb of God became an offering for us.  Of Him Paul wrote, “…Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.”  Ephesians 5:2   

Christ offered Himself.  He satisfied the wrath of God that had been directed toward us.  He saved us and God regarded His offering as a fragrant, soothing aroma.     

Now as we stand in Christ, we have the opportunity to offer gifts that please the olfactory sense of God.   Consider Philippians 4:18. 

Paul was in the process of writing a thank you note to the Philippians for having assisted him financially in his ministry.  He wrote, “For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.”

The financial sacrifice given by that church was received as a wonderful fragrance, very pleasing to God.

As I pointed out, the offerings of the Old Testament were many and varied, but the thread than ran through each – was sacrifice.  When a sacrifice was made on behalf of the Lord, it was received as a soothing aroma.

We sacrifice today when we financially support God’s work, or we give of our time to serve God’s purposes or even to lay our pride at His feet.  He receives any sacrifice, made with the right motive, as a soothing and fragrant offering. 

So, when the Lord sniffs your way – what does He smell?

A PRAYER: Oh God, our hearts want to bring you joy.  Teach us how to do that

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®    

the gift that stays given — June 17, 2026

the gift that stays given

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They say that money speaks.  It does.  Mine often says goodbye!  

But there is more than one way we can lose what we have.  There is always the Indian Giver.

It was not uncommon in colonial America for a native American to offer a gift to a colonist.  If the gift was not regularly used, the giver might expect their gift to be returned.  It was a cultural practice that was misunderstood by European settlers.  

Which is why, a colonist who welched on their gift giving came to be known as an Indian giver. 

The term is obviously offensive to native Americans partly because of things like the Indian Removal Act of 1830.  Ironically, this law stripped tribal peoples of land that had been previously given to them and forced them to relocate out west.  The journey was called the Trail of Tears. 

Scripture says, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 6:23   Though eternal life is God’s gift, is it a gift that He might potentially recall.  Would He take it back if it goes unused?   Might we forfeit it by some misbehavior?  Could there be a Trail of Tears in our future?  Not according to the Scripture…

– Jesus promised to keep us secure. 

He spoke of those who believed saying, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand” – John 10:27-29.  

– We were sinners before He saved us, and remain sinners after He saved us

John wrote, “If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” – (I Jn 1:7-8)

 Sin does not condemn the believer to hell, but it sours our relationship with Jesus.  We certainly want to remove that barrier as soon as we can, which we can do through confession (1 John 1:9).

– We have been born into His family.

 Jesus told Nicodemus to be “born again.” (John 3:1-3).  John wrote “But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children” – John 1:12.  The Christian has been born into the family of God.  So, “What can we do to be unborn? 

Suppose there was a rebellious son, who got into lots of trouble and did everything he could to dissociate himself from his dad.  And one day

he said to his father, “I hate you and I wish I were never born into this family.” 

The father could possibly say, “Well, I’m sad that you feel this way, but I have a friend at the courthouse who can fix this.  You can change your last name, and the record can be altered so that you will never be connected to our family again.” 

It may be possible to alter the record, but does it really matter?  A child just can’t be unborn!  The verbiage can be changed, but not the fact that a birth occurred. 

Even so, if we were that rebellious son, we could never be unborn from God’s family but there would be consequences for our rebellion at the judgment seat of Christ for sure. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 1 John 2:28)

God loved us into His family, and He loves us while we are in His family.  The apostle Paul told us that there isn’t anything that is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord – (Romans 8:39).

The only trail we will eventually travel will take us to heaven.

A PRAYER: Lord we are grateful for such security.  Help us to live worthy of it

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture is quoted from the NETBible ®

overwait — June 10, 2026

overwait

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Some of us are overwait! – W.A.I.T.   OK, maybe I should explain. 

One of my joys these days is singing about Jesus with my wife and a dear friend.  Not long ago we did a program for some senior adults.  Present was a woman of Japanese descent. We were told that she was 94 years old.  

She approached us after the concert.  It was clear that she had been moved by our ministry of song.  In fact, with tears of appreciation she said to us, “I have waited 92 years for this!” 

Wow! I am not so great with math, but it appears that she had been waiting to hear us sing since she was 2 years old.  I felt like we should apologize for having taken so long. 

Waiting is the worst – isn’t it?  At the Tex Mex place we fill up on tortilla chips while waiting for our fajitas to be served.  We go to the doctor’s office about an infection, but risk dying of old age as we wait to be seen. 

And of course, it seems that we are often waiting on God.  We hope and pray for change, but the boss is still unreasonable, and the kid is still incorrigible, and the paycheck is still laughable.

And yet waiting seems to be a purposeful part of God’s plan for us.  There are multiple times in the Scripture where we are urged to wait on the Lord.  For instance, David wrote in Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” – NIV

But why must we wait?   Why does God, who is clearly Lord over time, make us wait? 

Well suppose that every time that we pray, God immediately responds.  I mean immediately – like a vending machine.  Push a button and He drops down exactly what we order.  If this were so, how might that affect us? 

– We would become His Lord and He would become our slave.  I’m not sure I could worship a God like that. 

– It would also feed our tendency to be self-centered which would spill over into our relationships with others.  Selfishness is a cancer that grows.   

– We might get what we ask for but not what we need.  I once pleaded with God for a new job.  He provided one but I earned less than what I was making before.  I got what I wanted but not what I needed.   As we wait, we have time to consider what we seek and why we want it and adjust our prayers accordingly.

– Also our faith in God would be weak and undeveloped.  That would be tragic in that He once said to us, without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)  By waiting for God, we affirm and grow our faith – believing He is in sovereign control, and that He will eventually demonstrate His love for us.

Are you waiting on God these days? Take some encouragement from the words of Isaiah who wrote, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom. He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.  Even youths get tired and weary;

even strong young men clumsily stumble.  But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired” – Isaiah 40:28-31. 

Isaiah wants us to know that, despite the wait, God is still on the throne and in complete control.  And as we wait, He will supply the wisdom and strength and the energy we need.    

It’s kinda like He is the waiter that resupplies the chips while we wait for the fajitas.

A PRAYER: Lord sustain us while we patiently wait on You

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always

Scripture references are from the NETBible® unless otherwise noted.

uncommon sense — May 27, 2026

uncommon sense

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It is uncommon to have common sense.

There was a goodhearted guy who volunteered to serve in the church bus ministry.   He was out solo, learning to drive when the bus stalled in the middle of an intersection.  I pulled over to help. 

It rested on a level spot in the middle of a hill.  I suggested that we push it off center and get it rolling down the hill.  He pointed up the hill and said, “But I want to go there!”  I said to myself, “In your dreams!”

I offered to push from the back while he pushed on the passenger side next to the door of the bus.  If we could get it rolling, he could then jump in and take the wheel and steer it. He agreed.

I pushed and the bus began to rock, when suddenly he joined me on the driver’s side.  I said, “Hey if this thing starts rolling, whose gonna guide it? 

A guy pulled up in a pickup and offered to tow it.  He told the bus driver to put it in neutral and then steer it as it was pulled.  The bus driver got behind the wheel and gave the thumbs up sign. 

The pickup driver gave it the gas and his tires spun furiously in place.  The bus was still in gear, so I slipped away at that point, very much afraid for my life.

The bus driver was a common-sense casualty!     

Can a person address common sense deficiencies?  Sure!  We can learn from parents, or “how to” books, youtube videos and life experiences.  They all have much to teach.

But the best, most comprehensive resource is the book of Proverbs.   The book was written by Solomon in order to teach his son how to live wisely.   Here is a sampling of his sage advice. 

– DEBT: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (22:7).  Solomon tells us that the debt we incur steals our freedom and makes us slaves to those we owe.

– CONFLICT: “Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; abandon strife before it breaks out!” (17:14).  Resolving a conflict is harder than gathering up spilled water.  Best to manage it beforehand.  

– SPEECH: “A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath” (15:1).  Careful, gentle words are always the best especially in a time of conflict. 

– WORK: “In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty”  (14:23). Proverbs has much to say about how we work, and the benefits that come from it.

– DISHONEST GAIN: “Stolen waters are sweet, and food obtained in secret is pleasant!”  But they do not realize that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave” (9:17-18).  Solomon honestly discloses the temporary benefits of dishonest gain, but also the enduring consequences. 

– TEMPER: “Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper” (25:28). Solomon should have posted my picture next to this one.  This was once a big problem for me, fortunately much better now because I have digested such Proverbs.

– SAVINGS: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe her ways and be wise!  It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, yet it would prepare its food in the summer; it gathered at the harvest what it will eat” (6:6-8).  Saving for the future is always wise.

– FRIENDS: ”There are companions who harm one another, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (18:24).  Loyalty is a hallmark of friendship

Proverbs is bursting with everyday practical wisdom.  Read one of the 31 chapters each day for a good infusion of common sense. 

Is there an appropriate Proverb for my bus driver buddy?  How about this.  “It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.” (19:2) Amen!

A PRAYER: Oh God, help me in my foolishess.

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®

the preemergent — May 20, 2026

the preemergent

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I would occasionally tease my wife and tell her that our house was a hospice for plants – it’s where they come to die.  But we have vastly improved our gardening skills over time, at least until last year when a noxious weed invaded our flower beds. 

I took the offender to my local plant care expert, and he told me that the weed was a Chamberbitter (and bitter it was to deal with).  I asked what I could do, and he said “Nothing – once it has taken root, it just spreads like wildfire.” 

But he gave me hope.  He explained that the plant goes to seed each fall and then completely dies out.  In the spring the seeds emerge and start the process all over again. 

He told me I needed to use a preemergent the next spring.  A preemergent creates a chemical barrier in the topsoil which kills the weed seedlings as they germinate.  “Weed seedling!”  Try saying that five times fast.

So the next spring, I got out the spreader and did what I was told to do – and it worked really well.

This prompted me to think of the many spiritual weeds that can infest a soul.   

Sin often has its temporary reward.  It meets some superficial emotional, psychological or even physical need.  But once it takes root, it is notoriously difficult to eliminate. 

So wouldn’t it be great if there was a spiritual preemergent – something that would attack the temptation and keep it from germinating into full-fledged sin. 

Martin Luther was known to speak of temptation and say, “You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest there.

I am happy to report that God gave us such a preemergent.  This is how it works!

Breathe:  As you start each day, exhale – confess any sin from the day before that you might have ignored.  Then inhale!  Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you again and guide you throughout the day (Colossians 1:9).

Browse the Word:  The Psalmist wrote, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” – Ps 119:11.  A daily intake of the Scripture is super important.  Scripture defines sin but it also empowers us to resist it.  It is a living sword according to Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Bridge with others: Our journey was designed to be traveled with fellow believers.   Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” We need to be in church, and part of a small group, and it would be extra wise to have an accountability partner.  It seems that pastors today are falling into sin at warp speed.  I am certain that few of them have any accountability to another.  

Beseech the Lord:  Jesus told His disciples, “Pray that you enter not into temptation” Luke 22:40.  I don’t think the Lord could be any more explicit.  And finally… 

Build Walls: We need to create barriers between us and the sin opportunities that pull at us.  Paul advised us to “Flee immorality” – 1 Corinthians 6:18. For instance – avoid the flirt at work and make sure someone else is in the room when you are using the computer.

Take your spiritual lawn spreader and sprinkle these things on your soul for nearly a weed free result.  

A Prayer: Lord, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” – Ps 19:14.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you.

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.

black or blue — May 13, 2026

black or blue

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My wife told me I needed to change out of my faded blue jeans for black ones.  We were going to a funeral after all.   I obeyed (as per my wedding vows). But then she looked at me and barked, “I said black!” Evidently, I chose a darker blue pair.

She made me try again.  Strike two! Somehow, I ended up with a different pair of dark blue pants.  She asked me to change again – which made me bluer than my pants.

So, what is my problem?  Well, my color discernment is impaired. My name is Jim and I am color blind. 

As I lamented my malady, I started thinking that there are folks today who lack discernment when it comes to Scripture. They read it but somehow end up with conclusions that don’t seem to match the words that they read.  They look at blue but see black. 

For instance. Jesus said, “If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched” – Mark 9:47-48.

Christians from the first century until today have understood Jesus to teach that there is a place called hell, reserved for the unrighteous – a place of eternal torment and unquenchable fire. 

And yet there is an entertainment celebrity today who is well known for his sincere devotion to Christ.  And yet, this man read this passage and yet somehow concluded that the unrighteous simply cease to exist once they die. 

Paul, in 2 Timothy 2:15, spoke of “rightly dividing the Word of truth.” (KJV) In other words, a person needs to be discerning and accurate when it comes to the Word of God.  We need to be able to distinguish the black from the blue.  So how do we do this? 

– We can start by laying aside any personal agenda. Let the Scripture freely speak without any preconceived notions.  There was a guy whose mother died but he wasn’t sure if she ended up in heaven.  He eventually discarded his former conviction and came to believe that the unrighteous cease to exist when they die.  His personal preference directed his interpretation of Scripture. 

– We should ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our study. He was given to us to do this very thing (John 16:13).

– Consider the literary context of the passage. Read what precedes and follows it, to get the fullness of it.  Look at the whole of Scripture to see what it teaches on the subject.  If our friend had done this.  He would find much evidence that hell is painful and unending (Matthew 25:30; 41; 46; Luke 16:22-24; Revelation 14:9-11)

– Consider the genre of a passage.  Is it poetry like the Psalms, or prophecy like Daniel, or maybe history like Acts. The genre affects how we understand it.  Our Mark passage contains straightforward teaching from Christ. 

– Consider the cultural/historical context of a passage. The word for hell (Gehenna) was also the name of the local Jerusalem garbage dump, where a fire burned 24/7.  

– Prefer the most obvious understanding of the passage. Read the Scripture in its normal literal sense, unless it is obvious that figurative language is used.  Scripture was not written for the benefit of theologians but for all of us.  When an interpreter makes excuses in order to harmonize a passage with their interpretation – then it’s likely that they have erred.

– Give weight to every word. Jesus spoke of a fire that is never extinguished.  It burns for eternity meaning that it will be fueled for all eternity.

I want to know what God wants me to know – no matter what.  I cannot increase my ability to discern color, but you and I can do lots to sharpen our minds as we explore the Word of God. 

A Prayer: Open our eyes Lord, that we may see.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickelheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible.com

she turned the Lord’s NO into a YES! — May 6, 2026

she turned the Lord’s NO into a YES!

/pickleheavenpress

Do you have an unanswered prayer?  I know of a woman who can help with that – and no, it is not Mary!

Jesus had been sparring with the spiritual leaders of Israel.  He wanted to rest, so He went where they wouldn’t – into Gentile territory.

Here’s what happened.  “Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.  In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter” – Mark 7:24-26.

His fame followed Him.  There came a woman who pestered Him to set her sweet daughter free from the demons that distressed her.

He responded by saying, “First let the children eat all they want…for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs” -7:27.

Ouch!  Jesus’ priority was to reach the Jews, but she was a gentile –a people the Jews scornfully called dogs.  However, the Greek word that Jesus used for dog, was not of the mangy cur variety, but of a cute little lap dog – a puppy that was cherished by the household. 

It was an expression of affection and yet His answer still disappointed her. To paraphrase, He said, “Sure the puppies will eat, but the first priority at dinnertime is to feed the kids. You will be taken care of someday, but not today. 

And in fact, He performed miracles on behalf of several other gentiles during His ministry years.  Her situation was simply a matter of timing. 

She responded to Him saying, “Yes, Lord…but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” – 7:28.  She politely challenged His decision, reminding Him that people tend to spoil their puppies by feeding them table scraps even during dinner.   

“Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” – 7:29.  So…Jesus reversed His initial “no” decision and said yes to her request because of the particular manner by which she replied to Him.

So, what was it in the way she replied that it affected the Lord?  There was…

– Her Humility: She was not one of God’s Covenant people. She knew that she was not entitled, nor did she make demands on Jesus.  She humbly pleaded for the crumbs from His table. 

– Her Certainty:  It was clear that she already believed in Him.  She addressed Him as Lord and believed that He had divine power to help her child.  But the certainty of her faith was highlighted by her reply.  Just crumbs from Jesus would be enough to save her daughter. As to the timing, even puppies are fed when the children are fed. 

– Her Perceptivity: Jesus often complained about those who had ears but could not hear.  Not true of this woman.  He spoke to her using a figure of speech.  She listened and fully understood and then replied by using the same figure of speech.  I bet Jesus smiled when she did.

– Her Persistency: Matthew tells us that she asked continuously (15:21-23) This kind of persistency in prayer is clearly a virtue that Jesus prized.  Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Someone said, “People ought to be like postage stamps:  They need to stick to one thing until they get where they’re going.”   

By her reply that woman turned the Lord’s NO into a YES!   I’m not sure how all this works with the sovereignty of God – but I do know that this passage teaches us that the manner in which we pray, affects the way that the Lord answers. 

A Prayer: Lord teach us to pray.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages are from the NIV.